Locating Voices of Color on Television!

A brief moment of silence for The Wire... I had to start by honoring perhaps one of the most  compelling, intelligent, and engaging dramas EVER!  Though I am avid Desperate Housewives fan, Sunday nights will no longer serve as home to the best show on television.  Critically acclaimed, though summarily unrecognized by awards, The Wire will be missed by those who tuned in to the gritty and multilayered show faithfully for five seasons.  Reruns (though edited for content and language) appear on BET, so I encourage you to rent the Series DVDs.

Now that I've gotten that off my chest, I can express my utter disappointment with the lack of substantive dramas and witty comedies starring predominantly black and browns casts.  Admittedly, I watch Grey's Anatomy, which has quite a diverse cast and a dynamic black woman writer.  Nevertheless, shows focusing on the lived experiences of black and brown in people in United States are quite limited.  The ridiculousness of Flavor Flav continuing to search for "love" reached its peak with the airing of a third season.  I tuned in for Seasons 1&2 as a guilty pleasure, but remained conflicted about my complacency in popularizing this postmodern minstrelsy that continues to entertain the masses and perpetuate damaging racial and sexual stereotypes.  Perhaps it was the absurdity or perhaps it was the extreme behavior of the cast of this show that drew record-breaking audiences, but at what point do I ask, why is this trash so intriguing?