"Soul Food" (2000) TV series 2000-2004

Directors:

Bethany Rooney
Stephen Surjik

Writer:

Maeyen A. Bassey (writer)

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5

Release Date:

28 June 2000 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

Reality with a bite.

Plot Keywords:

Black Housewife | African American | Black Female Hairstylist | Black Female Lawyer | Black Family

Awards:

Nominated for Primetime Emmy. Another 7 wins & 27 nominations

Cast

Nicole Ari Parker	...	Teri Joseph (74 episodes, 2000-2004)
Malinda Williams	...	Tracy 'Bird' Van Adams (74 episodes, 2000-2004)
Vanessa Williams	...	Maxine Chadway (74 episodes, 2000-2004)
Aaron Meeks	...	Ahmad Chadway (74 episodes, 2000-2004)
Rockmond Dunbar	...	Kenny Chadway (74 episodes, 2000-2004)
Darrin Dewitt Henson	...	Lem Van Adams (74 episodes, 2000-2004)
Taylor Love	...	Kelly Chadway (33 episodes, 2001-2004)

Runtime:

45 min

Country:

Canada | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Filming Locations:

Chicago, Illinois, USA

Company:

Waterworks LLC

Movie Connections:

Spin off from Soul Food (1997)

Soundtrack:

I Don't Wanna

Good Show

For a while, there has been a new wave of television show. This show required, what one would say, a "continuation" of a character or particular character's lives. This show required a great call to authority and possibly had the hardest task of living up to it's predecessor's status. If anyone knows what I'm talking about, it's the sudden trend of television shows based off movies that are starting to sweep the television airwaves currently. If you've already guessed it, "Soul Food" now falls into this category.

Receiving positive reviews and doing pretty good at the box office, "Soul Food," the 1997 film starring a cast of rising A-list actors & actresses struck a chord with audiences, most notably the African-American audience and helped redefine the black family film. Since, this film was a hit on all levels, what would one expect next? You've guessed it, turn it into a weekly television series. I must say that I feel that the television show is much better than the film. Not that the film was bad or anything, it's just that the television show allows the audience to sympathize and grow with the characters over a period of time. Here we are, each week for one hour, we get to tap into the Joeseph sisters lives and realize that they are more than one-dimensional characters. With the film version, we only got 2 hours to really tap into the lives of the Joseph sisters, but with the series we're given a chance to see how they have evolved as characters.

They're are many positive things about this show. For one, I think that this show presents African Americans, especially men, in a positive light. Here, the male characters are not deadbeat dads, drunkards or living their life from check to check. Another plus, is that I think this show has very good acting. Perhaps I think my favorite actor on this show is Rockmund Dunbar(Kenny Chadway) but I'm surprised they didn't cast a much taller actor to play his character. Let's don't forget Nicole Ari Parker and her believable portrayal of Teri Joseph, the leader and the most successful out of the Joseph Sisters.

It's funny because I didn't start watching this show until a couple of months after it was taken off the air, but I try to watch it every night it comes on BET. My word of advice is don't watch it on BET because they cut out all the good parts(oh God, the humanity) so it is better to watch it on Showtime, edited free. This is a good show and I recommend it.