Eve (U.S. TV series)

Last updated

Eve
EveTitleCard.png
Title card
Genre Sitcom
Created byMeg DeLoatch
Starring
Theme music composer
Opening theme"The Opposite Sex" by Missy Elliott
Composer(s)
  • Joe Staxx
  • Armiques S. Wyche
Country of originUnited States
Original language(s)English
No. of seasons3
No. of episodes66 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producer(s)
  • Bob Greenblatt
  • David Janollari
Producer(s)
  • Trish Baker
  • Anthony C. Hill
  • Torian Hughes
  • James Tripp-Haith
Production location(s) Sunset Gower Studios (Hollywood, Los Angeles, California)
Camera setup Multi-camera
Running time20–22 minutes
Production company(s)
DistributorWarner Bros. Television
Release
Original network UPN
Picture format 16:9 (480i SDTV)
Audio format Stereo
Original releaseSeptember 15, 2003 (2003-09-15) –
May 11, 2006 (2006-05-11)
External links
Website

Eve is an American television sitcom created by Meg DeLoatch which originally aired for three seasons on United Paramount Network (UPN) from September 15, 2003 to May 11, 2006. Featuring an ensemble cast consisting of Eve, Jason George, Ali Landry, Natalie Desselle-Reid, Brian Hooks, and Sean Maguire, the show revolves around two sets of male and female friends attempting to navigate relationships with the opposite sex. The executive producers were Robert Greenblatt and David Janollari; the series was produced by The Greenblatt/Janollari Studio and Mega Diva Inc. in association with Warner Bros. Television for UPN.

A sitcom, clipping for situational comedy, is a genre of comedy centered on a fixed set of characters who carry over from episode to episode. Sitcoms can be contrasted with sketch comedy, where a troupe may use new characters in each sketch, and stand-up comedy, where a comedian tells jokes and stories to an audience. Sitcoms originated in radio, but today are found mostly on television as one of its dominant narrative forms. This form can also include mockumentaries.

UPN American broadcast television network in the 1990s and 2000s

The United Paramount Network (UPN) was an American broadcast television network that launched on January 16, 1995. The network was originally owned by Chris-Craft Industries and United Television; Viacom turned the network into a joint venture in 1996 after acquiring a 50% stake in the network, and subsequently purchased Chris-Craft's remaining stake in 2000. In December 2005, UPN was spun off to CBS Corporation when Viacom split into two separate companies.

In a dramatic production, an ensemble cast is one which comprises multiple principal actors and performers who are typically assigned roughly equal amounts of screen time.

Contents

The series was developed as a vehicle for Eve under the working title The Opposite Sex; UPN executives approached the rapper about a television project after the success of fellow musician Brandy in another of the network's sitcoms— Moesha . Eve's series was created as part of the network's attempt to appeal to a younger audience. After being picked up, the show was renamed Eve to attract the rapper's fans. The series was set in Miami, but filmed at Sunset Gower Studios in Hollywood, Los Angeles. Eve said that she was intimidated at first by the process of preparing for and filming a sitcom, and she would later regret not fully committing to her character. The show was distributed by UPN in its original run, and later by TV One. UPN had promoted Eve as part of its new comedy block, one of four new comedies developed by the network.

In the motion picture industry, a star vehicle is a film written or produced for a specific star, regardless of whether the motive is to further their career or simply to profit from their current popularity. It is designed to optimally display that star's particular talents or personal appeal. The term is also applied to stage plays and television programs. In some cases, a performer may produce their own star vehicle as self-promotion or a vanity project.

Brandy Norwood American singer and actress from California

Brandy Rayana Norwood, known professionally by her mononym Brandy, is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, and actress. Born into a musical family in McComb, Mississippi and raised in Carson, California, she began her career as a child and performed as a backing vocalist for teen groups. In 1993, Norwood signed with Atlantic Records. The following year, she released her self-titled debut album, which was certified quadruple Platinum in the US, selling six million copies worldwide. Norwood starred in the UPN sitcom Moesha as the title character, which lasted six seasons and resulted in numerous other roles. She resumed her music career in 1998 with the wildly successful duet with fellow R&B contemporary Monica, "The Boy Is Mine", which went on to become the best selling female duet of all time, and one of the longest running number one singles in history. Her second album, Never Say Never, sold 16 million copies worldwide, featured two number one singles, and earned Norwood her first Grammy Award. This launched her into international stardom, with films, endorsements, sold out concert tours, and her own line of Barbie dolls.

