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Moesha
Season 1 Image
Format	Sitcom
Created by	Ralph Farquhar Sara V. Finney Vida Spears
Starring	Brandy Norwood William Allen Young Countess Vaughn (1996-1999) Sheryl Lee Ralph (1996-2000) Marcus T. Paulk Lamont Bentley Yvette Wilson (1996-2000) Shar Jackson Fredro Starr (1996-1998) Ray J (1999-2001)
Country of origin	United States
No. of seasons	6
No. of episodes	127 (List of episodes)
Production
Running time	approx. 0:30 (per episode)
Broadcast
Original channel	UPN
Original run	January 23, 1996 – May 14, 2001
External links
Official website
IMDb profile
TV.com summary

"Moesha" is also the title of a song by former Phish guitarist Trey Anastasio, frequently performed by his first solo band.

Moesha is an American situation comedy produced for the UPN network from January 23, 1996 to May 14, 2001. It starred R&B singer Brandy Norwood as Moesha Mitchell, a high school student living with her family in Los Angeles. Image File history File links Question_book-3. ... Image File history File links Moesha_cast. ... A sitcom or situation comedy is a genre of comedy performance originally devised for radio but today typically found on television. ... Brandy Rayana Norwood (born February 11, 1979), known professionally as Brandy, is an American R&B singer-songwriter, record producer, actress, and film producer. ... William Allen Young (born in 1953 in Washington, District of Columbia) is an African American actor best known to play a role of Frank Michell in Moesha but was in many movies and guest-starred in many shows. ... Countess Danielle Vaughn (born August 8, 1978 in Idabel, Oklahoma) is an American actress and singer, best known for her role as the zaftig Kim Parker in the television series Moesha and its spinoff The Parkers. ... Sheryl Lee Ralph (born on December 30, 1956, in Waterbury, Connecticut) is a Tony Award-nominated American actress and singer of Jamaican heritage. ... Marcus T. Paulk as Boo in Roll Bounce (2005) Marcus T. Paulk (born October 12, 1986 in California) is an American actor best known as Myles Mitchell in the television series Moesha. ... Lamont Bentley (1973-2005) Artimus Lamont Bentley (October 25, 1973 – January 18, 2005) was an American television and film actor. ... Yvette Wilson (born March 6, 1964) in Los Angeles, California is an American comedian and actress best-known for her roles on Moesha and The Parkers as Andell Wilkerson. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Fredro Starr (born January 1, 1970), also known as Fredro Scruggs or Never, is an American rapper, actor and a member of hardcore rap group Onyx. ... Ray J on the cover of Raydiation (2005) William Raymond Norwood Jr. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... This is a list of Moesha episodes. ... UPN (which originally stood for the United Paramount Network) was a television network in over 200 markets in the United States. ... is the 23rd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... The year 1996 in television involved some significant events. ... is the 134th day of the year (135th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... This is a list of television-related events in 2001. ... This article is about the band. ... Trey Anastasio (born Ernest Joseph Anastasio III on September 30th, 1964)[1][2][3] is an American guitarist, composer, and vocalist most noted for his work with the rock band Phish. ... Trey Anastasio Band, or TAB for short, was a band formed by Trey Anastasio of Phish in 1998. ... This article is about a genre of comedy. ... UPN (which originally stood for the United Paramount Network) was a television network in over 200 markets in the United States. ... is the 23rd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... The year 1996 in television involved some significant events. ... is the 134th day of the year (135th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... This is a list of television-related events in 2001. ... Rhythm and blues (or R & B) is a musical marketing term introduced in the United States in the late 1940s by Billboard magazine. ... Brandy Rayana Norwood (born February 11, 1979), known professionally as Brandy, is an American R&B singer-songwriter, record producer, actress, and film producer. ... Los Angeles and L.A. redirect here. ...

