Prince William is not missing any opportunity to share his love for his mom, Princess Diana, out loud!

The Prince of Wales celebrated the late humanitarian on Mother’s Day, Sunday, March 15, 2026, on Instagram, 29 years after she lost her life in an auto crash at the Pont de l’Alma tunnel in Paris.

Prince William’s post comes amid reports that nothing positive has developed in his estranged relationship with his younger brother, Prince Harry, despite Princess Diana’s wish that they must always be there for each other.

Inside Prince William’s Emotional Mother’s Day Post 

The official handle of the Prince and Princess of Wales shared an adorable image of the young Prince William, then two years old, and his loving mother in a field of flowers at Highgrove in 1984. Diana was dressed in a bright pink sweater, a collared shirt, and denim pants, as she squatted behind William, who wore a white-and-blue shirt and pink pants. 

The photograph, which was taken over four decades ago in the open field, was accompanied by the caption that read, “Remembering my mother, today and every day. Thinking of all those who are remembering someone they love today. Happy Mother’s Day. W.”

The post gathered nearly 500k likes and thousands of comments from people who fondly remembered the late princess alongside the future king. Commenters described Diana as a wonderful woman who left behind a legacy that her kids have carried on with honor.

The Mother’s Day Post Unlocked Years Of Pleasant Memories In The Comments

Prince William’s touching post drew heartfelt comments in the comment section, with most attesting to the bond between the mother and son. “Such a tender and beautiful memory. The love between mother and child shines through this moment in nature- truly touching and timeless,” this fan declared.

Other commenters assured William that his mother is very proud of him from up above while extending heartfelt wishes to the Princess of Wales, Kate Middleton, who shares three kids with the royal. “She would be so proud of you, PW. You are a credit to her legacy, your family, your country, and the commonwealth,” this fan acknowledged in the comments.

Prince William was born on June 21, 1982, at St. Mary’s Hospital in London, nearly one year after the late Princess Diana and King Charles tied the knot in their fairytale wedding on July 29, 1981.

Prince William Vowed To Do Things Differently As Regards His Family Exposure To The Media

The Prince of Wales and his brother practically grew up in the eyes of the media, which made the aftermath of their mother’s death difficult, as they were just teenagers at the time of her death. As shared by The Blast, Prince William spoke about the importance of learning from his troubled history with the media and channelling that into creating a safe space for his children to grow up in.

He referenced how difficult it was to navigate life as a child while his parents dealt with such a public divorce and haunting headlines from tabloids. William emphasized that he is determined to ensure his kids do not carry the trauma of a controversial childhood into adulthood.

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“If you let that creep in, the damage it can do to your family life is something that I vowed would never happen to my family. And so, I take a very strong line about where I think that line is, and those who overstep it, I’ll fight against,” the royal declared. He also spoke about the conscious decision he and Kate make to reduce their kids’ access to phones and find other ways to engage, such as playing their favorite outdoor sports.

Princess Diana’s Sons Have Strayed From Her Primary Wish For Them

The royal, who died tragically at the age of 36, was reportedly very elated at the thought of birthing two boys because she believed the older would protect the younger in the turbulent waters of ruling the monarchy. Unfortunately, both boys were struck with the tragedy of losing her, and decades after that, the bond between them has dwindled.

According to Andrew Morton, Diana’s biographer, she might have been able to avert the ongoing feud between William and Harry if she were still alive. As shared by The Blast, the strained bond between the once inseparable brothers has reportedly also spilled over to the next generation due to the geographical distance. Harry and his family moved to America in 2020, while stepping down from their position as senior working royals.

They subsequently expanded their family when they welcomed Lilibet in 2021, and hopped right into building their empire on American soil. Morton stated that these dynamics now mean there is no relationship between William’s children and Harry’s kids. He added that things were said when their feud began shortly after Harry’s wedding in 2018, and they never healed, nearly a decade later.