<i>Moesha</i> television series

Moesha is an American sitcom series that aired on the UPN from January 23, 1996, to May 14, 2001. The series stars R&B singer Brandy Norwood as Moesha Denise Mitchell, a high school student living with her family in the Leimert Park neighborhood of Los Angeles. It was originally ordered as a pilot for CBS's 1995–1996 television season but was rejected by the network. It was then picked up by UPN, which aired it as a mid-season replacement. It went on to become the biggest success for the nascent network and one of the greatest hits over the course of the network's entire run. The series was a joint production of Regan Jon Productions, Saradipity Productions, and Jump at the Sun Productions in association with Big Ticket Television for UPN.

Eve suffered from low viewership in spite of its high ratings among young African American women; it was canceled following UPN's merger with The WB Television Network (The WB) to launch The CW in 2006. The series' cancellation, along with that of other black sitcoms, was criticized by media outlets for reducing representation of African American characters and the number of roles for African American actors on television. Critical response to Eve was mixed; some praised its inclusion as a part of UPN's line-up of black sitcoms, but others felt Eve lacked charisma, and that the series was inferior to other black sitcoms. Despite the negative reception, the show and Eve received several award nominations. The series was released on the iTunes Store and Amazon Video.

The WB defunct American broadcast TV network followed by defunct Internet-only service

The WB Television Network was an American television network that was first launched on broadcast television on January 11, 1995, as a joint venture between the Warner Bros. Entertainment division of AT&T's WarnerMedia and the Tribune Broadcasting subsidiary of the Tribune Company, with the former acting as controlling partner. The network principally aired programs targeting teenagers and young adults between the ages of 13 and 34, with the exception of its weekday daytime and Saturday morning program block, Kids' WB, which was geared toward children ages 7 to 12.

The CW American broadcast television network

The CW Television Network is an American English-language free-to-air television network that is operated by the CW Network, LLC, a limited liability joint venture between CBS Corporation, the former owners of United Paramount Network (UPN); and AT&T, whose WarnerMedia subsidiary is the parent company of Warner Bros., former majority owner of The WB. The network's name is an abbreviation derived from the first letters of the names of its two parent corporations.

A black sitcom is a sitcom in American culture that features a primarily or entirely African American cast or in the lead role. Although sitcoms with primarily black characters have been present since the earliest days of network television, this genre rose to prominence in the 1990s.

Premise and characters

Eve revolves around Miami fashion designer Shelly Williams (Eve), "a woman whose fashion career is on the move [but whose] her love life is a work in progress". [1] At the start of the series, Shelly has been unable to find a suitable partner for ten months. She begins an on and off relationship with physical therapist J.T. Hunter (Jason George), which is nearly derailed when he cries while they watch Casablanca on their first date. [2] [3] [4] Both characters turn to two of their close friends for advice on the opposite sex, love, and relationships. Shelly frequently looks for advice from former model Rita Lefleur (Ali Landry) and married friend Janie Egins (Natalie Desselle-Reid), while J.T. finds support in his best friends nightclub manager Donovan Brink (Sean Maguire) and IRS worker Nick Dalaney (Brian Hooks). [5]

Eve (rapper) American rapper and actress from Pennsylvania

Eve Jihan Jeffers-Cooper is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, and actress from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She is the inaugural winner of the Grammy Award for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration in 2002, for the song "Let Me Blow Ya Mind", with American singer Gwen Stefani. Eve was number 48 on VH1's "50 Greatest Women of the Video Era" list.

An on-again, off-again relationship is a form of personal relationship between two people. They may wish to keep an ongoing formal relationship, but have difficulty doing so because of continuous conflicts.

<i>Casablanca</i> (film) 1942 film by Michael Curtiz

Casablanca is a 1942 American romantic drama film directed by Michael Curtiz based on Murray Burnett and Joan Alison's unproduced stage play Everybody Comes to Rick's. The film stars Humphrey Bogart, Ingrid Bergman, and Paul Henreid; it also features Claude Rains, Conrad Veidt, Sydney Greenstreet, Peter Lorre, and Dooley Wilson. Set during contemporary World War II, it focuses on an American expatriate who must choose between his love for a woman and helping her and her husband, a Czech Resistance leader, escape from the Vichy-controlled city of Casablanca to continue his fight against the Nazis.