Overview

The show focused on the life of an upper middle class, African-American family through the eyes of a typical girl. Her father Frank, a widower and a Saturn car salesman, has married Dee, the vice-principal at Moesha's school, much to Moesha's dismay. It was created by Ralph Farquhar, along with the writing team of Sara V. Finney and Vida Spears. The settings for the show include the Mitchell household and the teen hang-out, The Den. Languages Predominantly American English Religions Protestantism (chiefly Baptist and Methodist); Roman Catholicism; Islam Related ethnic groups Sub-Saharan Africans and other African groups, some with Native American groups. ...

Production

The show was first aired in the U.S. on January 23, 1996, however, the show was originally slated to air on the CBS network in 1995. CBS passed on the show and was later picked up by UPN to air in early January 1996 as a mid-season replacement. The show ran for six seasons. It ran in syndication on UPN from 1999-2002, then on Superstation WGN from 2005-2007, and The N from 2005 till present. It also aired on Nickelodeon UK, Paramount Channel UK and Trouble TV UK. is the 23rd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... The year 1996 in television involved some significant events. ... This article is about the broadcast network. ... This is a list of television-related events in 1995. ... UPN (which originally stood for the United Paramount Network) was a television network in over 200 markets in the United States. ... Year 1996 (MCMXCVI) was a leap year starting on Monday (link will display full 1996 Gregorian calendar). ... UPN (which originally stood for the United Paramount Network) was a television network in over 200 markets in the United States. ... Superstation WGN is a Chicago-based American superstation for WGN-TV, owned by Tribune Broadcasting Company. ... The-N is the nighttime block on Noggin for teens. ...

Issues addressed

The show dealt with "real teen social issues", such as teen pregnancy, drug use, race relations, premarital sex, the death of a parent, and day-to-day issues faced by teenagers at home and in school.

See also: Very special episode

For a one-off television program, see Television special. ...

Secrets & Lies

In one of the most controversial episodes, "Secrets & Lies"^[1], the Mitchell family learned from Dorian's adopted mother from Oakland that Frank is the biological father of Dorian, who both the Mitchells and Dorian himself believed to be Frank's nephew. The shocking news of Frank's infidelity (during his first marriage) turned the family upside-down and resulted in Moesha moving out of the house and Dorian's rebellion. This was a Season 5 episode. Cast member Sheryl Lee Ralph did not like this storyline, just like many Moesha fans. This storyline caused her to quit the show after the fifth season. She only made guest appearances when her character Dee Mitchell was absolutely necessary.^{[citation needed]} Oakland redirects here. ... Look up infidelity in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...

Backstage tension

With all the success that Moesha had accumulated, rumors speculated that Brandy was not getting along with members of the cast and production team. Stories of an alleged feud between Brandy and Countess Vaughn appeared in several tabloids. Shortly after, feeling the pressure to do a sitcom and pursue her music career, it has been rumored that Brandy had collapsed on the set of Moesha due to diet pills. She was rushed to the hospital and diagnosed with dehydration, having nothing to do with diet pills, which she had never taken.^{[citation needed]} Countess Danielle Vaughn (born August 8, 1978 in Idabel, Oklahoma) is an American actress and singer, best known for her role as the zaftig Kim Parker in the television series Moesha and its spinoff The Parkers. ... A tabloid is a newspaper — especially in the United Kingdom — that uses the tabloid format, which is roughly 23½ by 14¾ inches per spread. ... Anorectics, anorexigenics or appetite suppressants, are substances which reduce the desire to eat (anorectic, from the Greek an- = not and oreg- = extend, reach). Used on a short term basis clinically to treat obesity, some appetite suppressants are also available over the counter. ... Dehydration (hypohydration) is the removal of water (hydro in ancient Greek) from an object. ...

When co-creator and producer Vida Spears was fired, rumors circulated that Brandy and her mother, Sonja Norwood had been responsible for the termination. Spears wanted the show to continue its portrayal of a happy-go-lucky family, while Brandy wanted more control over storylines. With the arrival of Ray J (Brandy's real-life brother) to the show, the storylines were revamped from his character being portrayed as Frank's nephew to his out-of-wedlock son. Ray J on the cover of Raydiation (2005) William Raymond Norwood Jr. ...

