# The Upshaws (2021)

> A charming but disorganized Indianapolis mechanic tries to hold his working class family together while tolerating his sharp-tongued sister-in-law.

Canonical page: https://ember.film/tv/100891

## Facts

- Seasons: 5
- Episodes: 60
- Episode runtime: 28 min
- Status: Ended
- Genres: comedy, family
- Created by: Regina Y. Hicks, Wanda Sykes
- Network: Netflix
- Cast: Mike Epps, Kim Fields, Wanda Sykes, Diamond Lyons, Khali Spraggins, Gabrielle Dennis, Journey Christine, Jermelle Simon
- TMDB rating: 7.1/10
- IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10945036/

## Ember's analysis

- Pacing: brisk
- Intensity: mild
- Complexity: simple
- Violence: none
- Tone: breezy, irreverent, affectionate, sardonic, comforting

## What critics say

Audiences find The Upshaws a funny, warm family sitcom with a sharp lead performance, though ratings have been mixed across its run.

## Synopsis

The Upshaws (2021-2026) is a Netflix multi-camera family sitcom created by Regina Y. Hicks and Wanda Sykes. Mike Epps plays Bennie Upshaw, a charming, well-intentioned mechanic in Indianapolis who is a lifelong mess but keeps trying to step up for his household. Kim Fields plays Regina, his wife, while Wanda Sykes plays Lucretia, the sardonic sister-in-law whose barbed remarks keep him on his toes. Jermelle Simon and Journey Christine round out the family as children growing up under the same roof. The engine of the show is the everyday friction of a working class household: money worries, car trouble in the garage, school pickups, and the constant small negotiations between siblings, spouses and in-laws who love each other but rarely agree. Each episode is a self-contained domestic story with a clear comic premise, and the five seasons build a steady, familiar continuity of relationships rather than a single plot. Set in present-day Indianapolis, the show is a black American family comedy that moves between adult jokes and family-friendly warmth. Its tone is breezy, irreverent and affectionate, with sharp banter and an underlying sincerity about imperfect people doing their best. Fans of Everybody Hates Chris, Black-ish and Roseanne will find resonance in its blend of working class realism and sitcom heart.

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