Episodes typically depict the friends' comedic and romantic adventures and career issues, such as Shelly, Rita, and Janie working together at their Miami-based fashion boutique DivaStyle and J.T. applying to colleges. [1] [6] The six characters each have many dates and serious relationships, and the series can be viewed as an extension of the concept of "the battle of the sexes" for its equal representation of both male and female viewpoints on the matter. [3] [7] Janie serves as Shelly's voice of reason, while Rita encourages her to be more impulsive with dating. [8] They often disagree with one another on the best way for Shelly to approach her love life. [5] Rita, Janie, Nick, and Donovan are typically shown caught in the middle of Shelly and J.T.'s miscommunications. [5]

Even though Shelly and J.T.'s relationship is the predominant storyline, the series does explore the relationships of its supporting cast; Donovan and Rita date each other, and the quite selective Nick attempts to find the perfect partner. [2] [8] Donovan owns the Z Lounge, which is described as "one of Miami's hottest clubs" and serves as one of the places where the group often meets. [2] [5] Other frequently recurring characters include Shelly's younger love interest Grant (Sharif Atkins), Janie's husband Marty (Reggie Gaskins), and Shelly's mother Beverly (Penny Johnson Jerald). Several celebrities also make cameo appearances on the show, including Queen Latifah, Missy Elliott, Brooke Burke, Vivica A. Fox, and Cedric the Entertainer. [8] [9]

Sharif Atkins American actor

Sharif Atkins is an American television actor. He's best known for his role as Dr. Michael Gallant on ER and for his role as FBI Agent Clinton Jones on White Collar.

Penny Johnson Jerald actress

Penny Johnson Jerald is an American actress. She played Beverly Barnes on the HBO comedy series The Larry Sanders Show, Kasidy Yates on the syndicated science fiction series Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Sherry Palmer on the Fox action/drama series 24, Captain Victoria "Iron" Gates on the ABC comedy-drama series Castle, and currently plays Dr. Claire Finn on the Fox network's series The Orville.

Queen Latifah American musician and actress

Dana Elaine Owens, known professionally as Queen Latifah, is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, actress, and producer. Born in Newark, New Jersey, she signed with Tommy Boy Records in 1989 and released her debut album All Hail the Queen the same year, featuring the hit single "Ladies First". Nature of a Sista (1991) was her second and final album with Tommy Boy Records.

Episodes

SeasonEpisodesOriginally aired
First airedLast aired
1 22September 15, 2003 (2003-09-15)May 24, 2004 (2004-05-24)
2 22September 21, 2004 (2004-09-21)May 24, 2005 (2005-05-24)
3 22September 22, 2005 (2005-09-22)May 11, 2006 (2006-05-11)

Season 1

The first season introduces the six main characters: Shelly, J.T., Rita, Janie, Nick, and Donovan. Shelly runs the fashion boutique DivaStyle with her friends Janie and Rita. She pursues a relationship with J.T., only to discover he is afraid of commitment and exhibits some chauvinistic behavior. Their relationship is often tested by frequent misunderstandings. Nick wants to find his ideal partner, but his attempts are typically thwarted as he is very particular about women. Even though his relationship with a woman named Dani appears to be successful, they soon break up. Donovan finds himself romantically attracted to Rita, but he resists the temptation out of fear of ruining their friendship.

Season 2

Shelly and J.T. break up at the beginning of the second season and pursue a friends with benefits relationship. After discovering that she is bankrupt, Rita moves in with Janie to save money. She also begins a relationship with Donovan. When Janie becomes annoyed with Rita for staying at her home for a long time, Rita persuades J.T. and Nick to let her stay with them instead. Shelly finds herself attracted to a younger man, and J.T. becomes jealous realizing that he is in love with her. In the season finale, both men propose to Shelly. At the same time, Donovan's application for residency is rejected and the friends prepare for his return to England.

