2010 saw some interesting developments on television. Here are the highlights!
FOX
Glee! Audiences around the world became self-professed Gleeks. The show did well in the ratings and set an example with its diverse cast. Here's to more Glee!
NBC
This network really challenged themselves with an attempt at being MORE COLORFUL. Some of you may remember their commercials last fall showcasing the iconic peacock with those two words in the tag line. Although they had a failed attempt with Undercovers (the first prime-time scripted drama with black protagonists as the lead? really?), at least they tried. They put the big guns behind it too (J.J. Abrams), but for some reason it just didn't stick. I only caught one episode, and I think I understood why. It was a bit slow for TV, and showed like a very tired espionage entanglement. Spying is supposed to be exciting, sexy, dangerous, a la Jolie and Bond. It seemed like Abrams was trying to take the show in an entirely new direction to avoid Alias comparisons, but perhaps he focused too much on the departure thereby ruining what make his shows good.
Maybe a better promo pic would've helped?
Although Undercovers didn't survive, NBC still fared best in the diversity department, boasting 7 shows with more than 2 minorities on the main cast, while ABC only had 4 shows like this, and FOX only did so with Glee. Let's just keep mum on CBS for now, they are a disaster, but boast the best ratings...
CW
The CW network is also a strange case, but since their roster is largely made up of teen soaps and reality programs, no one expects much from them. The writers however, are either really bored, or interested in making some sort of statement, even if they are few and far between.
On Gossip Girl, Chuck Bass issues a dating fatwa on Queen Bee Blair preventing her from dating anyone else. This surely left tweens across America googling the strange word to discover its meaning. Very clever.
Had the writers investigated the term a bit further, they would have realized that a fatwa is just a religious opinion on any religious law given by a scholar in the Muslim faith. It's non-binding, as anyone who calls themself a scholar can issue one. So unless Chuck is the Grand Mufti of Love (and even if, who cares), I don't quite see the analogous Ah-Ha! moment.
Also on the CW is the spy-drama Nikita, based on the French film from the 90s. The title character is played rather well by Maggie Q (Vietnamese-American) and is choc full of action and suspense. On a recent episode, operative Michael (remember Shane West?) is captured by Kasim, a Yemeni who had betrayed and killed Michael's family years ago. During this ordeal Kasim explains the reason for the betrayal by quoting the Qu'ran no less. He says, "Fight in God's cause against those who fight against you," to which Michael responds, "..but do not commit aggression. You forgot that part of the Qu'ran. If you're going to twist its meaning at least quote the whole passage." Who thought a script with bite would exist on the CW? Well done.
CBS
Over at CBS, Zach is listening to 'Muslim music'. Let me start by saying I think The Good Wife is a great show. The acting is on point, the writing is great, and there are even some diverse characters on: it's fantastic. But I did have a WTF moment. In the "threesome" episode, Alicia's son Zach has a friend advise him that he can get anything he wants from his parents by playing a cd she gives him. The cd contains none other than the at'han, the muslim call to prayer. This of course is not 'muslim music', and the fact that the writers were so quick to offer it up as something to be mocked is quite upsetting. It was so unapologetically ridiculed which I found very disturbing. The only slight positive in this scenario is that Alicia completely dismissed this as something to be feared as her mother-in-law suggested with her reporting, but nonetheless left a terribly awful taste in my mouth.
CBS had the least diversity in their programming. They are the highest-rated tv network.
ABC
ABC was right behind NBC in effort. It seems that they also tried to be innovative, but fell behind. One show I felt had promise was MY Generation. I thought it was a really interesting concept: uncovering the superficial 'where-are-they-now' curiosity while also exposing the problems of a generation who became adults in perhaps the most complicated of times. And of course, who isn't nostalgic for the 90s? The flashback scenes were great. But more importantly, the show employed a mockumentary format that was both fresh and engaging. The cast was impressive, capable, and diverse. This could have been good ABC, but you canceled it after 2 episodes.
I'm beginning to think Mehcad Brooks is cursed. Ever since they killed him off on True Blood, he hasn't had the best luck. The Deep End (also on ABC) was canceled. Now MY Generation. Please don't cancel his Calvin Klein ads.
Let's hope we see some more interesting programming on Network Television in 2011. Perhaps by some miracle the networks will give shows more than 2 episodes to get the ratings. Here's to hoping CBS takes a cue from NBC, don't we all have color TV sets these days (c'mon it was intro-ed in the 50s and pretty sure became standard in households in the 60s!!)
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