Barbershop: The Series
Encyclopedia
Barbershop: The Series is an American sitcom
which made its debut on the Showtime cable
network in August 2005. It is based upon the Mark Brown-created characters from the popular films Barbershop
(2002) and Barbershop 2: Back in Business
(2004), and was developed for television by screenwriter John Ridley
. It starred Omar Gooding
as Calvin Palmer, Jr., the proprietor of an African-American
barbershop on the South Side
of Chicago
, Illinois
.
The series was produced by Barbershop and Barbershop 2 producers George Tillman, Jr.
and Robert Teitel
, along with original Barbershop star Ice Cube
. It lasted for only one season, and ten episodes were aired (seven of which were written by Ridley).
The series had much more vulgar
language and content than the films which are lighter in tone.
, entrepreneurship
, local politics, and the use of the N-word
.
Continuing from the events of Barbershop 2, the series makes several minor changes. Isaac's surname is changed from Rosenberg to Brice (and the dark-haired man becomes a blond). The Nigeria
n-born Dinka is renamed "Yinka", as Yinka is an actual Nigerian name, while Dinka is not. Additionally, Dinka was naive and slightly overweight, while Yinka is well-educated and muscular. Ricky, the reformed criminal, is replaced by a more hardened ex-con, Jen's distant relative Romadal Dupree. Finally, Isaac and Jimmy (instead of Yinka) each harbor a crush on Terri.
Situation comedy
A situation comedy, often shortened to sitcom, is a genre of comedy that features characters sharing the same common environment, such as a home or workplace, accompanied with jokes as part of the dialogue...
which made its debut on the Showtime cable
Cable television
Cable television is a system of providing television programs to consumers via radio frequency signals transmitted to televisions through coaxial cables or digital light pulses through fixed optical fibers located on the subscriber's property, much like the over-the-air method used in traditional...
network in August 2005. It is based upon the Mark Brown-created characters from the popular films Barbershop
Barbershop (film)
Barbershop is a 2002 American comedy film directed by Tim Story, produced by State Street Pictures and released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer on September 13, 2002. Starring Ice Cube, Cedric the Entertainer, and Anthony Anderson, the movie revolves around social life in a barbershop on the South Side of...
(2002) and Barbershop 2: Back in Business
Barbershop 2: Back in Business
Barbershop 2: Black in Business is a 2004 American comedy film directed by Kevin Rodney Sullivan, produced by State Street Pictures and released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer on February 6, 2004...
(2004), and was developed for television by screenwriter John Ridley
John Ridley
John Ridley is an American film director, actor, and writer.Ridley got his start as a stand-up comedian. He eventually was hired as a writer for sitcoms such as The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and Martin...
. It starred Omar Gooding
Omar Gooding
Omar M. Gooding is an American actor. He is the younger brother of veteran actor Cuba Gooding, Jr. and the son of singer Cuba Gooding, Sr....
as Calvin Palmer, Jr., the proprietor of an African-American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
barbershop on the South Side
South Side (Chicago)
The South Side is a major part of the City of Chicago, which is located in Cook County, Illinois, United States. Much of it has evolved from the city's incorporation of independent townships, such as Hyde Park Township which voted along with several other townships to be annexed in the June 29,...
of Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
.
The series was produced by Barbershop and Barbershop 2 producers George Tillman, Jr.
George Tillman, Jr.
George Tillman, Jr. is an American film director and producer. He attended John Marshall High School in Milwaukee, where he took Mass Communications magnet classes. He graduated from Columbia College in Chicago in 1991 with a major in Film and Video.Tillman is most notable for directing the films...
and Robert Teitel
Robert Teitel
Robert Teitel is an American film producer.Teitel is most notable for producing the films Soul Food , Men of Honor , and the three films in the Barbershop series: Barbersop, Barbershop 2: Back in Business, and Beauty Shop. He is also co-producer of the television series Barbershop: The Series.He...
, along with original Barbershop star Ice Cube
Ice Cube
O'Shea Jackson , better known by his stage name Ice Cube, is an American rapper and actor. He began his career as a member of the hip-hop group C.I.A. and later joined the rap group N.W.A. After leaving N.W.A in December 1989, he built a successful solo career in music, and also as a writer,...
. It lasted for only one season, and ten episodes were aired (seven of which were written by Ridley).
The series had much more vulgar
VULGAR
Vulgar is the fourth studio album released by Dir En Grey on September 10, 2003 in Japan and on February 21, 2006 in Europe. A limited edition containing an additional DVD was also released. It featured the video of the song "Obscure", albeit a censored version...
language and content than the films which are lighter in tone.
Production
While the original films were no stranger to controversy, the series uses humor to more deeply explore a variety of issues related to the contemporary African-American community, including drug abuseDrug abuse
Substance abuse, also known as drug abuse, refers to a maladaptive pattern of use of a substance that is not considered dependent. The term "drug abuse" does not exclude dependency, but is otherwise used in a similar manner in nonmedical contexts...
