"Ethnic" friend on the show Friends?

[mr. x]

Since NBC has taken a lot of flack for being so, well, white, theyve decided to create an "ethnic" friend love interest/sextoy for Ross or something.

They're considering a buncha different colors including asian, black, american indian, and middleeastern (how sweet considering Ross is a Jew, it'll be a sorta mideast peace).

The fact that they're even discussing this shows how shallow the process of making a tv show is. Its not in the least bit natural, its like "oh we need to get ourselves an ethnic friend in the mix to prove to society how diverse we are" I used to watch this show but slowly got bored cuz the jokes are so bland.

Remember a while back there was this asian girl who dated Ross? She was a nobody really, i mean i dont even remember what the hell she looked like. She was the outsider trying to cause a rift in the "friends" and luckily she gets kicked out in the end.

[TyroneK(prettypretty)]

The Asian woman was Julie. She and Ross had something with potential until Rachel stepped in and confessed her feelings for Ross.

God damn. Why don't they just marry those two off and end that storyline? It aggravates me everytime I catch an episode.

[Fireblade]

cuz then we would be bitching about asiaphiles on tv. there's no way the show can win over EVERYONE. personally, I'd just like to see a show with more color. Like in Off Centre. That was a mutli-colored show. And we all know that Chow was the soul of the show. :D

[TyroneK(prettypretty)]

I meant why can't Rachel and Ross marry? That show needs to end soon. Too bad they extended it one more season.

[Fireblade]

Oh. You know why they can't marry Racheal and Ross? Because then there won't be any tension in the storyline anymore. It'd just be Phobe and Joey who'd be single. And they always have to have a love triangle. Damn, I just realized I've spent too much time watching tv. ;)

[Shuriken]

The actress who played Julie was LAUREN TOM

She was also in The Joy Luck Club, Catfish in Black Bean Sauce, and she does the voice of Amy Wong on Futurama

[mr. x]

hmm at least Amy Wong from Futurama, they bring up her ethnicity once in a while but in a humorous way

[Hanuman]

Originally posted by VBKao@Feb 2 2003, 08:18 AM
I meant why can't Rachel and Ross marry? That show needs to end soon. Too bad they extended it one more season.

This show has definately "jumped the shark"!

[Elizabeth A.]

I ony watched "Friends" once, a few years ago. I think it jumped the shark then.

Then again, I'm always annoyed by "A bunch of white people in an eerily lily-white New York" shows". "Sex and the City" is another example. Sure, they throw in a token black character here and there, but that's it.

[mr. x]

Yeah, speaking of Sex in the City, i saw a news segment about those "fabulous" shoes on SitC, and they show a clip. Basically whatever her name (sarah j. parker) is getting mugged (by this guy who's a bit too good looking to be a mugger, thats hollywood for you) and the guys like "gimme those (brand name shoes)" and she whines about how they're her only pair.

HELLO, you could be raped and murdered and you're worried about shoes!?!?

[igcognito]

NBC (Nothing But Caucasians), I think I seen previews of this show. Aren't like all the couples interracial or something . . . ?

[YuheiCarreau]

Originally posted by Elizabeth A.@Feb 3 2003, 10:18 AM
I ony watched "Friends" once, a few years ago. I think it jumped the shark then.

Then again, I'm always annoyed by "A bunch of white people in an eerily lily-white New York" shows". "Sex and the City" is another example. Sure, they throw in a token black character here and there, but that's it.

WILL AND GRACE is another good example of an all-White portrayal of NYC; another thing that annoys me about typical depictions of New York is that they only show Manhattan, and none of the other boroughs.

[angel nympho]

Originally posted by mr. x@Feb 2 2003, 05:15 AM
The fact that they're even discussing this shows how shallow the process of making a tv show is.  Its not in the least bit natural, its like "oh we need to get ourselves an ethnic friend in the mix to prove to society how diverse we are"  I used to watch this show but slowly got bored cuz the jokes are so bland.

Isn't this something that most people on this forum have been pushing for, though? To have Asians mixed in on prime time tv? So when they finally do it, you write them off as shallow?

Umm... yeah, like I've said countless times, some people are just impossible to please.

[YuheiCarreau]

Originally posted by angel nympho@Feb 3 2003, 07:03 PM
Isn't this something that most people on this forum have been pushing for, though?  To have Asians mixed in on prime time tv?  So when they finally do it, you write them off as shallow?

Umm... yeah, like I've said countless times, some people are just impossible to please.

At least in my case, the push is not only for AAs on TV, but also helping to write, direct, and produce these shows. To the best of my knowledge, both behind and in front of the camera Hollywood is still mostly White, especially in those areas with the most financial and creative control. As for being impossible to please; I don't think it's wrong for people here to say they'd like to see an Asian American play more than a supporting role in a TV show, and hopefuly in roles more diverse than just the love interest of a White man.

Wouldn't it be weird if all the women on TV were easy-to-please blonde bimbos? Is it possible, even, to say that there are still a disproportionate amount of such characters? I don't think this is a case of people being impossible to please as it is them being dissatisfied that their requests have only been fulfilled in the shallowest and simplest way possible.

[angel nympho]

^-- One step at a time.

I don't think it's wrong for people to say anything that they want more diverse portrayals in TV either, but I think rejecting roles that aren't demeaning is a bad idea, too.

What I meant by "some people are impossible to please" is that it's blatantly clear to me that there's a contradiction going on. People can't stand it when there aren't enough Asians out there on mainstream TV, and now when they're being included, it's immediately written off as "shallow." Somebody earlier described tv stations who want to integrate other races into their shows as doing something unnatural. *Shrug* So you tell me what you think TV stations should do in response to that...?