Why Are All the Talk-Show Hosts White Guys?

Attorney General Eric Holder says we're all cowards when it comes to race, and he believes we should have more "frank conversations" about racial issues. I think Holder's overdoing it, but given that Conan O'Brien just took his last bow on NBC's Late Night, let 's have a frank conversation: Why are evening talk-show hosts almost all white guys?

Conan O'Brien (a white guy) is off to Los Angeles to replace Jay Leno (a white guy) and compete against David Letterman (a white guy), Jimmy Kimmel (a white guy), and Stephen Colbert (a white guy), who comes on right after Jon Stewart (a white guy). Jimmy Fallon (a white guy) will replace Conan (still a white guy), compete against Craig Ferguson (a white guy), and then, at 1:35 a.m., pass the baton to Carson Daly (yep, a white guy).

That's a lot of white guys. True, D.L. Hughley's got something going on at CNN and Tavis Smiley is soldiering away on PBS. Plus, Comedy Central tried out Chocolate News last fall and in the early 90s, Arsenio Hall had a pretty good run. But Hughley and Smiley are the only black late-night hosts with mainstream shows on the air right now, and neither one has anywhere near the audience of a Leno or a Letterman. The other obvious point, of course, is that every last one of the hosts, white or black, is a man. The only major late show hosted by a woman is Chelsea Lately on E!, and this extraordinary lack of gender diversity demands its own consideration. But sticking with the original question for now: Why must someone be white to do a monologue, sit behind a desk, and chat up movie stars?

It's pretty astonishing. We have a black president, a black attorney general, a black Supreme Court justice, a black chairman of the Republican National Committee, black governors, black CEOs at American Express and Aetna, a black NFL coach who just won the Super Bowl -- and the most powerful person in television (Oprah Winfrey) and last year's best-paid movie star (Will Smith, according to Forbes) are both black. Plus, late-night talk-show hosts are almost all comedians, and in case you hadn't noticed, many of the biggest names in comedy are black. And yet on late-night TV, it's . . . white guy, white guy, white guy.

Perhaps some insight into the Late Night White Guy Syndrome can be found in Attorney General Holder's "coward" speech. During his remarks, Holder said that while the American workplace is largely integrated, the nation remains self-segregated in private life. We mix at the office, but not at home.

Home, of course, is where we watch television, and Americans often watch late-night shows in the most private part of their home -- the bedroom. That's no surprise. With a loosely scripted mix of casual banter and light laughs, the Tonight Show and its ilk aim to provide viewers a sense of comfort and assurance just before they go to sleep. However bad the day has been, Leno, Letterman and company are there to give the audience at home a few grins and let them know that things are going to be all right. Even with dwindling ratings, then, late-night shows play an important role in the national psychology. They're the television viewing equivalent of being tucked into bed. Might that suggest that at least until now, some Americans unfortunately expected a certain kind of person -- a white guy -- to play the role?

This sort of cultural critique invariably draws grouchy (or outraged) charges of psycho-babble, and if I'm out in left field on this one, then by all means, offer some other explanation for Late Night White Guy Syndrome. One obvious problem with the critique is that especially among the younger demographic, Tivo and the internet mean that people are watching whatever they want when they want. The Colbert Report no doubt gets plenty of college viewers who are on their laptops in a 10:00 a.m. biology class. Still, the fact remains that millions of Americans watch late-night shows as a TV tuck-in.

Is white America prepared to have a black guy host more of these programs? If not, why not? After all, we've proved ourselves willing to trust an African American man to keep watch over the entire country. Perhaps we're finally ready for one to sit at a desk and interview Joaquin Phoenix before we turn out the lights.

Comments

[Theda]

It has nothing to do with racism! Arsenio Hall's late night show was fantastic, but apparently the ratings weren't high enough. Geez.........enough already!

[countfloyd]

Arsenio's show ran out of steam. Letterman will be gone early next year and then we will see. Chris Rock had a talk show for awhile on HBO that was pretty good. I think he would be a great choice.

[hrholmes]

Gee Brandt, how come the big 4 stuffy networks all opt for lame white guys? It's a real mystery. Probably it's one of the last bastions that they would not like to lose say to the likes of someone hysterical like Dave Chappelle maybe? Dave is way too funny and too far out there for mainstream program directors and Republicans in general I think. Besides as an aging boomer, middle aged lard ass honkey from the hood, I generally fall asleep after the news on MSNBC Countdown and Rachel Maddow shows since I have to work. Their reports on actual happenings by mostly republican blowhards are way funnier than the late night comedy writers could ever dream up.

[avicenna]

You may want to go back to the target audience - who are late night talk shows appealing to? Where Oprah and Ellen - and the string of other female-friendly day time talk shows appeal to who is watching the telly at those times (give or take a few faux doctors - the Phil sort) - the demand is for the generic high fiving white guy when the clock is striking midnight. TV is a consumer market. And, in all honesty, as a female and of "exotic" ethnic roots - I probably wouldn't be addicted to either Stewart or Colbert if they were anything other than two hilariously witty white dudes.

