MovieChat Forums > Perfect Couples (2010) Discussion > HOW many shows about white couples do we...

HOW many shows about white couples do we need?? Geez.

posted 13 years ago by soonstar555
23 replies | jump to latest

I'M NOT RACIST, I'M NOT PREJUDICED. But I'm so sick and tired of Hollywood completely ignoring that, I DONT KNOW, Asians exist, black people exist, Hispanic people exist...It adds insult to injury because it's not even funny. It's not even innovative. It's tired and trash.

All we get is the George Lopez Show (not even on air anymore) and stupid, HORRENDOUSLY INSULTING, Tyler Perry trash. I know there have been tiny speckles of other shows like Ugly Betty or even The Office that offer people with melanin in their skin, but believe me, they are few a far between and often canceled.

Is it TOO much to ask for a nice and diverse, well-rounded and intelligent comedy? And don't even try to offer up Olivia Munn as sufficing for diversity.

The only reason I watched this is because I thought The Office started at 8:30pm and instead it was this garbage.

I'm not interested in belittling people or making people feel bad, or playing the poor victimized colored person. I just wanted to air my opinion before the passion behind it wore it.
I wont check this thread again, so any insults or counter-arguments are a waste of your time.

Thanks.

[–] mklasr 13 years ago

Olivia Munn is Asian, for what it's worth. I'm not sure why she doesn't count to you, you don't really explain. Is it because she's American? They set an episode in Canada, does that count for anything? Also, there was a black couple in the promo. The black woman is even credited in the opening credits, meaning that 2 of the 7 actors (28%) are non-white. Are you saying that you don't like shows that are restricted to white, black, and asian people?

Also, if the OP is not interested in discussing this topic, why does IMDb list it in the top 6? I think there are enough other threads where people the OP is interested in a discussion. Were you trying to start a discussion about "Outsourced?"

For what it's worth, I also think that "Outsourced" is an average show that should receive special consideration because of its ethnically diverse cast and subject matter. It's characters feel like Indian versions of those from "News Radio." I say it's diverse because even though the cast itself is mostly White and Indian, it's the only current show I know of to have more than 1 Indian character. Maybe Raj's sister will become a permanent cast member on "The Big Bang Theory."

[–] von_karolinas 13 years ago

Olivia Mun is Asian,

Half Asian, which may be why the OP didn't count her.

[–] monkey-B 13 years ago

maybe you all don't realize it, whether or not Olivia Munn's half asian, she's "white" in the show. you get it? there are some "mixed" actors/actresses with roles, but what this show is conveying is a bunch of "white couples" in the 'burbs. they haven't acknowledged the fact she's mixed, have they? her character's pretty much white, and that's how she comes off.

so yea, kudos to the OP.

Monkey B is not a person...Monkey is a soul, that LIVES, in many bodies.

[–] von_karolinas 13 years ago

I wasn't responding to the OP, I was responding to Mklasr and his post saying that Munn was full Asian and should have been counted as a minority.

[–] Movie_Guy25 13 years ago

They have commented that she is mixed... on more than one occasion and in one episode I think she says something about like "my mother always used to say..." and then she said something in Vietnamese (I think it was Vietnamese I could be wrong tho). Also this show is about people in the 'burbs and while I agree that television could use more diversity, anyone from the burbs can tell you the burbs are predominantly white, not a whole ton a diversity going on there.

[–] tim411 13 years ago

Boo hoo....

So white people want to watch shows about white people.

You complaining about this would be like people complaining back in the 90s that Public Enemy needs to make more "white friendly" songs.... You baby.

[–] Naughty-God 13 years ago

I think your rant is misguided because you want to see an Asian/Black/Brown Hispanic couple involved with these floozies? Either way, it doesn't matter now. NBC is not picking up anymore episodes and will replacing it with The Paul Reiser Show (yikes!).

(¯`i´¯)´·¸.)‹^›

[–] goran-v 13 years ago

Fresh Prince of Bel Air, Family Matters, Cosby Show, Keenan & Kel

All great shows featuring mostly black families, but I do get your point, there aren't a lot of those shows anymore.

