Race + TV: Taraji P. Henson Isn’t A Person Of Interest On Her Own Show

Which is why I’m such a fan of BBC’s Luther, starring Idris Elba.  BCC just renewed for a third season, so they’re getting it right.

I would offer a less biased reason for her omission.  After test marketing the ad campaign that featured Henson, the producers and network learned that including her in the materials muddied the perception of the show because she’s only briefly featured in the  pilot and she was scuttled from the campaign after the photo shoot.    I watched the pilot and it lived up to the image the show created with the two-man marketing, but looking at the three person image that was released made it seem more like a super hero show and less like the Batman/Burn Notice/Equalizer/1984 show that it is.  Had they featured her for more than three seconds in that promo they would have included almost her entire performance in the pilot.

I can understand why she was frustrated, but I feel it was more her Oscar-Nominated (c) vanity that was hurt and not an actual incidence of bias.  I would also point to Boardwalk Empire not using Dabney Coleman or Burn Notice not using Sharon Gless in their first season marketing as incidences of when very well known actors were sidelined to present a clearer image of what the show is about.

I’ve worked around the industry and know just how difficult it is for any actress to get work once she’s over 35 and that the roles dry up faster when that actress doesn’t look like Laura Linney or Julianna Margulies.  And clearly, a lot of times they just get shunted off to the side when promoting the project.  But after watching the pilot, this is a show with two leads, not three.  She may be a regular but she’s not a lead character, yet. I also think this brouhaha is missing the forest for the trees because had they cast a white man in her role as the police detective looking into Reese’s past, no one would even question why that character, as opposed to the actor playing it, wasn’t in the marketing.

And by the way, based solely on the opening credits it would appear this is a four-person cast.  Where’s the outrage that Kevin Chapman wasn’t in the marketing?  His role as Fusco was more integral to the pilot’s main action and his role in future episodes was more clearly defined by the end of the episode.

I’ve come to accept that television is by and for White people. So I don’t really get upset about this sort of thing anymore. I just look forward to the day when there is an actual Black owned and run network that will feature quality work.

And about promo ads; Black actresses are always seen for a split second on promos. I’m pretty sure that the powers in Hollywood think that if a Black actress is featured prominently White people might think it’s some sort of “Black TV show”. Like there are really Black TV shows on.

Ironically, the British often do.

After hearing about this a few days ago, I checked the show’s IMDb page….she wasn’t even listed in the cast there either.

RE: Oscar-Nominated vanity – This happens to actors and actresses of color who have been nominated all the time. Even Oscar-winning actors & actresses still have problems. Look at Cuba Gooding, Jr. After he won his Oscar for “Jerry Maguire”, where has he been? I understand what you are saying, but actors/actresses of color, even Oscar winners & nominees, get thrown under the bus FAR MORE OFTEN than their white counterparts.

Wow third season?  I think season 2 is starting tonight on BBC America.

I don’t disagree with you or the basic premise of this post.  The dV in my username is my surname which is Hispanic, so I know from the subtler forms of prejudice and bias that openly exist.  And I’ve been called “too sensitive” way too many times to count.  And I still laugh at a show like Burn Notice actually shooting in Miami and still only featuring one Hispanic recurring character who lasted two episodes.

I also don’t doubt that Ms. Henson’s seen even more than I have because my livelihood doesn’t rely in any way on my looks, as being an actress does. 

I just think in this specific instance she reacted emotionally to a situation that had a reasonable, non-emotional explanation.  If she and Caviezel switched roles, I wouldn’t expect him to be featured in the pre-show marketing because the character is literally on screen for less than five minutes. 

If the show lasts, there will be more and more promotion and marketing.  And if it continues her character is likely to become a more prominent figure which would lead to her being featured more in the promotion as well.  But based upon what I saw, there isn’t really any evidence that the decision was made for any reason other than her character wasn’t significant enough to the pilot to warrant inclusion in the marketing since her storyline hasn’t been developed, yet.  Without knowing how she fits, they did a generic photo shoot that says absolutely nothing about the show.

I work in the industry and let’s be real Dabney Coleman and Sharon Gless were left out because they wouldn’t attract the most profitable demographic.  On the other hand Taraji would bring in the AAs within and outside the 18 -49 demo.   Her being left out was BS.  The only comfort we have is that who the hell subscribes or even reads TV Guide anyway?

Not sure what you are reading. My first point was that the only way there are going to be more African Americans on TV is if there is a Black owned and run TV network.

