“Homer, I couldn’t help overhearing you warp Bart’s mind.” – Marge Simpson
“And?” – Homer Simpson
In this article I’ll be taking a detailed look at the representation of women, people of color and queer people in this fall’s major network shows. I’ve limited the shows I’ll be looking at to only those with definitive premiere dates, since those shows without premiere dates might end up being pushed to mid-season. I’m aware that there are several factors keeping these numbers from being perfectly accurate: a show might have a queer character but not mention it in any of the promotional materials I look through or an actor of color whose heritage isn’t mentioned online anywhere, as well as other actors who are playing a character whose race is different than their own. There’s also the fact that the main cast of a new show is often shuffled around within the first few episodes. However, I think these preliminary numbers will still give an idea of where network TV is with representation to start this season.
Network Overview: Character Count for Scripted Programming
To begin, I looked at each network and counted the number of minority characters represented. For this network overview I focused on scripted programming because most networks only had one or two reality shows with information available. However, those reality shows that did have information available are included in the show-by-show information in the next section. After turning the character count into a percentage, I compare it to what the representation should be to accurately reflect the U.S. The percentages I used as a comparison were:
Women: 50.8% based on the U.S. Census Bureau
People of Color: 22.1% based on the U.S. Census Bureau
Queer People: 3.4% based on a Gallup poll in which Americans were asked if they self-identify as LGBT
If a network meets or exceeds these numbers, I give it a “pass” for representation. If it doesn’t, it gets a “fail.”
CBS
Total Characters: 115
Female Characters: 42 (36.52%) – Fail
Characters of Color: 20 (17.39%) – Fail
Queer Characters: 1 (.87%) – Fail
Notes: The one queer character is Kalinda Sharma from The Good Wife.
ABC
Total Characters: 143
Female Characters: 68 (47.55%) – Fail
Characters of Color: 31 (21.68%) – Fail
Queer Characters: 7 (4.9%) – Pass
The CW
Total characters: 61
Female Characters: 27 (44.26%) – Fail
Characters of Color: 11 (18%) – Fail
Queer Characters: 1 (1.64%) – Fail
Note: The one queer character is Walt from The Carrie Diaries. The Carrie Diaries has also cast a young Samantha Jones, who some sources say will be bisexual. People also expect a young Stanford Blatch to be added to the cast, but he has not been cast.
Fox
Total characters: 87
Female Characters: 40 (45.45%) – Fail
Characters of Color: 22 (25.29%) – Pass
Queer Characters: 8 (9%) – Pass
NBC
Total Characters: 99
Female Characters: 38 (38.38%) – Fail
Characters of Color: 26 (26.26%) – Pass
Queer Characters: 2 (2%) – Fail
Network with the Highest Percentage of Female Characters: ABC (47.55%)
Network with the Highest Percentage of Characters of Color: NBC (26.26%)
Network with the Highest Percentage of Queer Characters: Fox (9%)
Show-by-Show Representation for All Programming
Here is the breakdown of how each show does with representation, using the same system described in the network overview above. In situations where the setting of the show explains it having less minority representation and that information is available to me, I adjusted and made a note of it.
CBS
Survivor: Blood vs. Water
Total Participants: 21
Female Participants: 10 (47.62%) – Fail
Participants of Color: 2 (9.52%) – Fail
Queer Participants: 2 (9.52%) – Pass
The Amazing Race
Total Participants: 23
Female Participants: 7 (30.43%) – Fail
Participants of Color: 6 (26%) – Pass
Queer Participants: 0 (0%) – Fail
Note: This show generally has at least one queer participant and the promotional materials I read didn’t go much into the contestants’ personal lives, so this isn’t a definite 0.
How I Met Your Mother
Total Characters: 5
Female Characters: 2 (40%) – Fail
Characters of Color: 0 (0%) – Fail
Queer Characters: 0 (0%) – Fail
2 Broke Girls
Total Characters: 6
Female Characters: 3 (50%) – Fail
Characters of Color: 2 (33.33%) – Pass
Queer Characters: 0 (0%) – Fail
Note: This system only looks at quantity of representation, not quality, but I should mention that whenever I’ve watched this show the people of color and people from outside America have always been portrayed as broad stereotypes. This article from Maclean’s covers the offensive nature of these characters pretty well. GLAAD also met with CBS executives in June because of repeated problematic jokes against the transgender community on this show and Mike & Molly.
