CBS is in hot water after revealing the lead actors for their six new TV shows.
CBS has six new shows premiering this fall featuring six white male actors. So, when entertainment chief Glenn Geller took the stage during the Television Critics Association’s press tour, Geller faced scrutiny for the lack of diversity in their 2016 – 2017 lineup.
In comparison, CBS features less diversity than their broadcast rivals, which have steadily increased the number of TV shows featuring Hispanics, African Americans and Asian-Americans.
Geller was forced to defend the broadcast giant. “We’re very mindful at CBS about the importance of diversity and inclusion,” Geller said at the Television Critics Association press tour Wednesday. “We need to do better, and we know it. In terms of leads we are less diverse than we were last year.”
It’s important to point out that even though non-white actors are not starring on the CBS TV shows, many of them were cast in supporting roles. For example, Rush Hour actor Justin Hires is featured in MacGyver, Vanessa Ferlito joined the cast of NCIS: New Orleans, and Adam Rodriguez and Aisha Tyler joined the cast of Criminal Minds.
“We showed you some photos of 16 new series regulars, 11 of them are diverse,” Geller continued. “I know they’re not leads, but 11 are diverse and that is our commitment to diversity and those just aren’t words. That is real action … I wouldn’t say we’re mitigating anything. Those 16 roles were added because the showrunners were adding roles. I think the fact that 11 of them were cast diversely shows our commitment … And I understand certainly the inclination to look at the screen and just look at leads and say, ‘Well, what’s going on? Why are you less diverse?’ But I do think that when we’re talking about diversity and inclusion, we have to also look behind the camera and there we are doing very well. Our writers are more diverse than last year, our directors – and we’re not finished booking every slot but we’re on track. We continue to put additional resources and financial support into our CBS Diversity Institute and that covers many different parts of diversity for us. That’s our showcase, and it’s kind of the gold standard, I think, in the industry. Many people are cast from it. It includes our writers’ program, it includes our directors’ program … I think you have to look in front of the camera and behind the camera. And I understand we need to do better with leads.”
However, many critics were not impressed. And many people continued to criticize CBS for their lack of diversity. “Look, I’m acknowledging we need to do better,” Geller repeated. “In terms of directors, and this is a place I would love to talk about, we’ve been getting better and better every single year about diversity among our director ranks and we have series where over half the directors are diverse. But I hear you, I really do, and I understand that we need to do better. I do want to point out though, that in the ensemble casting, we are more diverse this year than last year, and that is forward progress.”
Apparently, according to EW, Geller said “we need to do better” seven times during the press conference, and “we’ve been getting better” three times.
There are plans for major diversity in 2017 with a legal drama called Doubt starring Katherine Heigl and transgender actress Laverne Cox, who is known for her role in Orange is the New Black. In addition, there’s a new Training Day TV series featuring Justin Cornwell, who is black.
Via USA Today
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