UPN’s GirlfriendsUPN’s Girlfriends

By: Brittany N. By: Brittany N. PhilbertPhilbert

About the ShowAbout the Show

Awards/ Special Recognitions

CharactersFast Facts

Cast BiosCast Bios

Click on their picture below to learn more about them!Click on their picture below to learn more about them!

TrendsTrends

What is a trend? Because of this, I think that Girlfriends What is a trend? Because of this, I think that Girlfriends is part of a trend. The way the ladies dress is very is part of a trend. The way the ladies dress is very

trendy, and where they hang out as well. Girlfriends trendy, and where they hang out as well. Girlfriends as a show is following a trend that makes great as a show is following a trend that makes great

sitcom based television. Click below to learn about sitcom based television. Click below to learn about the trends that the show Girlfriends exhibit.the trends that the show Girlfriends exhibit.

Brief History/IntroBrief History/IntroFrom television veteran and multiple Emmy Award winner Kelsey From television veteran and multiple Emmy Award winner Kelsey

Grammer's Grammnet Productions comes one of the first truly Grammer's Grammnet Productions comes one of the first truly authentic -- and genuinely funny -- portrayals of urban life in the authentic -- and genuinely funny -- portrayals of urban life in the 21st Century. 21st Century. GirlfriendsGirlfriends, takes viewers inside the intertwining , takes viewers inside the intertwining lives of four very different African-American women living and lives of four very different African-American women living and

working in Los Angeles -- Joan, Maya, Toni and Lynn. These working in Los Angeles -- Joan, Maya, Toni and Lynn. These women are friends, but they are more than just friends, they are women are friends, but they are more than just friends, they are

girlfriends, a term that has its own special meaning to the millions girlfriends, a term that has its own special meaning to the millions and millions of women throughout the world who count their and millions of women throughout the world who count their

"sisters" among their closest allies in the battles of life. The series "sisters" among their closest allies in the battles of life. The series is a production of Grammnet Productions in association with is a production of Grammnet Productions in association with

Paramount Network Television. Paramount Network Television. http://www.tvtome.com/Girlfriendshttp://www.tvtome.com/Girlfriends

TrendsCast BiosAbout The Show

Fast FactsFast Facts

First Aired: September of 2000First Aired: September of 2000 Genre: Situational ComedyGenre: Situational Comedy

Length: Weekly ½ Hour showLength: Weekly ½ Hour show Network: UPN (Universal Paramount Network: UPN (Universal Paramount

Network)Network) When It Aires: Monday @ 9pm, also When It Aires: Monday @ 9pm, also

in syndication in syndication

CharactersCharacters

Click on their NAME below to learn more about them!Click on their NAME below to learn more about them!

JOAN LYNNTONI MAYAWILLIAM

Awards and Special Awards and Special RecognitionsRecognitions

Girlfriends just recently celebrated reaching their 100Girlfriends just recently celebrated reaching their 100thth episode mark. Last season, GIRLFRIENDS received its first episode mark. Last season, GIRLFRIENDS received its first Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Cinematography Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Cinematography in a Multi-Camera Series. The series also received its third in a Multi-Camera Series. The series also received its third

consecutive NAACP Image Award nomination for consecutive NAACP Image Award nomination for Outstanding Comedy Series. Tracee Ellis Ross also earned Outstanding Comedy Series. Tracee Ellis Ross also earned her third consecutive NAACP Image Award nomination for her third consecutive NAACP Image Award nomination for

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series. Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series.

Golden BrooksGolden Brooks Date of Birth: December 1Date of Birth: December 1stst, ,

19701970 Hometown: CaliforniaHometown: California Education: Earned a Bachelor's Education: Earned a Bachelor's

degree in sociology (with a degree in sociology (with a concentration on media concentration on media representation of minorities) representation of minorities) from UC-Berkeley where she from UC-Berkeley where she also minored in theater. She also minored in theater. She went on to earn a Master's went on to earn a Master's degree from Sarah Lawrence degree from Sarah Lawrence college. college.

Brief Filmography: Brief Filmography: * 42.4 Percent (Film)- Due * 42.4 Percent (Film)- Due 20062006* Beauty Shop (Film)- 2005* Beauty Shop (Film)- 2005* Motives (Film)- 2004* Motives (Film)- 2004* 35* 35THTH NAACP Image Awards NAACP Image Awards (Host)- 2004(Host)- 2004* * GirlfriendsGirlfriends (TV Series)- 2000 (TV Series)- 2000* Timecode (Film)- 2000* Timecode (Film)- 2000

Tracee Ellis RossTracee Ellis Ross Date of Birth: October 29Date of Birth: October 29thth, ,

19791979 Hometown: Los Angeles, Hometown: Los Angeles,

CaliforniaCalifornia Education: She is a graduate of Education: She is a graduate of

Brown University and the Brown University and the esteemed William Esper Acting esteemed William Esper Acting Studio. Studio.

