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Why did the Twilight Zone not feature a more diverse cast?
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I'm watching re-runs of Twilight Zone and I was wondering why most of the cast the predominantly white?
Rod Serling liked to write episodes about social issues, so it's surprising that Twilight Zone didn't feature more non white actors. The only episodes I found that featured non white actors were I Am the Night—Color Me Black with Ivan Dixon and The Encounter with George Takei.
casting the-twilight-zone
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BasementJoe
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up vote
2
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favorite
I'm watching re-runs of Twilight Zone and I was wondering why most of the cast the predominantly white?
Rod Serling liked to write episodes about social issues, so it's surprising that Twilight Zone didn't feature more non white actors. The only episodes I found that featured non white actors were I Am the Night—Color Me Black with Ivan Dixon and The Encounter with George Takei.
casting the-twilight-zone
asked 5 hours ago
BasementJoe
1164
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BasementJoe is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
1
I imagine it's most likely because it was the late fifties/early sixties, and diverse casts like Star Trek's were the exception back then, rather than the rule.
– F1Krazy
5 hours ago
@F1Krazy - I suspect this was the case. Star Trek and Mi:Impossible were years away but it would have been nice for TZ to feature a more diverse cast.
– BasementJoe
4 hours ago
2
The past was a different place - they had funny ideas back there. It was 1967 before a non-white actor had sufficient clout as a character to even insist "They call me Mr. Tibbs!"
– Tetsujin
4 hours ago
1
To clarify the above comment - Poitier was already a multi-award-winning actor by 1967, but though he was a magnificent power on-screen, his characters generally held little or no authority. He won his first Oscar for portraying an itinerant worker, not 'a president'.
– Tetsujin
4 hours ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
2
down vote
favorite
up vote
2
down vote
favorite
I'm watching re-runs of Twilight Zone and I was wondering why most of the cast the predominantly white?
Rod Serling liked to write episodes about social issues, so it's surprising that Twilight Zone didn't feature more non white actors. The only episodes I found that featured non white actors were I Am the Night—Color Me Black with Ivan Dixon and The Encounter with George Takei.
casting the-twilight-zone
asked 5 hours ago
BasementJoe
1164
New contributor
BasementJoe is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
I'm watching re-runs of Twilight Zone and I was wondering why most of the cast the predominantly white?
Rod Serling liked to write episodes about social issues, so it's surprising that Twilight Zone didn't feature more non white actors. The only episodes I found that featured non white actors were I Am the Night—Color Me Black with Ivan Dixon and The Encounter with George Takei.
casting the-twilight-zone
casting the-twilight-zone
asked 5 hours ago
BasementJoe
1164
New contributor
BasementJoe is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked 5 hours ago
BasementJoe
1164
New contributor
BasementJoe is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked 5 hours ago
BasementJoe
1164
New contributor
BasementJoe is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked 5 hours ago
BasementJoe
1164
asked 5 hours ago
BasementJoe
1164
1164
New contributor
BasementJoe is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
New contributor
BasementJoe is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
BasementJoe is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
1
I imagine it's most likely because it was the late fifties/early sixties, and diverse casts like Star Trek's were the exception back then, rather than the rule.
– F1Krazy
5 hours ago
@F1Krazy - I suspect this was the case. Star Trek and Mi:Impossible were years away but it would have been nice for TZ to feature a more diverse cast.
– BasementJoe
4 hours ago
2
The past was a different place - they had funny ideas back there. It was 1967 before a non-white actor had sufficient clout as a character to even insist "They call me Mr. Tibbs!"
– Tetsujin
4 hours ago
1
To clarify the above comment - Poitier was already a multi-award-winning actor by 1967, but though he was a magnificent power on-screen, his characters generally held little or no authority. He won his first Oscar for portraying an itinerant worker, not 'a president'.
– Tetsujin
4 hours ago
add a comment |Â
1
I imagine it's most likely because it was the late fifties/early sixties, and diverse casts like Star Trek's were the exception back then, rather than the rule.
– F1Krazy
5 hours ago
@F1Krazy - I suspect this was the case. Star Trek and Mi:Impossible were years away but it would have been nice for TZ to feature a more diverse cast.
– BasementJoe
4 hours ago
2
The past was a different place - they had funny ideas back there. It was 1967 before a non-white actor had sufficient clout as a character to even insist "They call me Mr. Tibbs!"
