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Moesha

Genre

Created by

Starring

Theme music

composer

Opening theme

"Moesha Main Title"

performed by

Ending theme

"Moesha Closing Theme"

(Instrumental)

Composer

Kurt Farquhar

Country of

origin

United States

Original

language

English

No.

seasons

No.

episodes

127

(

)

Production

Executive

producers

Ralph Farquhar

Sara V. Finney

Vida Spears

Jacque Edmonds

Fred Johnson

Camera setup

Running time

21–24 minutes

Production

companies

Original release

Network

Release

January 23, 1996

–

May 14, 2001

Moesha

(

) is an American television

that aired

from January 23, 1996, to May 14, 2001. The series stars

singer

as Moesha Denise Mitchell, an African-American teenager living with her

family in the

neighborhood of

It was originally ordered as a pilot for

' 1995–1996 television season but

was declined by the network.

It was then later picked up by UPN, which

aired it as a

. 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 for UPN by

, and

in association with

Overview

[

]

The series focused on the life of a black

family through

the eyes of a typical girl named Moesha. Her father Frank, a widower and

car salesman (and later owner of his own dealership, Brothers Saturn),

has married Dee, the vice principal at Moesha's high school, much to Moesha's

disapproval. The series was created by Ralph Farquhar, along with the writing

team of Sara V. Finney and Vida Spears. The settings for the show include the

Mitchell household, teen hangout The Den, and in some cases,

, the school attended by Moesha, Kim, Niecy, and Hakeem. The sitcom was

set in the

neighborhood of Los Angeles.

Issues addressed

[

]

See also:

The show dealt with real social issues affecting teenagers, such as premarital

sex, the death of a parent,

, drug use, race relations,

sexuality,

, and day-to-day issues teenagers faced at home and school

such as gender prejudice and inequality.

In one of the most controversial

episodes, "Secrets and Lies" (aired February 7, 2000), the Mitchell family

learned from Aunt Hattie that Frank is the biological father of Dorian, whom

the Mitchells and Dorian himself believed to be Frank's nephew. The shocking

news of Frank's

during his first marriage turned the family upside-

down and resulted in Dorian's rebellion and Moesha moving out of the family

home and into a dorm room.

Moesha was also the first Black-cast sitcom to have an episode devoted to

teenagers and non-heterosexuality. The episode, "Labels" (aired October 1,

1996), concerned Hakeem's cousin Omar showing up at the Mitchell's home and

the family fears he could be another Hakeem. Instead, he seems to be nice and

responsible. Moesha, still grieving about her break-up with Q, goes out on a

date with Omar. After attending a movie, they meet Omar's friend, Tracy,

leading Moesha to believe that Omar may be gay. Moesha later tells Kim and

Niecy her suspicions, and it doesn't take long until everyone in school knows

the latest gossip. When Hakeem hears the news, Moesha realizes that she may

have jeopardized their friendship.

Episodes

[

]

Main article:

Season

Episodes

Originally released

First released

Last released

January 23, 1996

May 21, 1996

August 27, 1996

May 20, 1997

August 26, 1997

May 19, 1998

October 6, 1998

May 25, 1999

August 23, 1999

May 22, 2000

September 4, 2000

May 14, 2001

Cast and characters

[

]

Overview

[

]

Actor

Character

seasons

Moesha Denise "Mo" Mitchell

Franklin "Frank" Mitchell

Main

Kimberly Ann "Kim" Parker

Main

Archive footage

Myles Mitchell

Main

Hakeem Campbell

Main

Andalusia Louise "Andell" Wilkerson

Main

Deidre "Dee" Mitchell (née Moss)

Main

Denise "Niecy" Jackson

Recurring

Main

Quinton "Q" Brooks

Main

Recurring

Dorian Long

Main

[

]

Season 1 cast of

Moesha

as Moesha Denise "Mo" Mitchell – Like many teenagers, Moesha is

trying to find her place in life. Moesha narrates the series about life lessons

that she learns at the end of the episode. At every turn, Moesha, along with her

friends and family, experiences new challenges and hilarious situations

associated with the pressures and demands of growing up in an often confusing world. Moesha is headstrong,

independent, and at times stubborn, but stands up for what she believes is right. She can sometimes be rebellious

toward her father and stepmother. Through the first five seasons, Moesha would open the show speaking her thoughts

into her diary. In Season 5, it's revealed that Moesha has a second brother, Dorian. She moves out after hearing

this. Moesha is 15–16 years old in season 1, and is 20-21 by season 6.

