"Girlfriends" (2000) TV series 2000-2008

Creator:

Mara Brock Akil
(more)

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8

Release Date:

11 September 2000 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Plot:

A look at the lives, loves, and losses of four different women, Toni (Jones), Maya (Brooks), Lynn (White), and Joan (Ross).

Plot Keywords:

One Word Title

Awards:

Nominated for Primetime Emmy. Another 8 wins & 37 nominations

Cast

Reginald C. Hayes	...	William Jerome Dent / ... (60 episodes, 2000-2007)
Tracee Ellis Ross	...	Joan Clayton / ... (46 episodes, 2000-2007)
Golden Brooks	...	Maya Wilkes / ... (44 episodes, 2000-2007)
Persia White	...	Lynn Searcy / ... (44 episodes, 2000-2007)
Khalil Kain	...	Darnell Wilkes / ... (41 episodes, 2001-2007)
Keesha Sharp	...	Monica / ... (40 episodes, 2002-2008)
Jill Marie Jones	...	Toni Childs / ... (31 episodes, 2000-2006)
Jason Pace	...	Dr. Todd Garrett / ... (30 episodes, 2002-2006)
Tanner Scott Richards	...	Jabari Wilkes (28 episodes, 2000-2006)

Series Directed by
Sheldon Epps		(59 episodes, 2000-2005)
Mary Lou Belli		(19 episodes, 2002-2007)
Leonard R. Garner Jr.		(17 episodes, 2000-2004)
Salim Akil		(13 episodes, 2003-2007)
Debbie Allen		(9 episodes, 2005-2008)
Katy Garretson		(5 episodes, 2003-2005)
Roger Christiansen		(5 episodes, 2005-2007)
Eric Laneuville		(5 episodes, 2005-2007)
Ken Whittingham		(4 episodes, 2001-2003)
Millicent Shelton		(4 episodes, 2007)
Henry Chan		(3 episodes, 2001)
Vito J. Giambalvo		(3 episodes, 2005-2007)
Keith Truesdell		(3 episodes, 2006-2007)
Arlene Sanford		(2 episodes, 2005-2006)
Gina Prince-Bythewood		(2 episodes, 2005)
Linda Mendoza		(2 episodes, 2006)

Series Writing credits
Mara Brock Akil		(31 episodes, 2000-2007)
Regina Y. Hicks		(23 episodes, 2000-2007)
Kim Collier		(23 episodes, 2000-2001)
Michael B. Kaplan		(20 episodes, 2000-2007)
Kevin Marburger		(16 episodes, 2001-2008)
Michele Marburger		(16 episodes, 2001-2008)
Mark Alton Brown		(14 episodes, 2000-2008)
Dee LaDuke		(14 episodes, 2000-2008)
Karin Gist		(13 episodes, 2002-2007)
Tim Edwards		(12 episodes, 2000-2006)
Norman Vance Jr.		(8 episodes, 2001-2004)
Lamont Ferrell		(6 episodes, 2001-2003)
Prentice Penny		(6 episodes, 2005-2008)
Keith Josef Adkins		(5 episodes, 2002-2004)
Bernadette Luckett		(4 episodes, 2000-2002)
Vincent Brown		(4 episodes, 2005-2007)
Marcia Gray Rubin		(3 episodes, 2000-2001)
David Silverman		(3 episodes, 2000-2001)
Veronica Chambers		(3 episodes, 2003-2004)
Temi Akinyemi		(2 episodes, 2000-2001)
Kenya Barris		(2 episodes, 2005-2006)

Series Produced by
Kelsey Grammer	....	executive producer (172 episodes, 2000-2008)
Dan Dugan	....	producer / co-executive producer (170 episodes, 2000-2008)
Mary Fukuto	....	co-producer / producer (170 episodes, 2000-2008)
Karin Gist	....	co-producer / story editor / ... (102 episodes, 2003-2008)
Regina Y. Hicks	....	co-executive producer / executive producer (90 episodes, 2003-2007)
Vanessa Middleton	....	consulting producer (13 episodes, 2007-2008)
Mara Brock Akil	....	executive producer (5 episodes, 2003-2007)
Mark Alton Brown	....	consulting producer (5 episodes, 2003-2007)
Dee LaDuke	....	consulting producer (5 episodes, 2003-2007)
Rudy Hornish	....	executive producer (unknown episodes, 2000-2002)
Tim Edwards	....	co-producer (unknown episodes, 2003)
Sheldon Epps	....	producer (unknown episodes, 2003)
Lamont Ferrell	....	supervising producer (unknown episodes, 2003)
Suzanne Holmes	....	associate producer (unknown episodes, 2003)
Michael B. Kaplan	....	co-executive producer (unknown episodes, 2003)
Norman Vance Jr.	....	supervising producer (unknown episodes, 2003)
Chris Maul	....	associate producer (unknown episodes)
Marcia Gray Rubin	....	co-producer (unknown episodes)
David Silverman	....	co-producer (unknown episodes)
Nancy Sprow	....	producer (unknown episodes)
Michael E. Stokes	....	producer (unknown episodes)

