Fall lineups on NBC, CBS, ABC and Fox will be slightly more multiethnic, but a minority coalition says it's not enough. As a result of the agreement reached 16 months ago to increase diversity on the major television networks, the new fall shows on NBC, CBS, ABC and Fox will feature a slightly more multicultural look. We've all seen the figures in terms of what's happening in front of the camera. It wasn't just about actors, it was about writers.
Writers are very important.
Without writers, you retain these stereotypical characters. We thank the studios for their candor in terms of giving us information, but that's not what we signed. The initiatives were sparked in 1999 when the networks unveiled a slate of new prime-time shows, none of which had a minority in a leading role. Later this week, the coalition is expected to release report cards for each network critical of the fall schedules. If it hasn't happened by now, it isn't going to happen.