That’s What I Said: Should the New Bionic Woman Have Been Ethnic?
No, Rochell, It’s Definitely Not Just You
TV Guide, sue me, I don’t care. I received my August 27–September 2 print issue in the mail yesterday, and I’m lifting an entire paragraph from Rochell D. Thomas‘ Is It Just Me? column because she literally took the words right out of my big mouth. For those who aren’t familiar with the writer’s work, each week Thomas points out several odd, funny, or disturbing things she’s noticed recently about TV Land or showbiz in hopes that she’s not the only one picking up on such stuff. More often than not, she hits the nail right on the head, too.
One item in her latest column is the observation that every vampire on the tube these days seems to be involved in detective work, from the lead character in 1989′s Forever Knight to 1999′s Angel to CBS’ forthcoming Moonlight. Another section notes the striking facial resemblance between Dead Zone star Anthony Michael Hall and Journeyman star Kevin McKidd; that is, if you look at them just so.
The best segment of all, however, concerns the new fall series I’m looking forward to more than any other—NBC’s Bionic Woman. Thomas basically echoes the same sentiments I expressed last fall about two new cast editions to CBS’ CSI: NY. Here, I give the floor to Thomas and her straightforward commentary that encapsulates what many people have thought at one point or another since the series’ primary cast members were announced.
Should the new Bionic Woman have been black?
They can make her “better, stronger, faster.” But can they also make her a brilliant sistergirlfriend? Apparently not. Not that I’m knocking the star of the new NBC show (EastEnders‘ Michelle Ryan does a fabulous job [and yours truly wholeheartedly concurs; Ryan is much better than I expected]). But imagine what it would have been like if Kerry Washington or Sydney Tamiia Poitier had landed the role—or, heck, if the Bionic femme had been Asian, Latina or any woman of color. What a pleasant surprise that would have been.
Touché. Now that kind of casting would have been a real “reimagination.” It’s too bad NBC Universal Television, the series’ production company, wasn’t brave or broad-minded enough to go there.
Related News: ‘Bionic Woman’ and ‘Cavemen’ Top New Shows Among TV Watchers | Get Your Bionic On Early with Choice ‘Bionic Woman’ Web Sites
Bionic Woman premieres Wednesday, September 26, at 9pm EST on NBC
Bionic Woman logo courtesy of NBC