Series Original Music by
Kurt Farquhar		(172 episodes, 2000-2008)
Michael B. Jeter		(2 episodes, 2005)
Camara Kambon		(unknown episodes)

Series Cinematography by
Donald A. Morgan		(172 episodes, 2000-2008)

Series Film Editing by
Timothy Mozer		(169 episodes, 2000-2008)
Travis G. Rendich		(unknown episodes)

Series Casting by
Suzanne Goddard-Smythe		(78 episodes, 2004-2008)
Eileen Mack Knight		(unknown episodes)
Robi Reed-Humes		(unknown episodes)
Kim Williams		(unknown episodes)

Series Production Design by
Wendell Johnson		(6 episodes, 2006-2007)

Series Set Decoration by
Barbara Miranda		(6 episodes, 2006-2007)

Series Costume Design by
Stacy Beverly		(145 episodes, 2001-2007)

Series Makeup Department
Beth Klein	....	key makeup artist (44 episodes, 2005-2007)
Karen Dahl	....	assistant makeup artist / makeup department head (43 episodes, 2005-2007)
Cynthia Bachman	....	makeup department head (unknown episodes)
Carla Farmer	....	hair department head (unknown episodes)
Pamela Farmer	....	makeup artist (unknown episodes)
Camille Henderson	....	assistant makeup artist (unknown episodes)
Veronica Lorenz	....	second makeup artist (unknown episodes)
Nadyne Peoples	....	third makeup artist (unknown episodes)
Phyllis Williams	....	key makeup artist (unknown episodes)
Scott Williams	....	hair department head (unknown episodes)

Series Production Management
Dan Dugan	....	unit production manager / production manager (141 episodes, 2001-2007)
Susan Rosen	....	post-production supervisor (22 episodes, 2001-2002)
Tanika D. Brown	....	post-production supervisor / post production supervisor (14 episodes, 2006-2007)

Series Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Brenda Kalosh	....	first assistant director (127 episodes, 2002-2008)
Heidi McGowen	....	second assistant director (6 episodes, 2006-2007)
Vito J. Giambalvo	....	associate director (5 episodes, 2006-2007)

Series Art Department
Charles Faithorn	....	property master (171 episodes, 2000-2008)
Richard Blake Wester	....	assistant property master (46 episodes, 2001-2003)
Robert Lucas	....	leadman (20 episodes, 2000-2001)
Tony Chavez	....	propmaker (5 episodes, 2000-2001)
Matthew Bekoff	....	set designer (unknown episodes)
Jim Hewitt	....	set designer (unknown episodes)

Series Sound Department
Raymundo Silva	....	production sound mixer (67 episodes, 2002-2005)
Andre Caporaso	....	re-recording mixer (6 episodes, 2006-2007)
Robert Douglass	....	re-recording mixer (6 episodes, 2006-2007)
Scott Linder	....	production mixer (6 episodes, 2006-2007)
Mark Server	....	re-recording mixer / supervising sound editor (6 episodes, 2006-2007)
John Asman	....	sound re-recording mixer (unknown episodes)
Roy Braverman	....	dialog editor / sound effects editor (unknown episodes)
Eric Freeman	....	dialogue editor (unknown episodes)
Scott C. Kolden	....	sound effects editor (unknown episodes)
Noel Vought	....	foley artist (unknown episodes)

Series Visual Effects by
Dan Carrington	....	Flame artist (unknown episodes)
Scott Milne	....	visual effects supervisor (unknown episodes)

Series Stunts
Claudette James	....	stunt performer (1 episode, 2000)
April Weeden-Washington	....	stunts (1 episode, 2000)
J.P. Romano	....	stunt coordinator (unknown episodes)

Series Camera and Electrical Department
Charles Glosup	....	electrician / gaffer (172 episodes, 2000-2008)
Mark Pickens	....	dolly grip (92 episodes, 2000-2004)
Tom Tcimpidis	....	24p digital imaging engineer / 24p video control (68 episodes, 2002-2005)
Troy Kohrs	....	grip (24 episodes, 2002-2003)
Alicia Brauns	....	camera utility (22 episodes, 2002)
Larry Gaudette	....	camera operator (22 episodes, 2006-2007)
Michael A. Johnson	....	steadicam operator (4 episodes, 2001-2003)
Keith Anderson	....	24p digital imaging technician / digital imaging technician (4 episodes, 2005)
Brian Lataille	....	Steadicam operator (4 episodes, 2006-2007)
Michael Yarish	....	still photographer (2 episodes, 2002-2004)
Riley Sidore	....	lamp operator (2 episodes, 2007)
Justin M. Lubin	....	still photographer (unknown episodes)
Kim McCall	....	video playback operator (unknown episodes)
Paul McCallum	....	still photographer (unknown episodes)
Georgia Packard	....	camera operator (unknown episodes)
Michael Piekutowski	....	electrician (unknown episodes)

