TV Networks Are Out of ‘Toon With the Times

It’s official! It’s 1999, and there are more network prime-time cartoon characters than there are Latino and Asian American characters combined (“The Tube Turns Into ‘Toon Town,” by Greg Braxton, March 27). Cartoon Americans are less than 1% of the U.S. population, whereas Latinos and Asians are 15%.

I suppose the Cartoon American community has been more diligent

in lobbying the networks regarding the significant benefits of targeting and embracing the Cartoon American consumer dollar. The reality, of course, is that Asians and Latinos spend billions of dollars a year on network-ad-

vertised products and services, while the Cartoon American community spends less than $100.

Don’t get me wrong--I have nothing against Cartoon Americans. Some of my best friends are animated.

But it’s disturbing that we continue to see shows based in L.A. and New York that don’t feature Asians and Latinos. There are more Latinos and Asians in Southern California than there are all other groups combined. I was born and raised in L.A. and spend a lot of time in Manhattan. I’ve never heard a Manhattanite say, “Gosh, New York would be a lot more interesting if it wasn’t for all of the different cultures.” We work together, we play together, it’s nice.

CBS is the only network whose prime-time lineup (“Nash Bridges,” “Martial Law,” “Cosby”) realistically reflects the ethnic diversity in the metropolitan areas where the shows take place. Not surprisingly, CBS has the highest level of viewership. Fox’s “Ally McBeal” and PBS’ “The Magic School Bus” and “Barney & Friends” are other textbook examples of how easy coexistence can be.

Every network wants to gain audience share, and they’ve tried every type of programming short of utilizing the talents and images of 15% of American citizens. That’s like saying, “You’ve tried everything to lose weight short of diet and exercise.” You can never gain audience share by negating audience share.

Sandy Grushow, president of 20th Century Fox Television, was quoted as saying that the youthful audience doesn’t really distinguish between animation and live-action programming. “If it’s new and funny, they’ll watch. If not, they’ll find something else.” Yes, but that “something else” may involve turning off the TV and turning on the stereo--which means they won’t be catching the networks’ commercials. Young people really like to see themselves on TV.

If there is room to accommodate a dozen shows with a Cartoon American cast in prime time, one prime-time show out of well over 100 with a Latino cast and an Asian American cast isn’t unreasonable. This isn’t political correctness. If it were, the suggestion would be 15 shows. No, the suggestion is just one. I repeat, just one. It would benefit everyone and would increase audience share, especially in the coveted 8-to-80 demographic.

Look, we all know it’s wrong to stereotype, but let’s face it: You can’t always trust those Cartoon Americans. Just remember two words: Joe Camel.

Gene Pompa is a stand-up comedian who works regularly at the Improv in Los Angeles and the Comic Strip in New York. He lives in Playa del Rey.