Brief Filmography:Brief Filmography:* 35* 35thth NAACP Image Awards NAACP Image Awards (Host)-2004(Host)-2004* * GirlfriendsGirlfriends (TV Series)- 2000 (TV Series)- 2000* Hanging Up (Film) – 2000* Hanging Up (Film) – 2000* A Fare To Remember (Film)- * A Fare To Remember (Film)- 19981998* * The DishThe Dish (TV Series)- 1997 (TV Series)- 1997* Far Harbor (Film) -1996 * Far Harbor (Film) -1996

Persia WhitePersia White Date of Birth: N/A Date of Birth: N/A Hometown: Miami, FloridaHometown: Miami, Florida Education: N/AEducation: N/A Brief Filmography:Brief Filmography:

* The Fall of Night (Film)- * The Fall of Night (Film)- 20042004* The 35* The 35thth NAACP Image NAACP Image Awards (Host)- 2004Awards (Host)- 2004* * GirlfriendsGirlfriends (TV Series)- (TV Series)- 20002000* * “Another World”“Another World” (TV (TV Soap)- 1999Soap)- 1999* * Breaker HighBreaker High (TV Series) – (TV Series) – 19961996* Blue Chips (Film) -1994* Blue Chips (Film) -1994

Jill Marie JonesJill Marie Jones Date of Birth: N/ADate of Birth: N/A Hometown: Dallas, TexasHometown: Dallas, Texas Education: Attended Education: Attended

Duncanville High School and Duncanville High School and Texas Women's University Texas Women's University

Brief Filmography:Brief Filmography:* The 35* The 35thth NAACP Image NAACP Image Awards (Host)- 2004Awards (Host)- 2004* Girlfriends (TV Series)- 2000* Girlfriends (TV Series)- 2000* City Guys (TV Series)-2000* City Guys (TV Series)-2000

Interesting Facts: Was a Interesting Facts: Was a Dallas Cowboys cheerleader Dallas Cowboys cheerleader for two years and a dancer for for two years and a dancer for the Dallas Mavericks for one the Dallas Mavericks for one year. year.

Reggie HayesReggie Hayes Date of Birth: July 15Date of Birth: July 15thth, 1969 , 1969 Hometown: Chicago, Illinois Hometown: Chicago, Illinois Education: He attended Education: He attended

Northwestern Military Naval Northwestern Military Naval Academy and Illinois State Academy and Illinois State University, where he University, where he graduated with a Bachelor of graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in theatre. Arts degree in theatre.

Brief Filmography:Brief Filmography:* Charlie’s Angels (Film)- * Charlie’s Angels (Film)- 20002000* * GirlfriendsGirlfriends (TV Series)- (TV Series)- 20002000* Being John Malkovich * Being John Malkovich (Film)- 1999(Film)- 1999* * Getting PersonalGetting Personal (TV (TV Series)- 1998Series)- 1998* A Family Thing (Film)-1996* A Family Thing (Film)-1996

WardrobeWardrobe Joan: Joan has a very sophisticated style. Viewers Joan: Joan has a very sophisticated style. Viewers usually see her in business attire. Even when she out usually see her in business attire. Even when she out

having fun, she still is dresses conservatively.having fun, she still is dresses conservatively. Toni: Toni dresses like she is from the highest class of Toni: Toni dresses like she is from the highest class of

society. She drowns herself in designers such as; society. She drowns herself in designers such as; Prada, Gucci, Versace, etc. Accessories includes Prada, Gucci, Versace, etc. Accessories includes

anything with diamonds.anything with diamonds. Maya: Maya is the hip-hop, ghetto, urban outfitter. Maya: Maya is the hip-hop, ghetto, urban outfitter.

Her attire is more “club wear”, although when she is Her attire is more “club wear”, although when she is at work, she has it all together looking quite at work, she has it all together looking quite

professional.professional. Lynn: Lynn is very eccentric. She can look Lynn: Lynn is very eccentric. She can look

professional, but her theory is why? She enjoys being professional, but her theory is why? She enjoys being herself and she express that through her style.herself and she express that through her style.

