'Brothers & Sisters': Slezak & Barrett are watching!

Fatima Mon, Oct 16, 2006 at 09:43 AM EST

The race issue doesn't bother me at all here considering its a family. However, doing it on a show like "The Class" is bothersome, because not only is it unrealistic to have only white students, but they are shown in the opening credits! I know John Ritter didn't raise no discriminating boy!

Lene Sun, Oct 15, 2006 at 11:08 AM EST

I love this show! I love how there's only limited botoxing going on - they're allowed to look their age, which frees me up to get lost in the story instead of being distracted by immobile faces. I love the sibling relationship, the acting (Brenda's the best!) and I'm hoping it'll take off and get the audience it deserves.

junior Sat, Oct 14, 2006 at 11:14 PM EST

Last thing I'll say is to joel and anyone else who still doesn't get this: since its beginning, TV has been a tool for entertaining and advertising to the world primarily by representing the world that watches. Thus, it is imperative that people of all colors and lifestyles be depicted in that representation. It is disrespectful to eliminate diversity from TV because its analogous to saying that diversity does not exist and is not important.

I am African-American and I (and people like me) exist. Thus, I (and everyone else for that matter) should be represented on TV. Obviously, context is a factor but when possible all people should be featured because we all EXIST! A show like "Brothers & Sisters" is OK by me because it's about a white family but what kinglouieXVIII was saying is that outside that family, people of other colors, shapes and lifestyles EXIST so they should be SHOWN! That's why it's all about race, learn to deal.

junior Sat, Oct 14, 2006 at 11:10 PM EST

I'll try to make this as short as possible.

kinglouieXVIII, you're comment about "Why can't there be an Asian or a Latino who work for their company and whose job description does not include "picking fruit in the fields"." had me rollin' on the floor! Very funny and true!

To Sarah, I didn't assume that you were a non-minority (p.s. I hate "minority" it's a dumb modifier), that's what you assumed, and everyone knows that when you assume, you make an... you know what, I won't finish that...

joel Sat, Oct 14, 2006 at 01:40 PM EST

why does it always have to be about race on tv shows cant the people just be people without everyone worrired about not enough blacks or hispanics or asians on the show B&S has had 3 shows how do you know they dont have other races working for them its the same about nfl coaches my team is the bengals & i like marvin lewis bcause hes a good coach it does not matter that he is black i dont worry about what color a person is & then you gotta talk about the politics in the show we have too much of that on the news channels we dont need it in tv shows

Fatima Sat, Oct 14, 2006 at 12:18 PM EST

I love this show too and I am not afraid to admit it!

and six degrees ain't too bad either!

The print version of EW have been big bullies this fall season. they make me ashamed to like anything.

kinglouieXVIII Sat, Oct 14, 2006 at 10:51 AM EST

Sarah: Because when a show is trying to be a relastic drama, it needs to be representative of our culture. You're telling me that this family who lives in California do not have any friends or even interact with minorities? Why can't there be an Asian or a Latino who work for their company and whose job description does not include "picking fruit in the fields".

Junior: You're right about Rachel Griffith's spicing it up with her potential lover. And I'm glad that color wasn't even made an issue. The interesting thing about that storyline is how much quemistry they have together, but the fact that she's married.

One of the reason why LOST is such a breath of fresh air is the fact that it has one of the most diverse and dynamic casts on television right now. My goodness, they even give the Koreans a chance to have a storyline all of their own.

It's 2006 people, get with the program!

Jakeem Sat, Oct 14, 2006 at 12:41 AM EST

Sarah, BET is a reaction to the fact that TV shows aren't always that representative. What would TV look like without BET? Sometimes it even seems there are more white Canadians on American TV than American minorities!

Me Fri, Oct 13, 2006 at 09:42 PM EST

RG looks like a REAL WOMAN. THanks!

JP Fri, Oct 13, 2006 at 09:38 PM EST

This is a great show. More people need to tune in. You defintely need a box of Kleenex next to ya when you watch it. I had the first three eps backlogged on my TiVo but finally got around to watching them, and besides Ugly Betty this is one of the best new shows this year.

T.L. Fri, Oct 13, 2006 at 06:40 PM EST

To Junior,

RE: you comment on Calista's character/Coulter.

