L.A. Times Writer Angry "Friends" Reunion Wasn't More Diverse
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Ubiquitous
May 30, 2021, 8:16:43 AM5/30/21
to
The Los Angeles Times would like the show "Friends" to go back in time
and retroactively feature a more diverse cast.
"It should have been subtitled, `The One Where they Ignored Diversity -
Again,'" television reporter Greg Braxton wrote in a column published a
day after the series' much-anticipated reunion aired on HBO Max.
Braxton went on to say that, given today's more "diverse and inclusive"
TV landscape, "it's uncomfortable - if not outright inappropriate - to
raise a glass to a sitcom that was so blind to the multiculturalism of
the world where it took place."
He also argued the show's timing, appearing a year after George Floyd's
death "sparked massive protests against police brutality and amid the
ongoing conversation about race relations and white supremacy," made
its lack of focus on race all the more offensive.
In separate interviews with The Hollywood Reporter, Friends' executive
producer Kevin Bright and creator Marta Kauffman defended their casting
choices, saying they were based on chemistry not color.
"For the parts of Chandler and Phoebe, we saw everybody and we picked
what we thought were the two best actors. There are different
priorities today and so much has changed," Bright said, adding, "It's
important for today's shows to be reflective of the ways society truly
is. But for our experience, the three of us, that may have been our
experience when we were young and in New York. But we didn't intend to
have an all-white cast. That was not the goal, either. Obviously, the
chemistry between these six actors speaks for itself."
When asked if, given the criticism the show has faced recently, he
would have done anything differently, Bright said, "No. I don't have
any regrets other than hindsight. I would have been insane not to hire
those six actors. What can I say? I wish Lisa [Kudrow] was black?"
For her part, Kauffman told THR, "We saw people of every race,
religion, color. These were the six people we cast. So, it was
certainly not conscious."
The heyday of nineties sitcoms also included many hits where the casts
were mostly or entirely black, including "The Fresh Prince of Bel Air,"
"Martin," and "Living Single." In fact, Queen Latifah, star of "Living
Single," told "Late, Late Show" host James Corden in 2016 that her
series about a group of six African American pals living in New York
City helped pave the way for "Friends."
"I heard a rumor which I think could be true which was that `Living
Single' was a jumping off point for another huge sitcom on NBC, right?"
Corden asked. "Yes, `Friends,'" Latifah responded, smiling. "And it was
interesting, because when `Living Single' came out, shortly thereafter,
Warren Littlefield, who was president of NBC, they asked him if he
could have any show on television, any of the new shows, which one
would it be. And he said, `Living Single.' It was in the newspaper. And
the next thing you know, here comes `Friends.'"
Latifah concluded by calling "Friends" an "amazing show" and remarking
that NBC did a "great job" with it.
"Friends" isn't the only beloved nineties sitcom getting renewed
attention at the moment. "The Fresh Prince" will be getting a "gritty"
reboot on NBC's streaming platform, Peacock. No word on whether some of
the original roles will be recast as white.
--
Trump won.
and retroactively feature a more diverse cast.
"It should have been subtitled, `The One Where they Ignored Diversity -
Again,'" television reporter Greg Braxton wrote in a column published a
day after the series' much-anticipated reunion aired on HBO Max.
Braxton went on to say that, given today's more "diverse and inclusive"
TV landscape, "it's uncomfortable - if not outright inappropriate - to
raise a glass to a sitcom that was so blind to the multiculturalism of
the world where it took place."
He also argued the show's timing, appearing a year after George Floyd's
death "sparked massive protests against police brutality and amid the
ongoing conversation about race relations and white supremacy," made
its lack of focus on race all the more offensive.
In separate interviews with The Hollywood Reporter, Friends' executive
producer Kevin Bright and creator Marta Kauffman defended their casting
choices, saying they were based on chemistry not color.
