The Untold Truth Of The Jamie Foxx Show

Stop us if you've heard this one before; hailing from small-town Texas, an aspiring star named Jamie King arrives in L.A. with dreams of celebrity, but little in the way of solid achievements. While working toward his big break, he helps his Aunt Helen and Uncle Junior with the once-grand but now-aging King's Tower. Charming but not quite in step with the flow of the hotel, his charisma and genuine love for his family might be what brings the Tower back to greatness as he continues his own climb to the top. Still, that doesn't mean there aren't going to be a few bumps along the way.

Premiering on The WB in 1996, "The Jamie Foxx Show" tapped into a familiar sitcom setup to introduce audiences to Jamie Foxx, but there was always a bit more to the show than met the eye. Using the tried and true comedy scenarios established by series like "The Fresh Prince of Bel Air," "Seinfeld," and "Martin," it was clear from the jump that this was going to be a series uniquely its own. This is due in no small part to the charming supporting cast, propping up its hero's more chaotic aspirations and mishaps. Yet, at the center of it all is the man with his name on the marquee. For a lot of audiences, this was their first glimpse of what Foxx was capable of, and throughout its five seasons, it did not disappoint.

Much the same as other staples of the time like JNCO Jeans and Beanie Babies, The WB has gone by the wayside, but there are still plenty of fond memories to be had for anyone with a love for the era's sitcoms. Kicking off in the early '90s, The WB served as a sort of counterpart to Fox, which had found success through introducing comedy series with a lean toward working-class protagonists, as well as UPN, which similarly came into being at a time of shifting regulations around media and syndication. Though it got off to a relatively slow start, it's hard to argue that it has had staying power in the public consciousness.

Featuring the "Merrie Melodies" deep cut Micheal J. Frog as its mascot, The WB's first program was "The Wayans Brothers," starring Foxx's fellow "In Living Color" alum, Shawn and Marlon Wayans. More comedies were added to the slate, like the short-lived "Unhappily Ever After," "The Parent 'Hood," "7th Heaven," "The Steve Harvey Show," and a whole line of shows aimed toward kids titled Kids' WB. Although these shows were seldom referred to as especially successful in the ratings category, they all had dedicated fans, and many of them managed to stick around long enough to make an impact. While "The Jamie Foxx Show" might never have been a ratings smash, it was in good company on a programming slate that allowed it to stand out.

While it would be hard to argue that Foxx is very much the star of the show, that's not to say that he's not working with a stellar cast of supporting actors. One of the most notable is "Saturday Night Live" alum, Garrett Morris, who became comedy royalty in the 1970s as one of the original cast members of the show that would go on to change TV history. By the mid-90s, Morris had been primarily appearing in the series, "Martin," playing one of Martin's bosses, until he was shot by a mugger in 1994. Necessarily written out of the series due to his hospitalization, Morris' next role was as Junior, the gambling-obsessed but full-of-advice uncle of Foxx's Jamie King.

Morris is a clear standout for his long history in the industry, but he wasn't the only actor doing great work counterbalancing Jamie King's more chaotic personality traits. "Coming to America" and "Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" star, Garcelle Beauvais, plays the perfect love interest and foil for Jamie as Francesca "Fancy" Monroe. As every series of the time needs a straight-laced rube for our hero to bounce off of, actor Christopher B. Duncan did wonders as Braxton P. Hartnabrig. Finally, Ellia English played Jamie's loving Aunt Helen, overjoyed by her nephew's talent and charm, but seldom falling for his attempts to pull the wool over her eyes. Any member of this cast could have headed up their own show, but as supporting players, they shine.

While we tend to expect some level of emotional growth even for the irreverent protagonist of a sitcom, one of the great features of "The Jamie Foxx Show" is that its whole cast isn't just likable; they all come across as real people with their own unique experiences and dreams. Foxx's character goes through a whirlwind of highs and lows with his career, but he's not the only one. His love interest, Fancy, goes through her fair share of ups and downs along the way, even nearly leaving the hotel at one point to pursue a career elsewhere before ultimately deciding that she can follow her dreams anywhere.

While Fancy is initially annoyed by Jamie's immaturity, she ultimately realizes that she has her own bouts of immaturity to deal with. The two of them grow together and become a mutually understanding couple through open conversation and understanding, which eventually leads to marriage, although the lead-up to the wedding is just as full of mishaps and misunderstandings as one might guess.

Likewise, the rest of the supporting cast steps into their own trajectories, with Junior ultimately deciding to retire with Helen. Perhaps most impressively, the snobbish Braxton is repeatedly encouraged to grow outside of his high-end standards. When he feels heartbroken at the thought that he'll have to eventually move on from the hotel, it makes him a stronger man in the end as he discovers a larger sense of community with the Kings.

Of course, no sitcom of the mid-90s would be complete without a stellar list of guest stars and celebrity cameos, and "The Jamie Foxx Show" was no different. Names like Phil Morris, Gary Coleman, and Bill Bellamy graced the credits over its five years on the air, with many more recognizable names popping in throughout the show's run. Season 1's "Westside" shows Jamie competing with none other than Ice Cube for Fancy's affection after promising his aunt and uncle that he won't throw any wild parties in their absence. In Season 2, Anthony Michael Hall pops in as a Hollywood agent in the comically named "Do the Write Thing."

One of the most memorable guest stars remains the great singer and entertainer Gladys Knight, who plays the part of Jamie's mother, Janice King, Helen's glamorous sister and an elegant performer in her own right (also played by Jo Marie Payton in Season 3). That is far from the end of the musical cameos of the show, however, with Mary J. Blige starring as a reverend's daughter who prefers playing in Jamie's band to working with her father, as well as Method Man and Red Man, who appear in Season 4 to help Jamie write a jingle but end up hoping to court Nicole (Rhona Bennett) with Jamie's help. The main cast is great, but these guest spots make for an added sense of fun during a rewatch.