[taptaptap]

You could also ask, why are so many doctors in movies set in hospitals, tv comedies, tv dramas, & soap operas white? Where are the asians and indians? (And no, Sandra Oh in a supporting role, does not answer this question). The answer is simply, ratings.

[pureproductofamerica]

Most late night hosts are supposed to be sort of ordinary (albeit funny) people that are highly relatable sounding boards for their guests. That figure (much like a protagonist in a film) tends to be white and male.

Also, most comedians are white men.

Watch out, though. I could see Ellen doing this someday, and I could see America watching.

[alsm9]

"Also, most comedians are white men."

That's simply not true. I'm too tired to go through a huge list of non-white male comedians but there are tones.

[LifeAndCausality]

Then maybe someone else can fill in for you - who are these black (or asian, or latino, or female) comedians with years in the business as comedians, producers, and writers, who don't already have a great job they would be reluctant to leave, who can step into these slots? Several commenters have said they exist, but no one has named any names. I'm not saying they don't exist, but are any of them household names? I can't think of any.

For the record, I can think of a bunch of very funny black guys, but none of them are going to be on late night tv, because they are movie stars who get millions per movie. A late night tv gig would be a major step down. Ditto for some very funny women.

[carrieanna]

I suppose this is the same thing the tv execs say to themselves to pretend they aren't racist and sexist.


But I see your white hood peeking out of your shirt...

[Seven7s]

because the white male is the "default" "safe" voice of America.

Blacks, asians, mexicans, and whites will watch a black TV Host.

But some whites, some asains and some hispanics wont watch a black guy.

Some blacks, some hispanics, and some whites wont watch an asian guy

and what about FEMALE Hosts? They always have to host in groups. Unless it's Oprah or Ellen. Two out of how many TV Host on air?

I think its that in our society white + male = comfort in society.

[BobLablah]

Here's an even better question - why aren't there any hispanic or asian talk show hosts?

[noudidnt]

Like you care

[Strepsi]

Good beginning of an article Brandt Goldstein, but you need to go much further.

You forgot "straight". Straight White Guys. The UK (and BBC America) have the hilariously campy and out Graham Norton with his smash hit Graham Norton Show, but I can't see that happening in the US -- even after Chris Rock or Tracy Morgan or whoever gets a talk show.

It is so NOT just about race - how many women late night shows have their been? Only -- almost -- one -- Joan Rivers. Women are only allowed in the daylight "kitchen" hours.

Could it be the straight white guy is the voice of evening comfort and authority?
Drive Show host
News Anchor
News Analyst
Late Night Talk show host
?

[noudidnt]

Could it be the straight white guy is the voice of evening comfort and authority?


Puhleez.

Or could it be that a lot of white guys have positions in the media based on nepotism? Willie Geist, Chris Wallace, Joe Buck, etc...

[speranza]

Why make an issue out of everything? Who says a Black, Yellow or Hispanic Guy cannot be an evening talk show host? Nobody? There are simply none elegible at the moment. So what? It's balanced by the day talk shows: Oprah Winfrey, Ellen Degeneres (Lesbian) etc. so please dont make an issue out of it!

[noudidnt]

Don't ask why we have black and spanish magazines and networks.

[Robin08]

speranza -- "There are simply none elegible at the moment." ?? Do you seriously believe that?

[magen]

Well, are the CEO's of the companies that broadcast these shows-----white guys?????

I'm willing to put my gazillions on-----I bet they are!!!!!!!

I seem to remember Arsenio beating everybody in the ratings when he was on.

Maybe they needed to stack the game in their favor so they wouldn't appear inadequate.

[jrb35]

Aresnio ended his show when Letterman moved to 11:30 and he couldn't compete. I you think the network CEO's would shut down a money maker then you just don't understand the business - and that's what it is: a BUSINESS. It's all about maximizing audience size and minimizing risk.

[magen]

That's the scenario you'd LIKE to believe isn't it?

They never gave Arsenio a chance to compete against Letterman.

Arsenio would've destroyed Letterman's ratings, but never was given the chance.

[Robin08]

jrb35 --

I think your "minimizing risk" comment makes Holder's point when he called us a nation of cowards when it comes to honest discussions about race.

I think movie and TV industry CEO types are much like the Republicans when it comes to trying something new. They are such slaves to their personal economic bottomline that they are content to keep recycling the same worn ideas that have made money in the past and scared shi#less to be the one to venture out with something new (a la never gave Arsenio a chance to compete against Letterman).

For all the so-called liberals in Hollywood the kind of TV and movie projects that get the maximum support green light do not typically include blacks/people of color in the storyline. If they do it's usually a story set in some bygone time. If it's a contemporary piece you can bet it 's perpetuating stereotypes. In the entertainment industry UNLESS you are a proven money-maker in some particular genre (e.g., Will Smith action movie) white male/white female is definitely the default in Hollywood.