NAACP says TV still lacks color
When it comes to upcoming comedies on the four major broadcast networks, diversity does not seem to be a laughing matter.
Although new and veteran dramas have large casts heavily populated with minorities, none of the 11 new comedies premiering this fall on ABC, CBS, Fox or NBC features a minority in a starring role.
And though several new comedies feature minorities in ensemble or supporting roles, other sitcoms such as CBS’ “The Class,” NBC’s “Twenty Good Years,” Fox’s “Happy Hour” and “The Winner” have all-white casts. None of the 12 performers spotlighted this week in Fox’s “Fresh Faces for Fall” news release for its new comedies and dramas were minorities.
NAACP President Bruce Gordon said he was particularly concerned about the absence of any black stars in new comedies on the four major networks. With the cancellation of Fox’s “The Bernie Mac Show,” Gordon said the fall season marks the first time in “recent memory” that there is not a comedy on ABC, NBC, CBS or Fox with an African American lead, and asserted that the major networks have failed to honor their commitment to diversity.
“I feel that we are losing important ground,” Gordon said in the group’s analysis of the new season released this week. “The lack of African American leads in sitcoms is unconscionable. This is historically where many African actors, directors, writers and show runners have honed their artistic skills and found meaningful employment.”
Gordon said he planned to meet with network executives in the coming weeks to discuss the issue.
George Lopez, the one remaining minority lead of a major network comedy, who has been critical of the industry for failing to develop comedies around minority performers, was not surprised by the study’s results.
Lopez, star of ABC’s “George Lopez,” which is entering its fifth season, called the TV studios “modern-day plantation owners. They are only concerned with the problems white people have, and they cast all these cute white people. It’s really sad for me to see, and I’ve seen it from the inside since 2001. There used to be these comedies with Bernie and Cedric The Entertainer ... but it seems like they got afraid and reverted back to what’s safe for them.”
The criticism of the four networks revives a charge made by former NAACP President Kweisi Mfume in 1999 when he said that the four major networks were perpetuating a “virtual whitewash in programming.”
None of the 26 new comedies and dramas premiering in that fall TV season featured a minority in a leading role, and Mfume said the networks’ actions represented a violation of the 1934 Federal Communications Act, which provides that the airwaves belong to the public and as such, should strive to reflect the public’s makeup.
The networks at that time denied Mfume’s accusations, but a continued campaign by him and several other ethnic advocacy groups eventually led to an agreement to boost minority representation in front of and behind the camera.
CBS declined to comment Thursday. ABC and NBC did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Mitsy Wilson, senior vice president of diversity development for Fox, blamed turnover caused by new shows, but added, “We remain more committed than ever to diversity in our casting process. In the comedy arena, Fox has had very solid representation in recent years. But given the influx of new series each season, there will be fluctuations. However, we believe the casting in our drama and unscripted series accurately represents our commitment to diverse representation.”
