The Upshaws -

While it feels like a throwback to 90s-style sitcoms, it incorporates modern views on Black queer stories and honest portrayals of motherhood and wifehood. Series Status

is a multicamera sitcom on Netflix that follows a working-class Black family in Indianapolis, Indiana, as they navigate life's messy surprises without a clear blueprint. Created by Wanda Sykes and Regina Y. Hicks, the show balances sharp, irreverent humor with honest depictions of modern family dynamics, including economic struggles and personal growth. Core Story and Premise The Upshaws

The central conflict stems from the family's "blended" nature: While it feels like a throwback to 90s-style

Bennie is in a constant war of words with Regina's older sister, Lucretia (Wanda Sykes), who openly despises him and never misses a chance to highlight his failures. Major Themes Hicks, the show balances sharp, irreverent humor with

Bennie and Regina were high school sweethearts who have three children together: Bernard Jr. , Aaliyah , and Maya .

Unlike many sitcoms that depict wealthy families, The Upshaws focuses on the authentic, day-to-day grind of making ends meet in the Midwest.