as Franklin "Frank" Mitchell – A

car dealer and father to Moesha and Myles. Originally

thought to be Dorian's uncle, he is later revealed to be the young man's father. Frank is also a member of

fraternity. He is a graduate of

. Frank and Dee are strict

disciplinarians to their children. He married Dee after his first wife, Moesha and Myles's mother, died.

as Deidre "Dee" Mitchell (Seasons 1–5; recurring in Season 6) A high school principal attempting

to balance her career with two additional roles as wife to Frank and stepmother to Moesha and Myles. Dee is also a

strict disclipinarian to the kids. She is originally from

and would speak in a thick Jamaican accent when

talking about her childhood or when angered. It is implied that Dee is a member of

sorority due

to a quote in the episode "Niece" in which Moesha says that she wouldn't be persuaded by Dee with

Delta

picnics.

Ralph left her role as a main cast member following season 5. She did not appreciate the storyline in which the

family discovered that Frank was Dorian's real father.

as Kimberly Ann "Kim" Parker (Seasons 1–4) – Moesha's boy-crazy best friend who has a crush on

Hakeem during the first two seasons, but later dates Michael. She leaves the show after the fourth season to star

in her own spin-off series

with

, who played her mother, Nikki Parker. She and Nikki graduate

from Crenshaw High School in 1999 and go on to study at

. Kim originally planned to go to the

Fashion Institute of Leimert, but ended up going to SMC after the former shut down suddenly toward the end of her

senior year of high school.

as Myles Mitchell — Moesha's pesky younger brother. Early in the series, he is known mostly for

playing practical jokes on his sister and her friends. Throughout the series, he progresses from 3rd grade to 8th

grade.

as Hakeem Campbell — A frequent visitor to the Mitchell household, he is Moesha's lifelong friend

and neighbor, and later her boyfriend. In the spin-off

, it was revealed that he and Moesha were no

longer in a relationship. He dated Kim's best friend Stevie Van Lowe (played by

as Andalusia Louise "Andell" Wilkerson (Seasons 1–5) — Moesha's adult friend and owner of the

neighborhood hangout The Den. During season 5 she sells her establishment to a local funeral director. Andell is

featured on the spin-off show

, where she owns a self-named restaurant and bar.

as Denise "Niecy" Jackson (Seasons 2–6; recurring in Season 1) — Moesha's best friend and later her

roommate. She has four brothers and four sisters whom she has to care for during high school, so she does not find

time to work during high school like her friends Hakeem and Moesha. Niecy also made a guest appearance in a season

1 episode of

as Quinton "Q" Brooks (Seasons 2 & 3; recurring Seasons 4–6) — Moesha's longest-running love interest.

He is from

and had an on-and-off relationship with Moesha until departing in the middle season 3 to

manage a hip-hop group. Frank dislikes him, because he feels is a bad influence on Moesha. In season 6, Q proposes

to Moesha and she accepts, but the engagement is called off when Q wants to sell Moesha's engagement ring to help

support his hip-hop group on Thanksgiving.

as Dorian Long (Seasons 5 & 6) — Moesha and Myles' long lost half-brother, previously said to be their

cousin. Dorian is originally from

, but runs away from his mother's home to live with the

Mitchells. He was known to be a troublemaker back in Oakland so the Mitchells did not treat him lightly. Dorian is

also an aspiring rapper going by the nickname, "D-Money". He graduates from high school during season 6.

