Warner Bros. Television Black-led television series have been around for decades, beginning in the ’70s with sitcoms like “Good Times” and “Diff’rent Strokes,” paving the way for classics like “Family Matters,” “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air,” and “The Cosby Show.” These shows presented Black characters as more than the stereotypical roles TV previously offered. They also got the ball rolling for modern shows with Black-led casts and crews. As the concept of representation becomes something the media is more conscious about, data and studies have shown the importance of Black people seeing characters who look like themselves on TV, suggesting such representation helps young people develop strong identities. Though there’s still a long way to go before Black people are truly and properly represented in the media, lately we’ve seen strides in more diverse television casts, creators, directors, and writers. Many Black creators strive to incorporate themes of race, identity, and the Black experience in their work, making it relatable to those with shared experiences and offering another perspective for others. In the ’70s, “The Jeffersons” was one of the first TV shows centering a Black family, demonstrating both the complexity and normalcy of life as a Black person in the Western world. Now, Black TV shows and series with Black leads are staples–often award-winning–in various households. Stacker looked at Metacritic data on all 2022 TV series, including miniseries, and ranked the top shows that either starred, centered on, or were largely created or written by Black people. To qualify, the series had to have at least seven reviews. You may also like: Famous TV shows that ended in controversy #19. Surface Apple – Metascore: 49 – On air: 2022-present Gugu Mbatha-Raw stars in and executive produced “Surface,” a sci-fi series streaming on Apple TV+. The show focuses on Mbatha-Raw’s Sophie Ellis, who, after surviving a suicide attempt, loses all recent memories including why she wanted to end her life. She then seeks to piece together the reason for her drastic decision. Apple TV+ recently renewed “Surface” for a second season. #18. Mike 20th Television – Metascore: 54 – On air: 2022 Trevante Rhodes stars as heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson in this unauthorized biographical miniseries. “Mike” comprises eight episodes on Hulu and received mixed reviews from critics. Tyson criticized the project for failing to ask his permission or compensate him. “They stole my life story and didn’t pay me,” he wrote in a heated Instagram post before the show premiered. #17. DMZ ARRAY Filmworks – Metascore: 57 – On air: 2022 “DMZ” is a dystopian miniseries based on the comic book series of the same name. Set in the not-so-distant future, the show takes place in the midst of the Second American Civil War and stars Rosario Dawson as Alma Ortega, a New York City medic who becomes a symbol of hope for her determination to find her son eight years after he left her side during the evacuation of Manhattan. The series also marks award-winning filmmaker Ava DuVernay’s directorial debut with DC Comics. #16. Bel-Air Universal Television – Metascore: 58 – On air: 2022-present “Bel-Air” is a reimagined version of “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air,” turning the beloved sitcom into a drama based on the same characters and a similar storyline. The Peacock series stars Jabari Banks as Will Smith alongside Cassandra Freeman, Coco Jones, and a full cast of Black actors. Like the original ’90s sitcom, “Bel-Air” tells the story of Smith’s journey from West Philadelphia to the wealthy California neighborhood of Bel-Air and explores themes including culture shock, racial tension, and Black excellence. Its second season is set to air in February 2023. #15. Kindred FX Productions – Metascore: 63 – On air: 2022 Developed by award-winning playwright Branden Jacobs-Jenkins, “Kindred” is a miniseries based on Octavia E. Butler’s famous novel of the same name. Mallori Johnson stars as Dana James, a Black woman who learns secrets of her family’s past after mysteriously getting pulled back and forth from present-day to 19th-century Antebellum South, where she finds herself on a plantation. “Kindred” premiered on Hulu in December 2022. You may also like: Can you answer these real ‘Jeopardy!’ clues about TV shows? #14. 61st Street AMC Studios – Metascore: 66 – On air: 2022-present Filmmaker Marta Cunningham, who co-executive produced the series and directed two episodes, told WBUR that “61st Street” was a “passion project.” The series explores the ugly underbelly of the criminal justice system in Chicago through the lens of Moses Johnson (Tosin Cole), a promising Black high school track runner who finds himself in the wrong place at the wrong time and is arrested for murder. He and his lawyer, Franklin Roberts (Courtney B. Vance) find the odds are against them as they try to fight the corrupt criminal system and police force. #13. From Scratch Netflix – Metascore: 67 – On air: 2022 With the help of her sister Attica Locke, Tembi Locke brought her memoir “From Scratch: A Memoir of Love, Sicily and Finding Home” to life with a television adaptation. Streaming on Netflix, the limited drama series stars Zoe Saldaña as Amy, an American woman who finds love while studying abroad in Italy. #12. The Man Who Fell to Earth CBS Studios – Metascore: 68 – On air: 2022 “The Man Who Fell to Earth” is the sequel to the 1976 film of the same name starring David Bowie. The Showtime series version stars Chiwetel Ejiofor as an alien who arrives on Earth in an attempt to save his species and realizes the world he’s landed on also needs saving. Naomie Harris also stars, portraying isolated scientist Justin Falls. Unfortunately, the show was not renewed for a second season. #11. Women of the Movement Westbrook Studios – Metascore: 71 – On air: 2022 “Women of the Movement” is a historical drama miniseries that aired on ABC. It’s based on Devery S. Anderson’s book “Emmett Till: The Murder That Shocked the World and Propelled the Civil Rights Movement” and tells the story of Mamie Till-Mobley (Adrienne Warren), who spent her life fighting for justice after her son, Emmett (Cedric Joe), was kidnapped, tortured, and murdered by a lynch mob at the age of 14 in Mississippi in 1955. #10. Naomi Warner Bros. Television – Metascore: 72 – On air: 2022 Ava DuVernay and Jill Blankenship developed a television adaptation of “Naomi,” a DC comic book series written by Brian Michael Bendis and David F. Walker and illustrated by Jamal Campbell. The show stars Kaci Walfall as the titular character, a comic-book-loving teenager who discovers she has secret powers and takes on the moniker “Powerhouse.” It premiered on The CW in January 2022 but was unfortunately canceled after its first season. You may also like: 50 best Western TV shows of all time #9. Everything’s Trash
Best Black-Led TV shows of 2022
