Beloved Comedian’s Underrated Sitcom Is A Secret Classic, Stream Without Netflix

Originally airing in 2001, The Bernie Mac Show was based on part of Bernie Mac’s stand-up routine about having to take care of his nieces and nephew. The comedian plays a fictional version of himself, suddenly forced to raise three children with his wife, Wanda. It explores the comedian’s struggles to raise children despite his abrasive nature and meticulously maintained lifestyle. 

In addition to the titular stand-up comedian, The Bernie Mac Show featured a cast comprised mostly of great child actors. The rest of the main cast consists of Bernie’s wife, Wanda, played by Kellita Smith; his nephew Jordan, played by Jeremy Suarez; and his nieces Vanessa and Bryana, played by Camille Winbush and Dee Dee Davis. Numerous guest stars also appeared to play themselves, including Serena Williams, Chris Rock, Billy Crystal, Isaac Hayes, Ice Cube, Lucy Lawless, and professional wrestler Stone Cold Steve Austin. 

While the premise is a straightforward, typical sitcom plot, The Bernie Mac Show had an innovative style that was years ahead of its time. The show frequently featured segments where Bernie would talk directly to America in a style inspired by reality TV confessionals, which later mockumentary sitcoms like The Office and Modern Family would mirror. It also featured yellow on-screen text and drawings as additional visual gags, giving the show a unique, experimental vibe. 

Of course, The Bernie Mac Show was also a vehicle for its star’s comedic voice. Bernie Mac gained mainstream success due to the popularity of the comedy film The Original Kings of Comedy, which prompted Larry Wilmore to create a sitcom for him. The comedian’s acting style draws heavily from his stand-up career, with plenty of memorable rants, big physical comedy, and bits taken directly from his routine. 

While comedy is the most important element of The Bernie Mac Show, it also has frequent emotional, heartfelt moments. Most of these moments come between Bernie and the children, as his bravado gives way to shows of genuine affection for the children. It also explores a loving but believable marriage between Bernie and Wanda, which creates frequent sweet romantic moments. 

Like most sitcoms, not every episode of The Bernie Mac Show is a home run, but it works more often than not. At five seasons, it avoids overstaying its welcome, remaining consistently funny throughout, with some of its best episodes, like fan favorite “Bar Mitzvah Crashers,” coming in the final season. It’s a remarkably consistent show, with the great episodes outnumbering the forgettable ones. 

REVIEW SCORE

The early 2000s were a great time for sitcoms, with shows like Malcolm in the Middle, Arrested Development, and Scrubs reshaping the genre. The Bernie Mac Show should be considered part of that elite group, giving one of the era’s best comedians a chance to shine and paving the way for the mockumentary boom of the late 2000s. If you’re one of the many people who missed out on The Bernie Mac Show, there’s good news: you can watch it streaming for free on Tubi today.