There are 587 series-regular roles on scripted network primetime television this fall. Only six of them have disabilities. Only one of those six is portrayed by a disabled actor.
That information comes courtesy of the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, which last week released its annual "Where We Are on TV" report. The survey documents the number of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender characters in each new fall television season. This year, for the first time, GLAAD also counted the number of characters with disabilities.
While the U.S. Census Bureau reports that people with identified disabilities make up a little more than 12% of the American population, they make up only 1% of the primetime population. Disheartening though that statistic may be, the fact that it even exists represents progress.
"One of the issues that performers with disabilities in the entertainment industry have continued to struggle with is the lack of accurate...
That information comes courtesy of the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, which last week released its annual "Where We Are on TV" report. The survey documents the number of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender characters in each new fall television season. This year, for the first time, GLAAD also counted the number of characters with disabilities.
While the U.S. Census Bureau reports that people with identified disabilities make up a little more than 12% of the American population, they make up only 1% of the primetime population. Disheartening though that statistic may be, the fact that it even exists represents progress.
"One of the issues that performers with disabilities in the entertainment industry have continued to struggle with is the lack of accurate...
- 10/6/2010
- by By Daniel Holloway, Back Stage
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
There are 587 series-regular roles on scripted network prime-time television this fall. Only six of them have disabilities. Only one of those six is portrayed by a disabled actor.That information comes courtesy of the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, which last week released its annual "Where We Are on TV" report. The survey documents the number of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender characters in each new fall television season. This year, for the first time, GLAAD also counted the number of characters with disabilities. While the U.S. Census Bureau reports that people with identified disabilities make up a little more than 12 percent of the American population, they make up only 1 percent of the prime-time population. Disheartening though that statistic may be, the fact that it even exists represents progress."One of the issues that performers with disabilities in the entertainment industry have continued to struggle with is the lack...
- 10/6/2010
- backstage.com
NBC Universal has a race problem. That was made clear last month during congressional hearings over the company's proposed sale to the cable giant Comcast, when critics took turns blasting NBCU for its diversity record. Stanley Washington, president and chief executive officer of the National Coalition of African American Owned Media, called the company a "plantation." Producer Suzanne de Passe decried the media consolidation that the merger would typify as harmful to minorities. But the most stinging criticism came from U.S. Rep. Maxine Waters, D-Calif., who accused NBCU of trying to bribe her and bemoaned the dearth of African Americans working in front of and behind the camera. "I really liked 'Girlfriends,' " Waters said, referring to the defunct CW ensemble sitcom about four African-American women. "We don't have any more of that."Indeed we don't. When the broadcast networks launch the new TV season this fall,...
- 7/28/2010
- backstage.com
The issue of ageism in the entertainment industry has once again surfaced, this time in connection with a brouhaha surrounding the Internet Movie Database's practice of publishing the birth dates of actors and writers. The Writers Guild of America West is spearheading an effort to compel IMDb to allow artists to remove their birthdays from the site."The guild has a contract with IMDb to provide credits information and does not release information on age," Neal Sacharow, a spokesman for the WGA, told TheWrap.com, which first reported the story. "We have raised our concerns with IMDb about its listing of ages." The WGA declined to comment further when contacted by Back Stage.The Screen Actors Guild has also attempted to get IMDb to remove the birth dates of nonstars. In a statement, Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, deputy national executive director and general counsel of SAG, wrote: "Screen Actors Guild and IMDb.
- 7/7/2010
- backstage.com
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