Season 3

In the third-season premiere, Shelly accepts J.T.'s marriage proposal. Donovan gets a work visa after finding a job selling makeup products for a British company. Shelly and J.T. break up again, resolving to remain just friends. J.T. pursues a career in medicine and enrolls in the Miami State Medical School. He finds out that college is more difficult than he first thought, and struggles with his classes and finances. During the spring, Rita reignites her relationship with Donovan and buys her own apartment. In the series' finale, Beverly finally admits to Yusef, Shelly's father, that she is carrying his child; Shelly questions his ability to be a father again. The series ends in a cliffhanger, with Janie, Rita, and Donovan arrested for illegally selling BOTOX at DivaStyle.

Background

Conception

Eve (pictured here in 2011) starred throughout the series as Shelly Williams. Eve 2011 cropped.jpg
Eve (pictured here in 2011) starred throughout the series as Shelly Williams.

United Paramount Network (UPN) executives approached Eve about developing a television project following her performance of her rap single "Gangsta Lovin'" (2002) at an event marking the channel's 2002 season premieres. [10] The network had pitched the idea to her prior to her appearances in the 2002 films XXX and Barbershop. Following their release, UPN renewed its interest in pursuing a series with Eve. [7] She had developed the main premise behind the sitcom, in which she would star as a fashion designer with a supporting multi-ethnic ensemble. [10] The show's creation was credited to television producer Meg DeLoatch. [1] UPN executives designed the series as a vehicle for Eve following the positive response to fellow musician Brandy in another UPN sitcom, Moesha . [1] [2]

Eve accepted the role as a way to showcase a different side of her personality that was unexplored in her music. Her co-star Jason George commented that the show allowed the audience to see Eve as more than a hardcore rap artist, saying: "The part that people know the least about her comes across most in this show: There's a seriously girlie girl side to her." [6] DeLoach emphasized the difference between Eve and her character Shelly Williams by saying: "She's bringing so much of herself to the role of Shelly but she's playing a character. Some of the things Shelly does aren't necessarily what Eve would do." To further distinguish herself as an actor, Eve decided against singing the show's theme song. [2]

Publicized as the Untitled Eve Project in an early press release, [11] the series had the working title The Opposite Sex before it was changed to reflect Eve's status as the star. [6] Eve initially resisted the change and felt that The Opposite Sex was a stronger choice, but described it as a "corporate decision". According to her, UPN executives explained that the title would better attract the rapper's fans. [7] They also felt that the audience would not be confused by the title Eve, despite Eve playing a character named Shelly. After the title was established, the show's premise was modified slightly, but remained centered around male and female friends discussing their love lives, and navigating their relationships with the opposite sex. [6] While Eve described the series as "the PG version of Sex and the City ", [4] DeLoatch promoted Eve as unique for incorporating both male and female perspectives on dating and love. [3] She further described the sitcom as "focus[ing] on one relationship and follow[ing] all of the ups and downs in it" with the purpose of "showing the male and female points of view". To achieve this goal, DeLoatch included male writers in the discussions of potential episodes and storylines to hear their input. [3]

Production and filming

Production was handled by The Greenblatt/Janollari Studio, Mega Diva Inc, and Warner Bros. Television. [1] [12] Robert Greenblatt and David Janollari served as the series' executive producers. DeLoatch, Troy Carter, David Duclon, and Eve also contributed to the series as co-executive producers. [1] Rapper Missy Elliott wrote and performed the theme song, [4] [13] which was produced by Soul Diggaz. [14] Eve was one of four new comedies developed by UPN for the 2003–04 television season, as part of a "new comedy block" including All of Us , Rock Me Baby, and The Mullets . [15] [16] A writer from Today described UPN's enlistment of Eve into a comedy as an example of the network's attempt to form its own identity through targeting a younger, multi-ethnic audience. [17] In his book TV-a-Go-Go: Rock on TV from American Bandstand to American Idol, Jake Austen identified Eve as part of a trend in which musicians were prominently featured as the stars of television programs; he cited Brandy's role in Moesha and Queen Latifah on Living Single as two other examples. [18]

