IR sitcom...

I'm thinking about writing a sitcom pilot (like it would ever be accepted) about a BM-WW IR couple. Do you all think an IR sitcom could work in the US, with the protagonist characters being a black man and white woman? Do you think the couple should be professionals, working class Americans, or elites? Should they be young, middle-aged, or elderly? What I'm thinking is, an early 30-something or late 20-something yuppy, but down-to-earth, couple would star and they would have friends - a white couple, and a black couple - to balance things out a bit. The cool part is, none (well maybe one or two) of the episodes would actually deal with race. It would be as if the racial aspect didn't even exist. I think such a sitcom could be very entertaining and successful if written cleverly and if stereotypes were not interwoven into the broadcasts. It would also be cool if the protagonist black character narrated the ongoings through his thoughts ala Kevin from the Wonder Years.

 

"These days" I really do not think that any TV station would produced a IR sitcom without giving it a negative twist. Try it anyway you never know what could happen Have you ever thought about Web TV? It shouldn't be to difficult to get sponsors for something like that. You would virtually have no middlemen and no politics to deal with. Beginning Actors/Actress' would work for free just to get the exposure and all you would have to do is feed them and give them a place to stay until you've made enough money to pay them. I'm still shocked and amazed that there is still no major television-grade WEB TV stations in existence as long as the net has been around. Do we have any pioneers?

 

I don't think it woud get picked up either. Now if I remember correctly, there was an IR show a while back (late 80s/early 90s) about a bm/ww with three kids (her daughter[white] and his 2 sons [black]). I can't remember the name of the show, though. It was one of my favorites. It aired on the "old" USA network. I'm sure the show was canadian-based, sort of like 'The 4400.'

Now don't get me wrong. I think this type of show could work in America. The affiliate system of TV networks in this country work by volume, so a show could potentially reach a large enough audience. The problem again is Hollywood. Throughout their history, this particular relationship has not been explored. And when it has, it's been riddled with stereotypes and short-lived storylines. Although, I have noticed that for some time now, Hollywood has been toying with the idea. For instance, have ya'll ever noticed that when a show with eligible, single ww on it is in its final season, they'll give her a black bf? Or if they manage to put a bm together with a ww while the show is doing well, it'll be short-lived but effective enough to be legitimate.

I've been watching tv for years and after having white friends all my life, I can comfortably say that middle white america simply will never be ready for this particular relationship. So I say go ahead and find yourself a medium of some type to push your product. The Internet isn't a bad place to start either. Alot of amateur producer/directors are starting their own shows on their websites and people are tuning in.

If it were me, I would make race a one-episode topic. Say the first ep. After that, just make it about any old relationship. People are people in the end, regardless of what color they are. So you won't have trouble getting an audience to relate to your material.

One last thing. I've been thinking about this very topic for a while and I have an idea. Since cable has been doing "groundbreaking" dramas lately (Sleeper Cell, Sopranos, etc.), what about a drama called "IR (Interracial)?" And you guessed it, all the characters on the show would be different cultures, all dating another race. The premise would be to see how each contrasted their own culture with their significant other while dealing with the discomforts of external objections. I'm convinced Hollywood will eventually do something like this in the future. It's only a matter of time.

But good luck on your project. I hope everything works out for you.

 

sounds like different strokes

 

The best way to go with an IR series on the tube would be cable -- The FX Channel (owned by FOX) to be exact. FX does the most cutting-edge series on the tube.

The Kid Rasta 8)

 

Contact UPN and see if they'll give it the green light. That seems to be your only hope right now to me with TV.

 

Yeah, though I think the show would be better served on a major tv network, or even a cable network such as FX or USA. UPN is seen as a "black network" by many due to the fact that it's president (or ceo?) is black.

 

Once again, best bet is cable. "The 4400" has done well with the black dude and his white wife. They even have a mixed little girl with special powers that has that one foundation looking for them. But UPN won't work because it still conforms to the same "race rules" that all the other networks follow. The only time you ever see the white chick and the brotha hook up is in the last season of the show.

 

UPN & WB have merged to form the CW Network.

The Kid Rasta 8)

 

I thought the CEO was a white woman.

Also, UPN has token characters in their shows that are involved with black males in the lead, as well as shows like Veronica Mars. They even play reruns of Friends and Will and Grace on their station, which are from NBC, the whitest broadcast network of them all.

 

I thought they called it off. Maybe not.

 

It sounds good but I'm very skeptical about it getting picked up or watched by mainstream America.

 

hey think that would be a great idea I would diff audition for that role. Since I am a new bi actor whom is taking acting classes and If I would get famous I will still do it.

Plus you have one thing all these other interracial short lived sit Com's didn't have you date out side your race see a white man who dates a white women give a story line like that would not get it because how would he know about interracial couples if he hasn't ever been one. and not speaking about when he went out on a blind date ten years before. You live the life of an part interracial couples you know what we go through. you know what kinda jokes we would laugh at and not find it one sided because a black man or a white man who dates inside his race wrote it. You might have GOLD HERE

 

I think it could work and I'd love to see it though it better be dayum funny for real. :lol: Also a reminder that in the fall there will be no more WB or UPN. It'll be the CW network.

 

What does CW even stand for?

 

CW stands for CBS and Warner Brothers from the former UPN and WB networks. The late Cleavon Little was on that interracial citcom that was broadcast on the Fox network

 

Taye Diggs tried a similar show where he was a single lawyer who dated mostly hot white women on UPN called Kevin Hill (he also had to raise an estranged baby daughter) and it got cancelled. That sucked, i loved that darn show! I like the idea though, but cable would be best.

I doubt any of the major networks (NBC, ABC, CBS, UPN, WB, etc.) would go for it.

Only Fox or its cable brother FX I could see doing it since Fox tends to be the only real risk taker among the major networks. They brought in thrillers like X-Files and one of my fave shows 24 when they used to be known as a primarily comedy network (simpsons, married wit children, etc.).

The 4400 is a good show too, that wife of his is BANGIN'. But that black guy who plays her husband, his facial expessions are a little too intense ALL the time LOL. Even during a relative calm scene, he seems all mad and confused LOL.

 

The only thing I disagree on is Kevin Hill being a sitcom. As for that 4400 show, I don't know what that is.

 

True, I wished the brothers in those shows are more relaxed instead of being tense and stressed.

 

An IR drama looks good on paper, but for whatever reason, those type of shows make a lot of people uncomfortable because it's entire basis is race. My show would be more or less about relationships with their humorous nuances, but the couples just happen to IR.