Moesha (1996–2001)

"Moesha" is a sitcom (which, in later years, took more of a dramatic turn) that follows the life and times of a black teenager living in the Leimert Park section of Los Angeles, CA. For ... See full summary »

Creators:

Sara V. Finney, Vida Spears

Stars:

Brandy Norwood, William Allen Young, Marcus T. Paulk

3 wins & 29 nominations.

Cast

Series cast summary:
Brandy Norwood	...	Moesha Mitchell (127 episodes, 1996-2001)
William Allen Young	...	Frank Mitchell (127 episodes, 1996-2001)
Marcus T. Paulk	...	Myles Mitchell (127 episodes, 1996-2001)
Lamont Bentley	...	Hakeem Campbell (127 episodes, 1996-2001)
Shar Jackson	...	Niecy Jackson (122 episodes, 1996-2001)
Sheryl Lee Ralph	...	Dee Mitchell (112 episodes, 1996-2001)
Yvette Wilson	...	Andell Wilkerson (105 episodes, 1996-2000)
Countess Vaughn	...	Kimberly Ann Parker (83 episodes, 1996-1999)
Fredro Starr	...	Quinton 'Q' Brooks (52 episodes, 1996-2000)
Ray J	...	Dorian 'D-Money' Long (48 episodes, 1996-2001)

Storyline

"Moesha" is a sitcom (which, in later years, took more of a dramatic turn) that follows the life and times of a black teenager living in the Leimert Park section of Los Angeles, CA. For years since her mother died, Moesha Mitchell has taken care of her father Frank and younger brother Myles. So when a teacher at her school, Dee, marries Frank, Moesha feels her territory being encroached upon by a new step mother. As time went on, the two females of the house would learn to appreciate and cherish each other's presence. Moesha's boy-crazy best friends Kim and Niecy as well as her eternally hungry neighbor and pal Hakeem are there to support Mo throughout all of the drama she finds herself in--and there's always plenty. Andell, a local smoothie shop owner, is another close confidante of Moesha's, lending her wisdom to the teen when needed. Over the years, it was Frank who Moesha would clash with most. He has quite a hard time witnessing his "pumpkin" grow up, and often hates her ...

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Plot Keywords:

sitcom | one word title | multicultural | smart | family relationships | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Family

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

23 January 1996 (USA)

Filming Locations:

Columbia/Sunset Gower Studios - 1438 N. Gower Street, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Big Ticket Television, Jump at the Sun Productions (1997-2000), Regan-John Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

30 min 30 min (127 episodes)

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Through out the series Ray J played 3 different roles on the show.Charles,Himself and then Dorien.

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Quotes

Niecy: Hola, chico.
Antonio: Oh, and Happy Kwanzaa, my sista!

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Connections

Referenced in The Parkers: Three's a Shag (1999)

User Reviews

Great show until the end

This was one of the most watched sitcoms that garnered a huge African- American audience during it run on UPN. Originally is was supposed to start off as pilot for CBS in 1995,but instead UPN picked up the series and it did extremely well becoming the network's longest-running show which mainly came on Monday nights at the 8:00pm hour(which gave teens time to finish up their studies before the show came on). Moesha started out as a good little comedy,but its was Brandy and crew that kept the show going and it was the first to center around the everyday occurances of a African-American teenager(which Brandy's character Moesha Mitchell made the transition from high school to college during the show's run) but the show had so much more. From interactions with her parents Frank and Dee(played by William Faulk and Sheryl Lee Ralph) to rival sibling feuds with Myles,her closest friends who managed to get themselves in all kinds of trouble like Niecy and Kim(it was Niecy who join Moesha in college in later episodes) to her on again,off again relationships with Hakeem and Q and later on constant confrontations with her cousin Dorian (played by Brandy's real life brother Ray J) who was always in trouble with the law. This was a show that was funny at times,but most of the time you had to just follow along cause you'll never know what Brandy's character is thinking or doing whatever next. Very interesting show.

Unfortunately,Moesha was cancelled in 2001,but the show had two major cliffhangers that were left unsolved-including one that dealt with teen-marriage,one dealt with pregnancy,and the other involving a kidnapping and drugs. The final episode of the series ended on May 23,2001 which was an hour long episode that dealt with those issues including the showdown between Dorian and Frank and there interaction with a notorious drug lord (played by Master P),and the sudden fate of Moesha who runs off with her high school pal Q,and the fight scene where Hakeem and Q come to blows when they find out that Brandy's character is pregnant and Frank gets furious. As for Dee,she leaves for Jamaica....the end.