By the time the series was officially announced during UPN's broadcast upfront presentations, Ali Landry, Natalie Desselle-Reid, and Brian Hooks were confirmed to be playing Rita, Janie, and Nick respectively. [19] Bumper Robinson was originally scheduled to portray J.T., but was later replaced by Jason George for undisclosed reasons. [19] [20] The role of Donovan was also recast, with the original actor Eddie McClintock removed in favor of Sean Maguire. [19] [21] The supporting cast of Landry, Desselle-Reid, Hooks, and Maguire were described by Tom Jicha of the Sun-Sentinel as "peripheral" since they were written to "servic[e] the highs and lows of the romance between Shelly and J.T." With Shelly and J.T.'s relationship as the heart of the sitcom, Janollari expressed hopes that the episodes would follow them "from their meeting in the pilot, through the steps of a normal relationship, all the way, hopefully to marriage". [2] In the fall of 2006, TV One began broadcasting the series as part of an agreement with Warner Bros. Domestic Cable Distribution. Along with All of Us, Eve was the first time in which the channel acquired the rights for shows that were currently airing on network television. [22]

Even though the show was set in Miami, filming took place at Sunset Gower Studios in Hollywood, Los Angeles. [2] [6] Stock exterior shots of Miami were used for the opening credits and transitions between scenes. [2] The series was filmed with a multiple-camera setup, [12] with each episode last roughly 20 to 22 minutes excluding commercials. [23] [24] Eve said she was initially intimidated by the amount of work required to prepare for and film a television series. During an interview with Billboard, she explained that while filming the first season she felt like she "just wanted to leave because there was so much to learn, it's just a different world". [6] Since she found comedy to be challenging due to the "certain beats you have to learn", Eve hired two acting coaches to help improve her timing. [6] [7] One of her coaches was Chip Fields, who visited the show's set to offer Eve acting advice. [7] During the development of the second season, Eve viewed the set as her home, and felt the process was easier, having grown closer to the cast and crew. [6] In a 2016 interview with Grazia , she revealed her regret at not fully committing herself to her character and the series. She explained: "I was the youngest person on set and was clubbing in between being on set and learning my lines. I look back and wish I was more dedicated. But I learned from it." [25]

Cancellation

The show, as well as a majority of UPN's programs, was officially canceled when the network merged with The WB Television Network (The WB) to form The CW in 2006. Fern Gillespie of The Crisis was critical of UPN's decision to cancel the series given how the network "in one swoop, wiped out five of its eight African American comedies" with the creation of The CW. Gillespie expressed disappointment at the lack of African American sitcoms on the three major networks, saying: "Without that opportunity for some of the younger artists to hone and develop their skills, it will potentially have a generational impact." [26] IndieWire's Dara T. Mathis identified Eve as an example of UPN's notable black sitcoms and equated the cancellations of a majority of UPN's comedies as a sign that the genre was in a state of decline. [27] Critic Tim Goodman noted that Eve was one of six shows "geared for an African American audience", featuring "an African American lead actress" that were canceled during the merger. He viewed these cancellations as a sign of networks "eliminat[ing] niche programming". [28] Julian Kimble of Complex included Eve on a list of programs that "are often forgotten about", alongside other UPN sitcoms Half & Half and All of Us. [29] The series has not been made available on Blu-ray or DVD, [1] [30] but it was released on the iTunes Store and Amazon Video. [23] [24]

Reception

Critical response

Eve has received mixed feedback since its first broadcast. Melanie McFarland of the Seattle Post-Intelligencer praised the changes made during the show's development and highlighted Maguire as the standout. In reference to its transformation from the original pilot, she described Eve as the "Eliza Doolittle of UPN comedies". [13] The supporting cast was praised by David Hinckely of the New York Daily News , who wrote that they "form an entertaining and appropriately neurotic chorus behind Eve's relationship dance". [31] Eve was compared to the UPN comedy Girlfriends by The New York Times ' Alessandra Stanley, who regarded Eve as an appropriate lead with "an appealingly tough edge that matches the paw-print tattoos on her chest". [32] Brian Josephs of Spin shared positive memories of African-American television shows on UPN, identifying Monday nights on the network as the place "where Eve transformed from Ruff Ryder to sitcom actress". [33] Eve was listed by scholar Jake Austen as one of the shows "that emerged in the wake of the civil rights era" that served as "a dynamic showcase for black creativity". [34] Tom Jicha provided a less enthusiastic review, stating that Eve was "just another cookie-cutter sitcom". [2]

