TV Sitcom Girlfriends We Love
Sitcom Girlfriends We Love to Watch
Good girlfriends are hard to find, in real live and on television. Every once in a while the sitcom gods bring together a magical set of ladies and we delight in all of the perfectly timed, side-eyes, mmm hmmms and girrrl let me tell you somethings. From “227’s” Sandra and Mary to “House of Payne’s” Ella and Claretha we’re celebrating the TV girlfriends that always reminded us of ourselves.
Denise, Jaleesa and Maggie on “A Different World”
In the beginning, things didn’t go so smoothly between Denise Huxtable — the Hillman-bound daughter of Claire and Heathcliff — and Jaleesa Vinson Taylor — the divorced 25-year-old college freshman. But soon Maggie Lauten’s — the only White female student in the dorm — quirky personality balanced the two out and these three were inseparable. At least until season two of “A Different World.”
Mary, Rose, Sandra and Pearl on “227”
Mary Jenkins, Rose Lee Holloway, Pearl Shay and Sandra Clark ruled the stoop of building 227 on a middle class neighborhood street in Washington D.C. We laughed at Sandra and Mary’s love-hate relationship and Pearl’s daily gossip.
Laura Winslow and Maxine Johnson on “Family Matters”
Maxine Johnson was the best friend Laura Winslow could always count on to sneak out and meet guys with and to come clean to Laura’s parents with. They got into their normal teenage but they remained true friends. Laura even hooked maxine up with her brother Eddie’s BFF Waldo.
Florida Evans and Willona Woods on “Good Times”
Don’t you wish your best friend could live right next door to you sometimes. Florida Evans and Willona Woods had it good, always able to run over to each other when they were in need or just wanted to share some neighborhood gossip.
Ella Payne and Claretha Jenkins on “House of Payne”
When we retire we hope to be like Ella Payne and Claretha Jenkins, always meeting up in Ella’s kitchen to drink coffee, talk about men and neighborhood happenings. We love that they don’t let Ella’s husband Curtis’ dislike for Claretha come between their special relationship.
Khadija, Synclaire, Regine and Maxine on “Living Single”
Every young woman born before 1985 was wrapped up in the exploits of our magazine editor Khadija James, her cooky cousin Synclaire James-Jones, their self-absorbed roomie Regine and their loudmouthed lawyer downstairs neighbor Maxine Shaw. These ladies embodied what being single in a big city was like in the 1990s, seeing each other through ups and downs in their careers and relationships, all the time strengthening their unbreakable bond.
Louise Jefferson and Helen Willis on “The Jeffersons”
George always made comments about Helen and her husband Tom Willis’ interracial marriage, but Weezie didn’t let lat stop her from hanging out with Helen. We love that Helen didn’t take George’s talk, often retaliating with jokes about his height. These ladies love each other and even ended up volunteering together at a service center in later seasons.
Gina Waters-Payne and Pamela James on “Martin”
You know your BF’s a winner when she and your man can’t stand each other and she still decides to stick by your side. Pam endured all of Martin’s mean jokes to hang with her girl, Gina.
Moesha Mitchell, Kim Parker and Niecy Jackson on “Moesha”
What 90’s sitcom embodied female teenage angst better than “Moesha?” Mo and her girls Kim and Niecy were either cracking jokes in their high school’s student center, chasing boys or trying to get themselves out of a jam without involving their parents.
Joan, Maya, Lynn and Toni on “Girlfriends”
“Girlfriends” was “Living Single” 2.0. sprinkled with a little “Sex and the City.”Besties Joan Clayton, Toni Childs, Lynn Searcy and Maya Wilkes all had strong personalities that every modern woman could identify with. They enjoyed their fabulousity together and were there to hold each other up when things were looking down or to tell their girls to snap out of it.