SOUTH CENTRAL: PILOT {SERIES PREMIERE} (TV)
Summary
The first in this series about a black single mother, Joan Mosley, who is raising her children in South Central Los Angeles. The gritty series highlights troubling issues of the black inner-city, not shying away from rough language and candid approaches to social problems. In this episode, Joan wakes to find her foster child Deion, who doesn't speak, jumping on her bed. She begins her day in a rush, with daughter Tasha taking on a large share of the load. Older brother André immediately begins to start trouble, back-talking when Joan asks him to walk Deion to school, complaining of his lack of privacy when Joan interrupts his phone conversation with his girlfriend, and saying "that bitch is fine" of a woman on television. Openly addressing these problems, Joan also refuses to let André get a beeper, arguing that it is not smart in their neighborhood. In addition, Joan loses her temper with Tasha, who wants a new jacket.
When Joan appears at an interview for a sales position, we learn that she has been laid off from her position working for the purchasing agent for the school system. Her hopes drop as she reveals that she was only the purchasing agent's secretary and that she was unable to complete her college degree. At the neighborhood cooperative grocery store, she loses her temper because she has bounced a check and cannot afford groceries. Problems escalate at home that afternoon when she learns that André has obtained a beeper against his mother's wishes. When his mentor, Dr. Raymond McHenry, agrees that Joan does not allow André enough freedom, she blows up and mistakenly calls her son Marcus, the name of her eldest son, who was killed by gang members. After a visit to her friend Sweets, Joan realizes that she has not been fair to her children. The family members reconcile later that evening, even though some of their problems persist. Commercials deleted.
Details
- NETWORK: FOX
- DATE: April 5, 1994 8:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:23:51
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: T:60639
- GENRE: Comedy; Drama
- SUBJECT HEADING: Blacks - Social conditions - Drama; Inner cities - Drama; African-American Collection - Drama
- SERIES RUN: Fox - TV series, 1994
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Ralph Farguhar … Executive Producer, Writer, Created by
- Michael J. Weithorn … Executive Producer, Writer, Created by
- W.E. Baker … Producer
- James Tripp-Haith … Associate Producer
- Stan Lathan … Director
- Kurt Farquhar … Music by
- Tina Lifford … Cast, Joan Mosley
- Larenz Tate … Cast, Andre Mosley
- Tasha Scott … Cast, Tasha Mosley
- Keith Mbulo … Cast, Deion
- Paula Kelly … Cast, Sweets
- Ken Page … Cast, Dr. Raymond McHenry
- Clifton Powell … Cast, Bobby Deavers
- Earl Billings … Cast, Mayo Bonner
- Terrence McNally … Cast, Gene Spain
- Jennifer Lopez … Cast, Lucille