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Between Brothers

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For the Swedish film, see Between Brothers (film).
Between Brothers
GenreSitcom
Created byBarry O'Brien
Cheryl Alu
StarringKadeem Hardison
Dondré T. Whitfield
Kelly Perine
Tommy Davidson
Rachael Crawford
Theme music composerA Touch of Jazz
(a.k.a. DJ Jazzy Jeff)
ComposerKevin Guillaume
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons2
No. of episodes17
Production
Executive producersBarry O'Brien
Cheryl Alu
Alan Haymon
ProducersPeter S. Palmer
Devon Shepard
Pam Veasey
Camera setupMulti-camera
Running time30 minutes
Production companiesO'Brien/Alu Productions
Alan Haymon Productions
Columbia TriStar Television
Original release
NetworkFox
ReleaseSeptember 11, 1997 (1997-09-11) –
January 29, 1998 (1998-01-29)
NetworkUPN
ReleaseFebruary 9 (1999-02-09) –
March 2, 1999 (1999-03-02)

Between Brothers is an American television sitcom centered on four middle-class African American men in their late twenties, living in Chicago. It premiered on September 11, 1997 on Fox, with the second season airing on UPN, until March 2, 1999. The lead characters were played by Kadeem Hardison, Dondré T. Whitfield, Tommy Davidson, and Kelly Perine.

Synopsis

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Buddy comedy about four black men sharing an apartment in Chicago, Illinois. Charles and James Winston (played by Kadeem Hardison and Dondre T. Whitfield) are brothers. Charles, the responsible older one, is a sportswriter for The Chicago Examiner while irresponsible James sold real estate. Mitchell (Tommy Davidson) - the mooch, a junior high school history teacher, and just returned to the apartment after his second wife, Audrey, had thrown him out. Dusty (Kelly Perine), the short fellow with the loud clothes, had moved up from Indiana to take a job as a weekend TV on WEQT-TV, Channel 64.

Most of the episodes focused on their job and dating problems and the not-always-helpful advice they gave to each other.

Cast

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recurring

Episodes

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Series overview

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SeasonEpisodesOriginally aired
First airedLast airedNetwork
113September 11, 1997 (1997-09-11)January 29, 1998 (1998-01-29)Fox
24February 9, 1999 (1999-02-09)March 2, 1999 (1999-03-02)UPN

Season 1 (1997–98)

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No.
overall		No. in
season		TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air date Viewers
(millions)
11"In Case of Emergency"Michael ZinbergBarry O'Brien & Pam VeaseySeptember 11, 1997 (1997-09-11)7.55[2]
James tries to prove to Charles that he is mature and responsible. Mitchell breaks up with his second wife and moves in with Dusty.
22"The Big Three-Oh"Debbie AllenDave SchiffSeptember 18, 1997 (1997-09-18)6.80[3]
As his 30th birthday approaches, Charles begins to feel over the hill after he and James lose a pick-up basketball game to a pair of teenagers.
33"Just Friends"Matthew DiamondBob Keyes & Doug KeyesSeptember 25, 1997 (1997-09-25)7.72[4]
After Terri breaks up with her boyfriend, each of the four guys try to make their move.
44"The Player"Matthew DiamondBarry O'Brien & Pam VeaseyOctober 16, 1997 (1997-10-16)6.35[5]
Ladies man James gets a dose of his own medicine when his new girlfriend Vanessa (Salli Richardson) cheats on him. After Mitchell's divorce becomes final, Charles and Dusty take their bitter friend to a support group.
55"The List"Debbie AllenAnthony HillOctober 23, 1997 (1997-10-23)7.55[6]
Charles' college friend Mason (Duane Martin), now a sports agent, connects Charles to the movers and shakers in the sports world, causing James, Mitchell and Dusty to feel left out.
66"Family Affair"Paul MillerSteve Ochs & Vinny MontelloOctober 30, 1997 (1997-10-30)6.72[7]
When Mitchell's family comes to visit, he learns that his father expects him to return to Lansing, Michigan and take over the family business. Mitchell's sister may aggressively pursues James, while he tries to keep up with his very athletic girlfriend-of-the-moment. Charles inadvertently convinces Ronnie Lott (who appears as himself) to return to football.
77"Dusty's in Love"Paul MillerBarry O'Brien & Pam VeaseyNovember 6, 1997 (1997-11-06)7.38[8]
Dusty meets the perfect woman (Tisha Campbell) for him, and soon wedding bells are ringing. James, Charles and Mitchell try their hand at the commodities market.
88"New Beginnings"Rob SchillerBarry O'BrienNovember 13, 1997 (1997-11-13)8.18[9]
Mitchell turns to ladies' man James for help in romancing a fellow teacher at his job. Charles' new boss Stuart Franklin (Brian Doyle-Murray) threatens to fire him unless he can get an interview with baseball player (Barry Bonds).
99"Elephant Men"Howard MurrayVince Cheung & Ben MontanioDecember 4, 1997 (1997-12-04)6.36[10]
Mitchell's plan to help Dusty boost his ratings results in a wild ride through the city on a runaway elephant. May pretends that Charles is her boyfriend to scare off her visiting ex-husband. James competes with a new colleague at work.
1010"Scandalous"John FerraroBob Keyes & Doug KeyesDecember 11, 1997 (1997-12-11)6.40[11]
Sportswriter Charles discovers a football star in a compromising position. Mitchell's sister May moves to Chicago. . . and into the apartment with Mitchell and Dusty.
1111"The Interview"Matthew DiamondBarry O'Brien & Pam VeaseyDecember 18, 1997 (1997-12-18)6.31[12]
Charles faces an ethical dilemma when he realizes that his ex-girlfriend Rebecca (Vanessa A. Williams) holds the key to a new job that he is seeking. Dusty must fill in as the station's helicopter traffic reporter, even though he is terrified of heights.
1212"Kung Fools"Matthew DiamondDevon K. ShepardJanuary 22, 1998 (1998-01-22)5.61[13]
Embarrassed after May defends them from a bully at the Corner Pub, Mitchell and Dusty enroll in a karate class . . . with a group of 10-year-olds. Charles fears for his safety after he writes an article criticizing football legend Jim Brown (who appears as himself), and the angry Brown comes looking for him. James arranges a date for May.
1313"Road Rules"UnknownUnknownJanuary 29, 1998 (1998-01-29)5.84[14]