P.S., this is what part of the alphabet would look like if Q and R were eliminated. - Mitch Hedberg

[–] forherwealth 13 years ago

That's like 4 shows out of 25 years, out of thousands of shows.

PEOPLE LEARN ABOUT YOUR WHITE PRIVILEGE. Ugh.

Buffy vs Edward: Twilight Remixed
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RZwM3GvaTRM

[–] nandu_x 13 years ago

No, those were the 4 shows about black families that were funny enough and relatable enough to be popular amongst all races. There was also The Jeffersons ( a huge hit before the Cosby show) 227, A Different World, Martin.

So what happened in the last 10 years that black sitcoms aren't funny to mass audiences anymore?

Maybe since more shows have integrated casts now, there is less motivation to have a show just for black families (unless they give it to Tyler Perry). Keep in mind that when those shows were popular, they were often the token black show amongst several sitcoms with all white families like Growing Pains, Full House, Step-by-Step, Everybody Loves Raymond, etc. In fact I would say the only non-integrated sitcoms that still get decent ratings are maybe How I met Your Mother (although that has already gone way down in ratins since the BBT moved), and possibly Rules of Engagement (despite the token, effeminate, weak Indian).

[–] forherwealth 13 years ago

Hmm, maybe because the all white casts get more funding! And white America is supposedly the target Audience.

And those are not "integrated." A token character that's depicted stereotypically does not mean integration.

And yes there are groups of white people that "hang out" without "minorities" but there are also tons that do. In fact, sometimes THEY are the minority. Gasp! Who would have thought.

Buffy vs Edward: Twilight Remixed
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RZwM3GvaTRM

[–] jondoe888 12 years ago

TV shows are not made for realism or fairness. They are made for people who buy things. Or for people who make things to show to shoppers. I'm 60, and not in that coveted 18-48(?)yo demographic. So even tho most of the shows I watch are mostly white, they aren't made for me. They skew young and bland, and most of my favorites don't stay around long.
If you want more shows with 'your kind' of people, find people like Tyler Perry, who have the cash, power and influence to get a show on TV. Are your wealthy friends willing to gamble their cash on a TV show?
Personally, I like some diversity in my shows, too. But I get tired of the black roommate or boyfriend. Racist? Maybe. We all are, some. But what I don't like is that it seems unrealistic. Nothing beyond a plot point.
(but we've had some great TV shows with unrealistic plot points. Guess it depends on if you buy it or not)

[–] The_Devil_Himself 13 years ago

have you heard of BET? 24/7 of nothing but black television. f you have to look throught your cable guide, you'll see there is also Galavision and Telemundo. and there are even Chinese and Japanese channels.

Brandon
There is a Hell believe me I've seen it. There is a Heaven, let's keep it a secret

[–] AndieGator 13 years ago

Many of my students watch "The Game." I watched it once to see what it was like. It was pretty good. I was glad to see it was positive and the characters were diverse.

"I told you I was freakay... but you didn't believe me..."

[–] nandu_x 13 years ago

All of the other current NBC thursday sitcoms have diverse casts (Community, The office, parks & rec, 30 Rock, and of course Outsourced, which is mostly south-asians anyway). You know, sometimes, in the real world, white people do hang out with each other with a noticeable absence of token minorities.

[–] ihatemilkduds 13 years ago

You know, sometimes, in the real world, white people do hang out with each other with a noticeable absence of token minorities.

Thank you. Honestly, if it were the opposite, we'd have people complaining that it's not right to have the token minorities represented. Can't please everybody.

On the note of referencing minority characters who were not caricatures or token, I'd like to bring up Deacon from King of Queens. This was a character who was NOT used as a token black friend; to infuse some sort of "culture" into an otherwise white sitcom. He was simply a friend who happened to be black. That's the way it should be done. I'm not using this as an argumentative point, obviously because I'm sure it will be responded to with 'yeah, ONE example out of thousands, blah blah blah.' I bring it up as a mere exemplary nod to those who are doing it right.

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[–] kerndtsr 13 years ago

We need another show like Bill Cosby had in the early 80's. You know where one parent is a doctor and the other is a lawyer. That's the typical average black family in America, right?

[–] modman-2 13 years ago

hey kerndtsr - don't you have a klan meeting to get to?