, entrepreneurship
Entrepreneurship
Entrepreneurship is the act of being an entrepreneur, which can be defined as "one who undertakes innovations, finance and business acumen in an effort to transform innovations into economic goods". This may result in new organizations or may be part of revitalizing mature organizations in response...
, local politics, and the use of the N-word
Nigger
Nigger is a noun in the English language, most notable for its usage in a pejorative context to refer to black people , and also as an informal slang term, among other contexts. It is a common ethnic slur...
.
Continuing from the events of Barbershop 2, the series makes several minor changes. Isaac's surname is changed from Rosenberg to Brice (and the dark-haired man becomes a blond). The Nigeria
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
n-born Dinka is renamed "Yinka", as Yinka is an actual Nigerian name, while Dinka is not. Additionally, Dinka was naive and slightly overweight, while Yinka is well-educated and muscular. Ricky, the reformed criminal, is replaced by a more hardened ex-con, Jen's distant relative Romadal Dupree. Finally, Isaac and Jimmy (instead of Yinka) each harbor a crush on Terri.
Cast and characters
- Omar GoodingOmar GoodingOmar M. Gooding is an American actor. He is the younger brother of veteran actor Cuba Gooding, Jr. and the son of singer Cuba Gooding, Sr....
as Calvin Palmer, Jr. Calvin is the owner of Calvin Jr.’s Barbershop, first opened in 1958 as "Calvin’s Barbershop" by his father Calvin Palmer, Sr. He and his wife Jen have a son, Cody. - Gbenga AkinnagbeGbenga AkinnagbeGbenga Akinnagbe is an American actor, best known for his role as Chris Partlow on the HBO original series The Wire.-Early life:...
as Yinka. An immigrant from NigeriaNigeriaNigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
, Yinka fled that country to escape local sectarian violenceSectarian violenceSectarian violence and/or sectarian strife is violence inspired by sectarianism, that is, between different sects of one particular mode of ideology or religion within a nation/community...
. He is by far the most well-educated employee at the barbershop. - Anna Brown as Jen Palmer. Jen is a homemaker, and has studied hotel management in community collegeCommunity colleges in the United StatesIn the United States, community colleges are primarily two-year public institutions of higher education and were once commonly called junior colleges....
. She and her husband Calvin have a son, Cody. - Wes Chatham as Isaac Brice. Isaac is a White man raised in African-American neighborhoods, and dates women of color exclusively. He is particularly attracted to his fellow barber Terri Jones.
- Leslie Elliard as Jimmy James. A former employee of the barbershop, Jimmy quit to pursue a career in local politics. Jimmy goes to great lengths to appear more important than is actually the case. He is politically conservative, and considers Calvin to be his best friend.
- Barry Shabaka HenleyBarry Shabaka HenleyBarry Shabaka Henley is an American character actor. Henley is a fixture in many films, most often the films of director Michael Mann, having worked with the director four times....
as Eddie Walker. The oldest employee at the barbershop, Eddie was hired by Calvin Palmer, Sr. on Independence Day 1967. Eddie prevented the shop from being looted or firebombed during the riots following Martin Luther King, Jr.’s assassination in 1968. In return, Calvin Sr. decreed that Eddie would never again have to pay rent for his chair. Eddie often tells tall tales about his past, and frequently complains that the current generation has no values or sense of history. - Toni TrucksToni TrucksAntoinette Lindsay "Toni" Trucks is an American stage, film and television actress. She was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan and grew up in Manistee, Michigan. She graduated from the Interlochen Arts Academy and the Musical Theatre Department of the University of Michigan...
as Terri Jones. Terri is the only female barber at Calvin Jr.’s. She is very quick to anger, and her short temper affects almost all of her interpersonal relationships. - Dan White as Romadal Dupree. Romadal is a distant relative of Jen Palmer, who convinced Calvin to hire him. He is an ex-con who was recently released from prison, and is feared throughout the South Side. He has no real skills as a barber.