Mom
Total Characters: 8
Female Characters: 3 (37.5%) – Fail
Characters of Color: 0 (0%) – Fail
Queer Characters: 0 (0%) – Fail
Hostages
Total Characters: 9
Female Characters: 3 (33.33%) – Fail
Characters of Color: 1 (11.11%) – Fail
Queer Characters: 0 (0%) – Fail
NCIS
Total Characters: 8
Female Characters: 2 (25%) – Fail
Characters of Color: 2 (25%) – Pass
Queer Characters: 0 (0%) – Fail
NCIS: Los Angeles
Total Characters: 7
Female Characters: 3 (42.86%) – Fail
Characters of Color: 2 (25.57%) – Pass
Queer Characters: 0 (0%) – Fail
Note: LL Cool J has been nominated for NAACP Image Award for his performance on this show.
Person of Interest
Total Characters: 4
Female Characters: 1 (25%) – Fail
Characters of Color: 1 (25%) – Pass
Queer Characters: 0 (0%) – Fail
Criminal Minds
Total Characters: 7
Female Characters: 3 (42.86%) – Fail
Characters of Color: 1 (14.29%) – Fail
Queer Characters: 0 (0%) – Fail
Note: Last year an episode called “The Pact” was nominated for an NAACP Image Award.
CSI
Total Characters: 10
Female Characters: 3 (30%) – Fail
Characters of Color: 0 (0%) – Fail
Queer Characters: 0 (0%) – Fail
Note: GLAAD met with CBS executives in June in part because of sensationalist trans characters on this show.
The Big Bang Theory
Total Characters: 7
Female Characters: 3 (42.86%) – Fail
Characters of Color: 1 (14.29%) – Fail
Queer Characters: 0 (0%) – Fail
Note: Sheldon can be interpreted as asexual, but I haven’t heard anything about that identity being portrayed with any degree of seriousness on the show, so for now I’m not counting him as a queer character.
The Crazy Ones
Total Characters: 5
Female Characters: 2 (40%) – Fail
Characters of Color: 0 (0%) – Fail
Queer Characters: 0 (0%) – Fail
Two and a Half Men
Total Characters: 5
Female Characters: 3 (60%) – Pass
Characters of Color: 0 (0%) – Fail
Queer Characters: 0 (0%) – Fail
Note: Yeah, I don’t really know what to do with the fact that this of all shows has a majority female main cast. It’s a turvy-topsy world out there.
Elementary
Total Characters: 4
Female Characters: 1 (25%) – Fail
Characters of Color: 2 (50%) – Pass
Queer Characters: 0 (0%) – Fail
Note: She’s not a main character, but I still want to mention that they had a trans character last season.
Hawaii Five-0
Total Characters: 6
Female Characters: 2 (33.33%) – Fail
Characters of Color: 3 (50%) – Pass
Queer Characters: 0 (0%) – Fail
Blue Bloods
Total Characters: 5
Female Characters: 1 (20%) – Fail
Characters of Color: 0 (0%) – Fail
Queer Characters: 0 (0%) – Fail
The Good Wife
Total Characters: 6
Female Characters: 3 (50%) – Fail
Characters of Color: 1 (16.67%) – Fail
Queer Characters: 1 (16.67%) – Pass
Note: I’ve barely watched since season one, but this blogger measured the representation of women by a fairly detailed rubric. Also, Archie Panjabi was nominated for an NAACP Image Award last year.