Prince William Reportedly Carrying The Larger Load In Feud With Prince Harry

Royal author Omid Scobie weighed in on the state of Harry and William’s relationship against the backdrop of alleged reconcilatory efforts by Harry behind the scenes. The author noted that in 2023, when Harry released his controversial memoir, he did all he could to get in touch with William both directly and through mutual friends, but he was iced out.

Scobie added that, even with a few instances of reunion between Charles and Harry, little could be said about any progress between the two brothers. The author continued that for a while, the ball has been in William’s court to reach out to Harry or give him an audience, but he has chosen to look the other way.

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The royal author then declared that William’s way of handling this feud may haunt him in the long run, especially when he becomes king and heads an even more complex system. In Scobie’s words, “There’ll be a lot of things that he stands for, or will seemingly stand for. And if he’s unable to mend a fracture, for all the reasons that we know are behind it, with his brother, I think that also says something about him as a future monarch that may not work in his favor.”

Jenelle Evans‘ family drama has moved to a whole new level involving her mother, Barbara Evans.

The MTV alum’s mother recently made an emergency attempt to gain custody of her grandson but was resisted by the court, at least until next month for a proper court hearing.

Jenelle Evans’ son, Jace, reportedly pulled a gun on Barbara Evans in February during a confrontation and was subsequently checked into a mental health facility days ago.

Jenelle Evans Reacts To Her Mother’s Custody Attempt

The media personality reacted to the current situation in her family, stating that her mother’s recent request for custody was denied, and she still has physical and sole custody of Jace. Barbara had filed two motions on March 11, requesting for emergency custody and a separate filing to modify the existing child custody arrangement.

She was, however, given a date in April (13) for a temporary court hearing, and not one for emergency custody. As shared by US Weekly, Barbara appeared for the emergency custody hearing last Wednesday, March 11, in the absence of Jenelle’s lawyer and without notifying her team either, leading to an immediate dismissal of the motion.

The MTV Alum And Her Mother Had A Courthouse Spat In 2019

This is not the mother and daughter’s first rodeo over custody; as far back as 2019, PEOPLE had shared that they had a heated session outside a North Carolina courthouse. Jenelle and her husband, David Eason, had reportedly appeared in court to give judges an update on their couple’s counseling and parenting classes.

Jenelle and Barbara seemingly got into a tense exchange outside the courthouse after the day was done. “I’m right here outside of the courthouse, I’m giving my daughter a hug. If you have a problem with it, then get an officer. Because obviously she’s not scared,” the MTV alum had stated while holding her daughter, Ensley.

Barbara, at the time, had custody of Jenelle’s kids, Ensley and Jace, which explained the back and forth over the toddler. Jenelle told the lurking cameras as they walked towards the car that her mother blocked her number, while complaining about Child Protection Services ignoring her calls and office visits. A judge had temporarily ruled against Jenelle and Eason getting back custody of the kids after Eason allegedly shot and killed their dog, Nugget.

Jenelle Evans Slammed Her Family After The Alleged Gun Pulling Incident

Following reports that her son pulled a gun on Barbara and threatened to take his life alongside, Jenelle hopped online with blazing hot words for her mother and sister. As shared by The Blast, Jenelle tagged Barbara her worst enemy, as she revealed that she had been holding back on her thoughts towards her mother due to her frail health.

She also attacked her sister, Ashleigh Evans, who had claimed she had a medical issue, but this did not stop her from being evil, as she also did not have custody of her son. Jenelle urged people to take whatever her sister says with a grain of salt, adding that despite cutting her family off to protect herself and her kids, she still has to face all hell getting loose.

Police had responded to a call from Barbara’s residence, where Jace lived in North Carolina, to report a troubled teen disturbance. Ashleigh responded to the allegations on social media, insisting that Jace did not pull out any firearm at his grandmother’s home, as there was no gun in the home, and it was probably Jenelle making up a false narrative in the media.

