NBC Developing "Friends With Black People" Comedy In Light Of Obama Win

Variety:

President-elect Barack Obama is already bringing about change -- to the world of network TV development, at least.

NBC is developing a comedy based on the book "Making Friends With Black People," a buddy comedy that will focus on the state of race relations in the U.S.

Show isn't specifically about Obama's rise as the nation's first African-American president -- but "Making Friends" hopes to capitalize on how Obama's success has changed the nation's dialogue on race.

"From time to time, race bubbles up in the consciousness of the country and then dissipates," said "Making Friends" author Nick Adams. "Now, with Obama, people are talking about race a lot more. We hope to capitalize on that and not let the dialogue die down. ... It seemed like a good opportunity to strike while the iron is hot."

Read the whole story: Variety

Comments

[nellie]

groan...

Has the teevy learned that African Americans are not cartoon characters? I hope so, or this could be painful.

[estevancarlos]

black people on tv or better yet, diversity on tv... what a novel idea.

[YouDisgustMe]

hmmmmmmmmm....i don't know how i feel about this but i will hold off judgment til i get to watch it

[kottison]

Lol I guess now since Obama won some black actors and actresses might be able to more jobs.

[DarkandStormyNight]

That seems trite at best. Here's a better version.

http://www.blackpeopleloveus.com/

[thelegacymaker]

LOL...

[Haditup2here]

"Sally loves to touch my hair! She always asks me how I got my hair to do this. That makes me feel special. Like I have magical powers!"

LMAO. I had to bookmark that page.

[Shieldmaiden]

Meh. The only NBC show I watch is The Office. I'm black and I'm pretty sure that if this show is as lame as the rest of the NBC lineup, I won't be watching.

[thankulord13]

I am sorry I am Black too and I like 30 Rock... partly because they have more than one Black person.

[buzzbeedc]

There was a show called Living Single that was the black Friends.

[SheriChardonnay]

thank you...it was good and ran its course...

[Madmac]

It was the show that Friends was based on

[RedBirdy]

What the heck? I'm confused. Black entertainers only get a boost because of a black president elect? SNL needs more diversity (they really need some folks that are funny). It shouldn't be about race, but the fact is, NBC along with many other networks other than CW need to have minorities on TV. It's sad that a show like Friends only had a minority character in it's last season. But let's get past race, let's get some funny comedies and some good drama back on television, and if the cast happens to be a little less white, than ok.

[thankulord13]

Okay One Tree Hill and the New 90210 got one Black guy each... yeah that's diversity.

[yearlin]

the name is offensive. this will not heal the racial divide by any means. it will make it worse. unfair stereotypes will be overplayed with us (i am black) looking the fool ( as always). its bad enough that nbc cant stop drooling over obama. i'm an obama fan and i get disgusted. now this...no.

[NounverbPOW]

Try reading the book-folks. It is hilarious! I'm white and I loved it- it also contained some really valuable tips- I learned how noot to make an @$$ of myself at a black club.

[manofwar]

Come on now NBC is trying so hard, and the lady that wrote "Girlfriends" is one of the writers.

NBC will solve race relations with this show just like they did when they

Hired Imus and Joe Scarborough. Along with solving sexism when they hired Mika. NBC is so on point!

NOT

[highd]

If McCain would have won would they have made an "old people friends for him"

Why not try being diverse, to be diverse and not to pander to people that share the same skin color as the President Elect.

Why did you do a better job of casting your current shows?

[expired]

Let it go NBC. I am black and I do not want to watch this crap. You are so far to the right, I wouldn't watch it if you paid me. Anything for a buck.

[NounverbPOW]

Nick Adams- the writer- worked for NBC at one time- has some great behind-the scenes stories in the book. Read it! You will love it!

[Haditup2here]

How about hiring more black actors on SNL? Besides, this will probably be as flat as NBC News "Being Black in America". I won't be watching it.

[AntonBursch]

How about a show about multiracial friends that doesn't have a thing to do with race.

That would be a show that reflects the country that just elected Barack Obama to be President.

[Richcelt]

Exactly. This should be the show they make.

I originally read this as "'Friends', but with black people", as if they were going to go with the old formula of "Friends" but cast black actors. I'd much rather see a "Friends" formula with actors of all ethnicities (or at least the major ones) represented. Everyone gets the spotlight, and NO stereotypes (except to maybe poke fun at the stereotype in order to dispel it).

I'd rather see a show like that. (BTW, I'm a white guy)

[LaKane]

I'm so f'ing sick and tired of NBC and their aversion to giving other ethnicities the spotlight. The only show with a modicum of diversity is SVU, and I watch that because I support the franchise, NOT NBC.

So what, it took the majority of the voting populace voting for a Black president to make you acknowledge that Blacks deserve airtime?

Sorry, but NBC gets the finger from me all day.