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Home · News

First Look At Netflix’s Newest Black Sitcom: 'The Upshaws'

Starring industry icons Mike Epps and Kim Fields, the series follows the struggles and triumphs of a Black, working-class family in Indiana
First Look At Netflix’s Newest Black Sitcom: ‘The Upshaws’
By Mia Uzzell · Updated April 20, 2021

There’s a new Netflix show coming to town that you won’t want to miss: The Upshaws. Starring industry icons Mike Epps and Kim Fields, this sitcom is the latest comedic offering to come from the streaming service.  

First Look At Netflix’s Newest Black Sitcom: ‘The Upshaws’

The first season of the show, which consists of 10 half-hour episodes, follows the struggles and triumphs of a Black, working-class family in Indiana as they figure out how to ascend to the next level without a blueprint for success. 

Bennie Upshaw, played by Epps, is the head of the family. When he isn’t running his garage in Indianapolis, Bennie is putting charm, lovable spirit, and pure intentions at work to try his best to support his family. With the weight of his family on his shoulders, Bennie is doing his best to father his teenage son (Diamond Lyons) that he had with another woman (Gabrielle Dennis) while handling his sardonic sister-in-law Lucretia (Wanda Sykes) who believes her sister is too good for his mess.

First Look At Netflix’s Newest Black Sitcom: ‘The Upshaws’
THE UPSHAWS (L to R) KIM FIELDS as REGINA and WANDA SYKES as LUCRETIA in episode 103 of THE UPSHAWS Cr. LARA SOLANKI/NETFLIX © 2021

Fields will play his high school sweetheart, and now wife, Regina who is juggling her career, her passions, and being a mother to two young daughters (Khali Daniya-Renee Spraggins, Journey Christine) and a son (Jermelle Simon). In spite of it all, the Upshaws are committed to making it work together.

Epps is best known for his role as Day-Day Jones in Next Friday and its sequel Friday After Next. The standup comedian also starred in All About The Benjamins and Meet The Blacks. Fields is best known for her roles in the long-running series NBC’s Facts of Life and Fox’s Living Single. The sitcom veteran has also appeared on The Real Housewives of Atlanta and Dancing With The Stars. 

First Look At Netflix’s Newest Black Sitcom: ‘The Upshaws’
THE UPSHAWS (L to R) DIAMOND LYONS as KELVIN, JOURNEY CHRISTINE as MAYA, KHALI SPRAGGINS as AALIYAH, WANDA SYKES as LUCRETIA, and MIKE EPPS as BENNIE in episode 1010 of THE UPSHAWS Cr. LISA ROSE/NETFLIX © 2021

Epps and Sykes will executive produce alongside showrunner Regina Hicks, Page Hurwitz, and Niles Kirchner.

The family comedy series is slated to premiere on Netflix on May 12. Check out the trailer below.

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