– Tetsujin
4 hours ago
1
To clarify the above comment - Poitier was already a multi-award-winning actor by 1967, but though he was a magnificent power on-screen, his characters generally held little or no authority. He won his first Oscar for portraying an itinerant worker, not 'a president'.
– Tetsujin
4 hours ago
1
1
I imagine it's most likely because it was the late fifties/early sixties, and diverse casts like Star Trek's were the exception back then, rather than the rule.
– F1Krazy
5 hours ago
I imagine it's most likely because it was the late fifties/early sixties, and diverse casts like Star Trek's were the exception back then, rather than the rule.
– F1Krazy
5 hours ago
@F1Krazy - I suspect this was the case. Star Trek and Mi:Impossible were years away but it would have been nice for TZ to feature a more diverse cast.
– BasementJoe
4 hours ago
@F1Krazy - I suspect this was the case. Star Trek and Mi:Impossible were years away but it would have been nice for TZ to feature a more diverse cast.
– BasementJoe
4 hours ago
2
2
The past was a different place - they had funny ideas back there. It was 1967 before a non-white actor had sufficient clout as a character to even insist "They call me Mr. Tibbs!"
– Tetsujin
4 hours ago
The past was a different place - they had funny ideas back there. It was 1967 before a non-white actor had sufficient clout as a character to even insist "They call me Mr. Tibbs!"
– Tetsujin
4 hours ago
1
1
To clarify the above comment - Poitier was already a multi-award-winning actor by 1967, but though he was a magnificent power on-screen, his characters generally held little or no authority. He won his first Oscar for portraying an itinerant worker, not 'a president'.
– Tetsujin
4 hours ago
To clarify the above comment - Poitier was already a multi-award-winning actor by 1967, but though he was a magnificent power on-screen, his characters generally held little or no authority. He won his first Oscar for portraying an itinerant worker, not 'a president'.
– Tetsujin
4 hours ago
add a comment |Â
1 Answer
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I'm not going to make this too political, but it took a lot of people a lot of effort to change these old perceptions, & not just in Hollywood, in all walks of life.
Twilight Zone was first broadcast in 1959.
The world was a significantly different place back then.
Hollywood wasn't alone in excluding non-white actors [& technicians, writers, producers] from their domain.
The word 'diversity' was more usually applied to people who could 'sing and dance' & had nothing to do with ethnic diversity.
In 1959, racial stereotypes were the "norm", not the exception.
Black people rolled their eyes & said "Yesm".
Asians all had pigtails & did the laundry.
Irish all said "Top 'o the mornin'"
Jews were all bankers, jewellers or tailors.
[I could go on, but it's already making me itch]
This wasn't just a 'colour' thing, it was 'anybody who is not exactly like we are'.
These days we find this all risible if not actually horrendous [depends on perspective, perhaps].
Non-white actors in leading roles were not completely unknown, but they were very rare.
The first black actor to win an Oscar for a leading role[1] was Sidney Poitier, in 1963, for his part as the itinerant worker Homer Smith in Lilies of the Field (though he was first nominated in 1958.)
This was a big deal & wasn't to be repeated until Denzel Washington & Halle Berry both won in 2001
By the late 60's shows such as Star Trek were starting to push the boundaries. Star Trek did it by being "not of this time" & so could more easily portray a future where "things were different".
Though I don't know those specific Twilight Zone episodes, I think that they featured non-white actors in 1964 was actually a good first step on the way.
Every journey begins with one step, no matter how small.
Rod Serling - though trying to push boundaries - also had to deal with the current networks & how they wanted to appeal to their current audiences, so was very possibly more restrained than a modern writer.
From your Wikipedia link on The Encounter
First broadcast on May 1, 1964, its racial overtones caused it to be withheld from syndication in the U.S.
One might imagine Charlie Brooker's Black Mirror may have fewer restrictions to his imagination in this day & age
[1] I must also mention Hattie McDaniel, as the first ever black actor to be nominated - & to win - any Oscar; though the part she played to win that accolade for Best Supporting Actress was unfortunately also an eye-rolling 'yesm' part. Though potentially valid during the time the plot is set, not something anyone could be particularly proud of in this day & age (other than, of course, she did it, she won, she deserves the honour for doing it)*.
Contrast to the significantly more enlightened Django Unchained
*It's difficult to approve of the actress whilst disapproving of the portrayal that was 'of its time' & express that to a modern audience without sounding like a complete †w@†&etc!!
answered 3 hours ago
Tetsujin
15.8k55462
As with Star Trek, Mission impossible was also in the late 60s, unlike Star Trek, it took place around the 60s and 70s but featured a black actor, Greg Morris as the "tech" guy. From the few episodes I've seen, he was mostly in the background.
