Goodbye Black Programming---Hello CW

(Caution: The pain and anger of my slavery ancestors is going to come out during this post)

I’m scared. Why would the combining of UPN and WB scare me you ask? Because of what it symbolizes. I can’t help but think that this was all done purposely to shut out successful black programming. It has taken years for intelligent blacks to find shows to relate to. We either had to deal with buffoonery stereotypical shows that made blacks look as ignorant, materialistic, sex crazed or poor as they possibly could. Many outside the black community may not realize that intelligent blacks hate BET. We hate programming that relies on stupidity only because networks think it’s easy to get cheap laughs out of black people. The intelligent black crowd turned their backs on BET and other outlets that continued to show blacks in a negative light long ago. That is not who we are although it may seem like it to many.

Black people are capable of having good shows without falling into the trap of letting networks motivate their purpose. Bernie Mac is the perfect example of a man who takes charge of his show. He told Fox how he wanted his show to be handled and that is how it has been run since it started. I admire people like Bernie who tell the networks to f--- off when they know a change would be harmful to a certain crowd or audience. But back to the CW…

I don’t know why I think of this so politically. Maybe it’s because I’m black. Maybe it’s because this seems to be another slap in the face to me. Just when we get a network (though UPN isn’t perfect) that caters to blacks, suddenly it has to go. Is it just a coincidence that UPN was cut out of the naming of the new network? C stands for CBS, and W stands for WB. Okay, what about the three letters U-P-N? They couldn’t fit that in anywhere? And should I believe it is just a coincidence that almost all of the WB’s shows that cater to white audiences are being handed over to the CW even though some of them were failing in the ratings? Yet the networks are keeping mum about UPN shows and have only named about three that’s making the move. One being Veronica Mars. I guess I should be glad of that right? At least the cast is somewhat diverse. (Note the sarcasm)

I don’t even watch UPN except for Eve but this still hurts. If you think that this was just a coincidence then you are fooled my friend. I believe the powers that be wanted to get rid of a network that it took years for blacks to obtain. Some people take a mile when given an inch. It’s funny how in television I can’t remember blacks having a mile. I know this was racially driven. I know this in my heart and you all know I am not one to play the race card. And this hurts. It really hurts because I am scared that blacks will go back to being nonexistent when it comes to television. They blame it on poor ratings for some of the black UPN sitcoms. Oh yeah? Who has the meters in their homes? The only black person I ever heard with a meter was my aunt and she gave it up years ago because it took too much time. I don’t believe too many families in Harlem or Brooklyn got the meters do you? But I bet everybody in Beverly Hills has one. So what does that say? We never had our chance to give input to the ratings. And of course our shows are not going to outshine those on major networks because they are not ON major networks. That’s the point. When will these networks see that comparing black shows to shows on ABC, NBC, and CBS is pointless when our shows don’t even have the fair chance to compete? I could be pissed just because Eve happens to be a show I enjoy. I could be pissed because I know deep in my heart that they won’t bring Eve to the CW. Hell I could be pissed about my wrists hurting or not having enough time to finish things I need to do. I could be pissed about a lot of things. But today, right now, at this point in time, I’m pissed about this. It is more than the combining of networks. It is the constant reminder of how we just won’t ever be accepted in this world. You know we don’t care about that anyway. Blacks don’t want to be accepted by " society " but we do want to be respected.

I just hope CBS and WB claiming networks were struggling fool no one. They were struggling years ago when they started too. But when UPN had a good dose of white shows a few years back, no one decided it was time to change things then did they? If they get rid of Eve it would be a shame. It is probably one of the most intelligent and non-stereotypical black sitcoms to be made in years. I loved the fact that three women owned their own business and didn’t rely on men for anything. Eve’s black characters are college educated with good jobs. You won’t find one " ghetto " soul on Eve. You don’t know how much watching something so positive for blacks meant to me. It’s also funny as hell so if they get rid of it, I know it wasn’t because of the show. I know the ratings are up there. Eve has always been one of UPN’s top shows. No, it’s just because this is how things are going to be done now and forever.

It hasn’t been easy hearing the racist statements about UPN over the years. Some people called it " The Nigger Network ". Others called specific line-up days " Welfare Nights ". But you think we cared what it was called? No we’re used to being called a lot of things. We just wanted to support the little inch of meaningful programming we had. Now that’s gone.

So don’t believe this is just a coincidence. It is much more. It may even mean that blacks are slipping backwards in network programming. That is, if blacks will even exist in primetime major network television at all any longer. I don’t know if we will or not? Do you? Seems like UPN was our last chance. And I hate to think how blacks might disappear from television once Oprah calls it a quits.

The photo is Eve

Stacy