Dusty, Mitchell and James travel to Lansing, Michigan, where Dusty is to receive an alumni award at their old high school. When an empty gas tank interrupts their journey, they reminisce about high school and events from 10 years earlier that cemented the friendship between the three of them and Charles.

Note: This was the last episode of the series to air on Fox.

Season 2 (1999)

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No.
overall		No. in
season		TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air date Viewers
(millions)
141"Let It Ride"UnknownUnknownFebruary 9, 1999 (1999-02-09)2.43[15]

Mitchell tries desperately to avoid a $2000 gambling debt he owes to Stuart's bookie. Charles tries to track down a beautiful woman he met briefly at the Corner Pub.

Note: This is the first episode to air on UPN.
152"Fantasy Camp/Home Boyz of Summer"UnknownUnknownFebruary 16, 1999 (1999-02-16)2.4[16]

Mitchell, James, Dusty and Stuart are along for the ride when Charles covers Pete Rose's fantasy baseball camp for a story. Meanwhile, May and a baseball prospect find true love.

Guest stars: Dominic Hoffman as Ramón Hernández. Pete Rose, Kenny Lofton and Darryl Strawberry all appear as themselves.
163"Spring Time"UnknownUnknownFebruary 23, 1999 (1999-02-23)3.22[17]
Dusty, Mitchell and May are in the audience when the womanizing James appears as a guest on The Jerry Springer Show. In order to spend more time with a woman that he's interested in, Charles sets up Stuart with the woman's godmother.
174"Fire Walk"UnknownUnknownMarch 2, 1999 (1999-03-02)2.73[18]
The newspaper forces Charles and Stuart to attend a teamwork seminar. Dusty meets his biggest fan, but her unhealthy obsession with the weatherman soon spells danger for him, Mitchell and James.

Syndication

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Reruns of the series aired in the United States on the TV One cable network however they stopped as of 2014. The first-season episodes are available on Crackle as of 2020.

References

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  1. ^ Fearn-Banks, Kathleen; Burford-Johnson, Anne (2014-10-03). Historical Dictionary of African American Television. Rowman & Littlefield. p. 122. ISBN 978-0-8108-7917-1.
  2. ^ "National Nielsen Viewership (Sept. 8–12)". The Los Angeles Times. September 17, 1997. Retrieved May 24, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.Free access icon
  3. ^ "National Nielsen Viewership (Sept. 15–21)". The Los Angeles Times. September 24, 1997. Retrieved May 24, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.Free access icon
  4. ^ "National Nielsen Viewership (Sept. 22–28)". The Los Angeles Times. October 1, 1997. Retrieved May 24, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.Free access icon
  5. ^ "National Nielsen Viewership (Oct. 13–19)". The Los Angeles Times. October 22, 1997. Retrieved May 24, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.Free access icon
  6. ^ "National Nielsen Viewership (Oct. 20-26)". The Los Angeles Times. October 29, 1997. Retrieved May 24, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.Free access icon
  7. ^ "National Nielsen Viewership (Oct. 27–Nov. 2)". The Los Angeles Times. November 5, 1997. Retrieved May 24, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.Free access icon
  8. ^ "National Nielsen Viewership (Nov. 3-9)". The Los Angeles Times. November 12, 1997. Retrieved May 24, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.Free access icon
  9. ^ "National Nielsen Viewership (Nov. 10–16)". The Los Angeles Times. November 19, 1997. Retrieved May 24, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.Free access icon
  10. ^ "National Nielsen Viewership (Dec. 1-7)". The Los Angeles Times. December 10, 1997. Retrieved May 24, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.Free access icon
  11. ^ "National Nielsen Viewership (Dec. 8–14)". The Los Angeles Times. December 17, 1997. Retrieved May 24, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.Free access icon
  12. ^ "National Nielsen Viewership (Dec. 15-21)". The Los Angeles Times. December 24, 1997. Retrieved May 24, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.Free access icon
  13. ^ "National Nielsen Viewership (Jan. 19–25)". The Los Angeles Times. January 28, 1998. Retrieved May 24, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.Free access icon
  14. ^ "National Nielsen Viewership (Jan. 26–Feb. 1)". The Los Angeles Times. February 4, 1998. Retrieved May 24, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.Free access icon
  15. ^ "National Nielsen Viewership (Feb. 8-14)". The Los Angeles Times. February 18, 1999. Retrieved May 24, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.Free access icon
  16. ^ "Broadcast & Cable Nielsens: Week Ending February 21, 1999". Ratings Ryan. May 15, 2020. Retrieved May 24, 2023.
  17. ^ "National Nielsen Viewership (Feb. 22-28)". The Los Angeles Times. March 3, 1999. Retrieved May 24, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.Free access icon
  18. ^ "National Nielsen Viewership (March 1–7)". The Los Angeles Times. March 10, 1999. Retrieved May 24, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.Free access icon
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