The comedy ran from 2000 to 2008 and received only one Emmy Awards nod for a technical achievement.

Tracee Ellis Ross says Jay Leno, David Letterman didn’t support Girlfriends with guest spots: ‘Is it just racism?’

The comedy ran from 2000 to 2008 and received only one Emmy Awards nod for a technical achievement.

By Marina Watts

Marina Watts

Marina Watts is a news writer for with seven years experience covering entertainment, pop culture and celebrity news. Her previous work appears in PEOPLE, Bustle and Newsweek.

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August 17, 2026 11:24 p.m. ET

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Tracee Ellis Ross; Jay Leno; David Letterman. Credit:

John Nacion/Getty; Kayla DeLaura/Getty; Arturo Holmes/Getty

- Tracee Ellis Ross asked whether racism might have been a reason why she was never invited to a late-night show during her time on the sitcom *Girlfriends*.

- The comedy ran from 2000 to 2008 and put the actress on the map.

- Ross was eventually nominated for six Emmy Awards for *black-ish*.

Tracee Ellis Ross just asked a surprising question regarding her breakout television show.

The *black-ish** *star claimed that her sitcom *Girlfriends** *failed to land guest spots on late-night television during its heyday. The show aired from 2000 to 2008 and was nominated for only one Emmy throughout its tenure: Outstanding Cinematography for a Multi-Camera Series.

“I remember watching *Girlfriends* going, ‘The comedy, the situation, the elements of the story, what is being defined here.’ That, to me, was revolutionary, but it was never credited with the revolution, which was weird to me,” Trevor Noah told Ross on his eponymous podcast *What Now? With Trevor Noah*.

Tracee Ellis Ross at Chateau Marmont in Los Angeles in May 2016.

Gilbert Flores/WWD via Getty

Ross said that the show had been given that credit “in hindsight,” but noted the lack of recognition *Girlfriends *received while on air.

“But we certainly didn’t have it back then. No talk shows, no *Tonight Show*, no David Letterman, no Emmys. Had never been to the Emmys,” she said.

When Noah asked if Ross had ever been invited to a late-night show, she had “a story” to answer that question.

Tracee Ellis Ross reflects on saying a 'beautiful' goodbye to 'black-ish'

Tracee Ellis Ross explains how 'Girlfriends' reunion came together on 'black-ish'

“It was Jay Leno. And I had *Girlfriends*, and the comment was, ‘We love Tracee. Call us when she gets something,’” she said. “I remember thinking, ‘Get what? What else do you have to get?’ I don’t know. And it just was… ‘We love her,’ but it was not considered.”

“And the other thing was I remember this. I remember specifically the show *Monk*,” she said, referring to Tony Shaloub’s detective comedy. “That show had a quarter of our viewership. And I remember seeing him on the show, and I was so confused. And I was like, ‘I don’t understand. Is it viewership?’ And the only thing you can boil it down to, you’re like, ‘Is it just racism?’ Like ... how do you categorize it?”

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* *reached out to reps for David Letterman and Jay Leno for comment.

Though Ross never went to the Emmys for *Girlfriends*, she did get nominated for six Emmys for *black-ish*: five times for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series and once for Outstanding Comedy Series.

The actress reunited with former castmates Golden Brooks, Persia White, and Jill Marie Jones for an episode of *black-ish* in 2019.

‘Girlfriends’ stars Persia White, Tracee Ellis Ross, Reggie Hayes, Jill Marie Jones, and Golden Brooks.

Darien Davis/CBS Photo Archive/Getty

“The timing was perfect to be able to bring *Girlfriends* to a whole new audience. We haven’t all been together on camera since 2006,” Ross told * *at the time about the reunion. “*Girlfriends* ran for eight years and was important to so many people. Being able to merge the worlds of *black-ish* and *Girlfriends* was surreal for me — and so much fun.”

Added Ross, “These are women I grew up with and love deeply, and it was easy to tap back into the magic of our chemistry and how much we love each other. It was giggles on top of giggles on top of giggles.”

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