– BasementJoe
3 hours ago
add a comment |Â
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
up vote
3
down vote
accepted
I'm not going to make this too political, but it took a lot of people a lot of effort to change these old perceptions, & not just in Hollywood, in all walks of life.
Twilight Zone was first broadcast in 1959.
The world was a significantly different place back then.
Hollywood wasn't alone in excluding non-white actors [& technicians, writers, producers] from their domain.
The word 'diversity' was more usually applied to people who could 'sing and dance' & had nothing to do with ethnic diversity.
In 1959, racial stereotypes were the "norm", not the exception.
Black people rolled their eyes & said "Yesm".
Asians all had pigtails & did the laundry.
Irish all said "Top 'o the mornin'"
Jews were all bankers, jewellers or tailors.
[I could go on, but it's already making me itch]
This wasn't just a 'colour' thing, it was 'anybody who is not exactly like we are'.
These days we find this all risible if not actually horrendous [depends on perspective, perhaps].
Non-white actors in leading roles were not completely unknown, but they were very rare.
The first black actor to win an Oscar for a leading role[1] was Sidney Poitier, in 1963, for his part as the itinerant worker Homer Smith in Lilies of the Field (though he was first nominated in 1958.)
This was a big deal & wasn't to be repeated until Denzel Washington & Halle Berry both won in 2001
By the late 60's shows such as Star Trek were starting to push the boundaries. Star Trek did it by being "not of this time" & so could more easily portray a future where "things were different".
Though I don't know those specific Twilight Zone episodes, I think that they featured non-white actors in 1964 was actually a good first step on the way.
Every journey begins with one step, no matter how small.
Rod Serling - though trying to push boundaries - also had to deal with the current networks & how they wanted to appeal to their current audiences, so was very possibly more restrained than a modern writer.
From your Wikipedia link on The Encounter
First broadcast on May 1, 1964, its racial overtones caused it to be withheld from syndication in the U.S.
One might imagine Charlie Brooker's Black Mirror may have fewer restrictions to his imagination in this day & age
[1] I must also mention Hattie McDaniel, as the first ever black actor to be nominated - & to win - any Oscar; though the part she played to win that accolade for Best Supporting Actress was unfortunately also an eye-rolling 'yesm' part. Though potentially valid during the time the plot is set, not something anyone could be particularly proud of in this day & age (other than, of course, she did it, she won, she deserves the honour for doing it)*.
Contrast to the significantly more enlightened Django Unchained
*It's difficult to approve of the actress whilst disapproving of the portrayal that was 'of its time' & express that to a modern audience without sounding like a complete †w@†&etc!!
answered 3 hours ago
Tetsujin
15.8k55462
As with Star Trek, Mission impossible was also in the late 60s, unlike Star Trek, it took place around the 60s and 70s but featured a black actor, Greg Morris as the "tech" guy. From the few episodes I've seen, he was mostly in the background.
– BasementJoe
3 hours ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
3
down vote
accepted
I'm not going to make this too political, but it took a lot of people a lot of effort to change these old perceptions, & not just in Hollywood, in all walks of life.
Twilight Zone was first broadcast in 1959.
The world was a significantly different place back then.
Hollywood wasn't alone in excluding non-white actors [& technicians, writers, producers] from their domain.
The word 'diversity' was more usually applied to people who could 'sing and dance' & had nothing to do with ethnic diversity.
In 1959, racial stereotypes were the "norm", not the exception.
Black people rolled their eyes & said "Yesm".
Asians all had pigtails & did the laundry.
Irish all said "Top 'o the mornin'"
Jews were all bankers, jewellers or tailors.
[I could go on, but it's already making me itch]
This wasn't just a 'colour' thing, it was 'anybody who is not exactly like we are'.
These days we find this all risible if not actually horrendous [depends on perspective, perhaps].
Non-white actors in leading roles were not completely unknown, but they were very rare.
The first black actor to win an Oscar for a leading role[1] was Sidney Poitier, in 1963, for his part as the itinerant worker Homer Smith in Lilies of the Field (though he was first nominated in 1958.)
This was a big deal & wasn't to be repeated until Denzel Washington & Halle Berry both won in 2001
By the late 60's shows such as Star Trek were starting to push the boundaries. Star Trek did it by being "not of this time" & so could more easily portray a future where "things were different".
