Jamie King and Franchesca “Fancy” Monroe: A Classic Black Love Pairing.
When we talk about iconic sitcoms featuring a Black cast, especially from the 90’s, The Jamie Foxx Show, which ran from 1996–2001 on The WB is sometimes overlooked. The 1990’s produced many iconic sitcoms featuring Black casts, including the top 3 most popular and royally hailed as the kings and queen of Black sitcoms: Martin, Living Single and The Fresh Prince of Bel Air. But The Jamie Foxx Show was just as hilariously funny, perfectly cast and just plain classic as either of the top 3. One of the most important and enduring aspects of the show was the love story between Jamie Foxx’s Jamie King and Garcelle Beauvis’ Franchesca “Fancy” Monroe. Jamie and Fancy’s five year will they\won’t they love story is one of the classic black love stories of its time. The chemistry between the two actors was actually and genuinely real too. Many might not know this, but Garcelle has gone on record to state that she and Jamie actually considered dating but ultimately Garcelle decided they should stay just friends and co-workers for the sake of work just in case it didn’t work out between them.
Jamie and Fancy were a classic opposites attract situation: He was a little bit country: A born and raised Texas native whose also a goofball with a zest for life and a quest for success in his artistic endeavors like acting and singing. Fancy was a little bit rock and roll: A girl with an upperclass upbringing, level headed and a tad materialistic but also a no nonsense tough girl. He was the yin to her yang and vice versa. But the two also had enough in common that bonded them and made them perfect for one another: For starters both shared a similar sense of humor, especially with the classic verbal jabs the two would throw at each other once in a while. They also each shared a deep jealousy whenever the other was dating someone and would be just as petty and snarky as they could be. And lastly, the passion between them was so strong that we could feel the heat burning us up through the screen. Sexuality and physical intimacy was something both thoroughly enjoyed without shame.
Jamie and Fancy definitely had trials and tribulations before they came together. The biggest being in the form of Dr. Silas Whitmore. The super successful and charming big time surgeon who Jamie constantly fought against for Fancy’s affections. Although Silas was far more sophisticated, wealthy and more of Fancy’s “type” on paper than Jamie, at the end of the day Silas was never really there when Fancy needed him to be, while when it came down to it, it was Jamie who was always there for her and that type of loyalty, friendship and true love is what won Fancy’s heart in the end, causing her to end her and Silas’ engagement and finally get together with the man she loves.
After they got together they went through a bit more ups and downs but it all lead to the two walking down the aisle in the historic 100th and final episode of The Jamie Foxx Show. It had been five years of Jamie chasing Fancy, Fancy chasing Jamie and the two getting together, breaking up and then getting back together, but it was all worth it to end up with the two pledging their eternal love and devotion to one another, with Uncle Phil himself presiding over it. Don’t get anymore official than that.
At the end of the day, when it comes to Black love on tv, we don’t have as many great choices today as we did yesterday, but in a magical time we had plenty of classic tv couples that repped Black love to its full potential: Martin & Gina, Tommy & Pam, Dwayne & Whitley, Steve & Regina, Synclaire & Overton, Max & Kyle, Reuben & Thelma etc. And Jamie and Fancy sit comfortably in that iconic group because… they just loved each other. Through ups and downs, good and bad etc. They just loved each other, and that’s just what matters most in any great tv romance.