The 13 Best UPN Shows of All Time, Ranked
It’s been 23 years since Moesha left us hanging on two major cliffhangers we haven’t stopped thinking about: the positive pregnancy test found in the titular character’s dorm that belonged to either her or one of her roommates, and her younger brother Myles going missing after Dorian’s business deal-gone-wrong.
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Still, we look back on the series, and the network that gave it a platform, with immense fondness. UPN ran for 11 years, from 1995 to 2006, and is best known for airing unique programming that prioritized its strong Black audience and really stood out among its broadcast competitors. Reflecting on that special period, we’ve handpicked the 13 best series to have aired across the network.
We’re focusing on shows that premiered on UPN, ruling out favorites like Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Roswell, which both got their start on The WB.
Among those selected are the comedies Everybody Hates Chris and Girlfriends, as well as the Tyra Banks-hosted reality competition America’s Next Top Model. Veronica Mars also earned a spot on our list with its refreshing take on the teen drama format, as did and sitcoms The Parkers and On on One for reveling in goofball antics that left us in stitches.
Plus, we couldn’t leave out Star Trek: Voyager, which introduced beloved Captain Janeway to the world, or WWE Smackdown, which is nearing a whopping 1,300 episodes aired.
Scroll on for our full ranking of the 13 Best UPN Shows of All Time, and then hit the comments with your thoughts.
13. Jake 2.0 (2003-04)
Many may not remember this delightful sci-fi show starring Christopher Gorham as a young nanobot-infused superhuman working for the NSA, but we do. It had a lot going for it, including David Greenwalt (Buffy, Angel, Grimm) and Silvio Horta (Ugly Betty) as executive producers. It’s disappointing that the series didn’t live beyond 16 episodes because if given the chance, it could have developed into something special.
12. Eve (2003-06)
In this comedy from Meg DeLoatch (Netflix’s Family Reunion), rapper Eve starred as Shelly, a rising fashion designer with a lackluster love life. The show’s vibrant Miami setting was a nice backdrop for its amiable ensemble — also featuring Jason George, Ali Landry, the late and great Natalie Desselle-Reid, Brian Hooks and Sean Maguire — who spilled their juicy thoughts on relationships over delicious cocktails.
11. Malcolm & Eddie (1996-2000)
Malcolm-Jamal Warner and Eddie Griffin were a dynamic duo in this Jeff Franklin-produced sitcom set in Kansas City, Mo. Malcolm’s straight-man demeanor played well against Eddie’s chaotic energy as the pair navigated the highs and lows of owning the bar beneath their apartment. Though it never reached the ratings heights of others on this list, the show was relatable, funny and an overall good time.
10. One on One (2001-06)
The late Eunetta T. Boone delivered a slam dunk with this memorable sitcom about an NBA player-turned-sportscaster (Flex Alexander) whose playboy lifestyle was upended when his teenage daughter (Kyla Pratt) moved in full-time. The show’s dynamic ensemble made it a crowd-pleasing affair, as did the exciting guest stars, which included rappers Lil’ Romeo and Eve; WNBA great Lisa Leslie; singers Mario, Brandy and Solange Knowles; Motown legend Smokey Robinson; and veteran actress Kim Fields.
9. Half & Half (2002-06)
One of the network’s highest-rated shows was this lovely sitcom about paternal half-sisters reconnecting in adulthood. Leading ladies Rachel True and Essence Atkins were likable and easy to root for as the estranged siblings worked on rebuilding their relationship — often complicated by their vastly different upbringings. What’s more, the series delivered an unexpected Living Single crossover that saw Erika Alexander and Terrence C. Carson drop in as a married Maxine Shaw and Kyle Barker raising their brainiac daughter.
8. Moesha (1996-2001)
Though she previously starred in the short-lived sitcom Thea, R&B singer Brandy Norwood found her TV breakthrough as the lead of this multi-cam series about an upper middle class Black family in Los Angeles. The show resonated with audiences for tackling issues affecting Black youth such as sex, drug use and racial inequality. And yes, we’d like to forget those series finale cliffhangers, but that smooth beat accompanying Moesha’s signature diary entries can stay in our head forever.