Recurring

[

]

as Bernard Jefferson "Bernie" Mitchell (Seasons 1–4) Moesha's uncle and Frank's brother; Andell's

boyfriend

as Javon Aramis "J.W." Willis (Seasons 1–3), a mechanic working for Frank; Andell's boyfriend

as Ohaji (Season 1; guest appearance in Season 4), Moesha's first boyfriend

as Sara (Season 1), a friend of Moesha, Kim and Niecy

as Michael (Seasons 2 & 3; guest appearance in Season 1), Kim's boyfriend and Q's teammate on the

basketball team

as Charrisse (Seasons 2 & 4), Dee's niece who helps Moesha to see a different side of her

stepmom

Dwight Woody as Coach Vines, Crenshaw High's basketball coach (Seasons 2 & 3)

Dru Mouser as Haley Dillard (Season 3), Moesha's first friend at Bridgewood

as Jeremy Davis (Season 3; guest appearance in Season 4), a love interest of Moesha who goes to

Bridgewood

as Marco (Season 3), a friend of Moesha's at Bridgewood

Monica McSwain as Mary Ellen Hobbs (Seasons 3 & 4) a stuck-up girl at Bridgewood who clashes with Moesha

as Antonio Avalan (Season 4), a friend of Hakeem and high school student at Crenshaw High School

as Aaron (Season 4), Moesha's college-aged boyfriend

as Nicole "Nikki" Parker (Season 4; guest appearance in Season 6), Kim's mother who goes back to high

school in order to graduate with her daughter and her friends

as Bernetta Campbell (Seasons 4 & 5), Hakeem's mother, who works at the

theater

Alexis Fields as Alicia (Seasons 5 & 6; guest appearance in Season 4), Moesha's rival at California University. She

later shares a suite with Moesha, Niecy, and Brenda during their sophomore year

as Theresa (Season 5), Moesha's roommate during her freshman year of college

as Patience (Season 5), a thug that Dorian associates with and later gets him into trouble

Lahmard Tate as Jerome (Seasons 5 & 6), a friend of Hakeem's who attends college with him; Niecy's on-and-off

boyfriend

as Sandra "Sandy" Mitchell-Long (Seasons 5 & 6) Moesha's aunt and Dorian's adoptive mother from

as Khalib (Season 6), a group member of Q's and later a love interest of Moesha

as Lanae Foster (Season 6), an older woman that Dorian has a short-lived love affair with

as Barbara Lee (Season 6), Dorian's birth mother and sister-in-law of Maya Wilkes from

as Brenda (Season 6), one of Moesha's and Niecy's roommates in sophomore year

as Gertrude "Gertie" Lowe (Season 6), a woman who dated Frank, and later Nikki's best friend in

Production

[

]

Opening credits

[

]

This section

does not

any

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–

(

March 2025

)

(

)

There have been different versions of the opening credits theme song, which was performed by

. One version was

used for season 1, a second version was used for seasons 2 and 3, and a third version was used for the final three

seasons. Although the same recording of the theme song was used for the last three seasons, two different openings

were used for each of the first three seasons.

The opening sequence for season 1 shows Moesha dancing in front of a fountain, walking with friends, dancing in a

moving car, and winning at a game of chess while waving at a guy as he walks away.

The opening sequence for seasons 2 and 3 features the same scenario with some changes. Moesha was still dancing in

front of the fountain but with a

player behind her. Instead of just depicting Moesha with her friends, this

intro sees her playing basketball and baseball with her friends and family, driving with her friends, strutting down a

block with Kim and Niecy, teaching Kim how to rollerblade (later replaced with footage of Moesha & Q chasing Myles),

and once again being served a meal at the diner by Andell while seated with her family. When Moesha is again

distracted by a cute guy walking by, Frank tries to cover Moesha's eyes.

Season 4 showed the cast around the neighborhood and Moesha, Kim, and Niecy dancing at the fountain while wearing red

outfits.

Season 5 showed the cast dancing in a panoramic view as Norwood lip-syncs to the theme song on a background of clouds

and a rising sun. The introduction for season 6 is similar to that of season 5, but features a twist. Since

left

Moesha

to join the cast of

and

's character Dee became a recurring character,

the season 6 opening features footage of Norwood lip-syncing over the portion of the theme song where

and

appeared in the previous season's opening.

Spin-off and Brock Akil universe

[

]

Given her popularity for four seasons on

Moesha

, Countess Vaughn left the show in

for her spin-off,

which premiered on August 30, 1999, on

. It centered on Kim attending community college with her mother, played by

comedian

. Leaving

Moesha

, Yvette Wilson joined the cast of

The Parkers

as Andell Wilkerson, Nikki's childhood

friend.