Additional conflicts arose during the series run when Lamont Bentley was sued by a security guard, who claimed bodily injury caused by he and his friends in an altercation allegedly caused when Bentley refused to provide credentials when entering the Sunset/Gower parking lot, where the series was taped. Allegedly the management at Sunset/Gower Studios declined to renew the production company's lease as a result of this problem and the series later moved to Paramount Studios lot. Lamont Bentley (1973-2005) Artimus Lamont Bentley (October 25, 1973 – January 18, 2005) was an American television and film actor. ...

Some sources reported that backstage tension that continued throughout Season 6 played a factor in UPN's decision to cancel the series.^{[citation needed]}

Cancellation

By the sixth season^[2], Moesha seemed to become a full-blown melodramatic sitcom. In the final episode of the season^[3], it was revealed that Myles was kidnapped by a rival of Dorian and an unknown pregnancy test found in the trash at Moesha's dorm room. A seventh season of the show was planned, but UPN let the series go as ratings continued to decline from Season 5. As previously mentioned, many viewers were unmoved by the episode, entitled "Secrets and Lies," which made Dorian an out-of-wedlock child of Frank. Entertainment Weekly reported that certain plots were to be resolved on The Parkers even with Ray J joining the cast, but to no avail. A made-for-TV movie was rumored to be in the works, but never happened.^{[citation needed]} Poster for The Perils of Pauline (1914). ... When TV viewers or entertainment professionals in the United States mention ratings they are often referring to Nielsen Ratings, a system developed by Nielsen Media Research to determine the audience size and composition of television programming. ... Entertainment Weekly (sometimes abbreviated EW) is a magazine published by Time Inc. ... The Parkers is a sitcom that aired for 5 years on UPN from August 30, 1999 - May 10, 2004. ... Ray J on the cover of Raydiation (2005) William Raymond Norwood Jr. ...

Opening Credits

There have been three versions of opening credits.

1. Used for Season 1
2. Used for Seasons 2 and 3
3. Used for the last three seasons

Although the same recording of the theme song was used for the last three seasons, A different opening was used for each of the last three seasons.

1. Season 4 showed the cast around the neighborhood and shows Moesha, Kim, and Nicey at the fountain.
2. Season 5 showed the cast as Brandy lip-syncs to the theme song.
3. Season 6 showed the cast as Brandy lip-syncs to the theme song. The same as Season 5 is used with a twist. Since Yvette Wilson left to join the cast for The Parkers and Sheryl Lee Ralph quit the show, Brandy is shown lip-syncing over where Yvette Wilson and Sheryl Lee Ralph once were in the Season 5 opening.

Yvette Wilson (born March 6, 1964) in Los Angeles, California is an American comedian and actress best-known for her roles on Moesha and The Parkers as Andell Wilkerson. ... The Parkers is a sitcom that aired for 5 years on UPN from August 30, 1999 - May 10, 2004. ... Sheryl Lee Ralph (born on December 30, 1956, in Waterbury, Connecticut) is a Tony Award-nominated American actress and singer of Jamaican heritage. ... Yvette Wilson (born March 6, 1964) in Los Angeles, California is an American comedian and actress best-known for her roles on Moesha and The Parkers as Andell Wilkerson. ... Sheryl Lee Ralph (born on December 30, 1956, in Waterbury, Connecticut) is a Tony Award-nominated American actress and singer of Jamaican heritage. ...