The Mentalist
Total Characters: 5
Female Characters: 2 (40%) – Fail
Characters of Color: 1 (20%) – Fail
Queer Characters: 0 (0%) – Fail
We Are Men
Total Characters: 5
Female Characters: 1 (20%) – Fail
Characters of Color: 2 (40%) – Pass
Queer Characters: 0 (0%) – Fail
The Millers
Total: 4
Female Characters: 1 (25%) – Fail
Characters of Color: 1 (25%) – Pass
Queer Characters: 0 (0%) – Fail
ABC
Dancing with the Stars
Total Participants: 26
Female Participants: 14 (53.86%) – Pass
Participants of Color: 5 (19.23%) – Fail
Queer Participants: 2 (7.69%) – Pass
Shark Tank
Total Participants: 6
Female Participants: 2 (33.33%) – Fail
Participants of Color: 1 (16.67%) – Fail
Queer Participants: 0 (0%) – Fail
Last Man Standing
Total Characters: 8
Female Characters: 4 (50%) – Fail
Characters of Color: 1 (12.5%) Pass (based on the population of Colorado, where the show takes place)
Queer Characters: 0 (0%) – Fail
Note: Last year the episode “High Expectations” was nominated for an NAACP Image Award.
The Neighbors
Total Characters: 9
Female Characters: 4 (44.44%) – Fail
Characters of Color: 2 (22.22%) – Pass
Queer Characters: 0 (0%) – Fail
Castle
Total Characters: 8
Female Characters: 5 (62.5%) – Pass
Characters of Color: 3 (37.5%) – Pass
Queer Characters: 0 (0%) – Fail
Marvel’s Agents of SHIELD
Total Characters: 6
Female Characters: 3 (50%) – Fail
Characters of Color: 2 (33.33%) – Pass
Queer Characters: 0 (0%) – Fail
The Goldbergs
Total Characters: 6
Female Characters: 2 (33.33%) – Fail
Characters of Color: 0 (0%) – Fail
Queer Characters: 0 (0%) – Fail
Trophy Wife
Total Characters: 8
Female Characters: 5 (62.5%) – Pass
Characters of Color: 2 (25%) – Pass
Queer Characters: 0 (0%) – Fail
Lucky 7
Total Characters: 8
Female Characters: 4 (50%) – Fail
Characters of Color: 3 (37.5%) – Pass
Queer Characters: 0 (0%) – Fail
The Middle
Total Characters: 5
Female Characters: 2 (40%) – Fail
Characters of Color: 0 (0%) – Fail
Queer Characters: 0 (0%) – Fail
Back in the Game
Total Characters: 8
Female Characters: 3 (37.5%) – Fail
Characters of Color: 1 (12.5%) – Fail
Queer Characters: 0 (0%) – Fail
Note: The trailer shows that there’s a coded gay kid in the main cast.
Modern Family
Total Characters: 11
Female Characters: 5 (45.45%) – Fail
Characters of Color: 3 (27.27%) – Pass
Queer Characters: 2 (18.18%) – Pass
Note: This show was nominated for an NAACP Image Award for Best Comedy Series last year.
Nashville
Total Characters: 9
Female Characters; 3 (33.33%) – Fail
Characters of Color: 1 (11.11%) – Fail
Queer Characters: 1 (11.11%) – Pass
Grey’s Anatomy
Total Characters: 11
Female Characters: 6 (54.54%) – Pass
Characters of Color: 5 (45.45%) – Pass
Queer Characters: 2 (18.18%) – Pass
Note: This was nominated for an NAACP Image Award last year.
Once Upon a Time
Total Characters: 8
Female Characters: 5 (62.5%) – Pass
Characters of Color: 0 (0%) – Fail
Queer Characters: 0 (0%) – Fail
Revenge
Total Characters: 8
Female Characters: 4 (50%) – Fail
Characters of Color: 1 (12.5%) – Fail
Queer Characters: 1 (12.5%) – Pass
Betrayal
Total Characters: 8
Female Characters: 3 (37.5%) – Fail
Characters of Color: 1 (12.5%) – Fail
Queer Characters: 0 (0%) – Fail
Super Fun Night
Total Characters: 4
Female Characters: 3 (75%) – Pass
Characters of Color: 1 (25%) – Pass
Queer Characters: 0 (0%) – Fail
Scandal
Total Characters: 9
Female Characters: 4 (44.44%) – Fail
Characters of Color: 3 (33.33%) – Pass
Queer Characters: 1 (11.11%) – Pass
Note: This show was nominated for two NAACP Image Award last year, one for Outstanding Drama Series and one for Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series.
