Lack of Diversity in 2010 Emmy Awards Show
Isaiah Mustafa and Andre Braugher the Only African-Americans in Emmy Categories
A nomination for minority organizations includes one 2010 cable award for BET and an Outstanding Commercial nomination for Old Spice's "The Man Your Man Could Smell Like" body wash (Wieden+Kennedy, Ad Agency; MJZ, Production Company. The ad features former NFL player Isaiah Mustafa. To no one's surprise, there were some black faces in the Nike "Human Chain" commercial (also up for the 2010 Outstanding Commercial nomination) where basketball players, football players and boxers compete.
Andre Braugher, one of the three main actors in "Men of a Certain Age," is up for a 2010 Emmy nomination for an Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama series role. Although he is a two-time Emmy winner, the category he's in this year seems strange considering all three actors (Braugher, Ray Romano and Scott Bakula) are on the same level. It would've made more sense to put him in the Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series category. Personally I think Hugh Laurie (who plays Dr. Gregory House in "House") should win that Best Lead Actor category though.
So is it rare to see so little variety when it comes to minority representation at the Emmy's? According to information from the New York Daily News, this isn't all that odd. The New York Daily News credits Vanity magazine with finding out that, "Since 1986, non-white actors have received only 53 nominations out of nearly 1000 in the top four acting categories for drama and comedy. Only eight have ever won."
Of course there are other award shows that cater to minority artists in acting, music and humanitarianism, such as the "BET Awards," "The Source Awards," "The Vibe Awards," "The Soul Train Awards." Television stations like TV One, The U and BET run positive and popular African-American syndicated shows like "Moesha," "One on One," "Martin," "Living Single" and "A Different World," and multi-cultural shows like "Eve." BET announced that "The Game" would be coming back as a regular show in the fall lineup. While there are few shows with an African-American cast to choose from this year, that doesn't explain the reason why there have been so few minorities since 1986. All of the shows mentioned above have been running during this time period, and the Emmy's is celebrating its 62nd year.
So does lack of diversity make you less likely to watch an awards show? Does it matter which group is being showcased? Or, will you watch the 2010 Emmy Awards Show regardless of the lack of minority representation in previous years?
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14 Comments
Post a CommentTisha, thanks for the feedback and for reading this piece. If you could pick someone who wasn't "safe" who you think should win, who would it be?
Thank you for someone finally writing what many are feeling. I am sure that many minorities watch TV yet the same people that get picked are whom I feel Hollywood deem "safe". Though few get picked as guest roles, there are many that SHOULD be nominated to reflect the society and quit picking the same freaking people.Show some courage. I stopped watching these award shows for this very reason but I am a voice of one!
JJ Abrams is not black regardless of having two black leads on his show. This entry was specifically for African-Americans who won. Although I didn't mention all 53 people who were nominated, I did state that 53 non-white actors had been nominated. This also doesn't change the fact that only two African-Americans were nominated at this year's awards show. I don't agree with trying to rationalize the vote to say, "Well, we got some other type of minority outside of the black ones." The fact remains that there are certainly more than 53 talented African-American actors and actresses who should've been nominated never mind winning.
I retract my previous statement on Chandra Wilson's win. She won Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series at the Screen Actors Guild Awards in 2007.
You didn't mention Chandra Wilson's Emmy win for her portrayal of Dr. Miranda Bailey on Grey's Anatomy or the fact the JJ Abrams has a new show this fall featuring two black leads in "Under Covers". But I get what you're saying. Did you also notice how Archie Panjabi won for best supporting actress this year for her role in "The Good Wife"? I know she's not African-American, but she is a minority woman who grew up in Bombay.
Film studio, "Maybe the academy just isn't as racially diverse as we would hope." That's quite an understatement. Hollywood as a whole is still very narrow-minded when it comes to minority actors and actresses and consistently wants them to play the stereotypical roles like the drug dealers, waiters, loud angry women, etc. I have yet to run into an example where someone who didn't deserve a position got it due to affirmative action. What AA is designed to do is to look for minorities who are just as equipped to do a job or go to an educational facility and include them in the selection process. As far as you not believing an Asian actor should win an acting award "just to be fair," we'll agree to disagree with that one. But what I will say is there's a whole helluva lot more Latinos and African-American actors doing a great job in movies and films than 53.
Rest of my comment that was cut off:
I live in a foreign country, and have been the recipient of some 'affirmative action' among a different race of people, and it made me feel dirty to know I was given this benefit solely on my skin color. In fact, I turned down the opportunity. But I'm not everyone. Maybe others would relish this chance!
(P.S., didn't mean to offend with the use of the sarcastic term "Whitey"..)
There have been many actors and actresses of all races who have been 'robbed' of a chance at an award. This unfortunately happens when you have limited nominations in each category. Look how many Asians have done perfectly brilliant jobs in their respective films and tv shows.. Only 1 Asian has won an acting award... But I still don't think the academy should have to to nominate an Asian for every category just to be fair! Maybe the academy just isn't as racially diverse as we would hope. And the only thing I find wrong with affirmative action is that it SOMETIMES forces quotas, and whether people deserve the job, scholarship, award, or whatever, they get it. I don't think it's always wrong. I think it levels out the few outright racists that work in the human resources departments, but that's where it should end. I live in a foreign country, and have been the recipient of some 'affirmative action' among a different race of people, and it made me feel dirty to know I was given th
Film Studio, your argument is weak. In 60+ years, there have been some powerful minority actors who have never won Emmy's. You mean to tell me you really believe that there are only 53 actors in 60+ years who you think deserve the award? Their caliber of acting is fine. It's the opportunities that aren't there. The "stupid award shows" select the nominees, and even though the casting directors have had films with black actors, this is ALL they could come up with? Affirmative action is just about leveling the playing field, but a bigger question is what do you find WRONG with it? This isn't about just throwing in minority actors who don't deserve the awards. Like affirmative action, it's about giving those who deserve and have earned the respect of the acting world the respect of even a nomination. I don't use terms like "whitey," but your sarcasm shows just how little you can actually comprehend the idea that there may have been some actors who were robbed of a chance.
Well, when you consider only 19 or so percent of actors on TV are 'minority' races... Why does everyone have to affirmative action every aspect of life? If the group of people you want to see winning awards just aren't doing that, perhaps consider their caliber of acting compared to 'non minority' actors. Or blame the casting agents.. but not the stupid award shows! Or just require that whitey can only get 40% of the awards, although they play 80% of the parts.