List of episodes
| Series # | Production code !! Original air date !! Title !! Notes |
|||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 101 | 14 August 2005 | "This is My Bullshit, and You're Welcome to It" | Jen convinces Calvin to hire her distant relative Romadal Dupree, who has just been released from prison. Calvin teaches Yinka how to talk dirty to a woman during sex. Terri is forced to confront her anger issues after her identity is stolen. Jimmy tries to use his nonexistent political clout to do a favor for Jen. |
| 2 | 102 | 21 August 2005 | "Nigger, Lovers" | "Niggaz", an urban fashion chain store owned by African-Americans, opens a franchise in the neighborhood. But when the owner of the new store turns out to be Korean-American Korean American Korean Americans are Americans of Korean descent, mostly from South Korea, with a small minority from North Korea... , some residents are outraged by the use of the N-word Nigger Nigger is a noun in the English language, most notable for its usage in a pejorative context to refer to black people , and also as an informal slang term, among other contexts. It is a common ethnic slur... . . . and Jimmy takes full advantage of the situation. Terri is attracted to the son of the new store owner. Big Tricky (Page Kennedy Page Kennedy Page Kennedy is an American television and film actor who most recently starred in the second season of the sports comedy series Blue Mountain State on Spike.... ) wants his cousin Romadal to be the spokesman for his new hip-hop CD Compact Disc The Compact Disc is an optical disc used to store digital data. It was originally developed to store and playback sound recordings exclusively, but later expanded to encompass data storage , write-once audio and data storage , rewritable media , Video Compact Discs , Super Video Compact Discs ,... , but he needs Calvin's approval first. |
| 3 | 103 | 28 August 2005 | "Madonna is a 'Ho (and Dana's Fucking Blind)" | Calvin and Jen have dinner with David and Dana Kang (Kipp Shiotani, Lauren Tom Lauren Tom Lauren Tom is an American actress and voice actress perhaps best known for her roles as Lena St Clair in The Joy Luck Club, Julie in the TV series Friends, and for providing the voices for both mother and daughter characters on two animated TV comedy series: on Futurama she voices Amy Wong and her... ), who are constantly cursing at each other in public. Michael Kang (Yun Choi) breaks up with Terri, while Isaac begins seeing Michael's sister Michelle (Camille Chen Camille Chen Camille Chen is a Taiwanese American actress. She was born in Taiwan and raised in the U.S. She began her career in show business, doing voiceover work for the English version of anime TV series such as Lost Universe and Devil Lady.-Filmography:*Spilled *The Ringer *Heavenly Beauties as Asian... ). Eddie picks up a gorgeous woman (Sheryl Lee Ralph Sheryl Lee Ralph Sheryl Lee Ralph is an American actress, singer, and activist.-Personal life:Raised between Mandeville, Jamaica, and Long Island, New York, Sheryl Lee Ralph was born in Waterbury, Connecticut to an African American father and a Jamaican mother. Sheryl attended Uniondale High School in Uniondale, NY... ) in a bar. |
| 4 | 104 | 4 September 2005 | "Whose Pussy Is That?" | Yinka tries new dirty talk on Jen's gynecologist (Victoria Platt). Jen competes with her sister Jan to find the perfect gift for Calvin's birthday. Terri finds marijuana in Romadal's locker, after which Issac, Yinka and Eddie join her in smoking it while on the job. The Kang siblings try to hide their flings with Terri and Isaac from their mother Dana. Jimmy decides to run for alderman Alderman An alderman is a member of a municipal assembly or council in many jurisdictions founded upon English law. The term may be titular, denoting a high-ranking member of a borough or county council, a council member chosen by the elected members themselves rather than by popular vote, or a council... . Eddie discovers that Claire is a transsexual Transsexualism Transsexualism is an individual's identification with a gender inconsistent or not culturally associated with their biological sex. Simply put, it defines a person whose biological birth sex conflicts with their psychological gender... . |
| 5 | 105 | 11 September 2005 | "What's Good for the Cos..." | The barbershop staff (along with Jen and Jimmy) attends one of Bill Cosby Bill Cosby William Henry "Bill" Cosby, Jr. is an American comedian, actor, author, television producer, educator, musician and activist. A veteran stand-up performer, he got his start at various clubs, then landed a starring role in the 1960s action show, I Spy. He later starred in his own series, the... 's lectures on personal responsibility in the African-American community. Terri and Yinka continue to smoke marijuana at the barbershop, which drastically affects their work performance. Isaac, who only dates women of color, decides to try dating White women. Eddie is in turmoil after learning the truth about Claire. Calvin learns that his late father had a second family . . . including a White White American White Americans are people of the United States who are considered or consider themselves White. The United States Census Bureau defines White people as those "having origins in any of the original peoples of Europe, the Middle East, or North Africa... wife and adult biracial Multiracial American Multiracial Americans, US residents who identify themselves as of "two or more races", were numbered at around 9 million, or 2.9% of the population, in the census of 2010. However there is considerable evidence that the real number is far higher. Prior to the mid-20th century many people hid their... children. |
