Harlem (TV series)

Did You Know?

• The series follows four female friends who met while attending New York University and are now in their thirties, living in Harlem.
• The show was based in part on creator Tracy Oliver's own experiences.

Production

The half-hour comedy, initially announced without a title on July 8, 2019, faced production delays because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Creator Tracy Oliver conceived the show after noticing a lack of television stories centered on Black female friendships, aiming to depict people in their thirties who were still figuring out their lives, drawing partly from her own experiences. The executive producers are Oliver, Amy Poehler, Kim Lessing, Dave Becky, Pharrell Williams, and Mimi Valdés. On January 14, 2020, Meagan Good, Grace Byers, Jerrie Johnson, and Shoniqua Shandai were cast, with Malcolm D. Lee directing the first two episodes. Whoopi Goldberg and Jasmine Guy were added in recurring roles on February 17, 2021, followed by Andrea Martin, Robert Ri'chard, Juani Feliz, Kate Rockwell, and Sullivan Jones on March 4, 2021. Amazon picked up a second season on February 17, 2022, and a third season on December 6, 2023, which debuted on January 23, 2025.

Reception

Critics were largely charmed by Harlem. The first season earned a 96% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes from 26 reviews, averaging 6.9/10. The site’s consensus praised the show as a delightful, wise look at friendship, boosted by a strong cast and sharp dialogue. On Metacritic, the season scored 77 out of 100 from 12 reviews, signaling generally favorable reception.