Co-Creator of TV Hit ‘Moesha’ Fired

Vida Spears, a creator of UPN’s hit comedy “Moesha” and one of the TV industry’s few African American show runners, has been fired from the comedy because of a power struggle with star Brandy and her mother and manager, Sonja Norwood, sources said.

The ousting of Spears, which took place Tuesday, was not wholly unexpected to those working on the series where tensions had been building for weeks over the show’s creative direction. Brandy also wanted to be named as an executive producer, which Spears opposed, they said.

Spears was managing “Moesha” on her own this season after working with partner Sara V. Finney (now overseeing the “Moesha” spinoff, “The Parkers”). She had resisted plans by the Norwoods and UPN to bring more dramatic and gritty urban elements to the comedy; instead she favored hewing to the show’s comedic and more family-oriented roots, said several sources involved with the series.

UPN, Spears, Brandy and Sonja Norwood all declined comment. But a studio source said reports of a clash were “totally untrue. There’s just going to be a change in direction, and we’ll be moving some people up. Vida hopefully will do more development for Big Ticket Television,” which produces “Moesha.”

Executives at Big Ticket could not be reached for comment.

The timing of the firing could serve as a major career boost for Spears. In addition to being a creator and executive producer of “Moesha,” Spears also helped create “The Parkers,” which has proven to be one of UPN’s most popular new comedies. Ralph Farquhar is also overseeing “The Parkers.”

The major networks, which have recently come under fire from the NAACP and others for the lack of cultural diversity, have been working to secure deals with minority actors and writers. Spears’ sudden availability in the current climate might spark a bidding war for her services, according to several industry veterans.

“All of the networks are making talent deals,” said Nina Shaw, an entertainment attorney who represents Spears, “and Vida is an experienced show runner with the creation of two hit network shows to her credit.”

“Moesha” had already come under scrutiny in past weeks. The show’s production shut down for a few weeks after Brandy was hospitalized for dehydration. The star also was a no-show this season on “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno,” and on an NBC Christmas special.

The comedy, now in its fifth season, is about the maturing of a girl raised by an overprotective father. This year, Moesha is starting college, and future episodes will be more “adult-themed” as she moves out of the house.

Reports of behind-the-scenes turmoil caused by the Norwoods have long circulated. But, sources said, tensions escalated when “The Parkers,” which stars Countess Vaughn and Mo’Nique as a mother and daughter who attend the same college, began attracting more viewers than “Moesha.”

The popularity of “The Parkers” was particularly galling to the Norwoods because of a feud between Brandy and Vaughn, who had been featured on “Moesha” for the first four seasons as Kim, her boy-crazy best friend, production sources said. The two actresses were seen fighting constantly, and Brandy finally demanded that Vaughn be taken off the show. Because Kim was one of the comedy’s most popular characters, producers decided to create a new show involving her.

Spears’ replacement is expected to be named today.