Why TV's `The Parkers' Remains A Hit With Black Viewers For Second Season

"The Parkers" is still turning up the heat. For a second season the top-rated sitcom is cracking up audiences each week. The show's cast can immediately point out why it continues to be a favorite with Blacks.

"Our show is so real to many people. Everybody has a Nikki or Kim in their family," says popular comedian Mo' Nique, who portrays Nikki Parker. "The show deals with real reactions and real situations. It's also very funny."

"They love our silliness," reveals Countess Vaughn, who portrays Nikki Parker's daughter, Kim. "People can get away and just laugh. It's also exciting for people to see what we're going to do next."

That's just it. Viewers keep tuning in because they never know what the Parkers will be up to from one minute to the next.

The show centers around the mother-daughter relationship of Nikki and Kim. Though Kim is an adult, Nikki is still learning to adjust to letting go of "her baby."

This season Kim, in her quest to prove her independence, gets married, but then has the marriage annulled.

"Kim got married to show her mother that she was an adult, but she came to her senses and realized she couldn't fly to Paris when [her hubby] gets signed to a record deal as a producer. That was the true lesson," Vaughn says.

She observes that her character has matured a great deal. "People think that when you turn 18, it's time to leave and become an adult. Lots of kids want to leave home. Kim left home too early and that's why her mom had to move in with her. It just shows that you're not always grown just because of your age."

When Kim and Nikki aren't involved in a hilarious disagreement of some sort, Nikki is trying to rein in the handsome Professor Stanley Oglevee, played by Dorien Wilson.

Wilson believes their cat-and-mouse chase is another element that gives the show high marks with viewers.

"That's part of the fun of `The Parkers,'" he explains. "That chemistry between the professor and Nikki has been a constant factor in people tuning in each week, because they want to know where we're going with that."

This season Oglevee must make some major adjustments in his life. After calling off his engagement, he must now deal with being a bachelor. Oglevee must also deal with his new neighbor--Nikki Parker--who's anxious because he's back on the market. Can we expect the two to finally connect?

"You can expect me to be running," Wilson laughs, "because Ms. Parker will be on me tough this year."

Oglevee won't be single for long though. A new mate will be coming his way soon.

"He's going to date a full-figured woman on the show," offers Mo' Nique. "He just doesn't like Nikki. She's so aggressive and will trample him. It's not that he doesn't like Nikki because she's big. She could be a size 8 and he still wouldn't like her. We're going to have a regular guest spot for a [full-figured woman] because we don't want to send the message that he doesn't like big women."

Wilson already has someone in mind that he'd love to see in the role. "My dream actress would be Star Jones. She is a beautiful lady with lots of class about herself."

Rounding out the cast of "The Parkers" is Ken L. and Jenna von Oy. Comedian Yvette Wilson, who won fame as Andell on UPN's "Moesha," will bring her character to the show as a regular.

Though the sitcom is a success in Black households, the show receives a tepid response by Whites. Some would even venture to say that the show takes silly into maximum overdrive.

"Sometimes we don't want you to focus on the serious stuff because it's so much of that in the world. We just want you to get away from that and laugh," comments Vaughn. "I respect others' opinions, but I don't feed into the negative."

"We're not trying to change the world," argues Mo' Nique. "We can't. It's a situation comedy. We want to make you laugh. If after 30 minutes we've made you laugh, we've done our job."

Continues Wilson, "We're not trying to drive a message home. It really kills me when people say, `Do you think it's buffoonery?' Nobody looks at it that way for Drew Carey and the lady with all the makeup. No, that's considered great comedy. As soon as African-Americans or minorities do something, it's considered buffoonery."

The show continues to fare well in spite of a few skeptics; that's all that really matters to the cast.

"We're kicking butt compared to our numbers last year," interjects Wilson.

Concludes Mo' Nique, "I can't stress enough to people to continue supporting Black shows. There are so few on television and the ones that are, we need to support."