29 Dec ‘Why Not Both?’ Cynthia Bailey’s Hubby Mike Hill Sparks Post-Insecure Twitter Debate About Successful Black Brotherhood TV Shows

Cynthia Bailey’s husband, Mike Hill, recently stirred up a big debate on Twitter after he claimed that depictions of successful Black men were underrepresented on TV shows in comparison to Black women.

To prove his point, Hill challenged his followers to name one sitcom or show where a group of well-to-do Black men and their relationships are portrayed.

“We’ve had Living Single, Girlfriends and Insecure…shows about positive black women & their relationships with each other. Has there ever been a good, successful tv show about black men like this? (One that lasted at least 4 seasons?),” he tweeted.

Now that I think more about it, and I read some of your responses, this is problematic for me. Now I need to know “why” there hasn’t been one. I do like where that show Johnson is going.

— Mike Hill (@ItsMikeHill) December 27, 2021

Hill went into further detail about his theory in a follow-up tweet:

“Now that I think more about it, and I read some of your responses, this is problematic for me,” he continued. “Now I need to know “why” there hasn’t been one. I do like where that show Johnson is going.”

The Black News Channel host’s accusations elicited an outpour of response from social media goers, with some claiming that there was a bevy of TV shows that already center around the narrative.

One person mentioned NBC’s Grand Crew:

“The Grand Crew on NBC focuses on four Black college-educated Black men who live in Los Feliz and Silver Lake Opens with Garrett Morris discussing the stereotypes people have about Black men, “layers, y’all! Our multitudes have multitudes!” @IfMarysFitCouldTalk tweeted.

Another Twitter-goer mentioned UPN’s Black sitcom, Between Brothers. The show aired for two seasons back in the late 90s and followed four middle-class African American men in their late twenties living in Chicago.

“There was one called ‘Between Brothers.’ It starred Kadeem Hardison, Dondre Whitfield, Tommy Davidson, and Kelly Perine. It was pretty good. I too wish that it lasted longer,” @KeshisCuties chimed in.

I thought there was a show once called Brothers. I think it lasted two seasons maybe three. I actually enjoyed it.

— Keshi (@KeshisCuties) December 27, 2021

Showrunner, Thomas Q. Jones, replied to Hill’s tweet with a trailer to Bounce TV’s “Johnson,” a show that follows four Black men navigating life, love, and their careers.

All 10 episodes of our tv series @JohnsonBounce created by @DejiLaRay is streaming on the @BrownSugarApp now. Here is a quick clip that gives a little insight to the dialogue on the show. 🙏🏿👑 #JohnsonOnBounce https://t.co/7cKy5bk5d4 pic.twitter.com/bakzb63lHt

— Thomas Q. Jones (@thomasqjones) December 28, 2021

Our tv series @JohnsonBounce streaming now on the @BrownSugarApp navigates the lives of 4 Black men who’ve been best friends since childhood. We dive into controversial topics in the Black community & open up dialogue to hopefully create understanding. Check out the clip below. pic.twitter.com/KfTSEQHzol

— Thomas Q. Jones (@thomasqjones) December 28, 2021

Turns out Hill was already a fan and he said he liked where the show that’s returning to Bounce for a second season was going.

Now that I think more about it, and I read some of your responses, this is problematic for me. Now I need to know “why” there hasn’t been one. I do like where that show Johnson is going.

— Mike Hill (@ItsMikeHill) December 27, 2021

A few commenters argued that while Black male-centered TV shows do exist, many Black men simply aren’t interested in watching shows that reinforce Black male success.

“Black men aren’t seen as worthy consumer market/demographic, thus TV shows aren’t developed for us…” wrote another person on Twitter. “Black Women control the vast majority of spending in the Black home/community ($800 Billi), thus content is crafted for that demographic… “

While that comment, in particular, could certainly be debatable, a second user echoed a similar sentiment:

“You want a show exhibiting complex, multi-dimensional, vulnerable Black men? Is there a market for that? Would Black men watch a show that may hold a mirror to the shadow side of their personalities?”

You want a show exhibiting complex, multi-dimensional, vulnerable Black men? Is there a market for that? Would Black men watch a show that may hold a mirror to the shadow side of their personalities?

— ☿ S྇a྇v྇i྇o྇r྇s྇e྇l྇f྇🪞 (@sweetfacedinero) December 28, 2021

Others urged Hill to take action and create a show that features a positive Black male storyline.

“Well create a show, Mike,” wrote one Twitter-goer, to which Hill replied:

“I think I will.”

I think I will

— Mike Hill (@ItsMikeHill) December 27, 2021

The sports journalist clarified earlier in his string of tweets that the debate wasn’t to knock any of the great shows that feature powerful Black women-led narratives. Hill said he’s just curious as to why Hollywood won’t “green light” both storylines.

What’s your stance on this issue? Chime in on the discourse below!

Once again, this ain’t a knock on any of the black women shows. I love & support them all. This ain’t why them & not us…it’s why not both?? I’m the last person to divide. Don’t you do it

— Mike Hill (@ItsMikeHill) December 28, 2021

Well, THAT generated a discussion. I appreciate the answers. ALL OF THEM were valuable. Even the ones where black women misconstrued the tweet as an attack. It lets me know that IF a BM show is made like that, YOU Queens have to be respected & MATTER. We hear you.#getting2worknow

— Mike Hill (@ItsMikeHill) December 28, 2021

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