Just when we are fooled into believing that network television is getting more diverse and willing to tackle difficult subjects, we get reminders things aren’t where they should be in 2018. Sure, there are more shows with women and people of color than ever before, and this certainly represents progress. But all too often, mainstream networks shy away from controversial topics—usually when they don’t want to risk their streams of revenue.
Take for example the ABC show Black-ish. While the show has done a great job of addressing a number of race and class issues (the name alone has garnered its share of controversy), the network has stopped short of allowing the show to reach its full potential. Recently an episode which discusses Colin Kaepernick, the NFL, and protests against police violence was shelved by ABC executives.
According to The Grio, show creator Kenya Barris says that it was a mutual decision. However, there are rumors that the show was scrapped because of pressure from the network to do so. Network chief Channing Dungey gave a different story to the press.
During a call with reporters to discuss ABC’s new season, network chief Channing Dungey addressed the topic head on: [...]
“With this particular episode, there were a number of different elements to the episode that we had a hard time coming to terms on. Much has been made about the kneeling part of it, which was not even really the issue, but I don’t want to get into that. At the end of the day, this was a mutual decision between Kenya and the network to not put the episode out.”
The rumors about why the show was not allowed to air come at the same time that viewers are questioning why this topic might have been deemed too controversial, but it was perfectly fine for the Roseanne show to make light of diversity on television. The Grio explains:
During the episode in question Dan Conner referenced fellow ABC sitcoms Black-ish and Fresh Off the Boat and said: “We missed all the shows about black and Asian families,” Dan said. Roseanne responded dismissively: “They’re just like us. There, now you’re all caught up.”
That wisecrack, many said, was making light of the multicultural shows and the issues that are unique to minorities. Roseanne’s dig at the shows didn’t sit well with many, but Dungey maintains that its intent wasn’t to offend.
For what it’S worth, these two things are not the same. One (the Black-ish episode) addresses an important and very relevant life-or-death issue in society. The other (the comment on Roseanne) may have been in poor taste and dismissive but is demonstrative of the kind of provocative humor that has always been present on that show. Roseanne’s show built its brand around tackling the issues of the day that were less popular and polite to discuss at the time. So too has Black-ish. It is a missed opportunity not to be able to see how a major network show featuring a black cast, created and written by a black man, would have covered this issue.
At any rate, hopefully this does not become a case of life imitating art. While the show was pulled for reasons which seem suspect, it is still critically important that we wrestle with the various perspectives on this issue. Kaepernick used his platform to bring our attention to the very real experience of police brutality that impacts people of color in America. It cost him his job. It led some to boycott the NFL, and Donald Trump called the protesters “sons of bitches.”
It remains an ongoing phenomenon that won’t go away until we deal with it, no matter how we try to sweep it under the rug. Maybe some mainstream network will get the courage to deal with it thoughtfully and honestly. Until then, there’s always cable TV.