Diversity on 'The Bachelor,' 'Black-ish' are discussed at ABC TCAs panel
ABC Entertainment Group president Channing Dungey said that she hoped to see more diversity on the long-running 'Bachelor' reality programs, while Kenya Barris, creator of 'Black-ish,' said he is 'tired of talking about diversity.'
ABC Entertainment Group president Channing Dungey said that she hoped to see more diversity on the long-running 'Bachelor' reality programs, while Kenya Barris, creator of 'Black-ish,' said he is 'tired of talking about diversity.'
Diversity and representation was a topic at the ABC panel during the Television Critics鈥� Association (TCA) press tour, with ABC Entertainment Group president Channing Dungey saying she would like 鈥渟ome changes鈥� with a lack of diversity on ABC鈥檚 long-running 鈥淏achelor鈥� reality show and Kenya Barris, creator of ABC鈥檚 鈥淏lack-ish,鈥� saying he is 鈥渢ired of talking about diversity.鈥�
During the TCA Ms. Dungey discussed whether there would be wider representation on 鈥淏achelor.鈥� There has never been a black bachelor or bachelorette on any incarnation of the show (season two of the Lifetime 鈥淏achelor鈥� parody 鈥淯nREAL鈥� featured a black bachelor).聽
鈥淚 would very much like to see some changes there,鈥� Dungey said when asked about a possible increase in diversity on the show.
Race was also a topic at a panel for the ABC show 鈥淏lack-ish,鈥� which depicts an African-American family and stars Anthony Anderson and Tracee Ellis Ross. The program received acclaim in particular for an episode earlier in 2016 that showed the family discussing a case involving an African-American being hurt by police.聽
When asked what share of the audience for 鈥淏lack-ish鈥� is black, Mr. Barris said, 鈥淚t doesn鈥檛 matter who鈥檚 watching our show. The fact is that they鈥檙e watching it. And I feel like every question at every panel 鈥� I get so tired of talking about diversity. These are amazing, talented actors and amazing writers who give their all, and they don鈥檛 have to do this. It鈥檚 crowding the conversation.鈥�
Ms. Ross then asked, 鈥淚s that a question that you鈥檝e asked other shows that are not predominately of a certain color?鈥� When the journalist said, 鈥淣ot necessarily,鈥� she replied, 鈥淭hose questions continue the conversation in a direction that does not help the conversation.鈥澛�
The Comprehensive Annenberg Report on Diversity聽that was released earlier this year looked at representation in both film and TV and showed that 28.3 percent of characters with lines in the more than 400 projects studied were minorities.聽
This year鈥檚 Oscars included a slate of all-white acting nominees for the second year in a row, though the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences recently brought in its largest and most diverse group of new members in its history.