Unreality television: "Friends" has first non-white character

The Guardian (UK) ^ | April 16 | Gary Younge

[1Old Pro]

The liberal vision of the world is multicultural all the time and in all places.

thus, you can't have male golf clubs, white characters without some other race, and more often, a homosexual character.

When I went to college, the blacks had their own dorm by their request. It was many of the black community that didn't really want to integrate, by their own choosing. I think the melting pot is a good idea. But the reality is that many people prefer to associate or hang with similar people, regardless of color.

[Hildy]

Please tell the author: THE FRIENDS don't have any OTHER friends, not white, not black. Ever notice that? Geez. IT'S A TV SHOW, Rachel (the ditz) became an executive at Calvin Klein, although she never seems to go to work. Joey, the MORON, is a big Soap star...Chandler quit his high paying "consulting" job to become an AD AGENCY INTERN (yea, that's gonna happen) and they still live in a PENTHOUSE LOFT. Note to author: This show has NO bearing to real life no matter what race. Yeesh.

[Paul Atreides]

I can't wait to hear from the Spike Lee crowd about this new friends character. Her only two choices of a man are two white guys?

[Paul Atreides]

Also, I'd like to know how they have all that time, all that money to sit around drinking big cups of coffee? Which reminds me, aren't coffee houses passe now?

[GraniteStateConservative]

For 7 episodes, Lauren Tom, an Asian-American, was Ross' girlfriend in the 95-96 season. Aisha will probably be on the show for an equivalent period of time.

[Johnny Gage]

Obviously this dip$hit doesn't watch the next hour of TV after friends.

I would have to say that ER has a completely "racially diverse" cast, covering the entire spectrum.

It's a shame the story lines have gone into the toilet, but that's another rant.

[WillVoteForFood]

And yet this article, while pointing out that TV is generally segregated, fail to point out that the segregation they see comes from directors, producers, and actors who on a daily basis try to ram diversity down our throat. Meanwhile a perceived lack of diversity at a private country club like Augusta is indicative of bigotry that must not be allowed to continue.

[dfwgator]

Looks like Friends is about to "jump the shark."

[Paul Atreides]

One of ER's biggest problems is that it has to make everyone a homosexual. Combine that with its preachiness and it became a real turnoff.

[1Old Pro]

They'll just say "She's not a REAL Black"

[Paul Atreides]

It's funny: with terrorism still in people's minds, a war going on in Iraq, and who knows what on the horizon, I never thought that the fate of civilization rested in the cast makeup of Friends.

[cowboyfred]

The reality is that birds of a feather flock together. Bottom line, you are white because your parents were racists.

[just looking]

I don't know about anyone else, but I have tried to watch the "Ali G" show. I could only handle 3 minutes of it. Pure crap.

[The Hon. Galahad Threepwood]

I also don't recall seeing any prominate minorities on the BBC.

Lenny Henry (right) in Chef!

[ScottinSacto]

If anyone ever thought Friends represented anf form of reality in the first place they are not very high in the IQ dept. First, they would all have to live in just one of their apts to afford the rent, especially being that most of them have minimum wage jobs and are routinely unemployed. I just liked Joey's idiocy...wouldn't matter if he was a different race.

As for the assumption that show don't relate to other racial groups, this guy is stupid. Bernie Mac is actually our favorite show. It is funny and actually gives a positive message in a funny way to kids. Bernie Mac might be the funniest person on mainstream tv. His "Listen here, America" monologues are hilarious....and he can act, which is sorely lacking with most of the other shows. And it seems where most of the other folks that can't act, they try to make up for it in audience numbers by making tired jokes about the other racial groups and the oppression they are constantly under....kinda like Martin Lawrence (who can't do anything without Will Smith).

[The Hon. Galahad Threepwood]

One of ER's biggest problems is that it has to make everyone a homosexual.

Phew! Glad I don't watch!

[SoCal Pubbie]

Recent "white" shows with regular black cast members:

Veronica's Closet, Ally McBeal, The Practice, Six Feet Under, Ed, CSI, ER, all versions of Star Trek, Dragnet (the new version) Boston Public, Judging Amy, Alias, 24, Sienfeld (anybody remember the Johnnie Cochoran-like attorney?), and Third Rock from the Sun. There are many more. Shall I go on?

[Labyrinthos]

Thanbks for reminding me.

[jae471]

Well, the Simpsons has a black doctor, a hispanic (I think) doctor, an Indian, a black nuclear engineer, a Jewish clown, a gay guy...

Malcom has the (token) disabled black kid.

[jae471]

Family Matters? You know, Urkel and the Windslows...

Every white person I know used to watch that show.