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Jenelle’s Son Has Been Admitted Into A Mental Facility

Sources claimed that Jace was under the influence of alcohol and drugs when he pulled the gun on his grandmother. He has reportedly been placed in a mental health institution, as a representative from Jenelle revealed that she is still trying to find the best place for her son to receive premium treatment. Jenelle currently resides in Las Vegas with her other kids, Kaiser (from her previous relationship with Nathan Griffith) and Ensley.

The MTV alum was reportedly preparing to pay her son a visit at the facility amid requests that the public give them privacy to address such a sensitive and personal issue. Jenelle had previously blamed her mother for indulging her son’s bad habits while he lived with her. She described Barbara’s parenting style as a vicious cycle that she had to rewire her brain to grow out of.

Jenelle Evans Did Not See A Reconciliation In Her And Barbara Evans Future

The former TV star and her mother’s rocky relationship began over a decade ago after Barbara gained custody of her daughter’s firstborn, Jace. E! Online stated that Jenelle finally got a formal visitation schedule in 2017 for Jace, but the resentment still abounds.

“You know we went to court about Jace, and I got a visitation schedule set, but she’s still kind of bent out of shape because I still have resentment towards her for still keeping my son, and we still butt heads,” Jenelle stated to E! News in 2017.

She gave a verdict on the state of her relationship with Barbara, declaring it as lost, adding that there might never be a comeback from their dynamics at any point in time. Jenelle and Barbara’s frequent arguments on camera during her appearance on the second season of “16 and Pregnant” in 2010 became the hallmark of the show.

Will Janelle Evans and Barbara Evans reach a truce before April?

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Emma Stone is turning heads at the 2026 Oscars.

Stone, 37, rocked a silver beaded floor-length dress by Louis Vuitton while walking the red carpet on Sunday, March 15.

The gown featured a lowback, with Stone styling her hair in a chic bob. E! reported that the dress required 600 hours of work.

Stone was also all smiles with husband Dave McCary, who looked dapper in a black tux. (The pair tied the knot in 2020, welcoming daughter Louise Jean the following year.)

Related: 2026 Oscars Red Carpet Arrivals: Stars Bring Their Fashion A-Game

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The actress is nominated for Best Actress for her role in Bugonia during the awards ceremony. With her nod, Stone became the youngest actress ever to receive seven Oscar nominations at the age of 37. (She was also nominated for Best Picture as one of Bugonia’s producers.)

Stone’s role in Bugonia marks her latest collaboration with director Yorgos Lanthimos, whom she previously worked with on 2023’s Poor Things and 2024 anthology film Kinds of Kindness. (She earned her second Best Actress win at the Oscars with Poor Things, which she dedicated to her daughter. She first won in 2018 for La La Land.)

In the film, Stone portrays pharmaceutical CEO Michelle Fuller — who is abducted by conspiracy theorists who believe she is an alien attempting to destroy Earth. The group, convinced she has a master plan, then shaves her head to block her ability to get in contact with her mothership.

Stone, for her part, had a conversation with her daughter to make sure Louise Jean was “very ready” to see her bald so it wasn’t “super-scary.”

“It’s such a major transformation,” she told USA Today in 2025. “I just said, ‘I’m going to shave my head. I’m going to take my hair off and it’s going to grow back. Isn’t that so silly and fun? We can do whatever we want with our hair! It can change all the time.’ She’s like, ‘OK,’ and then was totally cool.”

Stone also had to get prepared for the hair transformation, with director Lanthimos knowing he had “one chance to do it properly” in the scene. Lanthimos had four different cameras ready to go “just to make sure none of them jammed” while filming.

“They kept saying, ‘We’ll be ready in 10 minutes. Nah, actually 30 minutes. No, actually an hour,’” Stone said, noting she did get the “slightest cold feet” at the time. “I was sitting there, building the anticipation. So I had a little last-minute freak, and then Yorgos came over, we talked, and I was like, ‘I’m going to be fine. It’s going to be great.’ And I absolutely loved it.”

Stone reached a meditative-like state while her head was being shaved, saying she was “telling myself to stay still because if I opened my eyes or flinched, it would really mess things up.”

