What could they change to make it work?

I watched it and had to keep telling myself to give it a chance. It was creeping close to horrible, but there were some bright spots. Way too many cliched characters...unoriginal and unfunny...just over the top. But, I like Tatiyana (sp?), I liked the Dad character, and I liked the friend character. I'll withold judgement until it fleshes itself out a little.

1. Why not have one gay friend who is masculine, cool and actually funny? Not a Lenny & Squiggy knock off who are offensive to me and a lot of other gays. Kind of a cross between bruh-man and tommy. Imagine the character of Maya's husband on "Girlfriends" only gay. Just a regular gay black man.

2. The Brother is funny and cute but tone down some of the sex talk. Golden Girls taught us that you can be sexual but it doesn't have to be all that you are. Keep the brother.

3. As a gay male I appreciate the fact that the brother is not "homophobic". But unfortunately a lot of black folk are (yes i'm black). Having two silly gay characters and a transexual will make most blacks tune out. It's unfortunate but true.

4. What made Shanana funny was mostly the fact that it was Martin Lawrence portraying her. That secretary is unrealistic and unfunny. Not that people like her don't exist but why would a law firm hire her? And even if the fathers cheap ways got her the job, the daughters desire to succeed should have lost her that job. She just isn't funny. Except to a certain segment of the black community.

Finally, after Girlfriends, Half and Half, The Game and a few other well written black shows.....THIS CAN'T BE REALLY THE BEST YOU CAN DO!

I personally expected better from Martin. But maybe............?

This show shouldn't be a comedy; Tat Ali isn't funny. It should be a bit serious, showing her trying to prove herself aa a savvy business woman, and dealing with dating/relationships and other life challenges. Any comedy should be done by the gay couple, but not so flamboyant. For other comic relief, maybe some funny relatives could visit.
The brother, who cares? He adds nothing. Same for the father.

1. Get some better writers. The writing is extremely cookie-cutter, the jokes stale. An insult that's a pun on a celebrity's name ("Scary J. Blige")is beyond tired...just because Martin's your executive producer doesn't mean you have to use gags he did on his show 15 years ago.

2. Lose the stereotypes. Tatayani's character is the newly-single career woman. Her brother's an annoying, immature slacker. Her father's a 50-year-old Carlton Banks (aka a black yuppie). The ghetto secretary. The flamboyant gay couple that's also wacky neighbors. Is anyone on this show crafted from anything other than old sitcom cliches?!

3. Ditch the laugh track. Like most other current sitcoms, it does nothing to convince me this show is funny. The random spurts of "laughter" are actually annoying.


Oh stewardess...I speak jive.