Everybody Hates Chris

About Everybody Hates Chris

Everybody Hates Chris was an American television series that originally aired from 2005 to 2009. This period sitcom was inspired by the early life of comedian Chris Rock and presents a humorous, yet honest, look at growing up in Brooklyn, New York. Chris Rock takes on double duties as both the executive producer and narrator of the series, offering satirical, adult perspectives on his adolescent experiences.

Making / Production

Produced by Chris Rock and Ali LeRoi, Everybody Hates Chris was co-produced by CBS Television Studios and Paramount Network Television. The series was known for its distinctive use of single-camera setup instead of the multi-camera setup commonly used for sitcoms. The setting of the series, Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, was integral to the show’s overall charm, lending both authenticity and nostalgia to its narrative.

Actors

• Tyler James Williams played the title character, the young Chris. Responsible and mature beyond his years, Chris constantly navigates the challenges of adolescence and racial tensions in 1980s Brooklyn.
• Terry Crews portrayed Julius, Chris's penny-pinching father whose quirks and life advice are integral to the show’s humor.
• Tichina Arnold played Rochelle, Chris’s strong-willed mother, her character is known for being strict and for her catchphrase "I don't need this, my man has two jobs."
• Imani Hakim and Tequan Richmond played Tonya and Drew, Chris’s younger and older siblings respectively.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• The title of the series parodies everybody loves Raymond, a popular sitcom at the time.
• Everybody Hates Chris uses a faux single-camera setup, which made it unique amongst most sitcoms.
• Chris Rock, who the show is based on, also serves as the series narrator.

Awards

Everybody Hates Chris earned a series of recognitions, including nominations for Golden Globe and Emmy Awards. Of note, the series took home the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Comedy Series in both 2007 and 2009.

Quotes

• "If every kid did what their father wanted, we'd have a world full of accountants." - Chris (Tyler James Williams)
• "Who’s AWOL? Is he a rapper?" - Julius (Terry Crews)
• "I work too hard to come home and see dirty floors. I don't want to see, hear nor smell dirt." - Rochelle (Tichina Arnold)

Music, Soundtrack

• The theme song of Everybody Hates Chris is "Everybody Hates Chris" composed by Marcus Miller.
• The series also features a variety of popular hits from the 1980s, adding to its nostalgic appeal.