Hasn't Jesse L. Martin been the star of "Law & Order" for several years now? Weren't Yaphet Kotto and Andre Braugher the stars of "Homicide" for several years? Weren't -- well, it's a very long list -- many black actors the stars of "The Wire" for many years? Isn't Haysbert now the star of "The Unit"? Maybe these don't qualify as a "hit" drama, but they deserve props, and don't often get them.

Maybe it's because these shows didn't advertise themselves as "black" dramas, but just were great dramas with black leads.

BTW, one legitimate criticism of "City of Angels" was that, while it had a largely black cast, it was conspicuously short of Latinos, which is odd for an LA-based show (and for a hospital show, there was nary a Filipino nurse to be seen, which is very strange).

And hiring a movie star in the league of a Laurence Fishburne is a coup -- not for Fishburne, but for CBS -- regardless of his ethnicity. I'm beyond excited about it, not because Fishburne is black, but because it's Laurence freakin' Fishburne.

Sent by Cait | 5:35 PM ET | 08-19-2008

YOU MUST HAVE MISSED THE WIRE AND HOMICIDE LIKE ALOT OF OTHER PEOPLE THESE WERE SOME OF THE VERY BEST DRAMAS OF ALL TIME

Sent by MICHAEL HALL | 2:29 AM ET | 08-20-2008

First of all CSI is not, strictly speaking nor as Ridley defines it, a "drama." "Brothers & Sisters" is a drama. "Mad Men" is a drama. "Deadwood" was a drama. CSI is a formulaic police procedural.

Second, Mr.Ridley doesn't mention that historically there have been other Blacks headling dramas, but sticks to the 80's and 90's and even then misses his own point:

Using his OWN flawed definition during the period he covers, he leaves out Fox's "New York Undercover" in which was a hit for that network during its early run and starred Malik Yoba as the "titular lead" and vast majority of the cast was people of color.

Ridley also leaves out "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine," starring Avery Brooks, Cirroc Lofton, Alexander Siddig, and later, Michael Dorn and Penny Jerald Johnson. Not only did the show run for SEVEN seasons, it was also the first time a black actor had been handed the lead in a 3 billion dollar a year franchise installment. But we all know that many Black folk don't really "watch" science fiction, or at the very least admit to it.

Sadly, Mr. Ridley makes no mention of CBS' "The Unit" starring Dennis Haysbert and Regina Taylor. While not a hit show, its run on that network has spanned several solid seasons.

Finally, it seems as though Mr. Ridley, in his own examples, hasn't watched or isn't aware of sitcoms since the early 90's. No mention of "The Parkers"? "Girlfriends"? "The Game"?

I guess Mr. Ridley's blog is really limited to Black actors who take over already established mega-hits on brodcast networks. Yes, in Mr. Fishburne's case, this is big news and exciting.

But in Mr. Ridley's, it is rather myopic.

Sent by Bernard Jones | 11:16 AM ET | 08-20-2008

The fact that I sent this comment to NPR is a testament of the lack of, if any, tv time I do. Nevertheless, in learning the addition of Laurence Fishburne to CSI, I will certainly make time to view the show for the first time. I regard Mr. Fishburne as one of the best actors (among very few in existence) and completely agree with the last paragraph in the comment by Cait. Regardless of the ethnicity of the show or Mr. Fishburne, his talent as an actor can be admired if he were white, african-american, green or whatever color.

Sent by Alex | 2:43 PM ET | 08-20-2008

Mr. Ridley, congrats on a well researched article and a timely critique. Fishburne is an actor with depth and class and an edginess that will bring a much needed freshness to CSI.

My only disappointment was that Fishburne's role as Morpheus was chosen to open an article about the move to mainstream TV by an actor with Shakesperian chops.

Well, maybe it's appropriate after all.

Sent by Alex Rich | 5:56 PM ET | 08-20-2008

Quote: "Finally, it seems as though Mr. Ridley, in his own examples, hasn't watched or isn't aware of sitcoms since the early 90's. No mention of "The Parkers"? "Girlfriends"? "The Game"?"

Mr. Ridely mentions this era in his article and besides...the shows you mentioned are comedies NOT drama. Go back and check the fourth paragraph. He also states: ". And black sitcoms tended to be relegated to the Weblets -- Fox, UPN and the WB. Fox moved away from urban programming; UPN and the WB merged into the CW, which -- like Fox -- pretty much abandoned urban programs." Which really doesn't bother me because I could use less of shows like "The Parkers." Plus all these networks showed "black" sitcoms NOT drama. We're talking about drama here folks.

Mr. Ridely is talking about broadcast tv NOT cable. Reading is fundamental folks!! It's not that black dramas don't work (you can see how successful cable has been with Soul Food, The Wire, Oz.) it's just the broadcast networks pretty much turn a blind eye to black actors, ESPECIALLY black women, playing any significant role. (a role that is not as a supporting actress, which is still rare or a token role). I'm really not interested in watching "black" shows on broadcast tv. I'd rather see quality shows with great characters who happen to be black. Nobody's talking about "Black actors who take over already established mega-hits on broadcast networks." I'd rather have one black actor on a quality show than a whole bunch on a show that suck (i.e. "The Parkers - again...a sitcom not a drama.) Some networks do better than others. But I dare anyone to name only five black actors who have LEADING roles on top BROADCAST television dramas RIGHT NOW. Right off the top of my head I can't even think of one.

Sent by mshill | 9:30 AM ET | 08-21-2008

The Morpheus character of the Matrix films is often cited as an example of the age-old "supernatural" stereotype of blacks in film:

http://www.blackcommentator.com/49/49_magic.html

And "CSI" -- according to Wikipedia --"was heavily criticized almost since its debut by police and district attorneys, who felt that CSI showed an inaccurate perception of how police solve crimes, by the Parents Television Council, who noted the level and gratuitousness of graphic violence, images, and sexual content seen on the show."

My question, however, like reading, is more fundamental (which is why I read instead of watch a lot of television), and it's this: Is there any redeeming social value to any or all of these cop shows, whether integrated or not? For instance, have they been shown to influence either white or black community perceptions of and/or attitudes toward the police in any positive way? Or are the television and cinematic depictions of cops, their ethics or lack thereof in solving crimes and deterring violence, merely accepted forms of entertainment that nobody really takes seriously? Also, if no one who lives in a big city even likes the police, then what kind of mixed signals have 50 years of romanticized police drama been sending them?

And finally, I'm not a prince but I'm so fresh I'm more incipient than current.

Sent by Dave | 6:40 AM ET | 08-22-2008

Mr. Ridley, I'm baffled that you didn't mention "The Wire." Here's a show in which black actors dominated the leads year after year while critics debate its possible standing as the greatest drama of all time.

Sent by Elisabeth Rose | 9:53 AM ET | 08-23-2008

As a CSI fan and a Laurence Fishburne fan...I AM EXCITED - Congratulations to him!!!

Sent by Juanita | 8:41 AM ET | 08-26-2008

S. Epatha Merkerson has been a regular Law & Order actor for many years. Not only is she black, she's a WOMAN in a lead role. She's also an excellent actor.

Sent by vmk | 1:55 PM ET | 08-26-2008