The Bernie Mac Show

Some people may not know this but Bernie Mac had a short-lived variety show on HBO called "Midnight Mac". It was then that Bernie Mac's comedy and host skills were displayed together. Why HBO got rid of the show is anyone's guess but I'm happy he has his own show now.

"The Bernie Mac Show" doesn't follow any of the conventional sitcom "rules". The male character (Bernie Mac) is strong, smooth, intelligent, and doesn't take any BS from anyone. Instead of the rash of wishy-washy and flat-out stupid "fathers" on recent sitcoms, The Bernie Mac Show is like a hip "Father Knows Best". The fresh cast is wonderful. The children are hilarious and Bernie's wife (Kellita Smith) is SOOOO REAL.

I hope this show stays on. So original, fresh, and entertaining!

At first this seemed like another African American-headlined sitcom just waiting to burst with the same tired jokes. But Bernie Mac has managed to conjure a truly original comedy which also has an awesome funk-r&b-hip hop soundtrack. A relatively new cast is also very good in a show that, hopefully, will become a long-running staple on FOX.

A standup comic suddenly finds himself with three children to raise, the result of a drug-addled sister. One is a young girl trying to grow up, the second is an Urkel-type boy who loves to cause trouble and the third is a very young female who likes to eat. A lot. The comic struggles to be a father, and is aided (and sometimes not helped) by his adoring wife. Bernie Mac as the comic periodically breaks the fourth wall by sitting, facing the camera and talking directly to it, which means he is talking to us. No laugh track, no live audience, thank God. The show is decidedly hit and miss, and your feelings about it will depend on how you feel about the late and great Mr. Mac and his particular brand of humor. Guest stars abound.

This is the show to watch on Wednesday nights on FOX. I'm very impressed that the show has been renewed for three more seasons,and that's good. Let's hope they don't cancel it,or destroy it for that manner. Bernie Mac(usually his comedian antics are strictly adult oriented) is just absolutely marvelous as the father figure who takes three kids from a rough Chicago neighborhood and raises them in the plush estates of Beverly Hills who along with his wife Wanda. However,Mac has toned down a bit for this show,but in all aspects it is extremely funny and the punchliners come from Mac himself. He maybe a little too strict with them,but you'll never know what Bernie Mac is thinking or going to do next. The part about where he talks to the audience with cigar in hand is a grand style of situation comedy that has not been used in a long time and it is worth the cost to see this show! In all you gotta love the three kids here.................sassy and sometimes attitude correct Vanessa,nerdy and unpredictable Jordan,and the cute and adorable Deirdra(or Dee Dee/baby girl for short). The wife is seen in some of the episodes,but its Bernie himself that holds it together.........great show!

This was a great series and the particular episode Easy Rider was very good as well. As in most episodes Bernie's ego gets in his way as he rides his motorcycle trying to get approval of other bikers all the while missing commitments to his kids. Funny enough as he wrecks and what follows.

The best part of this episode and the entire series was the use of Earth Wind and Fire's song Fantasy when Bernie thought he was dead. As I watch it now its kinda sad as Bernie passed on way too early and as in life and the show things changed. Here he finds all his (adopted) kids have turned for the worse. A good portion of the song is played as he walks through the house. Its cool. We miss Bernie.