Is ABC ditching its reputation for diversity in wake of Roseanne's success? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

TMC · 04-11-2018, 12:33 PM

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/...p-and-roseanne

Roseanne's emergence and ABC's "heartland strategy" come as Shonda Rhimes is leaving for Netflix, with Fresh Off the Boat on the bubble, and after a controversial Black-ish episode was pulled, prompting creator Kenya Barris to reportedly seek an early exit from his ABC Studios deal. "Recent signs suggest that ABC is entering a new and more complicated era" when it comes to diverse shows, says Alyssa Rosenberg, "and the network isn’t alone — the number of women and people of color creating new shows declined across the industry as a whole in the 2017-2018 television season. And it’s striking, if a little tricky to discuss, that ABC’s reputation for bold discussions of race has hit a rough patch under the leadership of Channing Dungey, who became the first African American woman to serve as president of a major broadcast television network in 2016." As Rosenberg notes, Dungey has used "the language of diversity" in trying to broaden the network's audience to appeal to so-called Heartland viewers. "So far, Dungey’s attempts to secure a broader audience have shown some success," says Rosenberg, pointing to The Good Doctor and Roseanne. ALSO: By trying to appeal to "heartland" viewers, is ABC becoming "Trump TV"?

Mr. Television · 04-11-2018, 02:11 PM

Not everyone has Trump on the brain you know. Some of us just want some quality programs no matter what race they are.

Impressions · 04-11-2018, 07:24 PM

This article is ridiculous and offensive, who ever wrote this is a completely out-of-touch New Yorker or Washington elite who is obviously not from the Midwest. To say that the Midwest or the "heartland" doesn't support stories of diversity or show diversity, and that all hope for diversity is abandoned when the focus is on characters living in the Midwest is ludicrous! Yes, I'm white and from the Midwest and I find it offensive to pigeonhole white viewers as those who do not appreciate diversity in programming, and have an affinity for Trump, no, not me!!!!

DJM77 · 04-11-2018, 07:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Impressions

This article is ridiculous and offensive, who ever wrote this is a completely out-of-touch New Yorker or Washington elite who is obviously not from the Midwest. To say that the Midwest or the "heartland" doesn't support stories of diversity or show diversity, and that all hope for diversity is abandoned when the focus is on characters living in the Midwest is ludicrous! Yes, I'm white and from the Midwest and I find it offensive to pigeonhole white viewers as those who do not appreciate diversity in programming, and have an affinity for Trump, no, not me!!!!

04-11-2018, 12:33 PM	#1
TMC Member Forum Idol Join Date: Jan 09, 2001 Posts: 125,644	Is ABC ditching its reputation for diversity in wake of Roseanne's success? https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/...p-and-roseanne Roseanne's emergence and ABC's "heartland strategy" come as Shonda Rhimes is leaving for Netflix, with Fresh Off the Boat on the bubble, and after a controversial Black-ish episode was pulled, prompting creator Kenya Barris to reportedly seek an early exit from his ABC Studios deal. "Recent signs suggest that ABC is entering a new and more complicated era" when it comes to diverse shows, says Alyssa Rosenberg, "and the network isn’t alone — the number of women and people of color creating new shows declined across the industry as a whole in the 2017-2018 television season. And it’s striking, if a little tricky to discuss, that ABC’s reputation for bold discussions of race has hit a rough patch under the leadership of Channing Dungey, who became the first African American woman to serve as president of a major broadcast television network in 2016." As Rosenberg notes, Dungey has used "the language of diversity" in trying to broaden the network's audience to appeal to so-called Heartland viewers. "So far, Dungey’s attempts to secure a broader audience have shown some success," says Rosenberg, pointing to The Good Doctor and Roseanne. ALSO: By trying to appeal to "heartland" viewers, is ABC becoming "Trump TV"?

04-11-2018, 02:11 PM	#2
Mr. Television 23 Years at Sitcoms Online Forum Icon Join Date: Jun 06, 2003 Location: Somewhere you're Not Posts: 62,132	Not everyone has Trump on the brain you know. Some of us just want some quality programs no matter what race they are.
	__________________ Sonny

04-11-2018, 07:24 PM	#3
Impressions She died the way she lived Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: May 08, 2002 Posts: 4,640	This article is ridiculous and offensive, who ever wrote this is a completely out-of-touch New Yorker or Washington elite who is obviously not from the Midwest. To say that the Midwest or the "heartland" doesn't support stories of diversity or show diversity, and that all hope for diversity is abandoned when the focus is on characters living in the Midwest is ludicrous! Yes, I'm white and from the Midwest and I find it offensive to pigeonhole white viewers as those who do not appreciate diversity in programming, and have an affinity for Trump, no, not me!!!!