Once Upon a Time in Wonderland
Total Characters: 9
Female Characters: 3 (33.33%) – Fail
Characters of Color: 2 (22.22%) – Pass
Queer Characters: 0 (0%) – Fail
The CW
The Vampire Diaries
Total Characters: 8
Female Characters: 3 (37.5%) – Fail
Characters of Color: 1 (12.5%) – Fail
Queer Characters: 0 (0%) – Fail
The Originals
Total Characters: 8
Female Characters: 4 (50%) – Fail
Characters of Color: 2 (25%) – Pass
Queer Characters: 0 (0%) – Fail
Hart of Dixie
Total Characters: 5
Female Characters: 2 (40%) – Fail
Characters of Color: 1 (20%) – Fail
Queer Characters: 0 (0%) – Fail
Beauty and the Beast
Total Characters: 6
Female Characters: 2 (33.33%) – Fail
Characters of Color: 2 (33.33%) – Pass
Queer Characters: 0 (0%) – Fail
Supernatural
Total Characters: 3
Female Characters: 0 (0%) – Fail
Characters of Color: 0 (0%) – Fail
Queer Characters: 0 (0%) – Fail
Arrow
Total Characters: 7
Female Characters: 3 (42.86%) – Fail
Characters of Color: 1 (14.29%) – Fail
Queer Characters: 0 (0%) – Fail
The Tomorrow People
Total Characters: 6
Female Characters: 2 (33.33%) – Fail
Characters of Color: 2 (33.33%) – Pass
Queer Characters: 0 (0%) – Fail
Reign
Total Characters: 10
Female Characters: 6 (60%) – Pass
Characters of Color: 0 (0%) – Fail
Queer Characters: 0 (0%) – Fail
The Carrie Diaries
Total Characters: 8
Female Characters: 5 (62.5%) – Pass
Characters of Color: 2 (25%) – Pass
Queer Characters: 1 (12.5%) – Pass
Fox
The X Factor
Total Participants: 5
Female Participants: 3 (60%) – Pass
Participants of Color: 4 (80%) – Pass
Queer Participants: 0 (0%) – Fail
Note: This was nominated for an NAACP Image Award last year.
Bones
Total Characters: 5
Female Characters: 3 (60%) – Pass
Characters of Color: 2 (40%) – Pass
Queer Characters: 1 (20%) – Pass
Sleepy Hollow
Total Characters: 6
Female Characters: 2 (33.33%) – Fail
Characters of Color: 3 (50%) – Pass
Queer Characters: 0 (0%) – Fail
Dads
Total Characters: 7
Female Characters: 3 (42.86%) – Fail
Characters of Color: 3 (42.86%) – Pass
Queer Characters: 0 (0%) – Fail
Note: This is another instance where I have to stress the difference between quality of representation and quantity of representation. It’s great that they have 3 women of color in the main cast (especially since one of them isn’t young and conventionally sexy), but there have already been controversies about how race is portrayed in the show. Withholding judgment until I see it (especially since Fox has stated that the rest of the show won’t be like the pilot, which the controversy is based on), but I still wanted to make a note of people’s complaints.
If you want to read more on how race is portrayed on the show, here are articles from Entertainment Weekly, Huffington Post, Mother Jones, The Hollywood Reporter and The AV Club. Take your pick. By the way, I’m linking so many sources so that you can choose the one you think is more reliable/get the maximum amount of information, not because I think the volume of articles is evidence that Dads is the most racist show on TV. The fact that so many sources covered the controversy speaks to the nature of journalism and media criticism and the way stories cycle around– there could be an equally problematic show that is being under-reported by critics.
Brooklyn Nine-Nine
Total Characters: 7
Female Characters: 3 (42.86%) – Fail
Characters of Color: 4 (57.14%) – Pass
Queer Characters: 1 (14.29%) – Pass
New Girl
Total Characters: 5
Female Characters: 2 (40%) – Fail
Characters of Color: 2 (40%) – Pass
Queer Characters: 0 (0%) – Fail
The Mindy Project
Total Characters: 7
Female Characters: 4 (57.14%) – Pass
Characters of Color: 1 (14.29%) – Fail
Queer Characters: 0 (0%) – Fail
Note: In an Entertainment Weekly article, Mindy Kaling responded to criticisms that her character has only had white love interests by saying “Like I owe it to every race and minority and beleaguered person. I have to become the United Nations of shows?…You can’t please everyone.” The fact that she doesn’t seem to understand why the lack of representation is disappointing is a little troubling. And I’d like to note that the lack of people of color extends far beyond Mindy’s love interests– I counted only three people of color, including Mindy herself, who appeared in more than one episode in the entire first season. On the other hand, this was nominated for an NAACP Image Award last year.