Series Casting Department
Ty Harman	....	casting associate (23 episodes, 2007-2008)
Tiffany Moon	....	extras casting director (13 episodes, 2003)
Michael McCaskey	....	casting associate (13 episodes, 2007-2008)
Sheila Guthrie	....	casting executive (6 episodes, 2006-2007)
Kim Williams	....	original casting (6 episodes, 2006-2007)
Veronica Aragon	....	extras casting (6 episodes, 2006)
Nicole Jean Revello	....	casting assistant (unknown episodes, 2004-2005)
Jan Powell	....	casting associate (unknown episodes, 2004)
Lauren Dickey	....	casting assistant (unknown episodes)
Jeremiah Krauss	....	casting intern (unknown episodes)

Series Costume and Wardrobe Department
Robyn Williams	....	set costumer (48 episodes, 2002-2004)
Bess Stansell	....	key costumer (21 episodes, 2005-2006)
Stephanie Colin	....	costume supervisor (6 episodes, 2006-2007)
Chesney Henderson	....	costumer (5 episodes, 2004-2007)
Sandy Ampon	....	set costumer (unknown episodes)

Series Editorial Department
Scott Hahn	....	assistant editor (52 episodes, 2003-2005)
Michael A. Speck	....	post-production assistant / post production assistant (34 episodes, 2006-2008)
Sylvia Grant	....	assistant editor (22 episodes, 2000-2001)
Susan Rosen	....	post-production coordinator (21 episodes, 2000-2001)
Keith Anderson	....	colorist / digital image technician / ... (18 episodes, 2005-2006)
Sean McKinley	....	assistant editor (5 episodes, 2006-2007)
Edgar Bennett	....	assistant editor (5 episodes, 2006)
Suzanne Holmes	....	post-production coordinator (unknown episodes)

Series Music Department
Gerald 'Gee Gee' Harbour	....	composer: theme music (22 episodes, 2001)

Series Transportation Department
Morris Bension	....	transportation captain (144 episodes, 2001-2007)
Gary Edelman	....	transportation coordinator (87 episodes, 2000-2008)
Bruce Callahan	....	driver / driver captain (unknown episodes)
J. Armin Garza II	....	driver: camera car (unknown episodes)
Steven Salzman	....	transportation coordinator (unknown episodes)

Series Other crew
Robert L. Dohan	....	location manager (144 episodes, 2000-2007)
Susie Johnson	....	production coordinator (137 episodes, 2001-2007)
Naisa Wong	....	assistant coordinator / assistant to the producers / ... (113 episodes, 2002-2007)
Ryan Guellow	....	production assistant / production secretary / ... (94 episodes, 2003-2007)
Shawn Thomas	....	script coordinator / assistant to the producers (66 episodes, 2004-2007)
Brooks Bonstin	....	assistant location manager (52 episodes, 2004-2007)
Reema Iqbal	....	production assistant (44 episodes, 2004-2006)
Tanika D. Brown	....	assistant to producers / production assistant (34 episodes, 2004-2006)
Chevonne Collins	....	production assistant / assistant to the producers (34 episodes, 2006-2008)
Chris Cobb	....	production assistant (24 episodes, 2003-2004)
Richard T. Arami	....	assistant accountant (22 episodes, 2006-2007)
Gail Haller	....	first assistant accountant (22 episodes, 2006-2007)
Daniel Portnoy	....	assistant to producer / set production assistant (15 episodes, 2007-2008)
Matthew A. Cherry	....	set production assistant / production assistant (13 episodes, 2007-2008)
Kristi Korzec	....	writing assistant (13 episodes, 2007-2008)
Michael Moss	....	production assistant (13 episodes, 2007-2008)
Derrick Goulet	....	second assistant production accountant (12 episodes, 2005-2006)
Lionell Hilliard	....	writing assistant (11 episodes, 2003)
Michelle Guillory	....	supervising accountant (8 episodes, 2006)
Jaime Abarca Jr.	....	assistant location manager (7 episodes, 2007-2008)
Kevin Marburger	....	executive story editor (6 episodes, 2005-2007)
Michele Marburger	....	executive story editor (6 episodes, 2005-2007)
Juanesta Holmes	....	script supervisor (6 episodes, 2006-2007)
Herman Nelson	....	production accountant (6 episodes, 2006-2007)
Claire Brown	....	assistant to the producers (5 episodes, 2006-2007)
Andrew Cone	....	key assistant location manager (5 episodes, 2006-2007)
Lauren Dickey	....	assistant to the producers (5 episodes, 2006-2007)
Barry Floyd	....	assistant to the producers (5 episodes, 2006-2007)
Jason Lowe	....	assistant to the producers (5 episodes, 2006-2007)
Albert Loya	....	assistant to the producers (5 episodes, 2006-2007)
Xochitl L. Olivas	....	assistant to the producers (5 episodes, 2006-2007)
Desiree Quintal	....	assistant to the producers (5 episodes, 2006-2007)
Michael A. Speck	....	assistant to producers / assistant to the producers (5 episodes, 2006-2007)
Jessi Todden	....	assistant to the producers (5 episodes, 2006-2007)
Vincent Brown	....	story editor (4 episodes, 2007)
Sandey Egan	....	assistant to the producers (4 episodes, 2007)
Prentice Penny	....	story editor (4 episodes, 2007)
Lorin Wertheimer	....	assistant to the producers (4 episodes, 2007)
Trip Gould	....	production assistant / assistant to producers (3 episodes, 2004-2006)
Lena Waithe	....	assistant to executive producer (2 episodes, 2007-2008)
Jake Barto	....	production assistant (2 episodes, 2007)
Julie Fageaux	....	production coordinator (unknown episodes, 2000-2004)
Judy Dent	....	assistant to writers (unknown episodes, 2000-2002)
Rudy Hornish	....	executive consultant (unknown episodes, 2003)
Anderson Vilien	....	production assistant (unknown episodes, 2004-2005)
Veronica Chambers	....	story editor (unknown episodes, 2005)
Jennifer Solari	....	publicist (unknown episodes, 2005)
Taylor Boyd	....	assistant location manager (unknown episodes)
Ava DuVernay	....	publicist (unknown episodes)
Allen Fogderude	....	promotion manager (unknown episodes)
Shaun McNally	....	production assistant (unknown episodes)
Ellene Miles	....	publicist (unknown episodes)
DeAndre Richmond	....	production assistant (unknown episodes)

