On Our Own (1994 TV series) explained

Genre:Sitcom
Creator:David W. Duclon
Developer:Thomas L. Miller
Robert L. Boyett
Starring:Ralph Louis Harris
Jojo Smollett
Jazz Smollett
Jake Smollett
Jussie Smollett
T'Keyah Crystal Keymáh
Jurnee Smollett
Jocqui Smollett
Roger Aaron Brown
Kimberley Kates
Theme Music Composer:Jesse Frederick
Bennett Salvay
Opentheme:"Love, Tried and True" performed by Joe Turano
Composer:Jesse Frederick
Bennett Salvay
Country:United States
Language:English
Num Seasons:1
Num Episodes:20
Executive Producer:David W. Duclon
Thomas L. Miller
Robert L. Boyett
Suzanne de Passe
Suzanne Coston
Camera:Multi-camera
Runtime:22 minutes
Company:Lightkeeper Productions
de Passe Entertainment
Miller-Boyett Productions
Warner Bros. Television
Channel:ABC

On Our Own is an American sitcom that aired on ABC from September 13, 1994, until April 14, 1995. The series stars Ralph Louis Harris and six real life siblings: Jazz, Jocqui, Jake, Jojo, Jurnee, and Jussie Smollett.[1]

The series was created and executive produced by David W. Duclon, one of the executive producers of Family Matters. The series was also produced by Thomas L. Miller and Robert L. Boyett, who developed the show. Suzanne de Passe (who also executive produced Sister, Sister and later Smart Guy) and Suzanne Coston were additional executive producers, with Duclon's longtime colleague Gary Menteer acting as co-executive producer (who also was a producer/writer on Family Matters, to which he returned when On Our Own was canceled).

The series was produced by Miller-Boyett Productions, with associates Lightkeeper Productions (Duclon's company) and de Passe Entertainment. On Our Own was the first Miller-Boyett sitcom to be produced by Warner Bros. Television for its entire run.

Synopsis

The series centers on the Jerrico family, consisting of seven brothers and sisters in the O'Fallon Park neighborhood of St. Louis. Six months prior to the series, a car crash killed both their parents. Since then, they have been raised by the eldest brother, Josh (Harris). Having aired on Sunday nights at 7:30/6:30c during the first half of the season, On Our Own was moved to the 9:30/8:30c time slot following Step by Step on TGIF when it returned in March 1995. The changes to the series in the spring didn't help ratings, and after six more episodes, the show had the plug pulled by ABC.[2]

Cast

Main

Recurring

Syndication

The series was briefly re-aired on TV One in 2007.

Award nominations

YearAwardResultCategoryRecipient
1995Young Artist AwardsBest Performance by an Actor Under Ten in a TV SeriesJake Smollett
Best Performance by an Actress Under Ten in a TV SeriesJurnee Smollett

Notes and References

  1. October 1994. The '94 TV Season: Who's New and Who's Back. Ebony. Johnson Publishing Company. 49. 12. 27. 0012-9011.
  2. October 1995. The '95 TV Season: Who's Gone? Who's New? Who's Back?. Ebony. Johnson Publishing Company. 50. 12. 94. 0012-9011.