NightlifeNightlife

The nightlife in The nightlife in Girlfriends is amazing. Girlfriends is amazing. The setting is in Los The setting is in Los Angeles (known for Angeles (known for their nightlife). The their nightlife). The

clubs are trendy, with clubs are trendy, with colorful furniture. The colorful furniture. The

ladies never drink ladies never drink beer (that’s for beer (that’s for

common folk); they common folk); they always have a Cosmo, always have a Cosmo, or margarita by their or margarita by their

side.side.

Comparison To Other Comparison To Other ShowsShows

““GirlfriendsGirlfriends” have been compared to having ” have been compared to having the spunk of "Living Single“, but has the the spunk of "Living Single“, but has the full charismatic charm and wit of HBO's full charismatic charm and wit of HBO's "Sex In The City“ with the same comedy "Sex In The City“ with the same comedy

found “FRIENDS”.found “FRIENDS”.

Joan Carol ClaytonJoan Carol ClaytonJoan Clayton is a 29-year-old, single woman with Joan Clayton is a 29-year-old, single woman with

a promising career as a lawyer. Although she is a promising career as a lawyer. Although she is beautiful, successful and has lots of friends, beautiful, successful and has lots of friends, Joan longs for someone with whom she can Joan longs for someone with whom she can share her happiness. Joan often finds the share her happiness. Joan often finds the

companionship she seeks when she is with her companionship she seeks when she is with her girlfriends. The show centers around her and girlfriends. The show centers around her and

her friends, however its never really about Joan. her friends, however its never really about Joan. Joan likes to get concerned with and solve Joan likes to get concerned with and solve

everyone else’s problems, but find it extremely everyone else’s problems, but find it extremely difficult to confront hers. difficult to confront hers.

Antoinette Marie ‘Toni’ Antoinette Marie ‘Toni’ Childs-GarrettChilds-Garrett

Toni is an upwardly mobile, real-estate agent. Toni is an upwardly mobile, real-estate agent. She can be described as being a somewhat She can be described as being a somewhat

gold digger. Even though she doesn’t have the gold digger. Even though she doesn’t have the amount of money that she thinks she does, she amount of money that she thinks she does, she

still manages to remain high class and looks still manages to remain high class and looks down anyone who is not. Toni only dates guys down anyone who is not. Toni only dates guys

for the attention and for money, but things for the attention and for money, but things change when she falls hard for a broke doctor. change when she falls hard for a broke doctor.

We (the viewers) sense that there is a bit of We (the viewers) sense that there is a bit of insecurity about Toni that she is not willing to insecurity about Toni that she is not willing to confront. Even though she goes about things confront. Even though she goes about things

in the wrong way, the other girls know that her in the wrong way, the other girls know that her heart is there and that she means well. Always heart is there and that she means well. Always

denying it, Toni is a country girl.denying it, Toni is a country girl.

Maya Denise WilkesMaya Denise Wilkes

Maya is Joan's sharp-tongued secretary at the law firm. She is the “miss ghetto fabulous”

one of the group. When we first met Maya, we found out that she is married to her high

school sweetheart and have an eight year old son. Very soon she starts facing martial

problems which leads to her having an affair with another man. Most of the time, Maya is

the leader of the group, having more common sense than the rest of her ‘girlfriends’. Maya is practical and lives her life in a fashion that

maintains keeping it real.

Lynn Ann SearcyLynn Ann Searcy

Lynn is a former college buddy who started living rent with Joan rent-free. When the show started, we see beginning works of completing her eighth year of graduate school. Lynn is a freeloader and very lazy. She talks down to men, but will

sleep with anyone she claims with. Like Toni, Lynn wants attention for her own

selfish greed. Unlike the rest of the ‘girlfriends’, from her actions, one can

assume that she is bi-curious.

William Jerome DentWilliam Jerome Dent

William is the honorary "girlfriend” of the William is the honorary "girlfriend” of the group. He is Joan's friend and colleague group. He is Joan's friend and colleague

at the law firm. He is a buttoned-up at the law firm. He is a buttoned-up conservative guy who suffers from the conservative guy who suffers from the

"nice guy" syndrome. Women see him as "nice guy" syndrome. Women see him as "brother" material, not "husband" "brother" material, not "husband"

material. So he accepts his role as big material. So he accepts his role as big brother and delights in tormenting the brother and delights in tormenting the four women with his slant on the male four women with his slant on the male

point of view. point of view.