Are there many black women in television? Well from the looks of last night’s Emmy’s telecast there aren’t many. And none of the five sisters—with six nominations between them— went home with a statuette (although I did some brothers up there with “30 Rock”. So I thought it might be better to take a look back at Diahann Carroll’s historic role as “Julia”. More than forty years ago this dynamic woman was the star of her own show and brought us a character filled with dignity and class. It is time to find a modern day “Julia” that we can all come home and turn to.

I don’t know if “HawthoRNe” seems so disappointing to so many because it is formulaic in comparison to Edie Falco’s “Nurse Jackie” or because people think a virtuous black woman just doesn’t make compelling television. In other words…are we saying that nobility is actually boring?  Well, it would seem that way if we go by what the critics are saying.  Then there are  the obvious comparisons to Diahann Carroll’s “Julia” which most  folks haven’t seen in years (and have a soft spot for). Personally, I don’t think Christina Hawthorne is as noble as Julia. Not by a long shot. But she is also not as interesting. Read the full story

This is the time of year that black radio pulls out that old classic “I’ll Always Love My Mama” and all the other odes that celebrate black motherhood. If I were in television programming I’d do a marathon block of some of our favorite mamas, moms and stepmothers from the archives. Here’s what I’d include:

Tonight was the premiere of the third season of Ugly Betty. I don’t know if the reason I enjoy this show is because I worked at a magazine named MODE for four years (and howl at how the ‘glamourous’ magazine world is depicted) or that I delight in the combination of campiness and earnestness. Well after watching today’s show I know it isn’t Betty’s fish-out-of-water story alone that keeps me coming back. Actually, it is Vanessa Williams’ devilishly over-the-top portrayal of Wilhemina Slater. Read the full story

If you read this blog from time to time you know I often bring up the lack of quality roles for black actresses on both the big and large screen. Well, a few sisters that are working in television are turning in stellar performances—and they’re hard work is actually being recognized. That’s why six sisters have been nominated for Emmy Awards. I can’t recall a time when so many of us have gotten the nod at one time. No, you can’t count the NAACP Image Awards. Read the full story

Girlfriends became collateral damage when the writer’s strike came to an end. The CW announced that it would only concentrate its resources on shows slated to return for another season. We secretly knew Girlfriends had already run out of steam a couple of years ago. But it still could have gone out on a high note at the end of last season with Joan’s long-awaited marriage proposal. Creator Mara Brock Akil and most of the cast chose to soldier on anyway perhaps because of the absence of successful or middle-class black women in series television. I am talking about sisters who play roles beyond the occasional doctor, cop, maid or the ever-popular goldigger. Read the full story