‘Empire’ and ‘black-ish’ Show Why Diversity Needs to Be Deep

[sfy]

Both shows had some cringe-worthy moments for me last night, but Empire almost always does lol (as an aside, I really wish Empire had better writers) and I don't know that it's possible for me to hear a conversation black people with opposing viewpoints about the n-word talk about it and not cringe.

[Vespasia]

This has nothing to do with the article but I haaaaaaaaate that these shows are in the same time slot. Don't make me choose! Modern Family has gone to shit so I will probably keep watching Empire live and then catch up on Black-ish on Hulu.

[redwino]

I loved blackish last night and felt they did an excellent job covering the subject. I fell out during the work scene at the conference table and the flashback of laurence fishburn. I feel like the show hit on many of the views held by black people including Junior's focus on a completely different issue.

[sfy]

Sept 24, 2015 11:10:34 GMT -5 Vespasia said:

This has nothing to do with the article but I haaaaaaaaate that these shows are in the same time slot. Don't make me choose! Modern Family has gone to shit so I will probably keep watching Empire live and then catch up on Black-ish on Hulu.

Oh wow, I didn't even know they were in the same slot.  I DVR everything so I never know what time stuff comes on.

Modern Family was funny last night.  I thought of CEP because Jay referenced the pre-school teacher being called by her first name and said, "She's a loon...she's got the kids calling her Erica like they're her poker buddies." 

[Deleted]

I loved the white people trying to talk and the girl telling them not to. On blackish.
But my favourite part was the Puerto Ricans can say it. But only Rosie Perez. Not J Lo Puerto Ricans. And Marc Anthony? Nope. Menudo? Nope.

[redwino]

Sept 24, 2015 11:21:03 GMT -5 1234FIF! said:

Sept 24, 2015 11:19:28 GMT -5 sfy said:

Oh wow, I didn't even know they were in the same slot.  I DVR everything so I never know what time stuff comes on.

Modern Family was funny last night.  I thought of CEP because Jay referenced the pre-school teacher being called by her first name and said, "She's a loon...she's got the kids calling her Erica like they're her poker buddies." 

Ah-HA! JAY FOR THE DAMN WIN. Short folks ain't talking to me like I'm their good girlfriend, nawl. I'll be old and cane waving on this issue. 

I sat outside the post office and had a 30 minute conversation with a friend about this. She said she doesn't even mind the undergrads she volunteers with calling her Ms. Firstname. She was all "I'm not those kids' peer". Lol. She doesn't request that they call her that but said she appreciates it.

[goldiehaze]

Long time lurker, first time poster here.

I like how TV is starting to become more open with diversity, though it still has a way to go. I didn't see the episodes yet, but I read a blog post about Empire and they commented how Marisa Tomei's character is dressed like a plantation owner. Ha! Lee Daniels doesn't like subtlety. I wish the film industry will follow suit.

Have you seen this? www.essence.com/2015/09/24/lee-daniels-calls-out-hollywood-producers-lack-black-writers

[sfy]

Sept 24, 2015 11:44:04 GMT -5 pennypenny said:

I haven't seen either yet because the Pope, but my biggest hate is that they are on at the same time. There are only 2 damn black shows and you have to put them against each other. I hate networks. I thought Black-ish was changing its slot though.

No way.  There are so many black shows (or at least shows with black lead characters) right now it's crazy.  It's like...well, hell, I don't know, because it's never happened before.  I guess it's almost like being white .  There's Empire, HTGAWM, Scandal, that show that Meagan Good might or might not be the lead in, Rosewood, Power, Being Mary Jane, The Carmichael Show (won't last, but okay),  whatever 14 shows Tyler Perry has going on right now,  Extant, Wesley Snipes' new show, House of Lies.  I know I'm not even getting them all.  Black is the new black  (hot).

[redwino]

Did anybody see minority report? I haven't seen the movies so I have no reference but I thought it was pretty good. I'll watch it for Megan Goode.

[sfy]

I don't even have the time right now, but goldiehaze's post reminded me that I've been wanting to talk about the lack of black writers in television, in particular, and how that shows up on shows that do have black cast members. It's kind of a mess imo.

Sept 24, 2015 12:52:39 GMT -5 redwino said:

Did anybody see minority report? I haven't seen the movies so I have no reference but I thought it was pretty good. I'll watch it for Megan Goode.

I like her, but I haven't watched. 

[karinothing]

Sept 24, 2015 12:49:03 GMT -5 pennypenny said:

Sept 24, 2015 12:10:21 GMT -5 sfy said:

No way.  There are so many black shows (or at least shows with black lead characters) right now it's crazy.  It's like...well, hell, I don't know, because it's never happened before.  I guess it's almost like being white .  There's Empire, HTGAWM, Scandal, that show that Meagan Good might or might not be the lead in, Rosewood, Power, Being Mary Jane, The Carmichael Show (won't last, but okay),  whatever 14 shows Tyler Perry has going on right now,  Extant, Wesley Snipes' new show, House of Lies.  I know I'm not even getting them all.  Black is the new black  (hot).

