The 2007 Asian Pacific American Media Coalition Report Card on Television Diversity 

Los Angeles—The Asian Pacific American Media Coalition (APAMC) is disappointed in the degree of progress that has been made by the four major networks -- ABC, CBS, FOX and NBC -- none of which improved their overall grades from last year.

The Coalition is pleased to see that the number of APA writers and producers have rebounded from the severe drop last year. However, there are still too few APA and other minority writers and producers on prime-time shows; and too few in charge of creative decisions. As a result, there are only a small number of fully developed, quality roles for APA actors. This continuing deficiency of APAs and other minorities in key decision making positions also results in incidents such as the recent slur against Filipino American physicians made on Desperate Housewives.

Standout shows that have excellent roles for APA actors are ABC’s Grey’s Anatomy and NBC’s Heroes. Grey’s Anatomy, which has Shonda Rhimes, an African American woman as show runner, illustrates the importance of providing opportunities for talented minority writers which helps to foster the creation of roles depicting minorities, including APAs, as quality, non-stereotypical characters. Both shows are good examples of how addressing the nation’s growing diversity can lead to both commercial and critical success.

Of great concern to us this year, is the declining number of opportunities for APA directors, which fell from 27 the previous year to 23 this year. Growing the number of APA directors working on prime-time shows is also crucial to increasing the presence of well-rounded APA characters with quality stories.

Overall, three of the networks’ – CBS, NBC and FOX – grades remained unchanged from last year. And despite its emergence as a trendsetter in assembling diverse casts in previous years with shows like Lost and Grey’s Anatomy, ABC’s overall grade dropped for the first time in three years.

This year, NBC tied with FOX for the top spot with an overall grade at C+, which did not change from 2006. Overall, NBC improved in three of the eight rated categories, including on-air prime-time scripted shows, writers and producers and diversity initiatives.

In the on-air prime-time scripted shows category, NBC increased the number of regular actors from seven to nine, earning the network a B-, up from a C+. As pointed out last year, NBC has made great strides with its program Heroes, which now has three APA actors in lead roles. The network has also included regular roles for APAs in three of its new shows, Bionic Woman, Journeyman and Lipstick Jungle.

We are very concerned that FOX’s number of APA actors in regular roles fell from nine to seven – several of these being voices for cartoons. It is particularly disappointing that Kelsey Grammer’s and Patricia Heaton’s heavily promoted new show, Back to You, has only one minority role – and that is a stereotypical Latina one at that.

Last year, FOX’s popular medical show, House, which is set in a hospital, did not have any regular or recurring roles for APAs. We are pleased to note that this season of House had three APAs appear in guest spots, with one still competing for a recurring or regular role. While FOX has less scripted programming than other networks, it still should be doing much better than it is, particularly given the number of Asian American and other minority writers and producers it has.

For its supplier diversity efforts, FOX earned a B+, the same as last year.

Overall, CBS earned a C for APA efforts over the past year. Since the implementation of our report card in 2001, CBS continues to seriously lag behind the other networks in terms of actors on prime-time, and the network showed no improvement in this category this year. CBS only slightly improved with casting APAs in recurring roles, up from 11 to 12 this year. With still only two regular roles for Asian Americans, the network remains in the basement with a D+ for on screen prime-time scripted shows.

The one new spot with potential on CBS is Kunal Nayyar's role in The Big Bang Theory, which so far is somewhat limited since his character is too nervous around women to be able to talk. It is disappointing to note that CBS’ new show Moonlight, and its existing shows, Rules of Engagement, Criminal Minds and How I Met Your Mother do not feature any APAs in their casts.

Survivor: Cook Islands gave the network a boost in APAs cast in reality programming which helped it win a B grade last year. Survivor: Fiji also had a significant number of APAs cast so CBS maintained its B grade this year. However, we note that the number of APAs and other minorities cast in the current Survivor: China has taken somewhat of a dive.

Conclusion

While there was some improvement on the screen for Asian Pacific American actors, it is disappointingly limited in both quality and scope, particularly given the fact that the networks have been working to address this issue for eight years.

It is still the case that shows such as ABC’s Private Practice, CBS’s Shark, FOX’s New Amsterdam and NBC’s 30 Rock, which are set in cities with high Asian Pacific American populations like Los Angeles and New York yet have limited or no APA representation. And it is still extremely rare to see more than one APA regular in a show.

Some progress is being made in shows like Two and a Half Men and ‘Til Death, which had primarily white casts last year. Both added Asian Americans in recurring roles. Still, too many of the roles for Asian Americans and other minority actors do not even have enough of a role to be given individual names or be more than sidekicks to white characters in large ensemble casts.

And we are deeply concerned about the lack of commitment to development deals with APA writers and talent. It has been 13 years since the groundbreaking sitcom All American Girl featuring an Asian American family led by Margaret Cho. Without more development deals and a serious investment in APA talent, we have no hope of America having the opportunity to see an Asian American family in prime-time any time soon.

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The Asian Pacific American Media Coalition (APAMC) has agreements with ABC, NBC, CBS and FOX, committing them to work to increase diversity onscreen and behind the camera. APAMC members include such organizations as the Asian American Justice Center, the Center for Asian American Media, East-West Players, Japanese American Citizens League, Media Action Network for Asian Americans, the Organization of Chinese Americans, and Visual Communications.

The Asian American Justice Center is a national organization dedicated to defending and advancing the civil and human rights of Asian Americans. It works closely with three affiliates – the Asian American Institute of Chicago, the Asian Law Caucus in San Francisco, and the Asian Pacific American Legal Center in Los Angeles – and 102 community partners in 47 cities and 24 states in the country. AAJC chairs the Asian Pacific American Media Coalition.