Harry Styles returned to host “Saturday Night Live” on March 14, 2026, and used his opening monologue to poke fun at the queer-baiting allegations that have followed him for years.

The former “One Direction” star has long been accused of pandering to LGBTQ+ audiences without confirming whether he personally identifies as part of the community.

Those claims mostly stem from Styles’ gender-fluid fashion choices, as well as his tendency to avoid defining his sexuality publicly.

The British star pulled “double duty” during the episode, appearing as both host and musical guest. The cameo marked his second time hosting the iconic sketch show and his eighth overall “SNL” appearance.

Inside The Long-Running Debate Over Harry Styles’ Image

To many fans and commentators, Styles is simply a creative soul who embraces gender-fluid fashion and artistic freedom.

Others strongly dispute that interpretation, however, pointing instead to what they view as a pattern of “queer-baiting” from the singer, mostly through his aesthetics and performances.

Supporters of this view often point to some of his screen performances where he portrays gay characters.

In 2019, for instance, Styles appeared in a viral “SNL” sketch as a social media manager for Sara Lee. The character accidentally posted sexualized messages from the company account about gay threesomes and celebrities.

He also starred in the 2022 film “My Policeman” as Tom Burgess, a closeted British police officer in the 1950s who secretly maintains a romantic relationship with a man.

Styles Pokes Fun At The Claims In Cheeky ‘SNL’ Monologue

During his monologue on his return to host “Saturday Night Live,” Styles chose to turn the debate into a punchline.

The Grammy winner joked about the scrutiny surrounding his fashion choices and public persona, dating back to the period after he wrapped up his last tour in 2023.

“Back then, people seemed to pay a lot of attention to the clothes I was wearing, and some people accused me of something called ‘queer-baiting,’” Styles told the audience. “But did it ever occur to you that… maybe you don’t know everything about me, dad?!”

The monologue then escalated into a physical bit when “SNL” writer and performer Ben Marshall walked onstage.

After a brief exchange, Styles kissed him in front of the audience before delivering the punchline: “Now that’s queer-baiting!”

Social Media Reacts To Harry Styles’ Queer-Baiting Joke On ‘SNL’

Styles’ monologue didn’t settle the debate so much as revive it, with viewers online offering very different takes on what the punchline, and the kiss, actually meant.

Some fans praised the British singer for acknowledging the accusations head-on after years of avoiding the subject.

“Harry has never addressed a single thing like that in his whole life. Addressing the queerbaiting allegations really was unexpected but, hell yeah finally people can shut up,” one user wrote in the comments section of the monologue on YouTube.

Others, however, argued that the joke itself did little to change their view of Styles’ public image.

“He just queerbaited again, nothing more,” one critic claimed.

Harry Styles Has Previously Brushed Off Questions About His Sexuality

In August 2022, Styles sat down with Rolling Stone for a wide-ranging interview about his record-breaking tours, his transition into acting, and aspects of his personal life.

During the conversation, the modern-day pop icon spoke unprompted about how little weight he places on questions surrounding his sexuality.

Styles emphasized that much of the public conversation about his relationships is built on assumptions rather than confirmed details.

“Sometimes people say, ‘You’ve only publicly been with women,’ and I don’t think I’ve publicly been with anyone,” he explained. “If someone takes a picture of you with someone, it doesn’t mean you’re choosing to have a public relationship or something.”

The Singer Says Berlin Gave Him Rare Feeling Of ‘Freedom’

Styles also recently revealed how he began visiting Berlin in search of a place where he could feel normal.

In an interview with PEOPLE, the singer explained that the city’s nightlife culture, particularly its strict no-phones club policies, allowed him to relax in public in a way he usually can’t.

“I remember standing in the middle of the dance floor feeling ‘Oh, I’m no longer scanning the room to see if anyone’s filming or anything,’” Styles said. “I just felt like, ‘Oh, I’m just on my own right now and I feel so free.’”

