TV Review • After Jamie Foxx‘s success on In Living Color it was only right that he eventually would star in his own tv show! The Jamie Foxx Show was part of the WB Wednesday night lineup. Due to the WB being a pretty new network at the time, the show’s ratings weren’t bringing in the success other big networks would have. Regardless, the show had a strong 5 season run & they gave us comedy that will last a lifetime.
The show was loosely based on Jamie’s life with him being from Terrell TX & not having much of a relationship with his parents. In the show it has him being raised by his aunt & uncle when he was actually raised by his parents adoptive parents. Uncle Junior (Garrett Morris) & Aunt Helen (Ellia English) felt like our real tv aunt & uncle, because when I see them on tv as other characters they’re automatically Aunt Helen & Uncle Junior. All the characters on the show were such great actors that as a kid I thought The King’s Tower was a real place.
I feel like majority of the 90’s shows always had 2 characters where one would be chasing after the other for seasons & then they finally get together. This was that Jamie & Fancy (Garcelle Beauvais) relationship, but we knew in the beginning that she would eventually fall for him. There were many scenes in the first season where she would have her weak moments. Braxton’s (Christopher Duncan) character was played so well that seeing him in other roles that didn’t involve him having that uppity attitude, I never could take him serious.
One of my favorite things that I’m glad they highlighted in the show was Jamie’s vocals. It’s a shame that many don’t talk about him as a vocalist. That wedding episode where he sang to Fancy will always be one of the highlights of that series. My favorite song from the show was his jingle “Roaches! Get out of the house!” LOL! Jamie is one of the few triple threats that sings, acts & writes. Although he doesn’t write much for other artist, his music alone gives him a mean pen game.
Watching the show now, made me realize that it is a lot funnier than most 90’s shows that people consider funnier. I’m not going to say any names because I’m not trying to have anyone coming for my neck. All I’m saying is when you have time, start it from the beginning & enjoy yourself. It’s streaming on HBOMax.
