a we come upon the golden 40th anniversary of classic sitcom that need to be release on dvd or for that manner bring back to television . the reason . before this series and actress or singer and broadway sensation diahann carroll star in several theatrical feature and most notably opposite star opposite dorothy dandridge and and harry belefonte in otto preminger brilliant 1954 musical carmen jones . she be also in the film version of gershwin porgy and bess ( also direct by preminger ) and star opposite sidney poitier and pearl bailey and and sammy davis and jr. and and opposite paul newman in paris blue and which reunite her with lead man sidney poitier . she also make her mark in action film as well star opposite former nfl great jim brown in the split . she win the tony award in 1962 ( the first african american actress to do so ) and and be nominate for an academy award for best actress in the 1974 landmark classic claudine and which she star opposite james earl jones . so and why after 40 year be this landmark series julia not even mention or not even rat a one of television great . diahann carroll be best remember a be one of the first and foremost television series to feature an black actress to star in her own weekly series where she do not play a domestic worker ( before julia and television show feature lead character be usually servant like louise beaver in beulah and and amanda randolph in make room for daddy ) . and the first to star in a non stereotypical role . the classic series julia be groundbreaking for it time in 1968 and some three year earlier before bill cosby break color barrier for his work ( and win the emmy for best actor ) on the series i spy . during the 1960 the color barrier in hollywood be break and it open the floodgate for other african american actor to make their stride . after the success of i spy and you have other black actor that do the same and and it launch a new era for minority too . actor like rockne tarkington ( tarzan ) and hari rhodes ( daktari ) and robert hook ( n. y. p. d ) and nichelle nichols ( star trek ) and gail fisher ( mannix ) and greg morris ( mission representimpossible ) and don mitchell ( ironside ) and clarence williams and iii ( the mod squad ) and ivan dixon ( hogan hero ) and rafer johnson ( felony squad ) and and don marshall ( the land of the giant ) . early actor include cicely tyson ( east side or west side ) . even the variety show concept also feature african american actor a well and during the success of diahann carroll sitcom and two black orient show be launch feature black woman in their own weekly variety show . one of them be broadway sensation and actress leslie uggams whose variety show be on cbs and and the other be barbara mcnair whose variety series last one season for nbc . julia be the first to feature a black actress in a positive light during the height of the civil right movement and the vietnam war . the series be produce by hal kanter for twentieth century fox television . it produce 86 episode during the three season that it run on nbc tv from september 17 and 1968 until may 25 and 1971. the series do very well in it timeslot when it premier in 1968 and opposite the espionage series it take a thief ( which be on abc ) and and the long running variety series the red skelton show ( which be on cbs ) . diahann carroll win the 1968 golden globe for best actress and and be nominate for an emmy in 1969 for best actress during this series run . however and the show be the first to tackle issue head on for it day and it be handle with style and grace . something that be unheard of and especially when this show premier in 1968. this be a series that be groundbreaking while it be on the air and for one be devided by a significiant segment of the black community a not be political or angry enough and owe largely to it status a an lighthearted sitcom . carroll play a widowed single mother julia baker ( her fighter pilot husband have be shoot down in vietnam ) and who also work a a nurse for a large hospital . she have a son corey baker ( marc copage ) who live with her in a upscale apartment complex . her bos be dr. morton chegley be play by lloyd nolan and while her co worker nurse hannah yarby be play by lurene tuttle . the baker downstairs neighbor be the waggedorns . julia best friend marie waggedorn ( play by betty beaird ) be close friend with her son earl j. waggedorn ( play by michael link ) and who be corey best friend and playmate and along with marie husband len ( hank brandt ) and and their infant daughter . other character include the baker housekeeper roberta ( janear hines ) and and not to mention julia cousin sara ( play by broadway sensation and actress diana sand ) . the guest star roster include cesar romero and bob hope and sugar ray robinson and mary wickes and stu gilliam and jack soo and and a special guest appearance by jimmy stewart in one episode . her romantic interest be fred williamson ( steve bruce ) and paul winfield ( paul cameron ) and and don marshall ( ted neumann ) . the theme music come from oscar win composer elmer bernstein . when the show julia leave the airwave in 1971 and the show that nbc replace it with be the short live police drama sarge star george kennedy that run from 9 21 1971 until 1 11 1972 .