Time After Time/Soap World

In daytime when it comes to diversity I often talk about the lack of African American representation especially since that is the predominate audience. Also the lack of casting the most common and relatable African American female archetypes (specifically) in favor of small niche groups that even make up a smaller group within that predominate audience leaves me and most daytime fans scratching their heads. And of the new generation most of these young African American actresses leave most of that majority audience young and old feeling disconnected from these characters and provide them with no rooting value.  And being black is not enough.  It’s the ability to relate in large numbers that will draw support and praise for these characters and to a show. 

That brings me to a new web soap called The Proud and Privileged.  The series focuses on the life of rich and powerful Buppies (Black yuppies) living in the fictional and mostly African American Chicago suburb of Jaxson Heights.  Where much like in reality successful African Americans created their own communities across the country to thwart issues that redlining caused as they sought to revel in their new found success. P&P fictionalizes that  prominent group of people living with this type of community.  Yet this series is in no way limited to and African American audience. 

Within the first 6 episodes that have been released so far the viewer is given a taste of the storylines that will play throughout the series.  There is a murder mystery, a love affair, a father trying to control his son’s life, a down-low relationship, news network executives scheming to make their nightly news show top rated, and embarrassing “new money” family preparing to make their way to the Jaxson Heights.  And that is just the beginning. 

P&P gives you a feel of a daytime drama which is what I believe the producer is shooting for. There is also a major appeal from the characters within this soap that has managed to litter its cast all with relatable archetypes (twenty-three to be exact).     

P&P is just getting its start and I do not know what the future holds for it.  But it has all the elements needed to be a daytime Drama down pat and shows that it not only understands the genre but could also build an audience whose been dying for this type of diverse soapy representation. 

Production Values: B

The series is filmed like a daytime drama which provides it with a glories soapy feel, while working with a small budget which means you often have to improvise by using some settings that detract from nature of most of the characters social status.  Still for working on a small budget it felt like a soap and that is main point. 

Creativity of Plot: A-

Not since NBC’s Generations have we had this mixture prominent African Americans in diverse careers that defy the often daytime stereotypical careers of law enforcement, medical, and legal fields as the 3 most used career industries AA characters given when they are casted in daytime.  P&P has its characters in careers that span from the boardroom to the hair salon. It is also able to layer in diverse drama, intrigue, and a murder mystery that appears to be the first major storyline that will rope in much ofthe cast.  And hey the series even has several emerging villains and villainesses to stroke the audiences love to hate factor.   

Acting: B-

Some of the actors give real to live performances while others shoot for the soapy type.  And although they are all good, there needs to be a congruent consensus on what style of acting will best fit with the series. 

Overall Rating: B

To view series click image below