by Dan Perkins,
based
on a NAACP Press Release dated June 12, 2006.
The
NAACP Hollywood Bureau issued a release
calling attention to the fact that none of the
sitcoms scheduled for broadcasted by the four
major networks in the fall of 2006 will feature
African American actors in starring roles.
This development, however, is not universal
across all programming. The bureau also
found that African American actors will have
significant roles in several of the fall's drama
series.
But the NAACP is
unwilling to allow the networks to cut Blacks
out of leading roles in an entire genre without
holding them accountable. In letters to
network executives, NAACP President Bruce S.
Gordon expressed concern that progress in
diversifying the television industry appears to
be slipping in some areas. "Although
employment numbers for actors, directors and
writers on staff for the 2006 fall season will
not be available until November/December, the
announced fall lineup gives cause for concern,"
said Gordon.
While
acknowledging that there is some "good news,"
Gordon said, "I feel that we are losing
important ground. The lack of African American
leads in sitcoms is unconscionable. This is
historically where many African American actors,
directors, writers and show runners have honed
their artistic skills and found meaningful
employment."
Gordon stated that
the NAACP will continue its leadership role in
monitoring the media and entertainment industry.
He is currently scheduling network meetings to
discuss the current situation.
|
"The lack of African American leads in
sitcoms is unconscionable. This is
historically where many African American
actors, directors, writers and show
runners have honed their artistic skills
and found meaningful employment."
Bruce S. Gordon, NAACP President
|
According to the
NAACP, cancellation of THE BERNIE MAC SHOW
by FOX means that for the first time in
recent history, no African American lead
character will appear in a comedy on any of the
four major broadcast networks, FOX, CBS,
NBC and ABC. "When it comes to
returning sitcoms and the announced new
comedies, African Americans are missing in
action," said Vic Bulluck, Executive
Director of the NAACP Hollywood Bureau, in a
NAACP press release.
Bolstered by the
success of series like ER, CSI, LAW AND
ORDER, GREY'S ANATOMY and LOST, every
network can point to dramatic shows on their
schedule that have diversity among the leading
roles. When it comes to one-hour dramas, the
emphasis is principally on multiethnic ensemble
casts. But the picture dims dramatically when
scanning for African Americans. The CBS
hit series, THE UNIT, starring Dennis
Haysbert, is currently the only one-hour
drama on a major network this fall that has an
African American male lead.
Consolidation
Dims a Diversity Bright Spot
The NAACP's report
found several disturbing outcomes resulting from
the merger of CBS Corp.'s UPN and
Warner Brothers' WB into a new network
called the CW, which starts this fall.
UPN was the only
network to actively program for an African
American audience. Five of the eight
African-American comedies that aired on UPN did
not make the CW fall line up. The harsh reality
is that with each cancelled show, upwards of two
hundred people might lose their jobs.
Gordon said, "If
these writers, actors, directors and
craftspeople were considered equally for other
industry jobs and opportunities, then we would
have no issue, but regrettably, this is not the
way it works in Hollywood."
One of the most
powerful positions in television is the show
runner, which is an industry name for a senior
television producer who hires and supervises a
show's staff, including its writers and
technical crews. Show runners perform a critical
function on every television series.
In 1999, when the
NAACP first conducted its diversity initiative
in Hollywood, there were only seven African
American show runners. In 2005, there were
13; however, the NAACP projects that there will
be only eight African American show runners this
fall following the UPN and WB merger.
While the NAACP
believes it is unfair to place the burden of
diversity in television on just one network, it
is unwilling to ignore the negative fallout from
the merger. In its release, the NAACP did
acknowledge the fact that this fall the CW will
offer a Sunday night block of African American
comedies.
The low numbers of
African Americans found by the NAACP are
consistent with those published in the 2006
Diversity Report by the Directors Guild of
America (DGA). After examining all episodes
of last season's top 40 network dramas and
sitcoms, the Guild found that 83 percent of the
shows were directed by white men, 10 percent by
white women, 5 percent by minority men and 2
percent by minority women.
Demanding
Accountability
Show runners are
not only key players in the television
production process, they happen to be members of
the Writers Guild of America (WGA) who
are empowered by network executives to hire
television crews. The NAACP holds both the WGA
and network executives responsible for
television's declining levels of diversity.
The NAACP charges that both groups have the
power and influence to prevent eroding numbers
of African Americans.
Gordon said: "We
urge the networks along with the Writers Guild
of America and all network show runners to look
closely at those who are being hired on all
scripted shows before the launch of the new fall
season. We ask them to pay close attention to
those working on their writing staffs as well
as, the actors, directors, craftspeople and
technicians."
The End