"For the parts of Chandler and Phoebe, we saw everybody and we picked
what we thought were the two best actors. There are different
priorities today and so much has changed," Bright said, adding, "It's
important for today's shows to be reflective of the ways society truly
is. But for our experience, the three of us, that may have been our
experience when we were young and in New York. But we didn't intend to
have an all-white cast. That was not the goal, either. Obviously, the
chemistry between these six actors speaks for itself."
When asked if, given the criticism the show has faced recently, he
would have done anything differently, Bright said, "No. I don't have
any regrets other than hindsight. I would have been insane not to hire
those six actors. What can I say? I wish Lisa [Kudrow] was black?"
For her part, Kauffman told THR, "We saw people of every race,
religion, color. These were the six people we cast. So, it was
certainly not conscious."
The heyday of nineties sitcoms also included many hits where the casts
were mostly or entirely black, including "The Fresh Prince of Bel Air,"
"Martin," and "Living Single." In fact, Queen Latifah, star of "Living
Single," told "Late, Late Show" host James Corden in 2016 that her
series about a group of six African American pals living in New York
City helped pave the way for "Friends."
"I heard a rumor which I think could be true which was that `Living
Single' was a jumping off point for another huge sitcom on NBC, right?"
Corden asked. "Yes, `Friends,'" Latifah responded, smiling. "And it was
interesting, because when `Living Single' came out, shortly thereafter,
Warren Littlefield, who was president of NBC, they asked him if he
could have any show on television, any of the new shows, which one
would it be. And he said, `Living Single.' It was in the newspaper. And
the next thing you know, here comes `Friends.'"
Latifah concluded by calling "Friends" an "amazing show" and remarking
that NBC did a "great job" with it.
"Friends" isn't the only beloved nineties sitcom getting renewed
attention at the moment. "The Fresh Prince" will be getting a "gritty"
reboot on NBC's streaming platform, Peacock. No word on whether some of
the original roles will be recast as white.
--
Trump won.
BTR1701
May 30, 2021, 12:52:54 PM5/30/21
to
In article <EPydnT6q0u-4Hy79...@giganews.com>,
Ubiquitous <web...@polaris.net> wrote:
> The Los Angeles Times would like the show FRIENDS to go back in time
to be about race. It's impossible for them to believe anyone could do
anything that doesn't have race as its centerpiece.
And the once-great L.A. Times has become a joke as it beclowns itself
daily with its one-note race obsession. Last week, one of KFI's
reporters was laughing about how he showed up to the scene of a police
shooting to gather details for his report and while he was there, the
reporter from the L.A Times arrived and was frustrated that the cops had
already covered up the victim. She walked around asking everyone she
could fine her one and only question: what race was the victim and what
race was the cop? Once she found out both were white, she had no further
interest in the story.
> When asked if, given the criticism the show has faced recently, he
> would have done anything differently, Bright said, "No. I don't have
> any regrets other than hindsight. I would have been insane not to hire
> those six actors. What can I say? I wish Lisa [Kudrow] was black?"
Yes, that's exactly what you're supposed to say, Bright. Didn't you get
the memo?
> FRIENDS isn't the only beloved nineties sitcom getting renewed
> attention at the moment. THE FRESH PRINCE OF BEL AIR will be getting
Ubiquitous <web...@polaris.net> wrote:
> The Los Angeles Times would like the show FRIENDS to go back in time
> and retroactively feature a more diverse cast.
>
> "It should have been subtitled, 'The One Where they Ignored Diversity -
> Again,'" television reporter Greg Braxton wrote in a column published a
> day after the series' much-anticipated reunion aired on HBO Max.
>
> Braxton went on to say that, given today's more "diverse and inclusive"
> TV landscape, "it's uncomfortable - if not outright inappropriate - to
> raise a glass to a sitcom that was so blind to the multiculturalism of
> the world where it took place."
>
> He also argued the show's timing, appearing a year after George Floyd's
> death "sparked massive protests against police brutality and amid the
> ongoing conversation about race relations and white supremacy," made
> its lack of focus on race all the more offensive.
