Quote:
Originally Posted by The Batlord
I was watching an episode of Melrose Place a few years ago and there was a token black chick whose job was literally "cardio funk instructor". Cause of course black people only care about watermelon and funk... in 1992. Was hilarious. Especially when she was hitting on some black guy with one of those awful midriff tank-tops from back then.
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I think the scene you described is quintessential 90's television. It had this attitude that when minorities were cast, they were put in horribly stereotypical roles. It's like the producers went "just be happy you get to work".
Having just rewatched Friends, though, I think an even bigger offender other than the whitewashing is the homophobia. Chandler is so deathly afraid of being perceived as gay - there are jokes at gay peoples' expense all over the place. Back then I didn't flinch, but there's no way you could get away with that now.