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Black History Month Gives Us Reason To Look Back At TV History

© F. Colin Kingston

This week Suite101.Com takes a look at some of the ground breaking African-American performers and programs that have helped define American television. No one article can do justice to the vast contributions made by African-Americans to U.S. Television. What follows are some of the highlights of each decade of U.S. Television.

1950s THE JACK BENNY SHOW, CBS, 1950 to 1977. Jack Benny and company had been on network radio since 1932. The star and series made a smooth transition to television. One of the few co-stars with Benny throughout his radio and television series was Eddie "Rochester" Anderson.

Anderson was a key role on the Benny programs. Though he played a butler, Anderson was far from the typical African-American servant usually seen in film and television. He was smart, funny, and often got the best of his friend and employer Jack Benny.

At one time Anderson was the highest paid African-American performer in the country. In addition to his roles on television and radio he also had many roles in films. He is probably most identifiable with thte role of "Rochester" on the Jack Benny programs, however.

1960s I SPY, NBC, 1965 to 1968. Besides being a classic series, I SPY is known for being the first regular dramatic show on U.S. Television to feature an African-American performer in a lead role. Bill Cosby and Robert Culp starred as Alexander Scott and Kelly Robinson respectively.

The series had comedic and dramatic elements and was one of several shows who owed their exisence to the popularity of the James Bond films.

Cosby's character was a graduate of Temple University and was also a Rhodes Scholar. Both men were dedicated American agents (spies). Even more important, viewers saw a close friendship between the characters. The fact that Cosby's character was black and that Culp's character was white was treated incindentally and, therefore, made even more of an impact on viewers.

JULIA, NBC, 1968 to 1971. This comedy series starred Diahann Carroll, the first black actress to star in her own comedy series in U.S. television history. Her character, Julia Baker, was a widowed nurse whose husband was killed in action in Vietnam.

The cast was completly integrated. Storylines took a look at Julia's work and personal life. It is hard to believe now but network executives were worried about the reaction of the viewing public to this "radical" concept.

1970s THE FLIP WILSON SHOW, NBC, 1970 to 1974. Comedian Flip Wilson was the first African-American performer to achieve universal success as host of his own variety series. The series featured the top guest artists of the day, musical acts and comedic skits.

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