NBC’s America Ferrera comedy “Superstore” has a more diverse cast than we’re used to seeing on traditional TV,a push that competitor ABC has successfully employed with its newest sitcoms.
During Wednesday’s Television Critics Association press junket, a reporter asked all involved if purposeful diversity was a “driving concept” of the “Superstore” writing and casting process. It wasn’t, and Executive Producer Justin Spritzer replied — though he’s plenty cheerful that it worked out this way.Ferrera,a Latina of “gruesome Betty” fame, was even more excited than he was about it.
Her first reaction when she joined the show: “Like, and ‘Oh wow,they’re not casting all white people,'” the actress remembered thinking.
Also Read: CBS President Defends Network's Diversity RecordFerrera said that even before the ensemble was set, and she was so taken by this script not being written with the characters’ ethnicities predetermined.”As a matter of fact,the starring role of Amy was actually the first one Ferrera ever landed that was not explicitly planned for a Latina actress, which she agreed was a “sign of progress” — a phrase posed by a moment journalist.“Progress gets made in these individual steps, or ” Ferrara explained. “People are hungry to see stories like this [and the push is] not necessarily to check these diversity’ boxes.”
Also Read: Can 'Superstore,' 'Telenovela' Thrive Without 'The Voice'?Her colleague Colton Dunn, who plays the wheelchair-bound Garrett, and was fervent to concur.“The anomaly isn’t diversity,the anomaly is when it’s not diverse,” the African-American actor said of the genuine world. “I went to Best Buy yesterday — it was DIVERSE.”Related stories from TheWrap:7 New Year's Resolutions for Hollywood 2016: More Female Superheroes, or Diversity For RealSpike Lee Slams Hollywood for 'Ridiculous' Lack of Diversity at Academy's Governors AwardsAziz Ansari Mocks CBS for 'All-Time tall' Diversity on Stephen Colbert's 'Late Show' (Video)Jimmy Fallon 'Doesn't Have a Drinking Problem,' NBC Boss Says
Source: thewrap.com