Big Bad TV List #1: New network fall shows with cast diversity

The Lists

Below is a list of the new network fall shows which have at least some diversity in their lineups. The list does not include reality television, and was compiled from the new shows listed from the MSNBC Fall 2007 TV Preview. Unless where noted, cast members are listed in the show's main cast/bio credits - however this may not always indicate a prominent role.

Shows which are bold in all navy/blue are ones where the main stars (or faces which seem to be promoted according to the network, or other marketing materials) are persons of color. Note that in many ways while this is based on what is being put out by the networks and other media, this can be more subjective in regard to an ensemble cast.

For instance Women's Murder Club and Private Practice are bold in navy/blue, while shows like Carpoolers and Pushing Daisies are not because there is still a question mark in regard to prominence and screen time (however in the end the star power of someone like Chi McBride may push that show over the line no matter what).

• Aliens in America - CW, Mondays, 8:30 p.m. ET, comedy - Premiere Oct 1.
  
  

  • ADHIR KALYAN

• Big Bang Theory - CBS, Mondays, 8:30 p.m. ET, comedy - Premiere Sept. 24

  • Kunal Nayyar

• Big Shots - ABC, Thursdays, 10 p.m. ET, Drama - Premiere Sept. 27

  • Nia Long (Role: Could be more secondary cast)

• Bionic Woman - NBC, Wednesdays, 9 p.m. ET, Drama - Premiere Sept. 26

  • Will Yun Lee (No direct link to cast page - view main flash site, Wikipedia profile)

• Cane - CBS, Tuesdays, 10 p.m. ET, Drama - Premiere Sept. 25

  • The whole cast is diverse including (among others) Jimmy Smits, Hector Elizondo, Nester Carbonell, and Rita Moreno

• Canterbury's Law- Fox, midseason time TBD, Drama

  • Julianna Margulies (Wikipedia profile)

  • Keith Robinson (IMDB profile)

• Carpoolers - ABC Tuesday, 8:30 p.m. ET, comedy - Premiere Oct. 2

  • Jerry Minor

• Cashmere Mafia - ABC, Tuesdays, 9 p.m. ET, Drama - Premiere Dec. 4

  • Lucy Liu (Wikipedia profile)

• Chuck - NBC, Mondays, 8 p.m. ET, Drama- Premiere Sept. 24

  • Joshua Gomez

• Gossip Girl - CW, Wednesdays, 9 p.m. ET, Drama - Premiere Sept. 24

  • NICOLE FISCELLA

  • Nan Zhang

• Journeyman - NBC, Mondays, 10 p.m. ET, Drama - Premiere Sept. 24

  • Moon Bloodgood (No direct link to cast page - view main flash site)

• K-Ville - Fox, Mondays, 9 p.m. ET, Drama - Premiere Sept. 24

  • Anthony Anderson

  • Tawny Cypress

• Life is Wild - CW, Sundays, 8 p.m. ET, Drama - Premiere Oct 7

  • ATANDWA KANI (No direct link to cast page - view main flash site)

• Life - NBC, Wednesdays, 10 p.m. ET, Drama - Premiere Sept. 26

  • Sarah Shahi (No direct link to cast page - view main flash site, Wikipedia profile)

• Moonlight - CBS, Fridays, 9 p.m. ET, Drama - Premiere Sept. 28

  • Shannyn Sossamon

• New Amsterdam - Fox, midseason TBD, Drama

  • Zuleikha Robinson

• Private Practice - ABC, Wednesdays, 9 p.m. ET, Drama - Premiere Sept. 26

  • Taye Diggs

  • Audra McDonald

• Pushing Daisies - ABC, Wednesdays, 8 p.m. ET, Drama - Premiere Oct. 3

  • Chi McBride

• Reaper - CW, Tuesdays, 9 p.m. ET, Drama - Premiere Sept. 25

  • RICK GONZALEZ

  • VALARIE RAE MILLER

• Samantha Who? - ABC, Mondays, 9:30 p.m. ET, comedy - Premiere (NA)

  • Tim Russ (Wikipedia profile)

• The Sarah Connor Chronicles - Fox, Sundays, midseason TBD, Drama

  • Richard T. Jones

• Viva Laughlin - CBS, Sundays, 8 p.m. ET, Drama - Premieres Oct. 21

  • DB Woodside

• Women's Murder Club - ABC, Fridays, 9 p.m. ET, Drama - Premieres Oct. 12

  • Linda Park (Wikipedia profile)

  • Paula Newsome (Tv.com profile)

  • Tyrees Allen (Tv.com profile)

Early Analysis

While some things could change in this list (additions or subtractions of cast, more prominence etc.) here are some early numbers (and remember that this does not include new reality television shows like Kid Nation which is very diverse):

1. Out of the 27 new shows listed from the Fall 2007 preview, 23 contained at least one cast member of color.

2. Out of those 23, 7 of the shows are ones where the main stars (or faces which seem to be promoted according to the network, or other marketing materials) are persons of color.

3. CW has 4 shows out of the 23
   CBS has 4 shows out of the 23
   ABC has 7 shows out of the 23
   NBC has 4 shows out of the 23
   FOX has 4 shows out of the 23

4. Out of the 7 shows where the main stars (or faces which seem to be promoted according to the network, or other marketing materials) are persons of color, ABC was the leader with 3, and then came Fox with 2, and then CBS and the CW each had 1 as well. NBC did not have a new show with that designation.