Fall 2014 shows embrace minority leads as networks realise that diversity sells; Guardian, 9/11/14

Brian Moylan, Guardian; Fall 2014 shows embrace minority leads as networks realise that diversity sells:

"There’s also a 2013 study from UCLA that proves shows with greater diversity do better in the ratings. This was true not just in broadcast, but also in cable.

Still, that study showed the the lion’s share of programming on all of television has only 10 percent diversity in the cast. (Another study by the Center for Study of Women in Television & Film found that women account for only 43% of all speaking roles on television, so we still have some way to go on sexual diversity as well.)

But there has also become a broader discussion about diversity on television. In 2012 HBO’s show Girls strangely became ground zero for an internet-wide debate about the lack of people of color on the show in particular and television in general. In 2013 scandal erupted again when Saturday Night Live came under fire for not having any black actresses on its roster. After four months, they hired Sasheer Zamata for the ensemble and two African American women to work as writers.

Conquering diversity seems to be a problem that networks are invested in, if only to improve their bottom line. And if it gets us stories that reflect the actual world we live in, who cares what the result is. Still, there is a long way to go before TV is an actual reflection of our ever-expanding universe. But a bandwagon full of shows about families unlike those in Norman Rockwell paintings is one all the networks should consider jumping on. Hear that, CBS?"