The Racialicious TV Roundup
From smaller parts like chorus girl Sue (African American performer Jenny Laroche) and Linda the stage manager (Asian-American Broadway performer Ann Harada) to larger characters with their own storylines including conniving wannabe producer Ellis (Jaime Cepero) and ingénue Karen’s (Katherine McPhee) politician boyfriend Dev (the very attractive Raza Jaffrey–who I first noticed on BBC America’s Mistresses the show gives it’s POCs more to do than serve as scene dressing.
(l-r) Leslie Odom Jr. & Christian Borle. Courtesy: Moniqueblog.net
Favorite this week: The first date between black gay chorus boy Sam Strickland (Leslie Odom Jr.) and show composer Tom Levitt (Christian Borle). Yes, Sam has been chewing up the scenery so much since his entrance that you knew it was only a matter of time before he got more of a storyline than cleaning up after his friend, disgraced former leading lady Ivy Lynn (Megan Hilty) and her overmedication problem, and the show finally delivered with a proposed dinner date for these two who have been flirting with each other all season. Tom tried to turn said date into a hookup as dinner devolved into drinks at his place and he made a move for the sex he assumed was coming with his chorus boy crush.
Instead of cutting to both men in bed in the morning, Sam put the brakes on the tryst, called Tom out on his assumption, and left him with a fairly chaste kiss because he’s the dating type and doesn’t want to rush things. Although the show’s efforts to construct Sam’s character have been ham-fisted at best (I understand they want us to know he follows sports but does he have to mention it in EVERY scene) I appreciated they didn’t put his love of sports, homosexuality, Christianity, or desire for a long-term relationship in conflict. Also, rarely do we get to see budding gay male relationships, especially interracial gay male relationships including black men as romantic opportunities with all of the soft lighting, romance, lingering looks, and kisses that hetero relationships receive. For that, I am willing to overlook some issues I have with the uneven, overdramatic writing and look forward to next steps for these two. -JSJ
Eva Longoria’s dating show: Thought these items were interesting in the wake of the racial-discrimination suit facing The Bachelor: Eva Longoria has expanded her production efforts beyond telenovelas and feature films into the dating show arena, as she will serve as executive producer for Ready For Love, which has reportedly been picked up by NBC.
It’s also interesting to note that at least one of the show’s first three subjects could be Latino: an “entrepeneur with a social vision” named Ernesto Arguello will be among the men who will be fixed up with one of four women picked by a team of matchmakers. Give Longoria credit, at least, for getting a POC some visibility on this kind of stage, even if these shows tend to be problematic for various reasons. - AG
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