Everybody Hates Chris
| Everybody Hates Chris | |
|---|---|
| File:Everybody hates chris cast.jpg | |
| Genre | Comedy-drama |
| Created by | Chris Rock Ali LeRoi |
| Developed by | Chris Rock Ali LeRoi |
| Creative director | Andrew Orenstein |
| Starring | Tyler James Williams Terry Crews Tichina Arnold Tequan Richmond Imani Hakim Vincent Martella |
| Narrated by | Chris Rock |
| Theme music composer | Marcus Miller |
| Country of origin |  United States |
| Original language | English |
| No. of seasons | 4 |
| No. of episodes | 88 (list of episodes) |
| Production | |
| Executive producers | Chris Rock Ali LeRoi |
| Producer | Adrienne Carter |
| Production location | Paramount Television |
| Cinematography | Mark Doering-Powell |
| Editor | Earl Watson |
| Camera setup | Single-camera |
| Running time | approx. 20 minutes per episode |
| Original release | |
| Network | UPN (2005–2006) The CW (2006–2009) |
| Release | September 22, 2005 – May 8, 2009 |
Everybody Hates Chris (EHC) is an American Comedy-drama inspired by the teenage experiences of comedian Chris Rock (who is also the narrator), while growing up in the Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York in the early-mid 1980s. The title of the show parodies the CBS show Everybody Loves Raymond. Rock stated "Everybody Loves Raymond but everybody hates Chris!"
In fall 2008, the The CW Television Network moved its sole two African-American shows--EHC and The Game to the Friday night death slot. The fourth season of EHC premiered Friday October 3, 2008, at 8:00PM Eastern/7:00PM Central.
This was the last sitcom from either the UPN or The WB networks to have aired.
EHC is the first TV show to be available for free preview on Google Video.
In the fall of 2009, syndicated reruns of Everybody Hates Chris will start airing daily on the Viacom-owned cable television channel, Nick at Nite.[1]
On May 21, 2009 it was reported that Everybody Hates Chris has been cancelled.[2] Prior to its cancellation from the CW, Chris Rock had announced that he would be ending the show at the end of the fourth season with a proper series finale.[3]
Background
The show is produced by CBS Paramount Television and was broadcast on the The CW, features fictional characters and situations loosely based on real people and situations. Unlike other CW sitcoms at the time of its debut, Everybody Hates Chris is shot using a single camera[4] with no studio audience laugh track.
On September 22, 2005, the series' premiere achieved higher ratings than NBC's season premiere of Joey, giving UPN, its third highest rating in history. With seven million viewers, it was fourth highest-rated program at the 8 p.m. ET time slot.
With the recent cancellation of Girlfriends and the WWE's decision to move SmackDown to MyNetworkTV in the fall of 2008, Everybody Hates Chris, along with America's Next Top Model, will be the last running television programs to have aired both on UPN and on the CW. The show's first season began just before the merger between UPN and The WB, leading to the CW. Chris Rock announced that he is ending the show after four seasons, considering that the show has not been picked up for a fifth.
In fall 2008, the The CW Television Network moved EHC and The Game to the Friday night death slot. The fourth season of EHC premiered Friday October 3, 2008 at 8:00PM Eastern/7:00PM Central.
Production wrapped up for Everybody Hates Chris at the end of the fourth season, with a final scene that spoofed the the final scene of The Sopranos.
Plot summary
The show revolves around the everyday life of Chris, who is a 13 year-old seventh grade student in the series' first episode. Chris is one of the few 'normal' characters on the show, surrounded by a collection of crazy characters that, in his point of view, act as if they dislike him. Chris attends an all-white school where students and teachers alike pick on him, and lives in a low-income community. If events progress favorably for Chris throughout an episode, they will almost certainly backfire on him by the end. Likewise, if a situation isn't going Chris' way, it always manages to get even worse for him, whether or not he tries to change the course of events.
The guest characters on the show all seem to detest Chris for some unknown reason. In fact, comedian Chris Rock, upon whose early life the show is based, made a guest appearance as the guidance counselor, Mr. Abbott, who also disliked Chris and unhelpfully focused on how Chris was in trouble academically. Even the warmest of guest characters have some inexplicable dislike of Chris, such as one character named Kris (Richard Lewis), who was injured and in hospital.
In the third season finale, Chris graduates from Corleone Junior High School, but his joy is cut short when his best friend Greg moves to a new school—Chris quickly hatches a plan to go to Greg's high school. Greg ends up having to go to Chris' high school anyway.
When Chris goes home, things don't get any easier because his bizarre family life presents its own set of problems. A nostalgic type show complete with voice over narration, "...Chris" is often comparable to The Wonder Years as well as Malcolm In The Middle.