Yeah I guess you are right. I have never seen half of those shows so I forgot.

Rosewood is fun. I enjoyed it. Plus Morris chestnut is hot

[callie]

Sept 24, 2015 12:52:39 GMT -5 redwino said:

Did anybody see minority report? I haven't seen the movies so I have no reference but I thought it was pretty good. I'll watch it for Megan Goode.

I loved the movie and I'd watch anything Meagan so it was on my watch list. It was a solid first episode, I'll keep watching. 

[bugandbibs]

Sept 24, 2015 12:52:39 GMT -5 redwino said:

Did anybody see minority report? I haven't seen the movies so I have no reference but I thought it was pretty good. I'll watch it for Megan Goode.

I liked it enough to keep watching, but I haven't seen the movie either.

[brookles]

Sept 24, 2015 13:27:05 GMT -5 karinothing said:

Sept 24, 2015 12:49:03 GMT -5 pennypenny said:

Yeah I guess you are right. I have never seen half of those shows so I forgot.

Rosewood is fun. I enjoyed it. Plus Morris chestnut is hot

This is really all you need to know about Rosewood.

[sushi]

As a minutely connected tangent, I was at a restaurant tonight in not America. It was like 2001 hip hop remix in there, for something fairly upscale and attempting to be french.

One song used fuck and niggas liberally.

radio edits for businesses, please!

I've heard similar nonsense blasted in a traditional artist district in Seoul. origami

[Vespasia]

Sept 24, 2015 12:52:39 GMT -5 redwino said:

Did anybody see minority report? I haven't seen the movies so I have no reference but I thought it was pretty good. I'll watch it for Megan Goode.

I want allll her clothes from that episode. Especially the red jacket.  And her body to wear them too please. 


I didn't love the show but it was good enough that I will watch it again. 

[meshaliuknits]

Sept 24, 2015 15:30:41 GMT -5 brookles said:

Sept 24, 2015 13:27:05 GMT -5 karinothing said:

Rosewood is fun. I enjoyed it. Plus Morris chestnut is hot

This is really all you need to know about Rosewood.

I want to watch this.

[barcelonagirl]

Re: bla people on tv. Have yall seen Born Again Virgin?

I caught one episode that had me dying. It was like looking at myself on tv!

[redwino]

I like that Meagan is kind of badass and enjoyed the futuristic gadgets. I rolled my eyes at Iggy Azalea being a classic. Nobody is preserving that crap.

[redwino]

Sept 24, 2015 17:19:05 GMT -5 barcelonagirl said:

Re: bla people on tv. Have yall seen Born Again Virgin?

I caught one episode that had me dying. It was like looking at myself on tv!

have it DVR'd after seeing one episode but I haven't had a chance to sit down and watch it. I enjoyed the one episode i saw. I finally got through the crap that is Hollywood divas so I'll move on to something else.

[sfy]

Sept 24, 2015 15:49:39 GMT -5 sushi said:

As a minutely connected tangent, I was at a restaurant tonight in not America. It was like 2001 hip hop remix in there, for something fairly upscale and attempting to be french.

One song used fuck and niggas liberally.

radio edits for businesses, please!

I've heard similar nonsense blasted in a traditional artist district in Seoul. origami

And to the point of the story, I don't think I'll ever not be taken aback when people who are not black type the n-word online (because I have yet to hear anyone not black say it in my presence). Even I type the n-word, so just why? And minutely connected indeed. No shade, but I don't even know what this has to do with the thread!

[iammalcolmx]

Sept 25, 2015 8:03:58 GMT -5 sfy said:

Sept 24, 2015 15:49:39 GMT -5 sushi said:

As a minutely connected tangent, I was at a restaurant tonight in not America. It was like 2001 hip hop remix in there, for something fairly upscale and attempting to be french.

One song used fuck and niggas liberally.

radio edits for businesses, please!

I've heard similar nonsense blasted in a traditional artist district in Seoul. origami

And to the point of the story, I don't think I'll ever not be taken aback when people who are not black type the n-word online (because I have yet to hear anyone not black say it in my presence). Even I type the n-word, so just why? And minutely connected indeed. No shade, but I don't even know what this has to do with the thread!

I agree with you. sushi why are you typing out the n word? ^o)

[sushi]

Sept 25, 2015 9:46:22 GMT -5 iammalcolmx said:

Sept 25, 2015 8:03:58 GMT -5 sfy said:

And to the point of the story, I don't think I'll ever not be taken aback when people who are not black type the n-word online (because I have yet to hear anyone not black say it in my presence). Even I type the n-word, so just why? And minutely connected indeed. No shade, but I don't even know what this has to do with the thread!

I agree with you. sushi why are you typing out the n word?

I wanted to indicate it was in the bro sense, not the epithet. I have seen it in print that way from legit sources, so I thought it was acceptable. I didn't mean offense and will edit