1980
1981
Isabel Sanford wins the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series for her role as Louise "Weezy" Jefferson on "The Jeffersons," becoming the first black woman to win the award in that category.
Nell Carter stars in “Gimme A Break!” on NBC as a housekeeper for a widowed police chief and his three daughters. The show has mixed reception with reviews calling out the show’s racial stereotypes and others praising the show’s acting.
“Gimme a Break” 1981
1984
“The Cosby Show” debuts, portraying an upper-middle class African American family living in Brooklyn Heights, New York, and becomes a major hit of the 80s, opening doors for other shows with predominantly Black casts. Phylicia Rashad plays Clair Huxtable, a lawyer with four daughters and a son. Her four daughters are played by Tempestt Bledsoe (Vanessa), Keshia Knight Pulliam (Rudy), Lisa Bonet (Denise) and Sabrina Le Beauf (Sondra). Since its television run, Bill Cosby, who plays Cliff Huxtable and is the co-creator of the show, has faced sexual assault allegations, dampening the legacy of “The Cosby Show.”
“The Cosby Show” 1984
1986
Oprah Winfrey launches "The Oprah Winfrey Show," which becomes a cultural phenomenon and the highest-rated talk show in television history.
“The Oprah Winfrey Show” 1986
1987
“Frank’s Place” shows Black life in the north and the south, following a prestigious Brown University professor, Frank Parrish, who inherits a restaurant in New Orleans. Frances E. Williams plays a waitress who puts a voodoo curse on Parrish to keep him from selling the restaurant. The show portrays issues related to race and class and is canceled after one season.
“Frank’s Place” 1987
1988
Carole Simpson makes history as the first black woman to anchor a major network evening newscast. She serves as an anchor for ABC News, bringing diversity to the national news landscape.
Interview with Carole Simpson