During the series' run, Everybody Hates Chris was set in different time periods throughout the 1980s. The first season was set in 1982–1983. The second season was set in 1984–1985. The third season was set in 1985–1986. For the fourth season, the series is set 1986–1987.
Cast and characters
Main
While the fictional family is loosely based on that of the real-life Chris Rock, its surname has not been revealed.
- Chris (Tyler James Williams), the main character, based on the real Chris Rock
- Drew (Tequan Richmond), younger brother of Chris, based on Rock's brother Tony
- Julius (Terry Crews), father of Chris
- Rochelle (Tichina Arnold), mother of Chris
- Tonya (Imani Hakim), younger sister of Chris
- Greg Wuliger (Vincent Martella), the best friend of Chris
Supporting
- Doc (Antonio Fargas), the local grocery store owner, who first appeared late in Season 1
- Jerome (Kevontay Jackson), a gangster in the neighborhood who always asks Chris (whom he refers to as "little dude from across the street") for a dollar whenever they see each other. In a Christmas-themed episode when Chris gave him a card with $2,000 in it, Jerome decides to let Chris "hold a dollar" for a change.
- Joey Caruso (Travis T. Flory), the school bully who routinely picks on Chris because of his skin colour. He also picks on Greg every now and then.
- Mr. Omar (Ernest Lee Thomas), a funeral director, who lives above Chris and his family from early in the second season
- Ms. Morello (Jacqueline Mazarella), Chris' naively racist teacher who is now principal of Tattaglia
- Principal Edwards (Jason Alexander), the new principal of Corleone
- Tasha (Paige Hurd), next door neighbor of Chris who dated and dumped him and has not made any further appearances on the show
- Vanessa (Jackée Harry), Rochelle's best friend, appeared in one Season 1 episode and most episodes from Season 2 on
- Preacher (LaVan Davis), the owner of the nightclub; appeared early in Season 1
- Monk (Todd Bridges), Doc's nephew, works at his store. Very militant.
- Caramel (Cheyenne Haynes) friend of Tanya
- Malvo (Ricky Harris), terrifying bearded neighborhood gangster with whom Chris has several run-ins, but eventually befriends.
Reception
Reviews for the show are generally positive.
EHC won an NAACP Image Award for its writing in 2008.[5] It has also been nominated for Golden Globe and Emmy Awards.
In Dec 2008, Entertainment Weekly lists the Kwanzaa episode from this show as seventh on the magazine's "Must List: 10 Holiday Things We Love" [6].
Syndication
The show airs regularly on The CW on Friday and Sunday. Everybody Hates Chris will join the Nick at Nite lineup beginning September 7, 2009 with an All Night marathon. The show will become the youngest syndicated show on the network, beating The George Lopez Show. EHC will also began airing on local KTUD-CA beginning September 21, 2009.
Awards and nominations
| Awards | Outcome | |
| Emmy Awards: | ||
| Outstanding Cinematography for a Single-Camera Series | Nominated | |
| Outstanding Costumes for a Series | Nominated | |
| Golden Globe Awards: | ||
| Best Television Series - Musical or Comedy | Nominated[7] | |
| Image Award: | ||
| Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series | Won [5] | |
| Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series (Tyler James Williams) | Nominated[8] | |
| Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series (Tichina Arnold) | Nominated[9] | |
| Outstanding Comedy Series | Nominated | |
| Outstanding Directing in a Comedy Series (Ali Leroi) | Nominated | |
| Outstanding Directing in a Comedy Series | Nominated | |
| Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series (Terry Crews) | Nominated[10] | |
| Golden Reel Award: | ||
| Best Sound Editing in Television Short Form - Dialogue and Automated Dialogue Replacement | Nominated | |
| Best Sound Editing in Television Short Form - Music | Nominated | |
| People's Choice Award: | ||
| Favorite New Television Comedy | Nominated | |
| Satellite Awards: | ||
| Best Television Series, Comedy or Musical | Nominated | |
| Teen Choice Awards: | ||