Glee
Total Characters: 14
Female Characters: 7 (50%) – Fail
Characters of Color: 4 (28.57%) – Pass
Queer Characters: 4 (28.57%) – Pass
Note: Glee was nominated for two NAACP Image Awards last year, Outstanding Comedy Series and Amber Riley for Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series. Although I’m not collecting data on representation of people with disabilities, that is a part of quality of representation so I wanted to link to this article criticizing Glee in that area.
The Simpsons
Total Characters: 4
Female Characters: 2 (50%) – Pass
Characters of Color: 0 (0%) – Fail
Queer Characters: 0 (0%) – Fail
Note: Last year’s episode “The Spy Who Learned Me” was nominated for an NAACP Image Award for best writing of a comedy series.
Bob’s Burgers
Total Characters: 5
Female Characters: 3 (60%) – Pass
Characters of Color: 0 (0%) – Fail
Queer Characters: 0 (0%) – Fail
Note: This GLAAD Op-Ed mentions Bob’s Burgers as one of many shows with insulting jokes about trans women. I’ve seen the episode the author is discussing (“Sheesh! Cab, Bob?”) and while I think it has some good qualities in its representation, she’s right that there were insulting lines of dialogue in the mix, a very unfortunate oversight on the part of the show.
Family Guy
Total Characters: 5
Female Characters: 2 (40%) – Fail
Characters of Color: 0 (0%) – Fail
Queer Characters: 1 (20%) – Pass
Note: I don’t know if Stewie is really a queer character since there’s so many contradictory things the show has done with him over the years, but I decided to be generous and give them this one.
American Dad!
Total Characters: 5
Female Characters: 2 (40%) – Fail
Characters of Color: 0 (0%) – Fail
Queer Characters: 1 (20%) – Pass
Almost Human
Total Characters: 6
Female Characters: 2 (33.33%) – Fail
Characters of Color: 1 (16.67%) – Fail
Queer Characters: 0 (0%) – Fail
Raising Hope
Total Characters: 6
Female Characters: 3 (50%) – Fail
Characters of Color: 0 (0%) – Fail
Queer Characters: 0 (0%) – Fail
Enlisted
Total Characters: 5
Female Characters: 1 (20%) – Pass (according to CNN’s data on women in the military)
Characters of Color: 2 (40%) – Pass
Queer Characters: 0 (0%) – Fail
NBC
The Voice
Total Participants: 5
Female Participants: 1 (25%) – Fail
Participants of Color: 2 (40%) – Pass
Queer Participants: 0 (0%) – Fail
The Biggest Loser
Total Participants: 7
Female Participants: 3 (42.86%) – Fail
Participants of Color: 1 (14.29%) – Fail
Queer Participants: 1 (14.29%) – Pass
Saturday Night Live
Total Cast Members: 11
Female Cast Members: 5 (45.45%) – Fail
Cast Members of Color: 3 (27.27%) – Fail
Queer Cast Members: 1 (9%) – Pass
Note: I assume they’ll be adding people this season, but I’m going off the current confirmed cast. This offensive sketch about transgender women is a couple seasons old, but I still want to remind people of it, particularly because SNL is so clueless that even after GLAAD immediately pointed out why it’s offensive, they still re-ran it in later episodes to fill time.
