Lena Waithe Says Goodbye to ‘The Chi’
The New York Times • • entertainment
Key Points:
- "The Chi," created by Lena Waithe and debuting in 2018, aimed to portray rarely seen family dynamics in Chicago, focusing beyond crime to the broader community impacted by violence.
- The series gained critical acclaim for its unique storytelling, with critics noting it was more about the lives affected by crime than the crime itself.
- Over eight seasons, "The Chi" became Showtime's longest-running Black drama and saw its viewership grow, a rarity in television.
- The show faced controversy when lead actor Jason Mitchell was fired after season two due to sexual misconduct allegations from co-stars and the showrunner, which he has denied.
- "The Chi" concluded its successful run on Paramount+ and Showtime on Friday, marking the end of a significant chapter in Black television drama.