Production Companies

• CBS Paramount Network Television (2006-)
• Happy Camper Productions
• Paramount Network Television (2000-2006)
• Grammnet Productions

Distributors

• CBS Paramount International Television (2006-) (non-USA) (TV) (sales)
• CBS Paramount Domestic Television (2006-) (USA) (TV) (sales)
• United Paramount Network (UPN) (2000-2006) (USA) (TV) (original airing)
• CW Television Network (2006-) (USA) (TV) (original airing)
• TV2 (2004-2005) (Hungary) (TV) (season 1)
• Comedy Central (2007-) (Germany) (TV)
• LivingTV (UK) (TV)
• NICK (2005-2006) (Germany) (TV)
• Trouble (????) (UK) (TV)

Other Companies

• Central Casting  extras casting
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  cranes
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  dollies
• MFX  visual effects
• ShowBiz Enterprises  draperies

Runtime:

30 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Certification:

Australia:PG

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

CBS Paramount Network Television

Trivia:

After the sixth season, the show was picked up by The CW because UPN merged with The WB to form The CW.

Quotes:

Toni Childs: [on converting to Judaism] I'm already on standby for heaven as it is. I'm not straying from the path I've chosen.

Movie Connections:

Spoofed in "Family Guy: When You Wish Upon a Weinstein (#3.22)" (2003)

Fabulous!

The sitcom is a dying art. There's hardly any narrative TV left in general, and there are way fewer quality comedies than dramas. Girlfriends deserves way more attention, and though it is good for their ratings to be herded in with the rest of the "urban" comedies on UPN, I think it's heads and shoulders above any of the other shows. In fact, and no offense to fans of other UPN fare, I think this show is surrounded on all sides by just plain awful programs - the writing on the other shows is a notch above Saved by the Bell. (maybe that's a *little* too harsh).

The dialogue and the acting on Girlfriends is sophisticated and natural at the same time. The five leads have great chemistry and timing. I think it's taken a few seasons (and the smart decision to get rid of Joan's lame voice-over fantasy bites) for the comedy to become less broad and for the characters to develop past "types", but that's always the case when you have to set up a sitcom world. Every sitcom I can think of starts out with stereotypes and builds character depth as the seasons goes on.

Even in my position as a white chick (maybe a little more attuned to African American culture than the average), I think I can say that most shows about middle-class black people are terrified of seeming "too black", they've got Cosbyitus. Girlfriends seems to be more on the inside-track.

Maybe the show isn't representative of every woman in the black community, or the black everywoman, but who says it has to? Sex in the City sure as hell wasn't representative of 30something white women in New York. We want a little escapism, and Girlfriends offers all the pretty people and the pretty houses and the pretty clothing (the BEST-DRESSED show on TV by far! Who is their stylist??), *and* the polished writing and performances.

Oh, yeah, and it's ***hella funny***.