GIRLFRIENDS: WHAT'S BLACK-A-LACKIN'? (TV)
Summary
One in this comedy series about a young lawyer and her tight-knit circle of friends.
Joan learns that Monica has decided not to determine the gender of her baby until it is born, and she feels quite strongly about this. William already knows that it is going to be a boy, but wishes to keep this secret from Monica. Lynn goes into the record studio and while there is introduced to R&B artist Chrisette Michele. Chrisette is quite excited to be there and Lynn understands her feelings. However, Lynn becomes jealous when she learns that Chrisette’s album is being fast-trakced while she is still waiting to get her album recorded. She confronts her producer over this, although he keeps offering vague excuses about “timing” and “strategy.” Finally he confesses that some in the studio believe that Lynn is “not black enough” to be marketable, as opposed to Chrisette’s style of music. Lynn is extremely insulted by this revelation, particularly when her producers offer suggestions such as darkening her skin tone on her publicity photos or altering her musical style. Her frustration is compounded when she learns that the decision originated with the president of the label herself.
Lynn returns and tells Joan and Maya about her experience. She is angry at this incident and at being forced to “check a box” about her racial identity due to being biracial. William cannot contain his excitement about having a boy and tells everyone except Monica about his gender. He types a text message to send the news to his mother, but accidentally sends it to Monica instead, sending him into a panic. Monica is out at a spa with Joan, and William calls Joan to get her to snatch Monica’s phone away before she can read the text. She sneaks in and pretends to be Monica’s masseuse in an attempt to get her locker key, but her deception is soon revealed. Joan tells her about William’s mistake and Monica is furious. Lynn walks in on Chrisette’s recording session in an attempt to speak to the label president herself. She cannot resist making snarky remarks about Chrisette’s music being “very black” while she is there. Chrisette becomes upset and speaks to Lynn in private, believing she is acting out of jealousy. Lynn says she was trying to make a point to her producer, and apologizes to her, explaining about her situation. Chrisette reveals that she has been having issues of her own, largely revolving around the studio being uncomfortable with her weight; she sings a song implying that she is somewhat jealous of Lynn for being skinny. This makes Lynn feel bad about disrupting Chrisette’s recording session, and Chrisette advises her to be persistent and “change the game.” Later, Lynn finally manages to track down the label president and explains her side of the situation, threatening to walk out if things do not change. The label head counters that Lynn is unable to do so due to the particulars of her contract, and walks away. Commercials deleted.
Details
- NETWORK: CW, The
- DATE: 9:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:20:45
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: 122044
- GENRE: Comedy
- SUBJECT HEADING: African-American Collection - Comedy; Comedy; Friendship
- SERIES RUN: UPN - TV series, 2000-2006, The CW - 2006-2008
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Mara Brock Akil … Executive Producer, Created by
- Regina Y. Hicks … Executive Producer
- Kelsey Grammer … Executive Producer
- Dan Dugan … Co-Executive Producer
- Karen Gist … Supervising Producer
- Mary Fukuto-Salzman (See also: Mary Fukuto) … Producer
- Michele Marburger … Co-Producer, Writer
- Kevin Marburger … Co-Producer, Writer
- Dee LaDuke … Consulting Producer
- Mark Alton Brown … Consulting Producer
- Tracee Ellis Ross … Director
- Camara Kambon … Theme Music by
- Angie Stone … Theme Music by
- Tracee Ellis Ross … Cast, Joan Clayton
- Golden Brooks … Cast, Maya Wilkes
- Persia White … Cast, Lynn Ann Searcy
- Reggie Hayes … Cast, William Dent
- Khalil Kain … Cast, Darnell
- Keesha Sharp … Cast, Monica
- Chrisette Michele … Cast, Herself
- Jackie Debatin … Cast, Selene
- Kyle Bornheimer … Cast, Jason
- Evan Ross … Cast, Marco