Everybody Hates Chris
| Everybody Hates Chris | |
|---|---|
| File:EverybodyHatesChris.jpg Everybody Hates Chris Season 1 title card. | |
| Created by | Ali LeRoi Chris Rock |
| Starring | Tyler James Williams Tichina Arnold Terry Crews Tequan Richmond Imani Hakim Vincent Martella |
| Narrated by | Chris Rock |
| Country of origin |  United States |
| No. of episodes | 25 |
| Production | |
| Camera setup | Single camera |
| Running time | 30 mins |
| Original release | |
| Network | UPN (2005-2006) The CW (2006-) |
| Release | September 22, 2005 – present |
Everybody Hates Chris is an American sitcom on The CW Television Network. It is inspired by the teenaged experiences of comedian Chris Rock (who narrates the show), while growing up in the Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood of New York City. The title of the show is a spoof of the hit sitcom Everybody Loves Raymond. Unlike other CW sitcoms, Everybody Hates Chris does not use a studio audience/laugh track.
On September 22, 2005, the 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. EST time slot. It is also the first TV show to be available for free preview on Google Video.
On January 24, 2006, it was confirmed that Everybody Hates Chris will be part of the new The CW's fall 2006-2007 TV lineup. UPN ceased operations in September 2006. The second season began October 1, 2006.
Cast
It is generally assumed that the last name of the family is "Rock", but this has not been established on the show.
- Tichina Arnold as Rochelle Rock, the sassy, scarily scolding mother who cares a lot about what other people think.
- Terry Crews as Julius Rock, the generally cool-headed, big-hearted, but penurious father.
- Tyler James Williams as Chris Rock, the hapless, soft-spoken, and innocent eldest child.
- Tequan Richmond as Drew Rock, the effortlessly cool and handsome, middle child.
- Imani Hakim as Tonya Rock, the antagonist of her older brothers. As the youngest and only girl she is able to get anything out of her father.
Recurring Characters
- Whoopi Goldberg as Louise Clarkson, the stern, overprotective grandmother next door, and Rochelle's archenemy.
- Vincent Martella as Greg Wulliger, the shrimpy, advice-giving best friend of Chris.
- Chris Rock as the narrator (voice), an older Chris looking back at his youth, a la The Wonder Years.
- Antonio Fargas as Mr. Harris.
- Travis T. Flory as Joey Caruso, the fat, racist school bully who routinely picks on Chris.
- Mike Estime as Risky, a black market dealer.
Running gags
Although an episodic sitcom, in which characters' situations change from episode to episode, there are several character tendencies, thematic elements, and sayings that continue throughout the series. These include:
- Julius, being a very cheap man, will always know the exact monetary value of anything being wasted by the family.
- Rochelle is always making sure no one thinks of her or her family as poor. ("Girl, whatchoo talkin' 'bout food stamps? Who's sellin' food stamps? I ain't sellin' no food stamps!") Yet she judges everyone else because she is a "ghetto snob."
- Rochelle uses a range of vibrant and colourful threats usually involving slapping. ("I'll slap the caps off your knees!")
- Whenever Chris is in trouble, especially with Caruso, Greg runs away
- Whenever a girl makes a pass at Chris, Greg always utters "You are so in there."
- Whenever Rochelle leaves a job her last words before actually going are always "I don't need this. My man has two jobs."
- Rochelle is in love with her chocolate turtles.
- Any girl Chris is interested in, will ultimately be attracted to Drew
- Drew usually liberates himself from any accountability for misdemeanors in the house by saying "It wasn't me"
- Tonya never resists the opportunity to get Chris into trouble
- Most episodes end with somebody yelling "CHRIS!" (most of the time it's Rochelle)
- Tichina Arnold, along with two other women, sings the show's title at the end of the 2nd and 3rd (and final) segment. The latter is sung with more feeling.
- Julius and other characters buy various items from Risky that are always faulty, and mostly likely stolen
- Rochelle always reminds her kids that she "ain't raisin' no babies" whenever a male-female relationship is discussed
- A neighborhood troublemaker essentially robs Chris and other kids on the block by saying "Lemme hold a quarter"
- Rationalities that involve circular logic, mostly written by Ali LeRoi, are often used by Chris and Rochelle. (For example, Tonya waking up Daddy will lead to Chris hitting Tanya, which will lead to Julius killing Chris, which would result in Daddy going to jail)
- When a character is let down, Greg and Drew often make the situation worse by saying "If I were you, I'd..." be either extremely depressed, crying or on the brink of suicide.
Awards and nominations
- Best Television Series - Musical or Comedy (nominated)
- Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series — Tyler James Williams (nominated)
- Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series — Tichina Arnold (Won)
- Outstanding Comedy Series (Won)
- Outstanding Directing in a Comedy Series — Ken Whittingham (nominated)
- Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series — Terry Crews (nominated)
- New Series, Television — Aron Abrams, Rodney Barnes, Chris Rock (nominated)
Episode list
Goofs
- During the first season, which is set in 1982/83, songs from the Tears For Fears album Songs From The Big Chair are played in the background. Songs From The Big Chair was not released until 1985.
- Also during the first season, "Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now" by Starship plays in the same setting, but the song was not released until 1987.
DVD releases
Season Releases
| DVD name | Release date | Ep # | Additional information |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Complete First Season | October 10, 2006 | 22 | Commentaries by the cast and crew, Everybody hates the making of Everybody hates Chris, Everybody hates the set, Everybody hates video cameras, bloopers, deleted scenes, cast auditions. |
International Broadcasts
| Country | Alternate title/Translation | TV Network(s) | Series Premiere | Weekly Schedule |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States |
UPN (Season 1) and The CW (Season 2-) | September 22 2005 | Mondays 8PM ET | |
 Australia |
Network Ten | March 5 2006 | Friday 8:00pm | |
 Denmark |
TV2 Zulu | September 16 2006 | Saturday 8:00pm | |
 Finland |
M6 and Nelonen | February 27th 2006 | Monday 8:30pm | |
 Germany |
Pro 7 | September 16 2006 | Saturday 2:00pm | |
 Ireland |
TV3 | April 2006 | Monday 8:00pm | |
 Italy |
Paramount Comedy channel | May 8 2006 | ---- | |
| Latin America | Sony Entertainment Television | November 2005 | Tuesdays 8PM Ven// 7PM Col | |
 Malaysia |
8TV | September 27 2006 | Wednesdays 9:30pm | |
 New Zealand |
TV3 | April 2006 | Wednesday 7:30pm | |
 Philippines |
JACK-TV | 2005 | Friday 8:30 pm | |
 Portugal |
2: | September 2006 | Weekdays 8:40pm | |
 Saudi Arabia and Arab World |
Showtime Arabia, Paramount Comedy Channel and Paramount Comedy Channel +2 |
|||
 United Kingdom |
Channel Five (first run) and Paramount Comedy 1 (syndication) |
March 19 2006 | Sunday 8:00pm |
External links
Wikiquote has quotations related to Everybody Hates Chris.