My idea of a good TV drama series is 24 (on FOX) starring Kiefer Sutherland. And, for a good TV comedy series, Curb Your Enthusiasm (on HBO) starring Larry David gets my vote. Therefore, this commentary on Desperate Housewives (on ABC) is admittedly suffused with bias, if not condescension. But the fact that I could not figure out whether it was trying to be a drama or comedy did not bode well for my review of the show.
I am writing about Desperate Housewives because a friend who worships it like a new-found religion tried to convert me to its saving grace during an episode last Sunday night. But much to her dismay – when it was over and she asked “well?” – I had so many critical things to say about the stereotypical scene in which a black man was arrested that we never got to what, if anything, I liked about the show.
Yet, I suspect that a vast majority of blacks who watched this episode would give it an equally jaundiced review. After all, many of them criticized popular TV sitcoms like Seinfeld and Friends for neglecting to feature people of colour (not even as extras), despite being ostensibly situated in the very diverse New York City.
But I did not buy into this quota-based criticism. Because I appreciated that both of those sitcoms revolved around the private lives of a group of “white” friends. And, as shocking as it might have appeared to people who have never lived in New York City, I was not at all surprised that neither show depicted much interracial socializing. After all, New Yorkers generally accept that eventhough whites and blacks interact as professionals; they rarely socialize as friends. Which, incidentally, is why the belated casting of a black love interest for one of the male characters on Friends during its final season seemed so woefully contrived.
New residents in the Wisteria Lane neighbourhood on “Desperate Housewives” who are adding a little color but, alas, not much texture to the show
Instead, what incited my reaction was the stereotypical way the only black family in this lily-white neighbourhood was (and is) being portrayed. And my dismay was compounded when I thought of how often openly gay men like the show’s creator Marc Cherry proclaim their empathy and solidarity with victims of racial stereotypes. Because it seems that Cherry decided to promote racial diversity in his TV world by casting a black family whose members are alienated not only by mundane racial prejudice but also because of the suspicious, menacing and criminal traits he assigned to them.
Even worse, after having his white characters commit every crime imaginable – including murder – with relative impunity, Cherry played on black stereotypes by having a police squadron raid Wisteria Lane to arrest one of these black characters in such dramatic fashion. And, his failure of creativity in writing this scene was only exacerbated by the fact that Cherry had all of the white neighbours congregate on their lawns to gawk at the arrest and watch this black “intruder” being driven-off to a place where so many black men call home: prison. (Meanwhile, he has already put the only Hispanic-looking main character behind bars…)
It’s fair to assume that I won’t be watching any more episodes of Desperate Housewives….
Note: I acknowledge Cherry’s creative license to portray the characters in his show as he pleases. But just as I don’t think one has to be gay to resent stereotypical portrayals of gays on TV, I hope one does not have to be black to resent stereotypical portrayals of blacks. Nevertheless, here’s to more black creators and writers of TV shows!
News and Politics
Anonymous says
i agree totally!
Anonymous says
C’mon buddy. It’s just a TV show. Only narrowminded, ignorant people waste their time watching silly stuff like this anyway.
Anonymous says
to anonymous,
not to sound any alarm bells, but there are millions of these so called “narrow minded and ignorant people” living all over this great country. someone is keeping these shows on the air. unfortunately, they happen (like most of us) to think they know more than they actually do. They occupy positions of authority, work in law enforcement and dare i say, occupy positions in local and federal government. the real irony, alluded to by AH, is that it is the so called “open minded” creative types who provide a national platform for these race baiting portrayals of minorities.
Rage….
Anonymous says
For once I agree with you. This show is woeful in so many ways it makes me wonder how it can be successful. These appalling, self-indulgent ‘chick-lit’ inspired shows (Sex in the City being another) are taking us back to the dark ages socially. Grow up America.
Anonymous says
I’ve always thought of myself as an open-minded liberal person. I guess the gay creator of this show thinks of himself that way too. I am embarrassed that when I saw this episode I didn’t notice any of the things you point out here.
It may be just a show but sadly it reflects how so many of us think. Thanks again for being so enlightening ALH.
Jennifer
Sebastian says
Sorry, but this post reads like a general state-of-tv rant with a thin pretense of “evaluating” one particular episode of one tv show.
As an African-American, I too see the lack of diversity throughout all media, except for hip-hop videos and food and beer commercials. But sometimes, it is possible to like, or dislike, a show on a pure entertainment basis.
I have not reached a point where I have to see x amount of minority representation before I feel comfortable enough deciding whether or not a particular show is worth watching.
I find most of the African-American comedies to be full of stereotypes and quite offensive, so to be fair this is not something that can be laid solely at the feet of “white shows”.
Perhaps, to be fair to your friend, you should watch more than one show, or better yet, watch some shows from last season when there were no African-American characters.
C.C. says
I agree with you on certain levels, but some of the arguments are a bit cliché.
C.C. says
One of your problems with DH was that it showed a neighborhood where the characters were predominantly white. Well, let’s face it, there are real neighborhoods where white people are predominant. Would it be better to show a place with an even mix of all races? That would be unrealistic, wouldn’t it? I do agree with you that it was unfortunate to see that the only African-American family on Wisteria Lane was involved in shady dealings, and that the only Hispanic man was, until recently, behind bars. That does seem very stereotypical to me. Continue watching, and maybe you’ll find some more interesting topics of discussion. I enjoyed your take on the show.
Anonymous says
C.C.
You begin your comment as follows:
“One of your problems with DH was that it showed a neighborhood where the characters were predominantly white.”
But if you read the article a little more carefully you’ll see that he writes that that is precisely NOT his problem with the show.
In fact his problem seems to be that show creator Mark Cherry relied on so many cliches and stereotypes about African Americans in writing this episode.
I suggest you read the article again because aside from misreading some facts you seem to actually agree with him.
Jennifer