The Bernie Mac Show

Over the past few years Bernie and the kids have become close. Perhaps too close. ''We can't play that the kids are getting on his nerves anymore,'' explains exec producer Warren Hutcherson. ''He's clearly their dad by now. But we are going to deal with the kind of people the kids have become.'' That means in season 5 Bernie will rethink the cushy lifestyle he's provided for his trio of tykes. Further complications arise when the father of one of the children shows up out of nowhere. We'll also see everybody out of the house more: the kids at school, Wanda (Kellita Smith) at work, and Bernie on stage performing. Adding to the confusion is the fact that every new season seems to start in a different time slot than the last one did. ''What is it now?'' asks Hutcherson. ''We've had 10 of them and we've only been on for five seasons. Hopefully, we can keep it.''