Hilary Duff just proved that the right body makeup can survive even the most nerve-wracking fashion test: an all-white outfit. The one product helping keep the singer’s skin smooth, even and transfer-free? Tinge Body Makeup. Designed to even out tone while still looking like real skin, the formula works like makeup for your body, blurring the appearance of redness, discoloration and minor imperfections while leaving behind a natural-looking glow.

Applied by celebrity makeup artist Kelsey Deenihan, the body tint gave Duff a radiant, even-toned glow and stayed put under bright stage lights as she performed her song “Roommates” on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. Unlike heavier body foundations that can feel thick or cakey, this tint has a fluid, breathable texture that melts seamlessly into skin. The coverage is buildable, meaning you can keep things sheer for a subtle glow or layer slightly more in areas where you want extra smoothing.

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Another standout feature is durability. Tinge Body Makeup is water- and transfer-resistant, helping to lock in a smooth, even finish that won’t easily rub off on clothing — a major plus if you’re wearing lighter fabrics or fitted pieces. Once blended in, the product dries down to a flexible, skin-like finish that resists smudging while still looking natural. Instead of sitting on top of the skin like heavier body makeup, it melds in seamlessly and coverage stays put throughout the day.

Related: Hilary Duff Uses These SPF-Infused Glow Drops That Are 57% Off

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Did you know that stage lights have the same effect on skin as intense sun exposure? Hilary Duff’s makeup artist, Kelsey Deenihan Fisher, was aware of this, which is why she slyly incorporates SPF into the singer’s tour looks. For Duff’s “Small Rooms, Big Nerves” show in Los Angeles, Fisher boosted her glow with the […]

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Related: Get Hilary Duff’s Cool-Girl Waves With This $34 Texture Spray

Hilary Duff is coming clean. The pop artist, who is currently promoting her comeback album luck… or something, recently sat down with Alex Cooper of “Call Her Daddy,” discussing everything from details from her discography to what it was like growing up in the spotlight. While Duff definitely spilled some tea about the behind-the-scenes of […]

Whether it’s allowing its characters to break the fourth wall to give the audience a glimpse into their thoughts or getting rid of the infamous laugh tracks, some sitcoms do a lot more in their condensed, 30-minute time slot, as they also aim to completely change the entire sitcom landscape. For those who don’t know, the word sitcom is truncated for “situation comedy,” shows that deal with issues in a comedic fashion, and can, oftentimes, wrap up situations within their 30-minute time slot. However, sitcoms have come a long, long way from the days of the famous living room couch and the canned laughter that this genre was once known for.

Starting with the iconic I Love Lucy, sitcoms began to bend and change the structure of the genre, which, in turn, redefined how modern shows tell their stories. The following innovative shows didn’t just follow the same-old blueprint; they set that blueprint on fire, then went on to draw up another blueprint that has helped evolve a genre that could have easily become stale and predictable. These shows challenged the narrative structure, pushed the boundaries of dark comedy, changed the way sitcoms dealt with serious social issues, and rewrote the rules for how television showcased diverse families. So, without further ado, let’s take a look at the game-changing sitcoms that completely rewrote the rules of the genre.

6

‘I Love Lucy’ (1951–1957)

Image via CBS 

When I Love Lucy premiered on CBS in October 1951, it didn’t just become a huge hit overnight, but it rewrote the DNA for how a show is produced and filmed. Starring Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz, I Love Lucy follows the daily life of Lucy Ricardo (Ball), an ambitious homemaker who often lands in trouble by trying to make it big in show business. Before I Love Lucy hit the airwaves, TV shows were treated as “radio with pictures,” as at the time, television was still a new medium on television. But this sitcom upped the game in production value, inventing the multi-camera setup that allowed the show to be filmed continuously and capture multiple angles, a setup that became the vanguard of sitcom shows in years to come.

