New Attitude was a 1990 sitcom that aired on ABC as part of the TGiF block. The sitcom, based on the stage play Beauty Shop by Shelly Garrett, is about two sisters Vicki and Yvonne St. James (played by Sheryl Lee Ralph and Phyllis Yvonne Stickney respectively) who partnered to run a hair salon and their personalities clashing throughout. Rounding out the cast is Lamarr (Morris Day), the salon's top hairdresser, BeBe (Bebe Drake), a gossipy hairdresser, Taylor (Karen Bankhead), the flighty receptionist, and Chilly D (Larenz Tate), a street-smart kid who's working at the salon for restitution.
The series ran for 6 episodes before being canceled, 8 were filmed with two being unaired. Most of the episodes eventually made its way online, aside from a couple.
Tropes
- And Starring: Morris Day (of The Time) as Lamarr.
- Camp Straight: Lamarr, the salon's top hairdresser is very flamboyant and looking to start a music career. He is also straight and talks about dating women and having girlfriends.
- Cut Short: Only aired 6 episodes out of the 8 produced before being canceled.
- Drop-In Landlord: Leon (Earl Billings) is the landlord of the property and is regularly fixing things.
- Dropped After the Pilot: Ja'Net DuBois played one of the salon's regular customers in the pilot and was dropped when the series was picked up.
- Foolish Sibling, Responsible Sibling: Vicki is the responsible one and Yvonne is the foolish one, this comes out with their approaches to running the salon.
- Gossipy Hens: The hairdressers and customers at the salon.
- The Loins Sleep Tonight: Episode 4 "Not Your Average Date"; the sisters tell Lamarr that he will cross the wrong person with his casual sexism and he may get cursed. Sure enough, later on in the episode, he goes on a date and can't get it up.
- Sassy Black Woman: Everyone isn't Lamarr working at the salon. Somewhat of a Justified Trope, as the cast is entirely Black and no one is a Token Black Friend.
- Sibling Yin-Yang: Vicki and Yvonne though they truly love and care for one another.