Though I don't know those specific Twilight Zone episodes, I think that they featured non-white actors in 1964 was actually a good first step on the way.
Every journey begins with one step, no matter how small.
Rod Serling - though trying to push boundaries - also had to deal with the current networks & how they wanted to appeal to their current audiences, so was very possibly more restrained than a modern writer.
From your Wikipedia link on The Encounter
First broadcast on May 1, 1964, its racial overtones caused it to be withheld from syndication in the U.S.
One might imagine Charlie Brooker's Black Mirror may have fewer restrictions to his imagination in this day & age
[1] I must also mention Hattie McDaniel, as the first ever black actor to be nominated - & to win - any Oscar; though the part she played to win that accolade for Best Supporting Actress was unfortunately also an eye-rolling 'yesm' part. Though potentially valid during the time the plot is set, not something anyone could be particularly proud of in this day & age (other than, of course, she did it, she won, she deserves the honour for doing it)*.
Contrast to the significantly more enlightened Django Unchained
*It's difficult to approve of the actress whilst disapproving of the portrayal that was 'of its time' & express that to a modern audience without sounding like a complete †w@†&etc!!
answered 3 hours ago
Tetsujin
15.8k55462
As with Star Trek, Mission impossible was also in the late 60s, unlike Star Trek, it took place around the 60s and 70s but featured a black actor, Greg Morris as the "tech" guy. From the few episodes I've seen, he was mostly in the background.
– BasementJoe
3 hours ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
3
down vote
accepted
up vote
3
down vote
accepted
I'm not going to make this too political, but it took a lot of people a lot of effort to change these old perceptions, & not just in Hollywood, in all walks of life.
Twilight Zone was first broadcast in 1959.
The world was a significantly different place back then.
Hollywood wasn't alone in excluding non-white actors [& technicians, writers, producers] from their domain.
The word 'diversity' was more usually applied to people who could 'sing and dance' & had nothing to do with ethnic diversity.
In 1959, racial stereotypes were the "norm", not the exception.
Black people rolled their eyes & said "Yesm".
Asians all had pigtails & did the laundry.
Irish all said "Top 'o the mornin'"
Jews were all bankers, jewellers or tailors.
[I could go on, but it's already making me itch]
This wasn't just a 'colour' thing, it was 'anybody who is not exactly like we are'.
These days we find this all risible if not actually horrendous [depends on perspective, perhaps].
Non-white actors in leading roles were not completely unknown, but they were very rare.
The first black actor to win an Oscar for a leading role[1] was Sidney Poitier, in 1963, for his part as the itinerant worker Homer Smith in Lilies of the Field (though he was first nominated in 1958.)
This was a big deal & wasn't to be repeated until Denzel Washington & Halle Berry both won in 2001
By the late 60's shows such as Star Trek were starting to push the boundaries. Star Trek did it by being "not of this time" & so could more easily portray a future where "things were different".
Though I don't know those specific Twilight Zone episodes, I think that they featured non-white actors in 1964 was actually a good first step on the way.
Every journey begins with one step, no matter how small.
Rod Serling - though trying to push boundaries - also had to deal with the current networks & how they wanted to appeal to their current audiences, so was very possibly more restrained than a modern writer.
From your Wikipedia link on The Encounter
First broadcast on May 1, 1964, its racial overtones caused it to be withheld from syndication in the U.S.
One might imagine Charlie Brooker's Black Mirror may have fewer restrictions to his imagination in this day & age
[1] I must also mention Hattie McDaniel, as the first ever black actor to be nominated - & to win - any Oscar; though the part she played to win that accolade for Best Supporting Actress was unfortunately also an eye-rolling 'yesm' part. Though potentially valid during the time the plot is set, not something anyone could be particularly proud of in this day & age (other than, of course, she did it, she won, she deserves the honour for doing it)*.
Contrast to the significantly more enlightened Django Unchained
*It's difficult to approve of the actress whilst disapproving of the portrayal that was 'of its time' & express that to a modern audience without sounding like a complete †w@†&etc!!
answered 3 hours ago
Tetsujin
15.8k55462
I'm not going to make this too political, but it took a lot of people a lot of effort to change these old perceptions, & not just in Hollywood, in all walks of life.
Twilight Zone was first broadcast in 1959.
The world was a significantly different place back then.