Not only did I Love Lucy change how sitcoms were produced, but the show also did something different when it came to filming. In the early ’50s, TV shows were often filmed in New York City, with series airing on the West Coast via “Kinescope.” This resulted in terrible quality, which is something I Love Lucy corrected as the show was filmed on 35mm film. By using film, this allowed the sitcom to be shown at a higher quality, and, as a bonus, the show could be re-aired without losing its quality. This birthed the “rerun,” and it changed the television landscape forever, along with filming each episode in front of a live studio audience, which allowed the actors to react in real-time to the laughter of the audience.

5

‘Kevin Can F**k Himself’ (2021–2022)

Image via AMC

Most people look at AMC’s Kevin Can F**k Himself as a brilliant parody of the sitcom genre, and that is a fair assessment for this series. However, this underrated sitcom not just parodied the genre, but it basically did an autopsy on the traditional sitcom. Kevin Can F**k Himself follows the life of Allison McRoberts (Annie Murphy), a woman who is struggling to redefine her life within an unhappy marriage. To frame the contrasting perspectives of the storyline, the series uses two distinct ways to describe Allison’s plight. When she’s with her narcissistic husband (Eric Petersen), the show is shot in a typical sitcom format, complete with a multi-camera setup and audience.

But when Kevin (Allison’s husband) isn’t on the screen, the show shifts into a single-camera setup that is mostly used in dramas. This is basically a “weaponization” of how television genres are filmed, with the muiti-camera format used to show how Kevin’s man-child “hijinks” serve as a punchline when they’re actually ruining his wife’s life, and the single-camera format is used to show the reality of Allison’s life when Kevin isn’t in the room, where his narcissism and man-child antics towards his wife borders on domestic abuse. By using this unique camera setup, Kevin Can F**k Himself forces the viewer to look at the “beloved sitcom wives” of previous sitcoms through a different lens, in which the wives are often seen as “killjoys” for trying to get their man-child husbands to deal with real-world consequences.

4

‘It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia’ (2005–Present)

Image via Patrick McElhenney / ©FXX /Courtesy: Everett Collectionf

In the early 2000s, the sitcom landscape was changing, but they still opted to play it safe, with multi-camera shows still dominating the genre and being careful not to offend anyone. That all changed in 2005, when a pilot shot for only $200 managed to get picked by FX and go on to become the longest-running live-action sitcom in television history. That show is It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, created by Rob Mac and follows a group of self-centered, narcissistic misfits who run an Irish dive bar in South Philadelphia. When Always Sunny premiered, the sitcom genre was entering the “prestige” era, which was defined by mockumentary shows such as NBC’s The Office. But while the genre was just beginning to slightly nudge the limits of how far a sitcom can go, Always Sunny shoved it against the line.

The series took the “no learning, no growing” trope, which was popularized by Seinfeld, to the extreme. There isn’t a moment of human connection within the series, and by the end of each episode, a time when most sitcom characters would be better off or have learned their lesson, the gang in Sunny were always worse off morally or physically than they were when the episode started. This severe lack of self-awareness is the beauty of It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia‘s relentless dark comedy. There is no moral center within “The Gang,” no saccharine moments where the characters learn their lesson or produce “teachable moments” for the audience. This is a high-octane sitcom in which every character is delightfully terrible, and the show has proven that fans would stay loyal to horrible characters if the chemistry and comedic timing are always on point, which they often are.

3

‘The Simpsons’ (1989–Present)

Image via FOX

At the end of the 1980s, the sitcom landscape was dominated by cozy, live-action sitcoms featuring families that were lovable and always taught the audience a lesson at the end of their 30-minute runtimes. Then, in 1989, The Simpsons premiered on the then-upstart Fox network, and the animated series not only invaded the cozy suburbs where family sitcoms lived, but it bulldozed them and built a metropolis built on satire. Before The Simpsons premiered, the typical TV sitcom was based on the “Moral of the Story” format. You’ll have conflict, then a mistake will be made, and then a heartfelt conversation over a saccharine piano track that wrapped everything up in a neat, tidy bow in just 30 minutes. The Simpsons looked at this format and said, “hell no,” and went in a much different direction, and the rest of the sitcom landscape followed.

