Barbershop (TV series)
| Barbershop | |
|---|---|
| Based on | Characters by Marc Brown |
| Developed by | John Ridley |
| Starring |
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| Composers |
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| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language | English |
| No. of seasons | 1 |
| No. of episodes | 10 |
| Production | |
| Camera setup | Single-camera |
| Running time | 30 minutes |
| Production companies |
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| Original release | |
| Network | Showtime |
| Release | August 14 – October 16, 2005 |
| Related | |
Barbershop: The Series is an American
.The series was produced by Barbershop and Barbershop 2 producers
George Tillman, Jr. and Robert Teitel, along with original Barbershop star Ice Cube
. It lasted for only one season, and ten episodes were aired (seven of which were written by Ridley).
Production
While the original films were no stranger to controversy, the series uses humor to more deeply explore a variety of issues related to the contemporary African-American community,drug abuse, entrepreneurship, local politics, and the use of the N-word.
Continuing from the events of Barbershop 2, the series makes several minor changes. Isaac's surname is changed from Rosenberg to Brice (and the dark-haired man becomes a blond). The Nigerian-born Dinka is renamed "Yinka", as Yinka is an actual Nigerian name, while Dinka is not.[3] Additionally, Dinka was naive and slightly overweight, while Yinka is well-educated and muscular. Ricky, the reformed criminal, is replaced by a more hardened ex-con, Jen's distant relative Romadal Dupree. Finally, Isaac and Jimmy (instead of Yinka) each harbor a crush on Terri.
Cast and characters
- Omar Gooding as Calvin Palmer, Jr. Calvin is the owner of Calvin Jr.’s Barbershop, first opened in 1958 as "Calvin's Barbershop" by his father Calvin Palmer, Sr. He and his wife Jen have a son, Cody.
The character was first portrayed in the original Barbershop film by Ice Cube.
- Gbenga Akinnagbe as Yinka. An immigrant from Nigeria, Yinka fled that country to escape local sectarian violence. He is by far the most well-educated employee at the barbershop.
The character was first portrayed in the original Barbershop film (where he was named Dinka) by Leonard Earl Howze.
- Anna Brown as Jen Palmer. Jen is a homemaker, and has studied hotel management in community college. She and her husband Calvin have a son, Cody.
The character was first portrayed in the original Barbershop film by Jazsmin Lewis.
- Wes Chatham as Isaac Brice. Isaac is a White man raised in African-American neighborhoods, and exclusively dates women of color. He is particularly attracted to his fellow barber Terri Jones.
The character was first portrayed in the original Barbershop film (where he was named Isaac Rosenberg) by Troy Garity.
- Leslie Elliard as Jimmy James. A former employee at the barbershop, Jimmy quit to pursue a career in local politics. Jimmy goes to great lengths to appear more important than is actually the case. He is politically conservative, and considers Calvin to be his best friend.
The character was first portrayed in the original Barbershop film by Sean Patrick Thomas.
- King-assassination riotsin April 1968. In return, Calvin Sr. decreed that Eddie would never again have to pay rent for his chair. Eddie often tells tall tales about his past, and frequently complains that the current generation has no values or sense of history.
The character was first portrayed in the original Barbershop film by Cedric the Entertainer.
- Toni Trucks as Terri Jones. Terri is the only female barber at Calvin Jr.'s. She is very quick to anger, and her short temper affects almost all of her interpersonal relationships.
The character was first portrayed in the original Barbershop film by Eve.
- Dan White as Romadal Dupree. Romadal is a distant relative of Jen Palmer, who convinced Calvin to hire him. He is an ex-con who was recently released from prison, and is feared throughout the South Side. He has no real skills as a barber.
Unlike the other major characters, Romadal originated in this series.
