In 2008, when America’s broadcast networks unveiled their new TV schedules, only one show was anchored by a minority — and he was a black cartoon character voiced by a white actor.
Six years later, prime time is undergoing a big, multicultural change. When the fall season starts in earnest Monday, it will deliver the most racially diverse lineup in recent history, with at least eight new shows prominently featuring nonwhite performers.
Leading the charge is ABC, with several new series populated by black, Asian and Latino characters. Among the most notable are “Black-ish,” a family sitcom that humorously deals with issues of race and assimilation, and “Cristela,” a sitcom pegged to a Latina law student played by stand-up comedian Cristela Alonzo.
And then there’s the sexy, twisty legal drama “How to Get Away With Murder” from superstar producer Shonda Rhimes (“Scandal,” “Grey’s Anatomy”) that stars Viola Davis. Both women are black.
Coming to ABC later this season is “Fresh Off the Boat,” about an Asian-American clan living in Orlando, Florida, and “American Crime,” a drama from John Ridley, the black writer who penned the screenplay for “12 Years a Slave.”
“In a way, that’s not so much diversity as authenticity,” said ABC entertainment chief Paul Lee. “If you look at shows now that seem to lack diversity, they actually feel dated because America doesn’t look like that anymore.”
ABC isn’t the only network stepping up. This week, Fox premiered “Red Band Society,” a medical drama starring Oscar winner Octavia Spencer (“The Help”). Next month, NBC will roll out “State of Affairs,” a CIA thriller featuring Alfre Woodard as the president of the United States.
Why is diversity all the rage now? Because it makes good business sense, industry observers say. They point to the game-changing success of Rhimes and her spicy dramas, all of which feature multicultural casts.
Rhimes, who will take over ABC’s entire Thursday-night block this fall, is the most powerful woman in scripted television. Her political melodrama “Scandal” — starring black actress Kerry Washington — was the third-highest rated drama on broadcast TV last season.
Of her trailblazing ways, Rhimes insists she’s just doing what comes naturally. “The world of television should look like the world outside,” said Rhimes.
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