TV Review • The Steve Harvey Show is one of the 90’s sitcoms that isn’t talked about much compared to how people bring up Martin & Living Single, but for 6 seasons we were given Lovita Alizay Jenkins, Ceddy Bear & The High Tops. When you have 2 of the 4 Kings of Comedy, Steve Harvey & Cedric The Entertainer, the show is guaranteed to be a hit.
Although most people consider this Steve’s first sitcom, he actually had a show on ABC in 1994 called “Me and the Boys” which was a hit but the network decided not to bring it back. Two years later he hooked up with his long time friend Cedric & gave us a show that not only highlighted black love & friendship, but it showed us black educators & how they have such a huge influence on student’s lives. Mr. Hightower was a straight shooter but he had a way of supporting his favorite students Bullethead, Romeo & Lydia. He was hard on them but they knew it always came from a loving place.
Coach Robinson was the coach that everyone loved & knew they could get away with. He reminded me of that P.E. teacher who’s class you’d go to if you wanted to skip another class. The relationship between him & Lovita reminded me of Overton & Syclaire, they were head over heels for each other. The episode where they wore the matching sweaters with each others face on them will never be forgotten. Lovita’s friendship with Regina was so relatable because the relationship between the principal & their assistant is strong. The bond is even stronger when it’s two black women.
Romeo, Bullethead & Lydia were Steve’s biggest headaches but he knew how much they needed him as a teacher, especially Bullethead & Romeo. Steve was that positive male figure they needed in their life, & there were a few times where they mentioned Steve was the reason they finished school. Lydia was that daughter he never had that annoyed him & everyone else, but you couldn’t help but love her. She was lowkey one of the funniest people on the show.
Although this was a comedy, I think the series highlighting black educators was the most important meaning behind the show. There weren’t many shows in the 90’s that highlighted black educators besides A Different World & I’m glad The Steve Harvey Show picked up where they left off.