My second point was that African Americans are not featured in promos because Hollywood thinks that Whites will think it’s a “Black TV show” and then won’t tune in.

Exactly how am I contradicting myself?

Not sure what you are reading. My first point was that the only way there are going to be more African Americans on TV is if there is a Black owned and run TV network.

My second point was that African Americans are not featured in promos because Hollywood thinks that Whites will think it’s a “Black TV show” and then won’t tune in.

Exactly how am I contradicting myself?

Agree 0r disagree with Dina’s point, that’s fine… but she lays out a thoughtful, well-considered explanation for why the debut marketing plan might not have included Ms. Henson, and she gets two “Likes.” Meanwhile, RVCBard contributes all of “*sigh*”… and gets 10 Likes.

I’m not agreeing with how CBS has handled this — in fact, I disagree with it, because I like Taraji P. Henson a lot, and I too had no idea until recently that she was in this show — but “sigh” is not a useful response to a well-reasoned argument. It’s a “you just don’t get it” response that serves only to be dismissive and provide no proper consideration of the point.

It’s pretty sad that network TV was more diverse and ground breaking in the un pc 70′s than it’s ever been since then especially now… Perhaps TV needs another Norman Lear.

It’s pretty sad that network TV was more diverse and ground breaking in the un pc 70′s than it’s ever been since then especially now… Perhaps TV needs another Norman Lear.

Despite the “logical sounding” justifications posted by “industry insiders” regarding why it’s “understandable” that Taraji was EXCLUDED from Person of Interest promos, the fact remains that if Taraji was a comparable White Oscar/Emmy nominated actress (or a blonde), she would have been featured in her show’s promos REGARDLESS of how many times/or the length of time her character appears in the pilot. 
I’ve been amazed to see virtual unknown White actresses get top billing/promos when new Fall shows are featured (eg. Playboy Club, 2 Broke Girls, Pan Am, etc.).   
Also, I find it patronizing/offensive that some think that Taraji is just being “vain” when she JUSTIFIABLY expresses anger/frustration at the disrespectful way she is being treated as a Oscar/Emmy nominated actress in comparison to the treatment her less critically acclaimed cast members have received. 
To ANYONE who is even remotely observant, it’s OBVIOUS that Black actresses in Hollywood, especially, are NOT treated the same (roles, pay, publicity, etc.) as their White counterparts and I think any attempt to dismiss/defend CLEARLY DISCRIMINATORY practices  just adds insult to injury.  

Why did Taraji delete her original post? I think that is part of the problem. There’s such a fear of offending the sensibilities of the Hollywood community that the actors’ being discriminated against rarely stand up and say what they think is out and out racism. And when they do announce those things, they are quick to retract and mollify. I’ve read articles about models and actors who will go into detail about racist encounters, but WILL NEVER NAME NAMES.

You can’t win a fight when you won’t fight.

I’m an actress, dancer and writer. I have not had a breakthrough role. I am pretty, I am smart and I call racism racism when I see it. I will continue to pursue my dream while keeping the dream alive.

For those who don’t, there’s always room to be part of Hollywood, but they have to remember to stay in the back.

Thing is, wasn’t BET supposed to be that? … and while it was/is occasionally promising, it has gotten lots of valid criticism for promoting stereotypes. And financially, no one network that isn’t a cable premium one can do it alone – just like a theater group finds better talent in a town where other theaters are performing and hiring/schooling actors and building a base. The talent isn’t visibly there (doesn’t get the high profile roles, doesn’t even get called by casting, agents don’t send them out) … and then the directors/producers/casting directors can claim “we don’t have talented actors of color who fit the role”… so they hire white people, again… and the lack of visibility continues. I have no idea what the solution is, but I don’t think separate water fountains are it.

I think the main problem with the industry as it stands, is that this scenario, ” [i]f she and Caviezel switched roles,” WOULD NEVER HAPPEN.

:-/

Haven’t heard that one before.

 The actor you mentioned above have never been nominated for an Oscar unlike Taraji P. Henson, Don Cheadle, or Forrest Whitaker. At best, they’ve been in movies that were nominated for non-acting Oscars, which is a big difference.

Thank you racialicious team for this post. What Taraji goes through as an actress is why I never pursued acting as a career. I really wanted to go for it, but I just don’t and didn’t have the fight in me. I am glad that she made it, but still she is unjustly treated.