Which Way, L.A.?
Television And Race
We're seeing more programs with an all-black cast but that doesn't necessarily mean an all-black audience or an all-black writing staff. Should programs appeal to specific races? How broad is cross-racial appeal? Is American television heading in the direction of color blind or color pride? We will hear from cultural critics, political activists and the artists responsible for the programs.
Leonce Gaiter: Arts Editor of Chico News in Review, and an essayist, novelist and journalist, Mr. Gaiter has also worked as an executive story analyst at CBS Network Television in the 1980's. Calvin Brown, Jr.: Co-executive producer of "Moesha" on the United Paramount Network. Mr. Brown has written and produced several other sitcoms as well. Malcolm-Jamal Warner: Star of the UPN sitcom "Malcolm & Eddie," he previously spent eight years playing "Theo Huxtable" on the "Cosby Show," and has acted in numerous other film and television roles. Debra Martin Chase: Executive Vice President of BrownHouse Productions and producing partner to it's president, Whitney Houston. Their most recent production was the ABC televisoin movie "Cinderella". Dr. Todd Boyd: Professor USC School of Cinema and Television, Author of recently published book "Am I Black Enough For You: Popular Culture from the Hood and Beyond." Mitchel Katlin & Nat Bernstein: The Executive Producers and creators of the CBS sitcom "The Gregory Hines Show." Gwenn Craig: Chair of San Francisco Elections Task Force Jimmy Hoffa, Jr.: Running for President of Teamsters Union