J.J. Abrams's Undercovers

[katiemac]

J.J. Abrams and Josh Reims are working on a new drama, Undercovers, for NBC about husband-and-wife spies. The news has been out for awhile, but yesterday they just cast the male lead.

It's Boris Kodjoe (http://ausiellofiles.ew.com/2009/12/17/scoop-soul-food-spies-undercovers-gig/). I don't know about anyone else, but I find this pretty exciting. Black actor as the male lead? The casting is still out on his wife, so it could be very interesting to see who they go with ...

[Enzo]

I liked Alias and I love LOST, so I hope this series will also be hard-hitting action. According to the comments on that site, a black actress as female lead is less likely if they want to attract viewers from all ethnic groups. That's an American thing, I guess.

[K. Taylor]

The premise helps. On American TV, you mostly have stereotypical "black shows" if both the leads or most of the cast are black. And they're sitcoms, not dramas. I would hope that viewers considering this show wouldn't assume they'll be getting stereotyped characters since it's a spy show and from JJ. If it has the Alias vibe and doesn't conflict with my other shows, I'd definitely give it a glance. The guy is hot. :) And I've been a fan of Gerald McRaney since "Major Dad".

[katiemac]

The premise helps. On American TV, you mostly have stereotypical "black shows" if both the leads or most of the cast are black. And they're sitcoms, not dramas. I would hope that viewers considering this show wouldn't assume they'll be getting stereotyped characters since it's a spy show and from JJ. If it has the Alias vibe and doesn't conflict with my other shows, I'd definitely give it a glance. The guy is hot. :) And I've been a fan of Gerald McRaney since "Major Dad".

This is what I was thinking. If they would cast a black actress (and I'm thinking they might be more likely to cast an Asian actress), it would be the first time since--I don't know, the Cosby show?--you had two black leads without it being a 'black' show. Even Cosby was a sitcom.

[K. Taylor]

"Family Matters" and "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" were also more universal, but again, sitcoms.

[katiemac]

"Family Matters" and "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" were also more universal, but again, sitcoms.

Gah completely forgot about those, even if they were sitcoms.

What's also interesting about this is the black lead actor is relatively unknown. When ABC cast Taye Diggs in Day Break, well ... he's Taye Diggs.

[katiemac]

Wanted to bump this:

Just announced casting on the wife, to be played by Gugu Mbatha-Raw, who is also black. I believe this will make the only current network show with black leads now that the CW comedies were all canceled.

[ClaudiaGray]

I am incredibly excited for this show -- it's JJ! It's spies! I'm SO THERE -- and also pleased to see that he's cast black leads in a high-concept adventure show.

Also, that man is VERY HOT.