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The cast of Black Panther & Underground |
By Brenda Alexander
There’s been a longstanding notion in Hollywood that movies that feature a predominantly Black cast and tells stories from a Black perspective won’t sell. Black Panther has dis-proven that theory with $700+ million in nationwide sales in its first two weeks of release. Being a superhero film that’s consumed by mass audiences of all races, this is a huge victory. With all of the success that BP has achieved, I’m optimistic about what’s ahead. It does sting that it took this long to “prove” that we indeed are marketable. I’m also saddened that great stories have yet to be told; or have been pulled and not given enough time to make its mark as movies and shows with predominantly white cast are.
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Aisha Hinds & Jurnee Smollett-Bell |
“Underground is first and foremost entertainment, and it’s good entertainment but it also hits on issues that are still coursing through the body politic. The show is set in 1857, but with protests against police brutality against Blacks currently taking place, its sensibilities are rooted in 2016.”
The show had consistent ratings with an average of 1.4 million but didn’t survive the acquisition of Sinclair, a company known for buying stations and cutting original scripted programming for more fair-right news and non-scripted programs, which are cheaper to produce. John Legend, one of the show’s Executive Producer’s, let his disappointment be known publicly in an op-ed. He wrote,
“Underground was a hit, setting ratings records, receiving rave reviews and sparking conversation. It was screened at the White House and the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture, acknowledged by the NAACP, NABJ… yet here we are, still fighting…We know there is still an appetite for high-quality scripted dramas… We also know that, in this particular moment in history, there is an urgent need to tell the powerful story of the Underground Railroad. Let’s #SaveUnderground so that we can continue to inspire and educate the American people about these true American heroes.”
Underground struggles to find a new home. Even Black owned/focused networks like OWN passed on the show. Being a time period piece the shows costs an estimated $5 million per episode. Networks say it’s “too expensive” and even bring ratings into question. Though it was a success, a niche network like WGN may not transfer to a larger audience. One viewer agreed stating, “I never watched Underground because my cable package did not have the WGN channel,” she said. “But I heard from media industry powerhouses and friends that is was a phenomenal series. I think that hurt the show when pitched to other networks because they couldn’t see the ROI.”
Another question is: Are viewers still interested in the Underground story? There are currently no slave narratives on television. Though an empty market, some don’t feel it appeals to massive audiences like BP. “I don’t believe the series will re-surge anytime soon. The entertainment industry follows trends that currently make money,” one explains. “With Black Panther thriving, I think we will see more superhero/sci-fi films or television shows, especially because they appeal to children, which is a huge financial gain for the industry.”
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Aldis Hodge |
