European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - June 14, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse Abc still blazes Trail toward Black audience by Rick do brow los Angeles times bigots used to Call the negro broadcasting co. It was a badge of Honor for the network. For played a historic role As the Leader in breaking Down barriers against Blacks in television. In the �?T50s, carried the Nat King Cole show for an entire year virtually without sponsors who feared advertising on a series with a Black Star. In the �?T60s, presented Bill Cosby As the first Black actor to headline a regular drama series in i spy. Also in the �?T60s, broke further ground with the sitcom Julia in which Diahann Carroll starred As a widowed working Black Mother. Previously stereotypical Black series a the comedy Amos a no Andy and Beulah about a maid a Drew criticism for prolonging outdated images and by inference racism. Cut to 1992 and the fall to schedules announced by the networks in recent weeks. Nic Bill Cosby in i spy. Abc. As it has through much of to history a culminating with the cosy show a remains a Leader in attempting weekly series about or starring Blacks. Four of its five new comedies have Strong Black presences. But the new interest in creating Black oriented series a at All the networks a is not a sign of altruism. It has always been business first in television but never More than now in regard to Black audiences because according to recent surveys they the heaviest viewers. In Short television is finally doing the right thing a paying attention to the Blacks it has often ignored a but for the wrong reason cold Cash rather than social Progress. Its a cynical turn of events but at least it opens the door a Little More to Equality. What is missing however is genuine commitment to what television sorely lacks solid realistic dramas about Black family life. True Progress will be measured by televisions willingness to live up to that commitment. In any Case still can say proudly that bigots probably would not be pleased with its fall schedule. Among the returning series with Black stars for instance Are fresh Prince of Bel air with will Smith and a different world the successful spinoff of the Cosby show. Also returning is one of the finest new series of recent years til Fly away in which a Brilliant Young actress Regina Taylor plays a Black housekeeper who begins to find herself and her lifetime goals As she works for a White Southern family during the Rise of the civil rights movement in the �?T50s. The difference Between Taylor a housekeeper role and the stereotypical portrayals of Black maids in old Kadeem Hardison in a different world. Abc will Smith in fresh Prince of Bel air. Richard Brooks in Law amp order. Films and to series is an intelligent depiction of social change. Among its other Black stars also has Richard Brooks a splendid Young actor who plays a prosecutor in Law s order a series that ranks among tvs finest. And although the series in the of the night will move this fall to lbs deserves credit for originally airing this police show in which co Star Howard Rollins portrays a solid married Black family Man who is one of the few such role models in television drama. No cd a bid for the Black audience will be additionally Clear in the fall when the network launches its new comedy series. They include Malcolm Jamal Warner in Here and now Patti lab Lac in out All night Bill Nunn in Buck and Barty and Anna Maria Horsford and Ron Glass in rhythm and blues. When the . Nielsen ratings firm surveyed Black to watching habits last september it reported statistics sure to Appeal to network sales departments. Nielsen reported that Black households watch an average of 69 hours of television each week compared to 47 hours for viewers Overall. The heaviest Black viewers Are teen agers and women 35 to 64 years old. Prime time viewing in Black Homes is also significantly higher than the Overall average on fridays and saturdays which May be because of less disposable income for weekend entertainment in economically disadvantaged areas. The revelation about weekend viewing could then be a Factor in no cd a scheduling of such Black oriented series As Here and now and out All night on saturday and abcs decision to Lead off its Friday lineup with family matters. To Industry insiders say that former entertainment president Brandon Tartikoff who led the network to six straight years of ratings leadership was one of the first major executives to recognize the significance of Black viewing patterns. One of the key series in no cd a Rise to the top was the a team which starred Black performer or. T. The shows ratings in a City such As Detroit with its Large Black population were often astronomical. Solid substantiation of the difference in viewing in Black households came recently from the Bado and Agency. In a Survey that indicated Why the hard pressed television networks Are focusing on specific demographic groups for All possible rating benefits the Agency found that the top 10 series in Black households a totally different from the favourites of the general population a were a different world fresh Prince of Bel air the Cosby show in living color Fox Roc Fox Blossom family matters married. With children Fox the Royal family lbs in the Cleat of the night but moving to lbs missing from this list was every one of the top-10 rated series for the to season that ended on april 12 60 minutes lbs Roseanne Murphy Brown lbs cheers Home improvement designing women lbs full House murder she wrote lbs major dad lbs coach food for thought. And the networks Are biting. June 14, 1992 sunday a Page 11
