TV just got a lot 'whiter,' says a canceled George Lopez

L.A. Times ^ | 05/14/2007 | kik5150

[kik5150]

George Lopez, the first Latino to lead a television series successfully, isn't laughing. "TV just became really, really white again," he said. Georgelopeztp ABC, he said, has "unceremoniously" canceled his self-titled comedy, which over the years chronicled his personal life from his sad childhood growing up with an abusive grandmother, to his alcoholism and kidney transplant. "The George Lopez Show" will live on in syndication, but that's not making Lopez feel better about not getting the chance to tell one final season of stories. Lopez said Steve McPherson, ABC president of prime-time entertainment, called him over the weekend to explain that "financially" it wasn't working out, that the network would lose money if it picked up the show again. That explanation was painful to hear, Lopez said, considering the way the network has shuffled his show over the years -- four different time slots in five years -- and putting it up against "American Idol" time and time again. It all contributed to the show's low ratings, a point not lost on Lopez who noted that this season his show out-performed two freshman comedies that were renewed: "Notes from the Underbelly" and "Knights of Prosperity." "I’ll take the good and the bad," Lopez said. "I took the five years of good and I did a lot with the good. My popularity, I was involved in charities, I overcame my illness, all on TV. I shared all of that with America—every secret I had. Every personal feeling. Every emotion. Everything was open to the show. And what happens?" Lopez said he attributed the cancellation in part to the fact that the show is produced by Warner Bros. Television, and not ABC Television Studios. Using some colorful language that cannot be printed in a family newspaper,

[Spyder]

Well darn... guess I’ll just have to watch Mencia for my Latino fix. (he’s already the funniest “brown person” on TV).

[Howdy there]

I am glad he was canceled. The last time I watched the show he gave a big shout out to La Raza.

That would be like Michael Richards giving a shout out to the KKK.

[VeniVidiVici]

Kinda funny since all of the Spanish language channels I flip past (and there seem to be more of them everyday) are as “white” as can be.

Bite me, George.

[mad_as_he$$]

I grew tired of Hispanic “Everybody Loves Raymond” years ago.

[exit82]

What a classless, base comment to make. “TV just got whiter”.

I’m white and I’m insulted by that racist comment.

[RetiredArmy]

No bigotry here I guess, since only whites can be bigots.

[Izzy Dunne]

ABC, he said, has "unceremoniously" canceled his self-titled comedy

I take it he would have wanted a "ceremony" ????

[Sundog]

Well, it beats being colored and off color.

[frankenMonkey]

"... the first Latino to lead a television series..."

what about "Chico and the Man"???

[rwfromkansas]

I loved George Lopez for the first season or so.

Then, the oldeset daughter.....partly the reason I watched the show as a teen since she was smoking hot.....left.

I watched the show a bit after that, but I could swear somebody else left as well, and it just was not funny anymore.

[ThomasThomas]

I shared all of that with America—every secret I had. Every personal feeling. Every emotion. Everything was open to the show. And what happens?

You shoulda held something back for the next season, always leave them wanting more.

[af_vet_1981]

"TV just became really, really white again," he said. George

• Talent is obvious in black and white while color is no remedy for lack of talent.

[kik5150]

[USMCWife6869]

I used to think George Lopez was sooo funny (Welcome to Yack in the Bock...can I hhhhhelp you), but I recently saw his new HBO special, and it simply wasn’t funny. He has gotten very angry, and where he used to make fun of everyone, this show mainly bashed Bush and pushed illegal immigration. It just wasn’t as funny as his older stuff was. And it seems like he can’t handle the fact that I’m obviously not the only one who thinks so. Come on now, shows get cancelled all the time, but since it’s his, it’s discrimination? Please. Spare me the whine-fest.

[operation clinton cleanup]

I tried to watch the show more than once. It was NOT funny. George should be thankful the show lasted more than one season.

[Lijahsbubbe]

the first Latino to lead a television series successfully,

What about Freddie Prinz?

As for Lopez, I've never watched the show myself, but he is very unappealing to me. He looks angry.

[USMCWife6869]

Desi Arnaz?

[glorgau]

“The Man” strikes again.

[buffyt]

I always thought there were whites and blacks and that everyone was in one of those groups. Growing up in Okla we put asians and latinos into the white group. And with civil rights I think of everyone as equal, blacks and whites, all one race THE HUMAN RACE.