Barbershop (TV series)

Barbershop
Based on Barbershop (2002 film)
Barbershop 2: Back in Business (2004 film)
Developed by John Ridley
Starring Omar Gooding
Gbenga Akinnagbe
Anna Brown
Wes Chatham
Leslie Elliard
Barry Shabaka Henley
Toni Trucks
Dan White
Narrated by Omar Gooding
Composer(s) Steve Hampton
John Adair
Country of origin United States
Original language(s) English
No. of seasons 1
No. of episodes 10
Production
Camera setup Single-camera
Running time 30 minutes
Production company(s) State Street Pictures
International Famous Players Radio Pictures Corporation
Cube Vision
MGM Television
Distributor MGM Worldwide Television Distribution
Release
Original network Showtime
Original release August 14 – October 16, 2005 (2005-10-16)
Chronology
Followed by Barbershop: The Next Cut (2016 film)

Barbershop: The Series is an American sitcom which made its debut on the Showtime cable network in August 2005. It is based upon the Mark Brown-created characters from the popular films Barbershop (2002) and Barbershop 2: Back in Business (2004),[1] and was developed for television by screenwriter John Ridley. It starred Omar Gooding as Calvin Palmer, Jr., the proprietor of an African-American barbershop on the South Side of Chicago, Illinois.

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,[2] including 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

The character was first portrayed in the original Barbershop film by Ice Cube.

The character was first portrayed in the original Barbershop film (where he was named Dinka) by Leonard Earl Howze.

The character was first portrayed in the original Barbershop film by Jazsmin Lewis.

The character was first portrayed in the original Barbershop film (where he was named Isaac Rosenberg) by Troy Garity.

The character was first portrayed in the original Barbershop film by Sean Patrick Thomas.

The character was first portrayed in the original Barbershop film by Cedric the Entertainer.

The character was first portrayed in the original Barbershop film by Eve.

Unlike the other major characters, Romadal originated on this series.

List of episodes

Series # Production
code
Original air date Title Notes
1 101 14 August 2005 "This is My Bullshit, and You're Welcome to It" 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.
2 102 21 August 2005 "Nigger, Lovers" "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 Korean-American, some residents are outraged by the use of the N-word . . . and Jimmy takes full advantage of the situation. Terri is attracted to the son of the new store owner. Big Tricky (Page Kennedy) wants his cousin Romadal to be the spokesman for his new hip-hop CD, but he needs Calvin's approval first.
3 103 28 August 2005 "Madonna is a 'Ho (and Dana's Fucking Blind)" 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.
4 104 4 September 2005 "Whose Pussy Is That?" 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 alderman. Eddie discovers that Claire is a transsexual.
5 105 11 September 2005 "What's Good for the Cos..." The barbershop staff (along with Jen and Jimmy) attends one of Bill Cosby's lectures on personal responsibility in the African-American community. Terri and Yinka continue to smoke marijuana at the barbershop, which drastically affects their work performance. Isaac, who only dates women of color, decides to try dating White women. Eddie is in turmoil after learning the truth about Claire. Calvin learns that his late father had a second family . . . including a White wife and adult biracial children.
6 106 18 September 2005 "A Black Man Invented the Stoplight" Calvin learns that his mother and brother (Roz Ryan, Phil LaMarr) have known about his father's second family for years. The former mayor of Chicago (John Rubinstein) decides to run against Jimmy. After discovering Terri and Yinka's drug habits, Calvin forces them to enter drug rehab, led by an extremely confrontational drug counselor (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.
7 107 25 September 2005 "Family Business" Jen and Dana get help from Big Tricky and Da Boot (Kia Joy Goodwin) in developing their urban bed and breakfast. Calvin neglects the barbershop while spending time with his "other" family (Tanya Roberts, 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.
8 108 2 October 2005 "Debates and Dead People" 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.
9 109 9 October 2005 "The Politics of Money" 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.
10 110 16 October 2005 "Crimes of the Heart" 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

  1. "A fresh cut for the ‘Barbershop’ franchise", MSNBC.com, August 8, 2005. Retrieved October 20, 2009.
  2. Yarbrough, Marti. "Omar Gooding leads cast of new TV comedy 'Barbershop'", JET, August 15, 2005. Retrieved October 20, 2009.
  3. Mitovich, Matt Webb. "Barbershop's Immigrant Gets a Makeover", TV Guide, August 25, 2005. Retrieved October 18, 2009.

External links

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