UnamBIValent

***UnamBIValent*** is an American television sitcom created by Brooke Payne. It aired from February 28, 1992 to March 10, 1995 on Magic XL.

The viewership series' pilot episode was estimated at 5.7 million during the day of the premiere. The show continued to air reruns on Magic XL until May 1999.

## Plot

The series starred Michael Bivins as title character Biv McBivian in this show. Biv is a young aspiring rapper who got accepted into Roxbury Art Institute College (a historically black college for talented young adults in various performing-arts fields) after taking his older, much less-talented brother J McBivian's (LL Cool J) place in a showcase after J has an allergic reaction to a African herb product designed to help make people rap better. The plot follows Biv as he finds his place within Roxbury Art Institute while getting into crazy situations and adventures, and meeting friends to help him along the way. Other students at Roxbury Art Institute who make up Biv's group of friends include Taj Wiley (Tamara "Taj" Johnson-George), a musical prodigy who becomes Biv's best friend and sister figure at Roxbury Art Institute after encouraging him to stay at the school and helping him realize his talent; Coco Flynn (Cheryl "Coko" Gamble), a socially awkward ventriloquist who carries around her puppet C.C. Storm, who is seen by Coco (and generally everyone else) as a living person; Blake C. DonaVoe (Ronnie DeVoe), a sarcastic "bad boy" who has a complicated frenemy relationship with Biv and often threatens him; Slick SlamBell (Ricky Bell), a cool and innocent but naive and somewhat dim-witted guy who is also Biv’s best friend; and Leelee Linley (Leanne "Lelee" Lyons), a down-to-earth and beautiful girl who is Ron's girlfriend.

## Cast

### Main Cast

* Michael Bivins as Biv McBivian
* Tamara "Taj" Johnson-George as Taj Wiley
* Cheryl "Coko" Gamble as Coco Flynn
* Ronnie DeVoe as Blake C. DonaVoe
* Ricky Bell as Slick SlamBell
* Leanne "Lelee" Lyons as Leelee Linley
* LL Cool J as J McBivian

### Recurring Cast

* Alice Walker as Professor Marine Jean Mongul
* Monie Love as Ayana G. Hathaway
* Pat Davis as Miss Sunny Turner
* Mary Wilson as Octavia McBivian
* Maurice White as Charles McBivian
* Percy Rodriguez as Grandpa Wiley
* Dennis Brown as Mr. Gordon
* Shazzy as Plum Sunflower
* MC Sha-Rock as C.C. Storm (voice, uncredited)

## Main Characters

### Biv McBivian

**Michael "Biv" McBivian** (Michael Bivins) is a 21-year-old (23 in Season 4) aspiring rapper who enrolls at Roxbury Art Institute, a historically black performing arts college, after unexpectedly filling in for his older brother, J McBivian. Though initially self-conscious and uncertain among Roxbury Art Institute's talented student body, he soon embraces his own talents and new life. He is generally respectful to others, except Blake sometimes.

### Taj Wiley

**Tamara "Taj" Wiley** (Tamara "Taj" Johnson-George) is one of Biv's best friends and biggest supporters at Roxbury Art Institute. She is a gifted musician and is also a talented songwriter/poet. She can play any instrument, but she mostly beatboxes. She has written almost every song Biv has performed so far in the series. She first met Biv when he was assigned to work with J on a performance for the college's annual talent showcase. They became best friends right away and have more of a brother-and-sister relationship. Her grandfather is afraid of everything and everyone. She is the girls everybody likes and is always the shoulder to lean on.

### Coco Flynn

**Cheryl "Coco" Flynn** (Cheryl "Coko" Gamble) is a shy and awkward student who is more comfortable speaking through her ventriloquist's dummy, C.C. Her grandfather, Pops, implies that Coco has had C.C. for a long time; he tells his wife that Coco "still" takes the puppet to college. She tends to take the slightest romantic advance from a guy, even while acting, very seriously. She can also sing and play the flute.

### Blake C. DonaVoe

**Ronald "Blake" C. DonaVoe** (Ronnie DeVoe) is who used to consider himself a "not good friend" of Biv's. Although he has a caustic personality, Blake is hard working, talented, popular and also a dancer and an occasional rapper. He often wears black-and-white street clothing and can be somewhat of a pessimist, implying in several episodes that he likes negativity. He was Leelee's boyfriend for at least three years. Blake is seen to get jealous easily. Although he and Biv were serious rivals at the beginning of the series and Blake is quick to point out that he doesn't consider Biv a friend, Blake occasionally asked Biv for help and they seem like friends later in the series.

### Slick SlamBell

**Ricardo "Slick" SlamBell** (Ricky Bell) is a sensitive drama king. He tends to overreact and is extremely emotional, but he is pretty good friends with the gang. He is also Biv’s other best friend. His hair color is naturally black but dyes his hair to a vanilla blonde color. He is seen as bizarre and random. A running gag for Slick is that he often gets offended by people even when they are not trying to be nasty, and he reacts by saying, "What you trying to say?!" His favorite food is soul food like chicken, greens, macaroni & cheese, and cornbread. In the episode The J-Day Song, Slick admits that he has paranoia issues. He is a good actor and singer at Roxbury Art Institute. He often talks about his weird sister and the strange situations she gets into.

### Leelee Linley

**Leanne "Leelee" Linley** (Leanne "Lelee" Lyons) is a beautiful and respected actress. She is kind and supportive to everyone at Roxbury Art Institute. She lives in a shed in her parent's yard in order to avoid listening to her parent's rules. She always wants to get a Chihuahua as a pet. Her boyfriend is Blake.

### J McBivian

**James "J" McBivian** (LL Cool J) is Biv's 22-year-old (24 in Season 4) brother. Though he has good intentions and truly cares for Biv, J is materialistic, egotistical, and truly believes being a superstar is his fate. Unfortunately, while he behaves like a arrogant person, his performance level is of a significantly lower grade. Not a lot of people really like him because of his arrogant ways. Nonetheless, he has managed to somehow get into Roxbury Art Institute. J can sometimes be spoiled and will stop at nothing until he gets what he wants. He is physically strong, contrary to his image. He claims nothing scares her due to the fact that he's seen her grandfather naked. It is unknown exactly *what* J's talent is, but it may be acting or boxing.