Friends famously made waves as one of many largest and most influential TV exhibits of all time — however that doesn't imply it at all times modified issues for the higher.

In keeping with Sister, Sister alum Tamera Mowry-Housley, her hit sitcom was at one level a sufferer of the "Mates impact" after each exhibits premiered in 1994. The actress delves into the topic as a part of the brand new two-part HBO documentary Seen & Heard: The Historical past of Black Tv, claiming that the trajectory of Sister, Sister was drastically modified by the speedy recognition of Mates.

"I bear in mind us simply killing it within the scores after which having all that taken away," the actress stated of Sister Sister, which ranked at No. 33 within the Nielsen scores throughout its first season on ABC. Although it marked a decent ranking — and the best the present would ever chart — that didn't cease the community from swinging the ax after simply 12 episodes.

Mowry-Housery continued, "The president of the community, I can bear in mind calling him saying, 'How come we have been canceled? What occurred?' And I can bear in mind Mates took place, and numerous the networks needed to, they have been like, 'Wow, this present is a success. How can we carry that to our community?'"

After premiering as a part of ABC's TGIF comedy lineup, Sister, Sister ended up discovering a brand new house on the WB. Although relieved to see the present proceed on, Mowry-Housley stated she and twin sister Tia have been baffled by the change.

"We go from being on ABC to the WB. I bear in mind my sister and I going, 'What the hell? What’s that? The frog community?," she stated, referencing the WB's Michigan J. Frog character. "A fledgling community? I bear in mind wanting that up, going, what does 'fledgling' even imply?"

Sister, Sister ran for 5 extra seasons, from 1994 to 1999. Throughout that interval, the sitcom was one in all many Black-fronted comedies that the community launched in its early years, with others together with Cleghorne!, Kirk, The Mum or dad 'Hood, The Wayan Bros, The Jamie Foxx Present, and The Steve Harvey Present. By the latter half of the '90s and going into the 2000s, the WB was higher recognized for its widespread dramas with predominantly white casts, together with Buffy the Vampire Slayer, seventh Heaven, Charmed, Dawson's Creek, and Felicity.

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"I’ve a body from the WB saying, 'Thanks for serving to us begin a community,'" Mowry-Housery shared, including that on the time her Sister, Sister dad Tim Reid informed her they weren’t the primary Black-led present to play an analogous function in a community's rise.

"Tim Reid was telling me, 'Tamera, numerous networks do that.' They begin off with Black exhibits, as a result of we're proficient,'" she recalled. "Black individuals are proficient, and lots of people watch Black exhibits, they usually construct that community with these exhibits, after which they begin altering."

This sentiment was echoed elsewhere within the doc by the star-studded lineup of TV stars and pioneers.

"Our exhibits have been systematically used to pump networks since we've been on TV," agreed Dwelling Single star TC Carson. "To pump up the scores, to pump up the community after which once they get what they want, they let it go."

Throughout six seasons, Sister, Sister follows twin sisters Tia and Tamera who reconnect as teenagers and navigate life, college, and household as a group, regardless of having polar reverse personalities. Mowry-Housley's sister Tia Mowry just lately mirrored on the present's legacy too, delving into the stress that got here with representing a era of Black women for Entertainment Weekly's '90s issue.

"We have been very conscious that there weren't numerous women on tv that regarded like us," she shared. "We did take that function on so critically when it got here to illustration. Now, individuals are like, 'Oh my God, you have been the primary individual that I noticed on TV that had hair like mine that made me embrace my curly hair.'"

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Mowry continued, "To be so impactful and be part of sure developments was simply so fascinating. When folks see my sister and I, the phrases that come out are, 'You guys are iconic.' I really feel so proud to be part of that."

Seen & Heard premiered on HBO Sept. 9, and the second episode airs tonight at 9 p.m. ET. Each components can be found to stream on HBO Max.

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