Blacks On Television 2012 Fall Roundup
In the show Go On Matthew Perry is a sports radio host whose wife has recently died. He joins a support group. The show features 3 diverse characters:
Tyler James Williams (Everybody Hates Chris) stars as Owen, who reluctantly joins the support group after a family tragedy.
Though the promotional picture shows another black character, the NBC website does not list this character on the cast bio page indicating he has a minor role.
John Cho and Suzy Nakamura also scored spots in this show -no easy task considering the extremely limited number roles for Asians on American television.
The New Normal is a comedy about “2 gay dads and a baby momma.”
The show features Nene Leakes as Rocky, the fierce assistant of father-to-be Bryan Buckley. In the show, Leakes is known for her “no-nonsense attitude.” She was invited to the home of Bryan and David in their scheme to prove they had Black friends.
Chicago Fire, an edge-of-your-seat view into the lives of everyday heroes committed to one of America’s noblest professions, features 3 diverse characters:
Charlie Barnett (A graduate of The Juilliard School) stars as Peter Mills, a young new academy graduate who follows a long line of multi-generational firefighters.”
Monica Raymund (another The Juilliard School graduate) stars as Gabriella Dawson, the fast-thinking, fearless paramedic who faces harrowing situations.
Eamonn Walker (Golden Globe Nominee) stars as Battalion Chief Wallace Boden, a fireman’s fireman who is confronted by important personal decisions.”
Chicago Fire premiers Wednesday October 10 at 10:00pm eastern on NBC.
Guys With Kids is a show about three 30-something dads who try to hold on to their youth as they face the responsibilities of having kids. It features two black stars – Anthony Anderson (Law & Order) stars as Gary, a stay-at-home dad of four. Tempestt Bledsoe (Vanessa on The Cosby Show) stars as Marny, Gary’s energetic wife.
The current season of Boss, a show that follows Mayor Tom Kane’s journey as the major of Chicago, features 3 black characters.
Sanaa Lathan stars as Mona Fredricks, Alderman Ross’ strong-willed and politically savvy Chief of Staff who is described as “incorruptible and unwavering in her ethics.”
T.I. plays Trey Rogers A former gangbanger with designs on a career in City Hall.
Rotimi plays Darius Morrison, an enterprising and ambitious young man who carries a bright smile in dim surroundings.
Echo Kellum plays Tommy on Ben and Kate, the Fox show about two reunited siblings who have vastly different lives. Information about Kellum’s character is no where to be found on the Fox website, or any of the Ben and Kate wikis. It appears from video clips that he’s a friend and had a romantic relationship with one of the shows characters.
The NBC Show Revolution tells the tale of a family struggling to reunite in an American landscape where every single piece of technology – computers, planes, cars, phones, even lights – has mysteriously blacked out forever. It features 3 black characters.
Maria Howell (House of Payne) plays Grace Beaumont, a character who possesses a pendant with the ability to turn on the power and communicates in secret using a handmade computer terminals.
JD Pardo stars as Nate. A Militia spy masquerading as a fisherman on his way to Chicago.
Giancarlo Esposito (Breaking Bad) stars as Captain Tom Neville, a cultured former insurance adjuster turned militia leader.
Taraji P. Henson stars in Person of Interest, a crime thriller about a presumed dead former-CIA agent who teams up with a mysterious billionaire to prevent violent crimes by using their own brand of vigilante justice.
On Suits, Afro-Cuban actress Gina Torres plays Jessica Pearson. Her name didn’t get on the firm Pearson Harden because she’s soft. As Harvey Specter’s boss, Jessica will constantly take him to task over his ethics and tactics. But Jessica is more than Harvey’s boss. She’s someone who will stand next to him when he needs her most.
On the ABC show Last Resort Emmy winner Andre Braugher stars as Captain of the USS Colorado. Marcus is a man of principle, honor, and duty. When questionable orders arrive to fire a devastating nuclear strike on Pakistan, rather than blindly obey, Marcus questions the order, and ultimately refuses it, laying himself and his senior officers open to charges of mutiny and treason.
On New Girl, a show about a group of quirky roommates Lamorne Morris plays Winston. Winston is a roommate who has an uncanny ability to pick up new skills with little effort, but he has a difficult time finding and keeping employment because he quickly becomes bored with repetitive tasks.
The show Baby Daddy is about Ben, a guy in his 20s who becomes a surprise dad to a baby girl when she’s left on his doorstep by an ex-girlfriend. Tahj Mowry portrays Tucker Dobbs, friend and roommate of the main character who helps with raising the baby.
Kym Whitley stars in NBC’s new comedy series Animal Practice as Juanita, a take-charge nurse who has the unenviable task of keeping the peace in the chaotic world of Crane Animal Hospital.
The upcoming NBC series Infamous features two black characters.
Meagan Good plays detective Joanna Locasto, the lead character who uncovers secrets behind the death of an old acquaintance .
Laz Alonso plays FBI agent Will Moreno, convinced the troubled girl’s death was a homicide, he has a clever plan to get to the truth. He is also Good’s love interest.
Official descriptions taken from network websites. How many of these shows have you seen?