7. The Parkers (1999-2004)
The spinoff centered on Moesha’s ditzy best friend Kim and her mother Nikki could have easily fallen flat but instead, thrived under charismatic performances from stars Countess Vaughn and Mo’Nique. Their zany antics kept us thoroughly entertained, as did standout musical moments which affirmed Vaughn, and co-stars Jenna von Oy and Ken Law, as multi-hyphenate threats. We’re pretty sure that if Freestyle Unity were a real group, they’d have been one of the country’s biggest musical acts.
6. WWE SmackDown (1999-present)
Named after a Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson catchphrase, the show initially launched to compete with WCW’s Thunder and soared from the start. Viewers tuned in weekly to watch the likes of Kurt Angle, D-Generation X, Mankind, and the Hardy Boyz and Lita throw down in the ring, garnering high ratings for the network and boosting WWE’s popularity into the stratosphere. SmackDown has had a variety of homes since its 1999 debut — it’s currently airing on Fox and will move to USA Network in September — but those UPN years were something special.
5. Star Trek: Voyager (1995-2001)
UPN won big with this riveting Star Trek series which helped launch the network back in 1995 and secured Kate Mulgrew’s Captain Janeway as one of our favorite characters in the franchise. Anchoring the sci-fi show in the Delta Quadrant as opposed to the Alpha Quadrant gave room for all-new aliens and a gripping story that kept us glued to our seats while the Voyager crew worked tirelessly to find their way back home.
4. America’s Next Top Model (2003-2015, 2016-18)
Who could forget the show that taught us how to “smize” and introduced us to the majestic runway guru J. Alexander? Created and hosted by Tyra Banks, this entertaining reality competition saw modeling hopefuls participate in wild photoshoots and jaw-dropping challenges that had us tuning in each week to see what would happen next. And while it delivered some truly iconic TV moments, such as Tyra’s “We were rooting for you!” tirade, we can’t overlook the problematic elements that made it very much a product of its time.
3. Everybody Hates Chris (2005-09)
The show’s title is a misnomer because there’s no shortage of love for this bold sitcom loosely based on co-creator Chris Rock’s teen years. Featuring Rock’s voiceover narration and a young Tyler James Williams in the titular role, the series tackled everything from school bullies to racism and poverty with sharp comedic flair. Those funny lines were bolstered by memorable performances from Terry Crews as Chris’ penny-pitching father Julius and Tichina Arnold as his temperamental but loving wife Rochelle. Best of all? The show survived UPN’s merger with The WB to form The CW, ending on its own terms and leaving fans with a completed story worth revisiting.
2. Veronica Mars (2004-07, 2019)
Viewers immediately flocked to this noir mystery from writer-producer Rob Thomas with good reason. Beyond its compelling premise — a high schooler moonlighting as a private detective after her best friend is murdered — the series delighted with a charming ensemble featuring Kristen Bell, Percy Daggs III and Jason Dohring in perfectly-cast roles. And if you ever doubted the vigor of the show’s cult following, look no further than the 2014 film, which reached its Kickstarter fundraising goal of $2 million in less than half a day. More impressive, the show secured a fourth season at Hulu in 2018. The newer episodes didn’t quite live up to expectations, but that doesn’t negate the greatness of its original run.
1. Girlfriends (2000-08)
This early aughts comedy from acclaimed writer-producer Mara Brock Akil remains one of the network’s brightest and most successful offerings — and not just because of its spinoff The Game. Centered on four best friends who support each other through life’s various ups and downs, the show stood out with a dynamic, Black women-led ensemble made up of Tracee Ellis Ross, Golden Brooks, Persia White and Jill Marie Jones. Plus, impactful storytelling, like Lynn’s HIV/AIDS documentary, elevated the series beyond its funny scenarios. We’ll always lament that the long-running sitcom never got a proper ending — an unfortunate casualty of the 2007 writer’s strike — because Joan & Co. deserved so much more.
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