These people have a mental illness. For them, literally *everything* has
>
> "It should have been subtitled, 'The One Where they Ignored Diversity -
> Again,'" television reporter Greg Braxton wrote in a column published a
> day after the series' much-anticipated reunion aired on HBO Max.
>
> Braxton went on to say that, given today's more "diverse and inclusive"
> TV landscape, "it's uncomfortable - if not outright inappropriate - to
> raise a glass to a sitcom that was so blind to the multiculturalism of
> the world where it took place."
>
> He also argued the show's timing, appearing a year after George Floyd's
> death "sparked massive protests against police brutality and amid the
> ongoing conversation about race relations and white supremacy," made
> its lack of focus on race all the more offensive.
to be about race. It's impossible for them to believe anyone could do
anything that doesn't have race as its centerpiece.
And the once-great L.A. Times has become a joke as it beclowns itself
daily with its one-note race obsession. Last week, one of KFI's
reporters was laughing about how he showed up to the scene of a police
shooting to gather details for his report and while he was there, the
reporter from the L.A Times arrived and was frustrated that the cops had
already covered up the victim. She walked around asking everyone she
could fine her one and only question: what race was the victim and what
race was the cop? Once she found out both were white, she had no further
interest in the story.
> When asked if, given the criticism the show has faced recently, he
> would have done anything differently, Bright said, "No. I don't have
> any regrets other than hindsight. I would have been insane not to hire
> those six actors. What can I say? I wish Lisa [Kudrow] was black?"
the memo?
> FRIENDS isn't the only beloved nineties sitcom getting renewed
> attention at the moment. THE FRESH PRINCE OF BEL AIR will be getting
> a "gritty" reboot on NBC's streaming platform, Peacock. No word on
> whether some of the original roles will be recast as white.
LOL! Of course they won't. Why would they even suggest such a thing?
> whether some of the original roles will be recast as white.
Your Name
May 30, 2021, 10:47:04 PM5/30/21
to
On 2021-05-30 08:30:42 +0000, Ubiquitous said:
>
> The Los Angeles Times would like the show "Friends" to go back in time
> and retroactively feature a more diverse cast.
Where's the "diverse cast" in ...
>
> The Los Angeles Times would like the show "Friends" to go back in time
> and retroactively feature a more diverse cast.
- The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
- Good Times
- The Jeffersons
- The Cosby Show
- 227
- Amos 'n Andy
etc., etc.
All these whining "Politically Correct" / "Equality" / "Diversity"
morons and wannbe hangers-on need to be dropped into a deep hole and
forgotten about, especially those with zero knowledge of TV history.
Rhino
May 31, 2021, 12:23:26 AM5/31/21
to
>> FRIENDS isn't the only beloved nineties sitcom getting renewed
>> attention at the moment. THE FRESH PRINCE OF BEL AIR will be getting
>> a "gritty" reboot on NBC's streaming platform, Peacock. No word on
>> whether some of the original roles will be recast as white.
>
> LOL! Of course they won't. Why would they even suggest such a thing?
>
NEVER have white friends, family members or employees.
--
Rhino
Vidcapper
May 31, 2021, 1:55:49 AM5/31/21
to
On 30/05/2021 09:30, Ubiquitous wrote:
> The Los Angeles Times would like the show "Friends" to go back in time
> and retroactively feature a more diverse cast.
>
> "It should have been subtitled, `The One Where they Ignored Diversity -
> Again,'" television reporter Greg Braxton wrote in a column published a
> day after the series' much-anticipated reunion aired on HBO Max.
>
LOL, another insane 'liberal'.
> The Los Angeles Times would like the show "Friends" to go back in time
> and retroactively feature a more diverse cast.
>
> "It should have been subtitled, `The One Where they Ignored Diversity -
> Again,'" television reporter Greg Braxton wrote in a column published a
> day after the series' much-anticipated reunion aired on HBO Max.
>
--
Paul Hyett, Cheltenham
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