If you've been thinking it's time to diversify all that media consumption, we're right there with you! But don't just throw on any sitcom between all those heavy primetime dramas. It has taken a long time for TV shows with diverse casts and crews to become the norm on American television, but we're finally getting there. More and more television shows are starting to feature characters and actors from a variety of ethnic and racial backgrounds as well as members of the LGBTQ community, and we are totally here for it.
Even better, though slower still, are the number of people from diverse backgrounds who also working behind the cameras. For so long, non-White, non-heteronormative people have been the face of television, but times are changing and as America itself becomes more diverse, many of us are starting to see our own faces reflecting back at us from our TV screens — and it feels pretty darn good.
BIPOC and LGBTQ writers, directors, creators, and producers are finding more opportunities behind the scenes, which means we are also seeing more diverse and accurate representations of individuals from a variety of backgrounds on some seriously binge-worthy TV shows.
Why does it matter? Well, because as we are exposed to the faces, experiences, and stories of people who may be different from us, we'll slowly start to understand and appreciate different perspectives and our mindsets will hopefully begin to shift more toward acceptance and inclusivity. Oh, and it definitely doesn't hurt that more of our kids are able to relate to the images their seeing on TV, which will undoubtedly have a positive impact on their self-esteem. Here are some of our favorite shows with diverse casts and creators:
'Superstore'
Superstore is a sitcom about employees at a big box store that debuted over five years ago. It stars Latina actress America Ferrera, Filipino actor Nico Santos, half-Japanese actress Nichole Sakura, and Black actor Colton Dunn, as well as a number of other BIPOC actors and crew members. Many of the actors, including America, have written and directed episodes. Not only that, but one of the show's executive producers and showrunner is Sierra Teller Ornelas, who is of Mexican and Navajo descent.
'Saved by the Bell'
The 2020 reboot of the 1990s classic Saved by the Bell, which has already been picked up for a second season, came with the inclusivity and representation right from the beginning. Mexican-American actor Mario Lopez reprised his role as A.C. Slater, this time alongside a much more diverse cast, including a number of young BIPOC actors, as well as several female directors.
'The Equalizer'
The brand-new CBS one-hour action series The Equalizer, starring Queen Latifah, features a noticeably diverse cast that also includes Liza Lapira (Dexter), Tory Kittles (Sons of Anarchy), and Adam Goldberg (Taken). Several of the series producers, including Queen Latifah herself, are also people of color.
'Bridgerton'
Arguably the biggest TV hit of 2020, Bridgerton was of course produced by Shonda Rhimes and features a first-billed cast that includes many Black actors as well as extras from various ethnic backgrounds. Several of the show's directors and writers are women and/or people of color as well.
'Los Espookys'
HBO's Los Espookys doesn't just feature BIPOC actors including multi-ethnic funny man Fred Armisen, its creators are of Latinx heritage and the kooky horror-comedy takes place partly in Mexico and is presented primarily in Spanish (with English subtitles). It's been a bit of a sleeper, but it's definitely catching on among fans of campy, easy-to-watch TV.
'On My Block'
On My Block, which takes place in South Central LA, is another series that hasn't just thrown in some characters of color, but is actually based on the real experiences of people of color. The show primarily features a cast of young Black and Latinx actors and one of its creators is of Latinx descent.
'Pose'
The FX series Pose, about the New York City "ball" culture in the gay and trans community, was created by Steven Canals, a Black and Puerto Rican screenwriter, and features entertainer Billy Porter, as well as a number of other BIPOC actors and performers that truly represent New York's ethnic diversity, as well as a broad spectrum of sexual orientations.
'Charmed'
The CW's Charmed reboot is in its fourth season and is only getting more diverse. The three lead actresses alone represent a spectrum of ethnicities including Puerto Rican, Jamaican, Canadian Indigenous, and British. Most of us aren't used to seeing such a diverse cast on our screens. Not only that, but all of the show's creators are women, and many of its writers and directors have been women and people of color. Notably, actress Gina Rodriguez has directed an episode.
'Ramy'
Ramy is a Hulu original series that premiered in 2019, and is still quite a unique TV offering two years later. It follows the everyday life an Egyptian-American millennial from New Jersey. The show features mostly Middle Eastern and Egyptian characters, but a number of the lead character's friends add some diversity to the series. More importantly though, the show was created by people who share the lived experience of its title character, which allows it to provide an authentic point of view, that many of us are not used to seeing on screen.
'Woke'
First and foremost, Hulu's Woke is hilarious. It's centered on a Black character who gets a taste of police brutality that changes the course of his entire life, but the show features actors and characters from a variety of ethnic backgrounds. We especially appreciate that it's actually the brainchild of Keith Knight, who also acts in the lead role, and Marshall Todd, a Black screenwriter, and has been written and directed by individuals who can speak to the Black experience in America from a first-hand perspective.
'Lovecraft Country'
While HBO's Lovecraft Country features a primarily Black cast, it's not necessarily a "Black show." It's a show for sci-fi buffs that also happens to be curious about American history and highlights the struggles and achievements of Black people in America throughout history. Even more exciting, the show's creator, Misha Green, is not just Black, she's also a woman, which is something we still don't see in the TV world very often.
'Tiny Pretty Things'
Tiny Pretty Things is a new Netflix original series about a group of teenage ballerinas and the scandals surrounding their school and their ultra-competitive discipline. Think Gossip Girl, but with dance. While there are a lot of jaw-dropping moments in the show, right from the outset it was obvious that some effort was put into building a diverse cast. The show's main characters are Black, white, biracial, Asian, Muslim, LGBTQ, and well, almost everything in between. It feels very much like what many modern American schools look like, which probably stems from the fact that many of the show's writers and directors are BIPOC.
'The Resident'
The Resident's lead characters may be a white couple, but at least 50% of the show's supporting cast is non-white. There are Black, Indian, Middle Eastern, and Asian actors, all in prominent roles. Notably, Malcolm Jamal Warner and Morris Chestnut both play prominent characters. It's also worth noting that one of the show's creators is Indian and a medical doctor, and many of its writers and producers are women and/or people of color.
'This Is Us'
It's true that the hit show This Is Us is mostly Black and white, and that doesn't necessarily constitute diversity. But it is undeniable that this series has put a much-needed spotlight on race relations as well as socioeconomic disparities in America. The show has also hosted a huge number of female directors including celebs in their own right, like Helen Hunt and Regina King, as well as many female and BIPOC writers throughout its five seasons.
'The Baby-Sitters Club'
Netflix's modernized version of The Baby-Sitter's Club didn't just update the series to reflect life today, it updated it to represent today's girls. The show's cast features girls from different backgrounds with different life experiences and even touches on transgenderism. The reboot was helmed by a woman and all but two of the first season's directors were women, and a number of women and people of color also have writing credits for the series.
'Kim's Convenience'
What don't we see on TV every day? A truly diverse show centered around an Asian family. First off, there are hardly any Asian-led TV shows on the air at all, but the sitcom Kim's Convenience has taken its commitment to representation even further by including Black, Indian, and Latinx characters as well. We should literally all be watching this show.
'Never Have I Ever'
Mindy Kaling is a genius. She just is, and we don't even wanna hear from anyone who thinks otherwise. She's the creator of the new Netflix comedy series Never Have I Ever, which is about a first-generation Indian-American teen girl and her group of ethnically diverse friends. Inspired by Mindy's own childhood, the show is cute, funny, and full of real-life anecdotes about what it's like to grow up "different" in America.
