ABC Deemed Least Aggressively Causcasian Of The TV Networks

Mark — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 12:42:37 EDT

Congratulations are in order for ABC, the network deemed marginally less lily-white than its borderline-albino broadcast rivals in a television diversity report just released by Multi-Ethnic Media Coalition. Behind the leadership of televisionary Steve McPherson—an executive unafraid to crack some skulls when his shows begin to lag behind their diversity benchmarks—and hits like Ugly Betty, ABC easily triumphed over competition that was either satisfied to maintain the Caucasian status quo or backslide further into the alabaster void:

The success of "Betty" earned ABC an A-minus for the 2006-07 season, the highest grade for any network rated by the Multi-Ethnic Media Coalition.

The group's seventh annual diversity report card grades the broadcast networks for hiring minority talent in front and behind the camera and in the executive ranks, as well as "overall commitment to diversity initiatives."
NBC and CBS maintained their grades of B and B-plus, respectively, while Fox was the only network to go down, from a B to a B-minus, prompted mostly by Fox's policy not to disclose complete statistical information.

Of course, no discussion of McPherson's dedication to primetime diversity can exclude perhaps his greatest triumph in this area, Cavemen. Ignoring the misguided complaints of a star who felt victimized by the executive's controversial pro-Neanderthal programming policies and the slings and arrows of skeptical critics, McPherson ultimately succeeded in dedicating 30 minutes per week to televising the struggles of a minority group heretofore completely ignored by the networks. While his triumph will probably be tragically short-lived, it's a victory that will be forever reflected in that much deserved A-minus.

ABC wins top grade for diversity [Reuters/THR]

Hollywood Diversity Shocker: White Guys Still Doing All The Writing

Mark — Wed, 09 May 2007 12:29:49 EDT

In the continuation of an annual ritual that has become the Writers Guild's version of Groundhog Day, WGA West president Patric Verrone has finally emerged from his Third Street burrow to publicly flip through the pages of the 2007 Hollywood Writers Report on diversity, and, discovering that minority writers have made "scant progress" since last year's holiday, quickly retreated back inside, indicating that we're in for 12 more months of disproportionate white male representation in the scribe sector. We won't bore you with the statistics, but know that if you're a Caucasian with a penis and a copy of Final Draft, things are still looking pretty good for you.

Report: White males still dominate writing ranks [THR]

Gawker: defamer, diversity

ABC Deemed Least Aggressively Causcasian Of The TV Networks

Hollywood Diversity Shocker: White Guys Still Doing All The Writing