Diversity/Racism or just Reality?

This thread reminds of an old Mad Magazine spoof of The Goonies. Two black kids on bikes are off to the side as the main cast is being introduced:
First kid: “why arent there any black people in this movie?”
Second kid: “I heard the naacp wrote the producers a letter.”
First kid: “to demand an apology?
Second kid: “no, it was a thank you letter. Have you seen this movie?”

 

Also look at Seinfeld, Friends and Melrose Place in the 1990s. As white as they come even as they were set in huge, diverse metro areas.

It’s much more diverse now — think medical dramas as Grey’s Anatomy set a standard but, three years before that, City of Angels was Black ER.

 

Kaley Cuoco. One-person Greek chrous. The show critiqued itself all along. Part of its staying power.

 

Having watched a shit ton of Friends reruns in the past year or two, that show gets a bit of a bad rap on this front. Ross' first wife was a lesbian from the pilot on, and they had a lesbian wedding in the first season (1994-95). IIRC, Phoebe also had a gay husband as a quickie marriage of convenience, although that plot was resolved quickly. The idea of accepting a loved one's homosexuality was a big theme the first season or two.
Ross' second major relationship was with an Asian woman, and he and Joey both dated a black woman (the same woman) later on. There was another episode where they were both lusting after a new black neighbor as well.
Yeah, the core cast was all white. But they were gently pushing some boundaries on that show from the beginning.