Episodes
| No. | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date | Prod. code |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "This is My Bullshit, and You're Welcome to It" | John Ridley | John Ridley | August 14, 2005 | 101 |
| Jen convinces Calvin to hire her distant relative Romadal Dupree, who has just been released from prison. Calvin teaches Yinka how to talk dirty to a woman during sex. Terri is forced to confront her anger issues after her identity is stolen. Jimmy tries to use his nonexistent political clout to do a favor for Jen. | |||||
| 2 | "Nigger, Lovers" | John Ridley | John Ridley | August 21, 2005 | 102 |
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"Niggaz", an urban fashion chain store owned by African-Americans, opens a franchise in the neighborhood. But when the owner of the new store turns out to be CD , but he needs Calvin's approval first. | |||||
| 3 | "Madonna is a 'Ho (and Dana's Fucking Blind)" | Kevin Bray | John Ridley | August 28, 2005 | 103 |
| Calvin and Jen have dinner with David and Dana Kang (Kipp Shiotani, Lauren Tom), who are constantly cursing at each other in public. Michael Kang (Yun Choi) breaks up with Terri, while Isaac begins seeing Michael's sister Michelle (Camille Chen). Eddie picks up a gorgeous woman (Sheryl Lee Ralph) in a bar. | |||||
| 4 | "Whose Pussy is That?" | Linda Mendoza | John Ridley | September 4, 2005 | 104 |
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Yinka tries new dirty talk on Jen's gynecologist (Victoria Platt). Jen competes with her sister Jan to find the perfect gift for Calvin's birthday. Terri finds marijuana in Romadal's locker, after which Issac, Yinka and Eddie join her in smoking it while on the job. The Kang siblings try to hide their flings with Terri and Isaac from their mother Dana. Jimmy decides to run for transsexual . | |||||
| 5 | "What's Good for the Cos..." | Millicent Shelton | John Ridley | September 11, 2005 | 105 |
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The barbershop staff (along with Jen and Jimmy) attends one of biracial children. | |||||
| 6 | "A Black Man Invented the Stoplight" | Linda Mendoza | John Ridley | September 18, 2005 | 106 |
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Calvin learns that his mother and brother ( Kevin Hart). Eddie's friends question his "deviant behavior" with Claire. Jen and Dana decide to open an urban bed and breakfast . Malcolm (A. Doran Reed) sues Calvin for invasion of privacy after he is caught on the surveillance cameras having sex in the back of the barbershop. | |||||
| 7 | "Family Business" | Lee Shallat Chemel | Matt Wickline | September 25, 2005 | 107 |
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Jen and Dana get help from Big Tricky and Da Boot ( Christopher "Kid" Reid , Kendra Smith). Malcolm drops the lawsuit after Romadal attacks him. Jimmy's campaign manager (Lalanya Masters) starts to question whether Jimmy can win the election. Terri and her drug counselor James Ricky begin a very odd sexual relationship. | |||||
| 8 | "Debates and Dead People" | Ken Whittingham | Lance Crouther | October 2, 2005 | 108 |
| Calvin continues to spend time with his other family, and the barbershop suffers in his absence. Isaac steals a famous client from Yinka, and the two barbers eventually come to blows. A ventroliquist and his dummy cause trouble for Jen and Dana at the bed and breakfast. Yinka falls in love with a married Nigerian woman (Nzinga Blake). Romadal is arrested for assault. | |||||
| 9 | "The Politics of Money" | Lee Shallat Chemel | Stacy A. Littlejohn | October 9, 2005 | 109 |
| When Isaac puts his celebrity clientele ahead of his regular job, Calvin fires him. Jimmy tries to raise funds and support for his faltering campaign. Calvin puts up the barbershop as collateral to bail Romadal out of jail . . . but then Romadal disappears. After learning that Vivian will be put to death upon her return to Nigeria, Yinka helps her seek sanctuary at the bed and breakfast. | |||||
| 10 | "Crimes of the Heart" | John Ridley | John Ridley | October 16, 2005 | 110 |
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After Romadal jumps bail, Calvin tries to track him down to avoid losing the barbershop. As Election Day approaches, Jimmy seeks an endorsement from Eddie, who was "like a son" to the late Chicago mayor Harold Washington. Isaac and Terri finally give in to their mutual attraction and consummate their relationship. Yinka learns that Vivian is not as innocent as he thought. Shocking turns of events leave both Jen and Jimmy in desperate need of cash. [This episode was intended to be the first season finale. However, Showtime subsequently cancelled the series, making this the last episode.] | |||||
References
- MSNBC.com, August 8, 2005. Retrieved October 20, 2009.
- ^ Yarbrough, Marti. "Omar Gooding leads cast of new TV comedy 'Barbershop'", JET, August 15, 2005. Retrieved October 20, 2009.
- ^ Mitovich, Matt Webb. "Barbershop's Immigrant Gets a Makeover", TV Guide, August 25, 2005. Retrieved October 18, 2009.
External links
- Barbershop at IMDb
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