Black television is either the culprit or the cause, the motivator or the degeneration of how we as blacks perceive ourselves on the airwaves and in broadcast media. The media mirror in which we observe ourselves and our lifestyles is too often as distorted as a fun house reflection guided by some wayward determination to misrepresent the truth and mislead the public.
But enter “The Game,” the much ballyhooed return of stylish and urbane African Americans to the small screen, and, after all the hype and all the controversy, we come to a deeper understanding and better comprehension of … the real game.
What a joke television moguls and executives played (and we let them) by confusing reality with sports and entertainment. In “The Game,” we are afforded an opportunity and insider’s view of just how much of it is real and what’s not. Sexy, single twins partying on what was known as the best entertainment television … oh, excuse me, I meant black entertainment television, as in BET. Is it the best that we could do? Industry commentaries laud the network for having such wonderful, phenomenal programming with rich content, great dialogue and excellent examples of love and black life in a contemporary setting. It’s a measure of how far we have come to have “The Game” rank the biggest, highest rated show.
And although the show is no longer on network television and now requires viewers to tune in to cable television, it manages to demystify and uncomplicate the peculiar world of celebrity athletes, and it has elevated the dialogue amongst young 30-somethings and millenials into something that is more meaningful and substantial than material possessions. (Check out rolling out’s “Community Sound-Off” for more.)
“The Game” amassed sufficient attention to occupy the press and engage the viewing public with its impressive depiction of the lifestyles of the rich and famous. Was it really about that, though?
Meeting some of the actors and cast may tell a different story. I have had the pleasure of hanging out with Pooch at the Super Bowl and seeing how wonderful and genuine he is as a person. Smiling authentically and actually, sincerely hugging and graciously taking pictures with eager, star struck fans who clamored around him. Leaving the VIP suite, he was bombarded by well-wishers and glassy-eyed women who swooned and melted in his presence as though he brought with him a heat wave — but we were in Miami after all. Smiles flashed around him like cameras on rapid capture.
This is when you recognize how beautiful our African American youth are who admire the man and the character and attempt to emulate his relatively wholesome image.
I wonder about the characters depicted on TV, and I wonder about the images that are projected on the screen for us and our children to view and allow into our subconscious. Do these images that ooze from our TV sets reflect the contents of our characters and, inevitably, our culture? Are these accurate and appropriate guides?
I am at a loss to understand the distrust and disrespect for those African Americans who endeavor to expose us to more than paltry pictures of black life. I am saddened by the fact that Bill and Camille Cosby built a center on Spelman’s campus that largely goes underappreciated and, ultimately, underutilized.
Recently, I spent time with my friend, comedian George Wallace, and we paused for a moment of silence in remembrance for our brother, Bernie Mac, whose genius in showcasing an extended black family rife with real issues with poignant humor helped his show take flight and appeal to a massive, diverse audience.
And then there was Regina King’s “Leap of Faith,” an example of how Hollywood doesn’t develop the story or the character and just adds someone black for color and to satisfy the diversity issue. I was glad our girl, Queen King, was working, but wished she’d been given something realer.
Thanks, Debra Lee, but where are the shows about the young, single fathers single taking care of children and raising them to be responsible, contributing members of society? Or the series about the mother who has spent five years of her life documenting her love for her child on You Tube and in a video journal for the child she will not see grow up because she is the victim of lupus, which slowly ravages black women’s bodies over time. Now, that’s real. Or where is the show about the black female stock broker who is committed to her community and volunteers her time to improve the quality of life for inner-city kids.
When can we stop seeing the fat, jovial black person, slap-happy and carefree, and see real authentic and accurate representation of black people as real characters with authentic actors and accurate depictions of black life.
It’s unfortunate that the ethnic sitcoms never jelled with the CW’s audience. But “The Game,” now on BET, has contracted for more original episodes with primarily the same cast. And in addition to “The Game,” BET is also partnering with Flavor Unit Entertainment to produce an original scripted black-cast romantic comedy series, “Let’s Stay Together.” But these will be the network’s first foray into originally produced shows, proving there is talent on both sides of the camera that is not being seen.
In this and all things, it’s important to remember the edict of Morehouse’s Dr. Benjamin Mays, who directed African Americans to be stellar in our personal presentations, express ourselves eloquently and clearly and keep our character beyond reproach.
Peace. –munson steed