Hollywood wasn't alone in excluding non-white actors [& technicians, writers, producers] from their domain.
The word 'diversity' was more usually applied to people who could 'sing and dance' & had nothing to do with ethnic diversity.
In 1959, racial stereotypes were the "norm", not the exception.
Black people rolled their eyes & said "Yesm".
Asians all had pigtails & did the laundry.
Irish all said "Top 'o the mornin'"
Jews were all bankers, jewellers or tailors.
[I could go on, but it's already making me itch]
This wasn't just a 'colour' thing, it was 'anybody who is not exactly like we are'.
These days we find this all risible if not actually horrendous [depends on perspective, perhaps].
Non-white actors in leading roles were not completely unknown, but they were very rare.
The first black actor to win an Oscar for a leading role[1] was Sidney Poitier, in 1963, for his part as the itinerant worker Homer Smith in Lilies of the Field (though he was first nominated in 1958.)
This was a big deal & wasn't to be repeated until Denzel Washington & Halle Berry both won in 2001
By the late 60's shows such as Star Trek were starting to push the boundaries. Star Trek did it by being "not of this time" & so could more easily portray a future where "things were different".
Though I don't know those specific Twilight Zone episodes, I think that they featured non-white actors in 1964 was actually a good first step on the way.
Every journey begins with one step, no matter how small.
Rod Serling - though trying to push boundaries - also had to deal with the current networks & how they wanted to appeal to their current audiences, so was very possibly more restrained than a modern writer.
From your Wikipedia link on The Encounter
First broadcast on May 1, 1964, its racial overtones caused it to be withheld from syndication in the U.S.
One might imagine Charlie Brooker's Black Mirror may have fewer restrictions to his imagination in this day & age
[1] I must also mention Hattie McDaniel, as the first ever black actor to be nominated - & to win - any Oscar; though the part she played to win that accolade for Best Supporting Actress was unfortunately also an eye-rolling 'yesm' part. Though potentially valid during the time the plot is set, not something anyone could be particularly proud of in this day & age (other than, of course, she did it, she won, she deserves the honour for doing it)*.
Contrast to the significantly more enlightened Django Unchained
*It's difficult to approve of the actress whilst disapproving of the portrayal that was 'of its time' & express that to a modern audience without sounding like a complete †w@†&etc!!
answered 3 hours ago
Tetsujin
15.8k55462
edited 2 hours ago
answered 3 hours ago
Tetsujin
15.8k55462
answered 3 hours ago
Tetsujin
15.8k55462
answered 3 hours ago
Tetsujin
15.8k55462
15.8k55462
As with Star Trek, Mission impossible was also in the late 60s, unlike Star Trek, it took place around the 60s and 70s but featured a black actor, Greg Morris as the "tech" guy. From the few episodes I've seen, he was mostly in the background.
– BasementJoe
3 hours ago
add a comment |Â
As with Star Trek, Mission impossible was also in the late 60s, unlike Star Trek, it took place around the 60s and 70s but featured a black actor, Greg Morris as the "tech" guy. From the few episodes I've seen, he was mostly in the background.
– BasementJoe
3 hours ago
As with Star Trek, Mission impossible was also in the late 60s, unlike Star Trek, it took place around the 60s and 70s but featured a black actor, Greg Morris as the "tech" guy. From the few episodes I've seen, he was mostly in the background.
– BasementJoe
3 hours ago
As with Star Trek, Mission impossible was also in the late 60s, unlike Star Trek, it took place around the 60s and 70s but featured a black actor, Greg Morris as the "tech" guy. From the few episodes I've seen, he was mostly in the background.
– BasementJoe
3 hours ago
add a comment |Â
1
I imagine it's most likely because it was the late fifties/early sixties, and diverse casts like Star Trek's were the exception back then, rather than the rule.
– F1Krazy
5 hours ago
@F1Krazy - I suspect this was the case. Star Trek and Mi:Impossible were years away but it would have been nice for TZ to feature a more diverse cast.
– BasementJoe
4 hours ago
2
The past was a different place - they had funny ideas back there. It was 1967 before a non-white actor had sufficient clout as a character to even insist "They call me Mr. Tibbs!"
– Tetsujin
4 hours ago
1
To clarify the above comment - Poitier was already a multi-award-winning actor by 1967, but though he was a magnificent power on-screen, his characters generally held little or no authority. He won his first Oscar for portraying an itinerant worker, not 'a president'.
– Tetsujin
4 hours ago