Eve drew criticism for its formulaic writing, and the lead's poor performance. The show was included on a list by Ebony's Kevin L. Clark profiling the top ten worst black television shows of all time. Clark was critical of the episodes' titles, such as "Condom Mania", "She Snoops to Conquer" and "Porn Free", and wrote that they indicated an overuse of "outrageous clichés that boob-tube audiences would come to know and love once reality TV hit its boon". [35] Arianna Davis of Refinery29 negatively compared Eve to 1990s black sitcoms, and determined that it was a part of the "rollout of campy shows [...] that felt less like purposeful programming and more like cheap attempts at copying a successful advertising model". [36] The Los Angeles Times ' Mimi Avins felt that the show lacked the spark and the writing quality of Sex and the City, identifying Eve as its weakest link. She felt that Eve did not show "the acting ability or high-voltage charisma that vaulted Will Smith from rapper to television star" in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air . [4] During her review of the original pilot, Melanie McFarland wrote that the sitcom lacked any potential due to Eve's poor performance on top of the "[t]errible scenery, cheap costumes and a few glaring miscasts". [13] Eve's decision to distance the series from her identity as a rapper was questioned by Roger Catlin of the Hartford Courant , who felt that the character of Shelly could have used "the personality charge" from Eve's life. Despite finding Eve a charismatic presence, Catlin felt that her acting, along with that of Ali Landry, was poorly-developed. [37] Echoing Catlin's assessment, the San Francisco Gate 's Tim Goodman was critical of Eve and Landry's performance. Goodman also wrote that the show was an example of "the worst writing on television", citing its homophobic jokes and its reliance on clichés. [38]

Accolades

In spite of the mixed reception from television critics, the show, and Eve's performance, received several award nominations. In 2004, the show was nominated for the Teen Choice Award for Choice Breakout TV Show. Eve was also nominated for Choice TV Actress – Comedy in the same year. [39] Eve was nominated again for the Teen Choice Award for Choice TV Actress: Comedy in 2005. [40] She also received two nominations for the Blimp Award for Favorite Television Actress during the 2005 and 2006 Kid's Choice Awards. [41] [42] Eve earned a nomination for the 2005 Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series, and the 2005 BET Awards Comedy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series. [43] [44]

Ratings

The table below shows Eve's ratings in the United States. "Rank" refers to how well Eve rated compared to other television series that aired during prime time hours of the corresponding television season. It is shown in relation to the total number of series airing on the then-six major English-language networks in a given season. "Viewers" refers to the average number of viewers for all original episodes, broadcast during the television season in the series' regular time slot. The "season premiere" is the date that the first episode of the season aired, and the "season finale" is the date that the final episode of the season aired.

Ratings table
SeasonSeason premiereSeason finaleTV seasonRankViewers
(in millions)
1September 15, 2003May 24, 2004 2003–04 1673.65 [45]
2September 21, 2004May 24, 2005 2004–05 1422.8 [46]
3September 22, 2005May 11, 2006 2005–06 1452.3 [47]

According to the Nielsen Company, the show achieved high ratings among "Latina adolescents Ages 12–17" and earned 3.8 million viewers in that demographic in 2005. It was the second-highest UPN sitcom in the category, with only Everybody Hates Chris ranking above it in this demographic. [48]

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References

Citations

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Book sources

  • Austen, Jake (2005). TV-a-Go-Go: Rock on TV from American Bandstand to American Idol. Chicago: Chicago Review Press. ISBN   978-1-55652-572-8.
  • Brooks, Tim; Marsh, Earle F. (2009). The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows, 1946-Present. New York: Random House Publishing Groups. ISBN   978-0-345-49773-4.
  • Muir, John Kenneth (2007). TV Year: The Prime Time 2005–2006 Season. New York: Applause Theatre. ISBN   1-55783-684-1.
  • Servaes, Jan (2013). Sustainability, Participation & Culture in Communication: Theory and Praxis. New York: Intellect Books. ISBN   978-1-84150-661-6.
  • Warner, Kristen J. (2015). The Cultural Politics of Colorblind TV. New York: Routledge. ISBN   978-1-138-01830-3.
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