While looking for the latest updates on CBS' military drama The Unit, a write-up about something a little different caught my eye.  Well, it relates to the show because of Dennis Haysbert, who obviously plays an African-American character, Jonas Blane.  His wife, Molly, is played by another African-American actress, Regina Taylor.  The article pointed out that it's the closest we have to a black family on prime time television nowadays, and apart from that, most minorities are still given supporting or recurring roles on these shows.

So, where exactly have the black families gone?  It's been a while since we've seen these kind of folks on television—the closest that come to mind are the stars of Everybody Hates Chris and, further back, The Bernie Mac Show—but apart from that, they aren't really represented prominently on screen.  Although The Unit doesn't have to trot out the fact that their primary protagonist is black, it certainly works in their favor—Haysbert is a good actor, does his role wonderfully, and (thanks to his role on 24) provides a subtle sense of elegance and sophistication in an otherwise gritty, bloody setting.

But isn't it a bit weird?  Chances are you see more black people than you did before, and this reality isn't accurately reflected on television nowadays.  (Well, at least network television.)  Give me another show that has blacks in the forefront, apart from what I've mentioned.  Do you think what's being done is fair?

I'm just saying this because stuff like this shouldn't be restricted to the late night slots, or to a few shows only.  It's high time we get what we see well represented on what we watch.  The Unit's doing it, all and well, but what about the others?  Do I still have to mention that our president-elect is an African-American?

Or should I wish that Jonas and Molly have children, so that we'll have another black family on our screens?

That was another one of my rants; now, for this weekend's episode of The Unit.  Well, technically there isn't any; the holiday season means all the special programming gets placed on a Sunday.  Next week, there won't be a new episode either, with CBS giving three entire hours to the season finale of Survivor.  You can catch reruns of episodes from the third season over the next two Saturdays, however, at 8pm.  (At least that will be on time; you don't have to wait for the football to end.)  A new episode of The Unit hits screens on December 21 at 10pm.  Oh, I'm sure you can wait.


-Henrik Batallones, BuddyTV Staff Columnist
Source: CBS, The Boston Globe
(Image courtesy of CBS)