Network TV Diversity: Half Empty or Half Full? LatinoLess or LatinoLite TV?

Children Now, issues its third annual study of diversity in prime time, the “2001-2002 Fall Colors Report.” What are the findings for Latinos? Latino actors are steadily gaining ground as secondary and tertiary characters on primetime programming.

“When it comes to potted plants, Latinos are number one on network TV,” said Felix Sanchez, President of the National Hispanic Foundation for the Arts. Children Now estimates that in 63% of Latinos’ guest roles, the characters were unskilled laborers, service workers or criminals. “Hardly a consoling finding, when you consider that Latino lead roles on network primetime remains at 2% for the second year in a row,” Sanchez added.

What new ground will Latinos break in the new fall lineup? WB Television debuts: “Greetings from Tucson,” a new Latino family drama about life with a Mexican-American father and an Irish-American mother, as seen through the eyes of their 15-year old son, with Julio Oscar Mechoso, Jacob Vargas, Pablo Santos and Lupe Ontiveros. Latino viewers can also catch Tessie Santiago on NBC’s “Good Morning Miami,” whose character Time.com describes as “a bimboish Hispanic host with a Charo accent.” Adam Rodriguez moves from UPN’s “Roswell” to the new CBS “CSI: Miami” franchise. And finally, NBC’s midseason replacement, “Kingpin,” will star Yancey Arias as an HBO wannabe druglord.

ABC at least deserves extra credit for casting Esai Morales in his third season as Lt. Tony Rodriguez on “NYPD Blue” — the most complex and contemporary Latino role on all of network TV. Latinos returning to network TV, also include: Jacqueline Obradors, ABC’s “NYPD Blue;” Judy Reyes, NBC’s “Scrubs;” Eddie Cibrian, NBC’s “Third Watch;” Wilmer Valderrama, Fox’s “That’ 70s Show;” Carlos Bernard, Fox’s “24;” and Liz Torres, WB’s “Gilmore Girls,” and Martin Sheen, NBC’s “West Wing.”

In addition, ABC is bringing back “The George Lopez Show,” and “American Family” will begin a second season on PBS. But the fate of Jessica Alba’s character Max Guevara (the genetically enhanced prototype alien) on Fox’s “Dark Angel” hangs in the balance, while CBS ponders the fate of Randy Vasquez’s role as a U.S. Supreme Court clerk on “First Monday.”

“Slim pickings or meaty, complex and Emmy-winning roles? You decide,” said Sanchez.

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