This post was inspired by Mr. B's TV Tokenism presentation in class last week when we looked at cast photos. One of my favorite shows (which is no longer on the air :( ) is Ugly Betty. Although it is not considered a "network drama", its more "network dramedy" (drama/ comedy). The show follows a Latino woman making it big in the fashion industry but still staying true to her roots. In the cast photo above, she is the main focal point. I find it interesting that her white male boss, Daniel, is next in the photo. This shows his supremacy without making him the lead character. However, what bothers me is that two of Betty's white colleagues, Marc and Amanda, come before her family. Her family has a bigger role than both Marc and Amanda, so it doesn't really make much sense.
I believe that Ugly Betty changed American TV for the better. It's one of the few network TV shows to focus on a minority family and had a main character as a minority female. It was a truly unique show that put Latinos in a new light. I'm sad to see it end. As we have been discussing in class, there still is not one example of a minority lead in any network drama.
(image via: http://blog.earnmydegree.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/11/ugly-betty-cast-photo.jpg)
Yes, a great connection to TV Tokenism! I like how you analyzed the cast photo, especially in light of what you know about the character relationships on the show.
ReplyDeleteAlthough UB was canceled, guess who has already been signed to star in a new show?