The 2000s gave us family sitcoms that still get quoted at cookouts and family reunions. This One Gotta Go card puts four favorites in the same living room: My Wife and Kids, The Bernie Mac Show, Everybody Hates Chris and All of Us. Each one brought a different kind of family to TV.
Three shows stay in syndication forever, and one is canceled for good. Think about the episodes you still rewatch, the lines your family repeats and the show you watched only when nothing else was on. Then make your pick and share your favorite scene from the show you kept.
The 4 choices on this card
A. My Wife and Kids
My Wife and Kids starred Damon Wayans as a dad who used jokes and creative lessons to keep his family in line. It was warm and very funny. Some viewers felt it followed the classic family sitcom formula closely, which makes it a fair cut next to the more unusual shows here.
Keep it if: You still laugh at Michael Kyle's parenting lessons and think the family felt like your own.
B. The Bernie Mac Show
The Bernie Mac Show had Bernie Mac raising his sister's kids and talking straight to the camera, calling the audience America. It was bold and original. Its style may feel different from a regular sitcom, which makes it a candidate for some to cut.
Keep it if: You loved Bernie talking to America and think his honesty made the show one of a kind.
C. Everybody Hates Chris
Everybody Hates Chris was based on Chris Rock's childhood in Brooklyn, with Rock narrating every episode. It was clever and nostalgic. Some viewers wanted it to run longer, while others found the narration took some getting used to.
Keep it if: You loved the narration, Chris's parents and the way the show captured growing up in the 80s.
D. All of Us
All of Us, created by Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith, followed a blended family figuring out life after divorce. It had heart. It is also the least remembered of the four, which makes it the easiest cut for many viewers.
Keep it if: You loved how it showed a modern blended family with humor and still think it deserved more attention.
Our take
We would cut All of Us. It had a lot of heart, but My Wife and Kids, The Bernie Mac Show and Everybody Hates Chris each became classics that people still quote. The most fun debate usually comes down to Bernie Mac against Everybody Hates Chris, since both broke the sitcom mold in smart ways. Ask everyone which TV parent reminds them most of their own, and get ready for some great impressions around the table.
How to play this card with friends
- Read the four choices out loud.
- Everyone picks the one they'd eliminate at the same time.
- Explain your pick. This is where the fun starts.
- Use the follow-up questions below to keep it going.
Follow-up questions to keep the debate going
- Which 2000s Black sitcom deserved more seasons?
- Who was the funniest TV dad of the 2000s?
- Which sitcom would you want to see rebooted?
- What 2000s sitcom would you add to this card?
Want more debates like this? Get the One Gotta Go card game for game night, family dinners and road trips. Shop the decks.
Black Sitcoms of the 2000s: quick answers
Is Everybody Hates Chris based on a true story?
Everybody Hates Chris was inspired by Chris Rock's own childhood growing up in Brooklyn in the 1980s. Rock narrated the series and was a producer. Many stories were exaggerated for comedy, but the show drew on real experiences from his family and school life.
Why did Bernie Mac talk to the camera?
On The Bernie Mac Show, Bernie Mac often spoke directly to the camera and called the audience America, sharing his thoughts on raising his sister's kids. This style, called breaking the fourth wall, made the show feel personal and helped it stand out from other sitcoms of its time.