| Award TV - Choice Actor: Comedy | Nominated | |
| Award TV - Choice Actress: Comedy | Nominated | |
| TV - Choice Breakout Show | Nominated | |
| TV - Choice Comedy/Musical Show | Nominated | |
| TV - Choice Parental Unit | Nominated | |
| TV - Choice Sidekick | Nominated[11] | |
| TCA Award: | ||
| Outstanding Achievement in Comedy | Nominated | |
| Outstanding New Program of the Year | Nominated | |
| WGA Award: | ||
| New Series | Nominated | |
| Young Artist Award: | ||
| Best Performance in a TV Series - Leading Young Actor | Nominated | |
| Best Performance in a TV Series - Supporting Young Actor | Nominated | |
| Best Family Television Series (Comedy) | Won | |
| Best Performance in a TV Series (Comedy or Drama) - Leading Young Actor | Nominated | |
| Best Performance in a TV Series (Comedy) - Supporting Young Actor | Nominated | |
U.S. broadcast history
UPN
- September 2005 – May 2006: Thursdays 8:00pm/7:00pm
The CW
- October 2006-October 2006: Sundays 7:00pm/6:00pm
- October 2006 — March 2008: Mondays 8:00pm/7:00pm
- March 2008 - May 2008: Sundays 8:00pm/7:00pm
- October 2008 -Fridays 8:00pm/7:00pm
- December 2008- Sundays 5:00pm/4:00pm (Repeats)
International broadcast history
Everybody Hates Chris is broadcast on the following stations (and many others) around the world:
| Region | Network(s) | Regional Title |
|---|---|---|
 Albania
|
Koha TV | Te Gjithë e urrejnë Krisin |
 Australia
|
Network Ten / Ten HD/ The Comedy Channel | Everybody Hates Chris |
 Kosovo
|
KTV | Te Gjithë e urrejnë Krisin |
 Austria
|
ORF 1 | Alle hassen Chris |
 Belgium
|
VT4/ La deux | Tout Le Monde Déteste Chris |
 Brazil
|
Sony Brazil / Rede Record | Todo Mundo Odeia o Chris |
 Bosnia and Herzegovina
|
FTV | Svi mrze Chrisa |
 Canada
|
Citytv, YTV (as of September 2009) | Everybody Hates Chris |
 Croatia
|
Nova TV | Svi Mrze Chrisa |
 Denmark
|
TV 2 Zulu | Everybody Hates Chris |
 Ecuador
|
Sony | |
 Finland
|
Nelonen | Lapsuuteni Luuserina |
 France
|
M6 | Tout Le Monde Déteste Chris |
 Germany
|
ProSieben | Alle Hassen Chris |
 Hong Kong
|
TVB Pearl | 阿傑出少年 |
 Hungary
|
TV6 | Utáljuk Christ! |
 Iceland
|
SkjárEinn | |
 India
|
Zee Cafe | |
 Ireland
|
TV3 Ireland | Everybody Hates Chris |
 Israel
|
Bip | כולם שונאים את כריס |
 Italy
|
Comedy Central Italy | Tutti Odiano Chris |
 Jamaica
|
Everybody hates Chris | |
| Latin America | Sony | |
 México
|
TV Azteca | Todos odian a Chris |
 Montenegro
|
TV IN | |
 Netherlands
|
Veronica | Everybody Hates Chris |
 New Zealand
|
C4 | |
 Norway
|
TV2 Norway | Alle Hater Chris |
 Philippines
|
Jack TV | |
 Poland
|
Comedy Central Polska | Wszyscy nienawidzą Chrisa |
 Portugal
|
RTP2 / Fox | Todos Contra o Chris |
 Russia
|
Все Ненавидят Криса | |
 Serbia
|
Fox televizija | Svi Mrze Krisa |
 Slovakia
|
TV Markíza | Chrisa nemá nikto rád |
 Slovenia
|
Kanal A | Vsi sovražijo Chrisa |
 South Africa
|
SABC 1 | |
 Spain
|
Cuatro | Todo el Mundo Odia a Chris |
 Sweden
|
Everybody Hates Chris | |
 Turkey
|
ComedyMax | Everybody Hates Chris |
 United Kingdom
|
Comedy Central / Fiver / Five / MTV Base / MTV UK | Everybody Hates Chris |
 Venezuela
|
RCTV[13] |
References
- ^ Nick at Nite Picks Up "Everybody Hates Chris", MovieWeb, March 3, 2008
- ^ The CW announces fall schedule, Entertainment Weekly, March 21, 2009
- ^ Chris Rock Ending "Everybody Hates Chris" After This Season, ENEWSI.com, April 24, 2009
- ^ Futon Critic
- ^ a b http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0460637/awards won Outstanding Writing @ 08 NIAs
- ^ "The Must List: 10 Holiday Things We Love," Entertainment Weekly 1026 (December 19, 2008): 68.
- ^ "Awards for Everybody Hates Chris (2006)". Imdb.com. Retrieved 2008-09-07.
- ^ "Awards for Tyler James Williams". Imdb.com. Retrieved 2008-09-07.
- ^ "Awards for Tichina Arnold". Imdb.com. Retrieved 2008-09-07.
- ^ "Awards for Terry Crews". Imdb.com. Retrieved 2008-09-07.
- ^ "Awards for Vincent Martella". Imdb.com. Retrieved 2008-09-07.
- ^ Breaking News - Award-Winning Series Everybody Hates Chris to Join Nick At Nite's Line-up, Fall 2009 | TheFutonCritic.com
- ^ "Series". Rctv.net. Retrieved 2008-09-05.
External links
