Guest appearance by Richard Lawson.īernie finally realizes that the kids aren't just houseguests He proposes that they earn allowances by doing chores later, Bernie would have to punish Jordan for stealing his money just to buy a telescope which he found at the store earlier Infuriated at Bernie, Jordan runs away from home, which sends the family on a wild goose chase. Since Bernie can't spank the kids, he figures the church can provide discipline. Guest appearance by Sugar Ray Leonard.īernie isn't comfortable with the title 'stay-at-home dad.' But eventually, Jordan becomes the bully himself. The flu is going around, and the kids all have it after Bryana's birthday party Bernie gets the flu too and has to spend the day with Bryana.Īfter Jordan gets picked on by a group of bullies, Bernie teaches him to fight back.

But unfortunately, he quickly loses patience with them.

As put in Entertainment Weekly, “Mac taps into the feelings that Bill Cosby did 15 years before, that family transcends race that race determines social perceptions that all kids need to be firmly disciplined.” For offering these insights in a manner that makes us laugh aloud even when we are viewing alone, The Bernie Mac Show receives a Peabody Award.Episodes Season 1 (2001–02) No.īernie's sister goes into rehab and rather than let her three children go into foster care Bernie takes them in. They create stories to let us know that when Bernie Mac slumps into his easy chair, looks into the camera, and addresses the television audience, it’s as much a plea for help as it is a lesson about sweet television tykes. Wilmore and Schaffer also write episodes. Executive Producer Larry Wilmore and Co-executive Producer Warren Hutcherson team with Producers Bernie Mac, Michael Petok, Steven Greener, and Teri Schaffer and Directors Ken Kwapis and David Grossman to create the show for New Regency Productions and FOX Television. Bernie Mac heads an outstanding cast, including Kellita Smith as his wife, Wanda, Camille Winbush as 13-year-old Vanessa, Jeremy Suarez as Jordan and Dee Dee Davis as “Baby Girl,” five-year-old Bryanna. But his lectures and soliloquies are actually expressions of his own deep affection and concern for the children, reminding us of what is truly important for families. He responds with an old-fashioned style of discipline and tough love punishment, sometimes verging on the frustrating anger known to any parent. But to those kids, he’s just Uncle Bernie, appropriate target for every prank, easy touch for every request. His wife’s executive position matches his personal success. He’s still a well-known performer, still a celebrity, of course. But now he’s a woeful Bernie Mac, a beleaguered, confused, exasperated parent to two nieces and a nephew, children of a fictional sister now in a drug rehabilitation program. In The Bernie Mac Show, stand-up comedian Bernie Mac plays himself.

Baby girl from bernie mac show