TV Tokenism

In class today, Mr. O'Connor and Mr. Bolos recapped their experience on the recent CASE conference.  They told us a little bit about TV Tokenism, which is, according to the always reliable dictionary.com, doing the absolute minimum.  In regards to television, this means the minimal amount of diversity in casts of characters. 

Mr. Bolos told us to think about the nature of Network Dramas.  I am a reality TV junky, so I do not know much about the hour long programs on public networks.  After a little digging, I found some popular shows as depicted by the NY Times.   The first show on their list and my point of focus: Law and Order. 

A brief synopses, for you and I both...
It has been running on NBC for 20 seasons and has different "versions," including Special Victims Unit (SVU).  The first half-hour of the show is dedicated to Law and takes place at crime scenes, and the second half focuses on the Order in a court room.  For a more complete description and for credits, please click HERE.

The main character, as TV Tokenism ensures, is a white male.  His colleagues are mainly white as well, with the exception of two Black cast members.  Click HERE for bios, and please note that Sam Waterston's biography appears upon opening the "Bios" tab; I did not click it.  It is a sad truth that even in this dynamic and arguably progressive society, the main character of one of the longest running Network Dramas is a white male.  Previous protagonists include others that fit the same bill: pale skin, grey hair, male, and over 50.

To say that Law and Order represents all Network Dramas in this sense would be over-simplifying, but to say it is unique would do the same.  Next time you are watching House or 24, for example, take note of the nature of the characters, and of which characters are not present.