Cast

• Brandy Norwood as Moesha Mitchell
• William Allen Young as Frank Mitchell
• Sheryl Lee Ralph as Deidra "Dee" Mitchell (Seasons 1-5, recurring Season 6)
• Countess Vaughn as Kimberly 'Kim' Parker (Seasons 1-4)
• Marcus T. Paulk as Myles Mitchell
• Lamont Bentley as Hakeem Campbell
• Yvette Wilson as Andell Wilkerson (Seasons 1-5)
• Shar Jackson as Denice 'Niecy' Jackson (Seasons 2-6, recurring previously)
• Fredro Starr as Quinton 'Q' Brooks (Seasons 2-3, recurring thereafter)
• Ray J as Dorian Long (Seasons 5-6)

Brandy Rayana Norwood (born February 11, 1979), known professionally as Brandy, is an American R&B singer-songwriter, record producer, actress, and film producer. ... William Allen Young (born in 1953 in Washington, District of Columbia) is an African American actor best known to play a role of Frank Michell in Moesha but was in many movies and guest-starred in many shows. ... Sheryl Lee Ralph (born on December 30, 1956, in Waterbury, Connecticut) is a Tony Award-nominated American actress and singer of Jamaican heritage. ... Countess Danielle Vaughn (born August 8, 1978 in Idabel, Oklahoma) is an American actress and singer, best known for her role as the zaftig Kim Parker in the television series Moesha and its spinoff The Parkers. ... Marcus T. Paulk as Boo in Roll Bounce (2005) Marcus T. Paulk (born October 12, 1986 in California) is an American actor best known as Myles Mitchell in the television series Moesha. ... Lamont Bentley (1973-2005) Artimus Lamont Bentley (October 25, 1973 – January 18, 2005) was an American television and film actor. ... Yvette Wilson (born March 6, 1964) in Los Angeles, California is an American comedian and actress best-known for her roles on Moesha and The Parkers as Andell Wilkerson. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Fredro Starr (born January 1, 1970), also known as Fredro Scruggs or Never, is an American rapper, actor and a member of hardcore rap group Onyx. ... Ray J on the cover of Raydiation (2005) William Raymond Norwood Jr. ...

Characters

• Moesha Mitchell - Like many teens, Moesha's trying to find her place in life. At every turn, Moesha — along with her friends and family —experiences new challenges and hilarious situations associated with the pressures and demands of growing up in an often confusing world.

• Frank Mitchell - A Saturn dealer and father to Moesha, Myles, and Dorian.

• Deidra "Dee" Mitchell - an educator attempting to master two additional careers — as wife and stepmother to Moesha and Myles.

• Kim Parker - Moesha's best friend who went on to star in Moesha's spin-off show "The Parkers" along with her mother.

• Myles Mitchell - Myles is Moesha's younger brother.

• Hakeem Campbell - A frequent visitor to the Mitchell household, as Moesha’s lifelong friend, neighbor.

• Andell Wilkerson - Moesha's older friend and owner of the neighborhood hangout, The Den.

• Niecy Jackson - Moesha's friend and confidante.

• Quinton 'Q' Brooks - Moesha's love interest.

• Dorian Long - Moesha and Myles' cousin turned half-brother.

Moesha Denise Mitchell is a fictional character on the television show Moesha played by Brandy Norwood. ... Myles Mitchell (played by Marcus T. Paulk) is a fictional character on the UPN sitcom, Moesha. ... Dorian D-Money Long is a fictional character on Moesha. ...

Episodes

See List of Moesha episodes

This is a list of Moesha episodes. ...

Spin-off

Given her popularity for four seasons on Moesha, Countess Vaughn left the show in 1999 for her own show, The Parkers. The show premiered on August 30, 1999 on UPN airing, for a time, after its parent series. It centered the adventures of Kim attending college along with her mother played by comedienne Mo'Nique. The year 1999 in television involved some significant events. ... The Parkers is a sitcom that aired for 5 years on UPN from August 30, 1999 - May 10, 2004. ... is the 242nd day of the year (243rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... The year 1999 in television involved some significant events. ... MoNique (born Monique Imes on December 11, 1967 in Woodlawn, Maryland) is an African American comedian, actress, BET Awards, and reality television host. ...