The Simpsons ditched the “Moral of the Story” format for a “Status Quo” plotline, in that the main character didn’t learn their lesson after each episode. This made the sitcom more cynical, and, ironically, more tied to reality than the homey family sitcoms of the ‘80s. This was all possible thanks to The Simpsons‘ high-speed comedy, with each episode being “layered,” one on top being slapstick for the kids, the middle introducing a touch of sophistication for adults, and the last layer, a background pun for “obsessive” fans. With its quick joke delivery and dense storylines, The Simpsons set the standard for other adult animated sitcoms that would come after it, and it was a breakthrough for the animated sitcom, as it proved that you didn’t need a live studio audience, nor portray actual living humans, to have a hit, primetime sitcom.

2

‘All in the Family’ (1971–1979)

Image via CBS

In the first two decades of the sitcom’s golden age, shows within the genre carefully constructed the tropes that would become the pillars of the genre. Situations were often solved within an episode, and the show was so safe that kids could easily watch and enjoy these sitcoms with their parents. But by the 1970s, society was changing rapidly, stripping away the “plastic sheen” of American life. The rapid change in American society and the struggle of the older generation to adapt to it were perfectly captured in the iconic CBS sitcom All in the Family. Created by Norman Lear, this socially-conscious sitcom followed the Bunker family of Queens, led by the family patriarch, Archie Bunker (Carroll O’Connor), the so-called “lovable bigot” who bemoaned America’s societal change.

All in the Family represented the death of escapism in the sitcom genre. Before the show premiered in 1971, sitcoms normally avoided the “Three Ts”: Taboos, Topicality, and Tension. This is how sitcoms kept their shows free from controversy and safe for the family. Then, All in the Family came in and broke all of those norms, using its characters to highlight social issues such as racism, feminism, and antisemitism. The success of the show rewrote the rules to show that sitcoms could tackle serious issues while still being funny. Granted, the sitcom was not your typical “family-friendly” show, but we wouldn’t have serious topics discussed in sitcoms if it weren’t for the success of All in the Family.

1

‘The Cosby Show’ (1984–1992)

Image via NBC
 

In the 1970s, Black families on television were always depicted as struggling with poverty and dealing with social injustice. But in the 1980s, Bill Cosby set out to showcase that not all Black families were underprivileged, but were just as upwardly mobile as white families were. So, in 1984, NBC debuted The Cosby Show, which not only shone a different light on the African American family but also single-handedly revived the sitcom genre. While sitcoms were still on television, they were being drastically overshadowed by single-camera dramas like Dallas and Dynasty, to the point where the genre was basically on life support. The Cosby Show gave the sitcom a huge jolt and formally kick-started the family sitcom boom that the decade would be known for.

The Cosby Show was not only an overnight ratings success and savior of the sitcom genre, but it also completely rewrote the rules of how minority families were portrayed on television. The parents, Cliff (Cosby) and Clair (Phylicia Rashad), were professionals, with Cliff as an obstetrician and Clair a law firm partner, and the sitcom took a universal approach to themes such as parenting and education, showing that just because the family was Black, it didn’t mean that it had the same issues as white families. The Cosby Show re-wrote the rules for the family sitcom, showing that the “bumbling dad” could still be authoritative, and that the mother was just the “dotting wife” and was an equal to her husband. The sitcom paved the way for telling more diverse stories on television, and while the show was tarnished by Cosby’s fractured legacy, it should still be considered a sitcom that changed the game in television.

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Release Date

1984 – 1992

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Directors

Jay Sandrich, Chuck Vinson, Malcolm-Jamal Warner, Oz Scott, Alan Smithee

Writers

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Bill Cosby, John Markus, Gary Kott, Janet Leahy, Mark St. Germain, Ehrich Van Lowe, Adriana Trigiani, Ed. Weinberger, Lisa Albert, Michael J. Leeson, Oliver Hailey, Thad Mumford

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