| 6 | 106 | 18 September 2005 | "A Black Man Invented the Stoplight" | Calvin learns that his mother and brother (Roz Ryan Roz Ryan Roz Ryan is an American actress. She has earned wide acclaim as an actress, singer and comedian.-Life and career:Ryan was born Rosalyn Bowen in Detroit, Michigan, the daughter of Gertrude and Thomas Bowen, who worked for the Board of Education. She is a 1969 graduate of Mackenzie High School... , Phil LaMarr Phil LaMarr Phillip "Phil" LaMarr is an American actor, comedian and voice actor. One of the original cast members on the sketch comedy series MADtv, he is also known for his small, but memorable role as Marvin in Pulp Fiction... ) have known about his father's second family for years. The former mayor of Chicago (John Rubinstein John Rubinstein John Arthur Rubinstein is an American film, Broadway, and television actor, a composer of film and theatre music, and a director in theatre and television.-Early life:... ) decides to run against Jimmy. After discovering Terri and Yinka's drug habits, Calvin forces them to enter drug rehab Drug rehabilitation Drug rehabilitation is a term for the processes of medical or psychotherapeutic treatment, for dependency on psychoactive substances such as alcohol, prescription drugs, and so-called street drugs such as cocaine, heroin or amphetamines... , led by an extremely confrontational drug counselor (Kevin Hart Kevin Hart (actor) Kevin Hart is an American actor and stand-up comedian.-Early life and career:Hart was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was raised by his single mother... ). Eddie's friends question his "deviant behavior" with Claire. Jen and Dana decide to open an urban bed and breakfast Bed and breakfast A bed and breakfast is a small lodging establishment that offers overnight accommodation and breakfast, but usually does not offer other meals. Since the 1980s, the meaning of the term has also extended to include accommodations that are also known as "self-catering" establishments... . Malcolm (A. Doran Reed) sues Calvin for invasion of privacy after he is caught on the surveillance cameras having sex in the back of the barbershop. |
| 7 | 107 | 25 September 2005 | "Family Business" | Jen and Dana get help from Big Tricky and Da Boot (Kia Joy Goodwin Kia Goodwin -Career:Goodwin made her first television appearance commercially in 1976 for such products as M&M's, Jello Pudding and AT&T. In 1981, she joined the First National Touring Company of Annie, where she played the role of Duffy. After the tour closed in 1982, she went on to join the final Broadway... ) in developing their urban bed and breakfast. Calvin neglects the barbershop while spending time with his "other" family (Tanya Roberts Tanya Roberts Tanya Roberts is an American actress best known for her roles in Charlie's Angels, The Beastmaster, A View to a Kill, Sheena and That '70s Show. Roberts was groomed as a Hollywood sex symbol during the early 1980s.- Early life :Blum was born in The Bronx, New York City, of Irish and Jewish descent... , Christopher "Kid" Reid, Kendra Smith). Malcolm drops the lawsuit after Romadal attacks him. Jimmy's campaign manager (Lalanya Masters) starts to question whether Jimmy can win the election. Terri and her drug counselor James Ricky begin a very odd sexual relationship. |
| 8 | 108 | 2 October 2005 | "Debates and Dead People" | Calvin continues to spend time with his other family, and the barbershop suffers in his absence. Isaac steals a famous client from Yinka, and the two barbers eventually come to blows. A ventroliquist and his dummy cause trouble for Jen and Dana at the bed and breakfast. Yinka falls in love with a married Nigeria Nigeria Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in... n woman (Nzinga Blake Nzinga Blake Nzinga Blake is an American / Sierra Leonean actress, writer and currently the host of Culture Click, which appears on Saturday mornings on most ABC stations. Blake was a host on Current TV and starred on the TV series Fridays on Cartoon Network, as well as in national television commercials for... ). Romadal is arrested for assault. |
| 9 | 109 | 9 October 2005 | "The Politics of Money" | When Isaac puts his celebrity clientele ahead of his regular job, Calvin fires him. Jimmy tries to raise funds and support for his faltering campaign. Calvin puts up the barbershop as collateral to bail Romadal out of jail . . . but then Romadal disappears. After learning that Vivian will be put to death upon her return to Nigeria, Yinka helps her seek sanctuary at the bed and breakfast. |
| 10 | 110 | 16 October 2005 | "Crimes of the Heart" | After Romadal jumps bail, Calvin tries to track him down to avoid losing the barbershop. As Election Day approaches, Jimmy seeks an endorsement from Eddie, who was "like a son" to the late Chicago mayor Mayor of Chicago The Mayor of Chicago is the chief executive of Chicago, Illinois, the third largest city in the United States. He or she is charged with directing city departments and agencies, and with the advice and consent of the Chicago City Council, appoints department and agency leaders.-Appointment... Harold Washington Harold Washington Harold Lee Washington was an American lawyer and politician who became the first African-American Mayor of Chicago, serving from 1983 until his death in 1987.- Early years and military service :... . Isaac and Terri finally give in to their mutual attraction and consummate their relationship. Yinka learns that Vivian is not as innocent as he thought. Shocking turns of events leave both Jen and Jimmy in desperate need of cash. [This episode was intended to be the first season finale. However, Showtime subsequently cancelled the series, making this the last episode.] |