Race and Primetime TV

I agree but this isn't an ingenious thing these so called "white" shows are doing. The character Archie Bunker in "All in the Family" broke all sort of taboos over three decades ago and it was funny and smart.

Shows like 30 Rock, the Office among others should think about those two important criteria: smart and funny. They are not mutually exclusive. Shows like "In Living Color" did stereotype skits all the time and not always with just black characters.

Blacks don't have a problem with trying to push the envelope on stereotypes, just do it an intelligent and laugh out loud way or you'll be faced with silence and blank stares. Or worse, you get Al Sharpton or Jesse Jackson to call another protest march against your show.

Sent by Moji | 7:28 PM | 11-14-2007

I was enjoying Monday night tv Channel 12 (44 UPN) Everybody Hates Chris, All of Us, Girlfriends, The Game.(last season) Somebody decided to changes things, around too much blackness I guess. Now The Game is changing. The main character is a "good white woman" with a black husband who is lying to her and using steroids. All the black females can't hold there men and are stereotypical head shaking on hips attitude. I object strongly. Why can't a strong black woman or women characters have a good loving strong black man and family be depicted some where in the script. I enjoy the soap "operarish" story line of catching your man wrong but can a sistah get some love. The black men are Mama's boys, cheaters, playas, steroid users, the black women are all the above mentioned. The now main character has all the love and understanding needed to keep her man and family what's up?

Sent by Stephanie Murray | 12:29 AM | 11-15-2007

The things that really interests me about this trend is that the "comedy" and "jokes" always come from a place of whites being uncomfortable with blacks. It always comes from this place of uneasy tension where the whites don't know how to relate, talk or act around blacks and this is where the "humor" ensues. It is as if we are watching an awkward first date and laughing at how the two people are dealing with each other.

It really disturbs me that in 2007 this is the basis of our comedy, uneasy tensions,fear and discomfort between the races. This would make since if it were 1967 or even 77 but that it is still an issue today is terrifying. To me this really points out the great divide that still exists between whites and blacks because if the writers are writing these situations then you know it is something that is relevant to them. I find this depressing, frustrating and actually scary.

Sent by Dav | 12:48 AM | 11-15-2007