-
Prime-Time TV Inches Closer to Living Color
The title alone was enough to set some people on edge. But the producers of ABC’s Black-ish have spent a lot of time assuring potential viewers that the show isn’t just a collection of jokes about an upper-middle-class family. Instead, the sitcom about a black, upper-middle-class dad (Anthony Anderson) who fears that his kids…
-
Racial Clichés: When They Propel Murder Stories
Eric Deggans writes at CNN that the unspoken argument propelling the debate surrounding the horrific deaths of Chris Lane and Trayvon Martin is the conflict over institutional prejudice and racism. This past week, Fox News Channel’s “Fox and Friends” and The Daily Caller website both reported the three teens who killed Lane were black. The Daily Caller…
-
Harris-Perry Holds Prime Numbers at MSNBC
The Tampa Bay Times’ Eric Deggans writes at the Sierra Vista Herald that Tulane professor Melissa Harris-Perry, who is slated to host her own MSNBC weekend show, is liked by the same audience that approves of the cable news station’s biggest star, Rachel Maddow. He says it bodes well for Harris-Perry, who has come under…
-
Regina King's TV Cop Role Defies Typecasting
Eric Deggans writes at the Tampa Bay Times that Regina King defies typecasts in her role as Lydia Adams on Southland because she is not portraying a best friend, girlfriend or stern boss — roles typically reserved for women of color. He praises King for finally landing a role as a woman who is very…
-
ESPN's Delay in Cutting Ties With Hank Williams Jr.
Eric Deggans, in a blog entry at the National Sports Journalism Center, says that Hank Williams Jr. has often skirted the boundary between Southern pride and cultural insensitivity before his latest slur against President Barack Obama. Deggans suggests that ESPN acted only after the incident became too embarrassing for officials to ignore. … In this…
-
Daytime TV Thrown Out of Whack Without Oprah
Eric Deggans, in his St. Petersburg Times column, says that if things seem a bit confused in daytime TV on Monday, blame two things: Oprah and the U.S. Open. Monday was already scheduled to be a tumultuous occasion; the first day of a new TV season without Oprah Winfrey’s blockbuster syndicated talk show. And as…
-
End of the Line for Black Tampa Radio Station?
In his St. Petersburg Times media column, Eric Deggans looks at changes at historic WTMP-AM, which has a long tradition as the voice of Tampa’s black community. Tampa radio station WTMP-AM’s 57-year tradition of serving as the voice of the local black community may end Friday, as new managers take over the programming, firing the…
-
Will Sharpton Shift From Activist to TV Anchor?
In his St. Petersburg Times media column, Eric Deggans considers Rev. Al Sharpton’s performance as anchorman — and how his advocacy will translate in his new role — just before the debut of his new show PoliticsNation on MSNBC. Given that I suggested MSNBC may have made a mistake in employing him, I was prepared…
-
-
Caylee Anthony Song Sparks Radio Tirade
Eric Deggans, in his St. Petersburg Times media column, reviews a cavalcade of negative reaction to a Tampa, Fla.’s jock’s song of tribute to Caylee Anthony that is also scheduled to be released by Brian McKnight. It started mostly as a way for Tampa radio jock Cledus T. Judd to vent on how little attention…
Black News and Black Views with a Whole Lotta Attitude
