Comedy Show Tackles Risky Subject Matter

On the same early December day that Baltimore Mayor Martin O'Malley declared a "state of emergency" in the battle against HIV/AIDS, a group of Hollywood writers and producers finalized a script for "One on One," a prime-time television show set in Baltimore, that will treat the HIV/AIDS crisis as an integral fact of life. Last fall, in only its second season, the UPN sitcom became the most popular series on television among African-American viewers. The AIDS episode, titled "The Test" and set to air Feb. 10, is risky business for a show that became No. 1 by "keeping it light," in the words of Flex Alexander, "One on One's" executive producer and star.

"I don't think you can be an African-American show and not take on the issue of AIDS, especially an African-American show set in a city like Baltimore," said Eunetta T. Boone, "One on One's" co-executive producer and creator, citing statistics that show Baltimore with one of the heaviest national caseloads of people with HIV/AIDS (12,000 people in 2000, with African Americans accounting for 85 percent of that figure).

"The Test" centers on Alexander's character, Mark "Flex" Washington, and his latest romantic interest, Natalie. As he attempts to make love to her for the first time, she stops him cold by asking him when he had his last HIV test. Flex admits never taking one, and Natalie demands he get tested before having sex.

In October, Viacom, which owns UPN, joined the Kaiser Family Foundation in planning a worldwide HIV/AIDS awareness campaign in 2003. "The Test" is one of the early products of that initiative. Among the other Viacom-owned or distributed series scheduled to deal with HIV/AIDS in coming months are "Girlfriends," "Half and Half," "Becker," "Frasier," "The District" and "Queer as Folk."

"There's a lack of literature, a lack of support groups, lack of information, education and medicine especially in the African-American community. We can help a little with the information," Alexander said.

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