The Hard Truth About The Lack Of Diversity On TV - Hollywood is Just Not Interested In Producing Quality TV Shows With Minority Characters
I am sick and tired of the NAACP and media acting like the lack of diversity on television is some kind of shocking story. The sad truth is Hollywood keep developing that same old ghetto-ass crap black shows with the same sub-par black actors. Here's an idea - Stop recycling the same old tired stereotypical black characterizations and the same old tired, boring, stereotypical story lines - and do something really original.
I don't want to see another black reality show. I don't want to see anything with LL Cool J or Cedric the Entertainer in it. One House of Payne is enough. How about hiring Wood Harris for a pilot instead of non-actor Michael Strahan! Girlfriends was a major hit for many years, why does not one actress from that series have a development deal or another series at this point?
What white TV executive got suckered into believing that D.L. Hughley was going to be a hit as a late evening news host? How many books and screenplays by black writers never even get a first look? What in the hell ever happened to the careers of the dudes in New York Undercover? And wouldn't it be nice to see Regina Taylor or Kimberly Elise on television each week?
Authors Paula Woods, Grace Edwards, Valerie Wilson Wesley, Eleanor Taylor Bland, Pamela Thomas-Graham, and my boy Chris "Nat Turner's Revenge" Chambers, all have black female detective characters that would be awesome weekly TV series. Wouldn't be wonderful to see Klea Scott, Jurnee Smollett, or Aunjanue Ellis playing a intelligent, resourceful, attractive female detective every week?
Wouldn't it be cool to see a sci-fi genre show with black folks? And I don't mean Homeboys in Outer Space. How about a black secret agent show like MI-5? What about a good old-fashioned black-themed soap opera like Dallas or Dynasty? Why is there NEVER a show with black characters like Nip/Tuck, Rescue Me or Brotherhood? Hell, I want to see a show telling what in the hell black folks were doing in the same era as the hit show, Madmen is set.
There are some many completely original projects Hollywood could develop on television for minority actors, particularly African Americans. They just aren't interested in doing that and that's a fact. It's time to stop acting like it's anything different.
