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TV networks make unequal progress toward on-screen diversity
Associated Press ^ | Jan 20, 2015 10:08 AM EST | David Bauder, Lynn Elber and Frazier Moore

Posted on 01/20/2015 10:41:08 AM PST by Olog-hai

Kenya Barris, creator of ABC’s “black-ish,” was motivated to write the comedy about an African-American family’s efforts to honor its heritage in part by the unreality of what he grew up watching on television.

“I saw ‘Friends’ and ‘Seinfeld’ and thought, ‘What part of New York is this?’” recalled Barris, who is black. “It’s not about being diverse. It’s about being true to the world.”

His show comes 15 years after civil rights groups, galvanized by a lineup of new network series almost entirely devoid of minority characters, sought and ultimately won agreements from major broadcasters to put programs on the air that better reflect the nation’s population.

An AP analysis of regular cast members on prime-time comedies and dramas on ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox found progress since then in hiring black actors, but slighted other minorities. Casts at three of the four networks are still whiter than the nation as a whole.

(Excerpt) Read more at hosted.ap.org ...


TOPICS: Society; TV/Movies
KEYWORDS: diversity; kenyabarris; racebaiting; racecard; vastwasteland
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To: Olog-hai

“...found progress since then in hiring black actors, but slighted other minorities.”

Duh. Squeaky wheel gets the grease. When Asians start marching outside of the networks and making credible threats of property destruction, etc, then they will get more parts.


21 posted on 01/20/2015 11:41:16 AM PST by Boogieman
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To: a fool in paradise

Hang on, the CW had a show called “Selfie” that didn’t last long. It was starred by the Scottish girl (she played Amelia Pond) from Dr Who and a Korean guy.


22 posted on 01/20/2015 11:41:42 AM PST by GeronL
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To: Boogieman

homosexuals are vastly overrepresented on TV


23 posted on 01/20/2015 11:42:36 AM PST by GeronL
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To: Olog-hai

There’s less reason for me to watch television every day, even sporting events.


24 posted on 01/20/2015 11:57:04 AM PST by oblomov
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To: Olog-hai

What kind of ‘diversity’ does BET have??


25 posted on 01/20/2015 11:59:19 AM PST by i_robot73 (Give me one example and I will show where gov't is the root of the problem(s).)
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To: GeronL

So over represented that they have to hire straight people to play the parts. There are not enough gays to go around, the new rule seems to be that at least 1/6 of the people in any program are gay or at least 1/6 of all episodes are about gay people being misunderstood and treated badly.


26 posted on 01/20/2015 12:00:05 PM PST by cotton (one way, one truth, the life.)
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To: GeronL

They should be in every cast, along with 12% black staffing.


27 posted on 01/20/2015 12:04:04 PM PST by a fool in paradise (Shickl-Gruber's Big Lie gave us Hussein's Un-Affordable Care act (HUAC).)
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To: cripplecreek

Yeah, Bernie was a class act, I sure miss him. He had that “downhome wisdom” that a lot of people are lacking nowadays.

Now we’re just stuck with his less talented hanger-on, Cedric the Unentertaining.


28 posted on 01/20/2015 12:12:50 PM PST by Boogieman
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To: Olog-hai
“It’s not about being diverse. It’s about being true to the world.”

No, actually it's the opposite. If people want the real world they'd go outside and experience it. People watch fictional programs/movies because they are that, fictional.

Forcing in the constructs of social engineering will make for a poor show that will not be watched.

29 posted on 01/20/2015 12:14:51 PM PST by NativeSon ( Grease the floor with Crisco when I dance the Disco)
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To: GeronL

Yup, but the beastophiles and pedos are still getting short shrift. Something must be done! /sarc


30 posted on 01/20/2015 12:29:38 PM PST by Boogieman
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To: cripplecreek

The Bernie Mac show is still great to watch. “Black-ish” is one of my current favorites on today. Like the episode in which the dad makes the kids all get jobs and when he gives them their paychecks the son puts on a very contrived “black” accent, repeatedly slides his hand over the check like it’s a stack of bills and says, “I’m about to make it rain up in the comic book sto’!” My wife and I really enjoy it.


31 posted on 01/20/2015 1:24:22 PM PST by Squeako (The radicals are the wolves. The moderates are the wolves in sheep's clothing.)
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