Bernie "Mac" McCullough is a fictional character loosely based on comic actor Bernie Mac from the Fox sitcom The Bernie Mac Show which ran from 2001 to 2006.
Character biography
Bernard Jeffrey McCullough was born in Chicago, Illinois and raised by his mother, "Big Mama". He barely knew his father and he had two sisters, Bernita and Stacy, and an older brother, Carl, and a younger brother, Darryl. In the episode "Sweet Home Chicago, Part Two", Bernie discovers that his father was really his "Uncle" Ellister. He decided he wanted to be a comedian. While delivering a package to a friendly customer, he met his future wife, Wanda. He had a rough start but he eventually won her heart and they later married in 1996. When Bernie's career took off they moved to Los Angeles. During that time, Bernie lived a happy life with his beautiful wife throughout a five-year period. In the pilot, he has to take in his sisters three children: Jordan, Bryana and Vanessa. At first his patience is put to the test on a daily basis from Vanessa's attitude and Jordan's insecurities, but as the show progressed, he began to love and support the children as if they were his own. He frequently threatens to beat his children, saying things like, "Bust yo head 'til the white meat shows!" and "Excuse me, America...I gotta go stunt one of them kids growth". Mac would always speak to the audience and address them as "America". The show is somewhat of a spoof of a reality series. In the series finale, he gets an electrical shock and when he recovers he worries what will happen to his "Angels" if something happened to him. He decides to teach Jordan how to be more masculine and Bryana how to be more careful of the things she uses. Vanessa finally finds a college but does not want him to be involved. With Wanda's advice, Vanessa changes her feelings towards her uncle and they reconcile. Bernie discovers that Jordan has been taking advantage of his kindness and in the final scene of the series, Bernie takes back the iPod he bought him. Unlike the real Bernie Mac, Bernie McCullough was married with no children; however, in real life, Bernie Mac was married with one daughter. Bernie Mac did not look after his sister's three children after his daughter left home. "In reality, the story is a blend of two real incidents: Mac briefly took in his gang-banging niece Toya and her daughter Monique; while a friend of his had to raise her junkie sister's children long-term." Mac discussed a fictional custody arrangement with his sister's children in a stand-up routine which was eventually featured in The Original Kings of Comedystand up show and the accompanying Spike Lee movie. This routine contained the germinating idea for Bernie McCullough's custody of his nieces and nephew in The Bernie Mac show. From 2005 until 2009, The character Bernie was one of the official U'z Guys on Chicago's television station The U. The U'z Guys is a lineup of all the male main characters from the station's television programs. Bernie was removed from the lineup when The Bernie Mac Show was removed from the station's schedule.
Relationship with family
Bernie uses tough-love parenting tactics and he can be both strict and comical. He narrates the series, and between scenes he talks to the audience by addressing them as "America." Although he loves all three kids, his favorite is Bryana, and always finds himself going head to head with teenage Vanessa, the eldest sibling, whose poor attitude always gives him a hard time; though it is revealed in the episode Jac and Jacequline that the only reason he's so hard on her is because she reminds him of her mother and he's determined to keep her from suffering a similar fate to her mother.
Reception
Critical response
The character and Bernie Mac's performance have received widespread critical acclaim throughout the series' run. Many viewers have called the character an exceptionally liked lead and critics have associated most of the show's success to Mac. Bernie McCullough was ranked #47 in TV Guide's list of the "50 Greatest TV Dads of All Time".