Several

Moesha

cast members (including Brandy Norwood, William Allen Young, Shar Jackson, Sheryl Lee Ralph, and Marcus

T. Paulk) made

. Lamont Bentley, being the most frequent, appears in three

episodes.

Though not a direct spin-off of

Moesha

, the show

was created by

Moesha

writer

and exists

in the same universe as

Moesha

. The character Maya Wilkes (

) from

Girlfriends

lives in Leimert Park like

the characters of

Moesha

, and appeared in an episode babysitting for her sister-in-law Barbara Lee, who happened to be

Dorian's birth mother. Niecy appeared in a season 1 episode of

Girlfriends

series

was spun off from

Girlfriends

with the loose thread of main character

(

) being a cousin of

Girlfriends

main character Joan Clayton (

). The Melanie and Derwin

characters re-appeared in the

Girlfriends

Season 7 finale episode at Joan's engagement party. On

Moesha

, Brandy played

herself as a celebrity doppelganger to Moesha, and ironically Brandy joined the cast of

The Game

in its fifth season

as Chardonnay Pitts, further complicating the notion of the show existing in the same universe.

Cancellation

[

]

By the sixth season, ratings for

Moesha

had dropped and UPN opted not to renew or air the series for a seventh

season.

The series ended on an unresolved

with Myles being kidnapped by a rival of Dorian, Moesha

considering moving in with Hakeem or her best friend Niecy, and a positive pregnancy test being found in the trash at

Moesha's dorm room, without positive identification as to whose it was.

reported a rumor that

certain plots were to be resolved on

but those storylines were ultimately never resolved.

Possible revival

[

]

On November 3, 2017, the cast reunited on

and have expressed interest in reviving the show. "Absolutely, we

need a reboot to this show, because we ended on a cliffhanger." Norwood pointed out.

In August 2020, Norwood

revealed she was in talks for a

, citing the show's success on

Syndication

[

]

The show aired in syndication on

, and

affiliates. The series aired on

(now

NewsNation

)

from 2005 to 2008,

from 2005 to 2009,

, and

until mid 2016,

until 2019,

until

2021, and currently airs on

since 2023.

On Up TV, it was edited for content to make it more "family-friendly"

and was often edited heavily for broadcast on BET and BET Her due to airtime constraints.

In the UK,

Moesha

aired on

from 1996 until 1998, with only the first three seasons being broadcast. It also

aired on

from 1996 to 2000, who only showed episodes from the first four seasons which were edited so they

would be more suitable for broadcast on children's television. Paramount Channel aired the series from 2000 to 2003, as

did

from 2003 to 2006. From 1 November 2019, the program started airing on

following its rebrand

from The Vault.

Since 2008, the show has aired in international syndication in Spain, Portugal, Israel, the Middle East, Russia,

France, Germany, Austria, the Netherlands, Belgium, Ireland, South Africa, Latin America, Brazil, and Australia. In

Spain, it ran on

from 2005 to 2011 in an edited format deemed suitable for children's television. In

Italy the series currently airs on Canale 8.

The series is currently streaming on

in the US, while spinoff series

is available to stream on

The series is also available to stream on

, and

Home media

[

]

On September 27, 2011,

released

Moesha: The First Season

on DVD in Region 1 via Amazon.com's

CreateSpace program. This is a Manufacture-on-Demand (MOD) release, available exclusively through Amazon.com.

DVD Name

Ep #

Release dates

Region 1

Region 2

Region 4

The Complete 1st Season

September 27, 2011

N/A

Ratings

[

]

The following table summarizes the U.S. television ratings for the series:

Season

Season premiere

Season finale

TV season

Ranking

Viewers

(in millions)

January 23, 1996

May 21, 1996

1995–1996

#141

3.5

August 27, 1996

May 20, 1997

1996–1997

#134

3.5

August 26, 1997

May 19, 1998

1997–1998

#141

4.0

October 6, 1998

May 25, 1999

1998–1999

#137

3.3

August 23, 1999

May 22, 2000

1999–2000

#130

2.4

September 4, 2000

May 14, 2001

2000–2001

#130

3.3

Awards

[

]