The Blacklist
Total Characters: 5
Female Characters: 1 (20%) – Fail
Characters of Color: 1 (20%) – Fail
Queer Characters: 0 (0%) – Fail
Chicago Fire
Total Characters: 8
Female Characters: 3 (37.5%) – Fail
Characters of Color: 3 (37.5%) – Pass
Queer Characters: 1 (12.5%) – Pass
Revolution
Total Characters: 11
Female Characters: 4 (36.36%) – Fail
Characters of Color: 4 (36.36%) – Fail
Queer Characters: 0 (0%) – Fail
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
Total Characters: 6
Female Characters: 2 (33.33%) – Fail
Characters of Color: 2 (33.33%) – Pass
Queer Characters: 0 (0%) – Fail
Parks and Recreation
Total Characters: 10
Female Characters: 4 (40%) – Fail
Characters of Color: 4 (40%) – Pass
Queer Characters: 0 (0%) – Fail
The Michael J. Fox Show
Total Characters: 8
Female Characters: 4 (50%) – Fail
Characters of Color: 2 (25%) – Pass
Queer Characters: 0 (0%) – Fail
Parenthood
Total Characters: 15
Female Characters: 7 (46.57%) – Fail
Characters of Color: 3 (20%) – Fail
Queer Characters: 0 (0%) – Fail
Ironside
Total Characters: 6
Female Characters: 1 (16.67%) – Fail
Characters of Color: 2 (33.33%) – Pass
Queer Characters: 0 (0%) – Fail
Welcome to the Family
Total Characters: 7
Female Characters: 3 (42.86%) – Fail
Characters of Color: 4 (57.14%) – Pass
Queer Characters: 0 (0%) – Fail
Sean Saves the World
Total Characters: 6
Female Characters: 3 (50%) – Fail
Characters of Color: 1 (16.67%) – Fail
Queer Characters: 1 (16.67%) – Pass
Grimm
Total Characters: 8
Female Characters: 3 (37.5%) – Fail
Characters of Color: 3 (37.5%) – Pass
Queer Characters: 0 (0%) – Fail
Dracula
Total Characters: 9
Female Characters: 3 (33.33%) – Fail
Characters of Color: 1 (11.11%) – Fail
Queer Characters: 0 (0%) – Fail
Network Overview: Focus on Lead Characters of Scripted Shows
In this section I want to focus on the clear lead of each show. I don’t want to discount ensembles like Grey’s Anatomy and Modern Family for the diversity they bring, or shows like Elementary where the woman of color gets second-billing but essentially equal screen time, but I think looking at who networks are willing to make the one clear lead of their show can give us a strong indication of where we’re at with representation.
CBS
Female-led: 21%
Person of color-led: 0%
Queer person-led: 0%
ABC
Female-led: 72%
Person of color-led: 0.6% (just Scandal)
Queer person-led: 0%
The CW
Female-led: 56%
Person of color-led: 11% (just Beauty and the Beast)
Queer person-led: 0%
Fox
Female-led: 31%
Person of color-led: 8% (just The Mindy Project)
Queer person-led: 0%
NBC
Female-led: 23%
Person of color-led: 8% (just Ironside)
Queer person-led: 8% (just Sean Saves the World)
Not a single network has multiple shows with a person of color as the clear lead. Furthermore, across all networks only one show (Sean Saves the World) has a queer lead. (Compare this to last year which had both The New Normal and Partners).
The Best and the Worst
Here’s the list of the shows that had an acceptable amount of representation of women, people of color and queer people (according to census and Gallup data as discussed above):
Grey’s Anatomy (ABC)
The Carrie Diaries (The CW)
Bones (Fox)
Here’s the list of shows that fail to represent any of those groups adequately:
How I Met Your Mother (CBS)
Mom (CBS)
Hostages (CBS)
Criminal Minds (CBS)
CSI (CBS)
The Big Bang Theory (CBS)
The Crazy Ones (CBS)
Blue Bloods (CBS)
The Mentalist (CBS)
Shark Tank (ABC)
The Goldbergs (ABC)
The Middle (ABC)
Back in the Game (ABC)
Betrayal (ABC)
The Vampire Diaries (The CW)
Hart of Dixie (The CW)
Supernatural (The CW) – this show has only white, male, presumably straight main characters
Arrow (The CW)
Almost Human (Fox)
Raising Hope (Fox)
The Blacklist (NBC)
Revolution (NBC)
Parenthood (NBC)
Dracula (NBC)
Again, this just looks at quantity, not quality, but it’s important to have some measurable data. I don’t mean to suggest that, for instance, Parenthood actually has worse overall representation than Two and a Half Men, but by taking an overall look at quantity, it’s easy to see that network representation of what America actually looks like remains markedly insufficient. Better than fifty, forty, or even twenty years ago isn’t an acceptable excuse.