Exactly my point.

sarah Fri, Oct 13, 2006 at 06:20 PM EST

To Junior,

Don't be a Jacka$$. I hail from Barbados, fool. Why is your automatic assumption that I'm a non-minority?

junior Fri, Oct 13, 2006 at 06:12 PM EST

Sarah, take off the hoodie, put out the cross.

Sarah Fri, Oct 13, 2006 at 06:11 PM EST

Sigh...why can't a show be a show without having to add some "colour"? (Yes, I spelled it c-o-l-o-u-r, I'm Canadian.)

Can't a show *just be* without the rabid concerns of not having any blacks, Latinos, etc. in the cast? I loved Seinfeld, why? Because it was about 4 friends who hung out with each other with no pretense. If a person of colour or different ethnicity was in the episode, (think Ping, Badhu, the guy from the Yankees) it was because they 'happened' to cross paths with that person that day and for no other reason. Cripes, enuff with the need for every show on TV to be representative. They don't practice that on BET.

junior Fri, Oct 13, 2006 at 05:11 PM EST

I love "Brothers & Sisters" too! My fav relative is (by far) Sarah (that's Rachael Griffiths or Brenda for all you "Six Feet Under" fans). She is the most stable yet complex of the bunch (and, kinglouieXVIII, she brings some of the color with her illicit flirtation with former co-worker Michael Beach (so glad he's moved on from Gloria Reuben on "ER") and the workers at Ojai are multicultural (let's not talk about the fact they work in the fields of a fruit company)).

Also love how the gay brother and Balthazar Getty look very much alike (they should) although I have to stretch to believe Rachael Griffiths and Calista could be sisters. It's also totally believable that the gay brother is the perfect one. He's prolly trying to compensate by being perfect, however, I hope they do show him and Scotty together at some point (let's not have another Will).

Lastly (this is how much I love this show) I'm starting a Countdown Clock for how long Tommy's (that Getty's character) wife can be on the show with no name (did I miss it?) or definable personality other than being very blonde. 3 episodes and counting!

David Fri, Oct 13, 2006 at 05:09 PM EST

Whenever Sally Field is on screen, she makes me want to cry and then go hug my mom. She has this loving-but-tragic look that makes me want to sob even when she's just plugging arthritis medicine. The lady's good.

B&S, like Grey's, will take some time to find its groove. The raw goods are there though, so I'm looking forward to loving it even more in a few months than I do now -- that is, if it's given the chance to flourish.

Jakeem Fri, Oct 13, 2006 at 04:59 PM EST

If "Brothers and Sisters" is improving, could it be that the great Greg Berlanti of "Everwood" fame has finally taken over as show runner?

JKS Fri, Oct 13, 2006 at 04:37 PM EST

I love "Brothers & Sisters"! It's a little bit messy, like real people. I also like the fact that the brothers look alike, because they should, because they're related. Balthazar made me cry when he jumped in the pool. And how about Sally bustin' it out last week? Damn! And if you think they're bashing conservatives by making Calista look stupid with her "Canada sent troops to Vietnam" line, then realize that that is a direct quote from Ann Coulter on a Canadian TV interview.

kinglouieXVIII Fri, Oct 13, 2006 at 04:31 PM EST

I'm so surprised at how much I like this show. The entire cast is on fire! Really good actors all around. Yes, it is a little confusing to get the male characters in order but I think that will change as the season goes along.

I never saw ALLY MCBEAL or SIX FEET UNDER, but I'm very impressed with how good Rachel Griffiths and Calista Flockhart are on this show. The entire family has great chemistry together, and I have no problem believing they really are brothers and sisters.

Now, if they can only get some color on the show. B&S is giving THE CLASS a run for its money as the whitest new show of the season.

T.L. Fri, Oct 13, 2006 at 04:24 PM EST

Why is Calista's conservative character treated like some kind of an alien by the show? "Look, we're going to have an intelligent Republican character on our show! Isn't that weeeeeird?!" Whenever she argues her point of view, it's written in such a softball manner.

I'm a Democrat who happens to have a lot of conservative friends; they are not only highly eductated, but argue their views quite convincingly. I fear B&S is going to turn Calista's storyline into an "Awakening to Liberal Consciousness." I guess you could say I'm a Liberal who's tired of Conservative-bashing. Of all people, aren't we supposed to be tolerant of other points of view?