Several Moesha cast members (including Brandy Norwood) made crossover appearances on the show from time to time to provide continuity between the two shows and to also give Moesha fans closure to the characters from the previous show. Leaving Moesha, Yvette Wilson later joined the cast as Andell in 2000. The year 2000 in television involved some significant events. ...

In popular culture

Moesha has been a target for such shows and movies.

• Clueless - In a Halloween-themed episode spoofing the popular Scream films, Cher (Rachel Blanchard), Dionne (Stacey Dash) and Amber (Elisa Donovan) try to catch a stalker. Later, Amber hints at a Moesha crossover after calling out Moesha's name when the girls are looking for Murray and Sean. In fact, Shar Jackson and Lamont Bentley would appear in a later episode reprising their Moesha characters.

• A Very Brady Sequel (1996) - Jan Brady (Jennifer Elise Cox) runs into her psychiatrist, Mrs. Cummings (RuPaul). She gives Jan some advice. Shortly after, Mrs. Cummings' daughters are shown having an argument where one utters the phrase, "Moesha! Moesha! Moesha!" The phrase was used for laughs since a similar catch-phrase was stated in the original series. Coincidentally, Jennifer Elise Cox reprises her role in an episode of Moesha's fourth season.

• The Proud Family -In the episode "Hooray for Iesha", the show parodies Moesha revolving around Penny Proud's favorite television program, Iesha. The plot of this episode is about the show Iesha, which is cancelled without resolving the previous seasons cliffhanger ending, with Iesha's little brother running away. This is almost reminiscent to the final episode of Moesha.

• Crenshaw High School, the school that Moesha and her friends attend, is the same high school used for characters in the films, Love & Basketball and Boyz N the Hood.

• On a sixth season episode of Family Guy, Mayor Adam West is quoted in saying that he gets "crabby" if he misses Moesha.

Clueless was a television series based on the 1995 teen movie Clueless. ... Scream is a 1996 horror film, directed by Wes Craven and written by Kevin Williamson. ... Rachel Blanchard playing Nancy in Peep Show Rachel Elise Blanchard (born March 19, 1976 in Toronto, Canada) is a Canadian actress. ... Stacey Dash (born January 20, 1966 in The Bronx, New York) is an American film and television actress of West Indian and Aztec descent. ... Elisa Donovan (born Lisa Donovan on February 3, 1974 in Poughkeepsie, NY) is an American actress. ... A Very Brady Sequel is a 1996 comedy film that is a sequel to 1995s The Brady Bunch Movie. ... The year 1996 in television involved some significant events. ... Jennifer Elise Cox is an American actress best known for her satirical portrayal of Jan Brady in The Brady Bunch Movie. ... RuPaul (born RuPaul Andre Charles on November 17, 1960), is an American drag performer, dance music singer, actor, and songwriter who gained worldwide fame in the 1990s; appearing in a wide variety of television programs, films, and musical albums. ... The Proud Family was an American animated television series that aired on Disney Channel from September 15, 2001 to August 19, 2005 // The Proud Family is a comedic sitcom based on semi-dramatic situations that revolve around the main character, 14-year old Penny Proud. ... Crenshaw High School is a secondary school located in South Los Angeles, California. ... Love & Basketball is a 2000 romantic drama film, written and directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood. ... This article is about the song by rapper Eazy-E. For 1991 film, see Boyz n the Hood. ... Movin Out (Brians Song) is the second episode of the sixth season of the FOX animated series Family Guy. ... Family Guy is an Emmy Award-winning American animated television series about a dysfunctional family in the fictional town of Quahog, Rhode Island. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ...

References

1. ^ Secrets & Lies
2. ^ Season 6
3. ^ Paying the Piper

External links

• Moesha at the Internet Movie Database
• Moesha at TV.com
• Moesha on The-N.com
• Moesha Message Board on The-N.com
• 1990's Sitcoms - Sitcoms Online Message Boards
• Jump The Shark - Moesha