Networks Network, Minorities Get Work

After the uproar from minority advocates about the notoriously lily-white fall 1999 season, networks have made strides to diversify their ensembles, with noticeable results if not groundbreaking imagination.

Among the ongoing legacies of that debacle is the phenomenon of "diversity showcases," cast and staged in clubs and theatre venues by networks to give a spotlight to undiscovered or underemployed actors of color. There have been showcases for African-Americans, Latinos and Asian-Americans, in which theatre and actors' groups identified with each group (in these cases, respectively, the Robey Theatre, Nosotros and East West Players) have teamed with network exex to dig deeper into those talent pools. The audiences for these "scene nights" include casting directors, agents, managers and other assorted suits, and while no stars have emerged from these showcases, to my knowledge, actors have been signed and/or garnered auditions and gigs.

But what if a diversity showcase were diverse itself? Rather than put together a roster from any one particular under-represented group, last night's ABC Diversity Showcase at North Hollywood's El Portal Theatre mixed and matched 14 performers whose diversity wasn't just defined by ethnicity -- African-American, Korean, Native American -- but by age, which ranged from 18 to 80, and by disability.

Chinese American hottie Gwendoline Yeo, for instance, did a short two-character scene from Joseph Dougherty's "Digby" (no, not that one) opposite deaf actor Anthony Natale. Though the male role wasn't written for a signing actor, Yeo said the network just felt he was the best choice for the role, and was happy to add some ASL to the "special skills" line on her resume. Hers, by the way, includes formidable chops on a rather specialized instrument (sound clips offered, too).

Yeo (pronounced like the goombah greeting) has had success with these network showcases before -- one for Asian-American actors last year landed her 7 auditions and 2 jobs. Indeed, I've talked to some performers who've done a number of diversity showcases. Which raises the question: If networks keep "discovering" talent at these showcases, why do some of the same minority actors have to keep doing them?

Well, to borrow from a great philosopher/poet, there are known unknowns and then there are unknown unknowns. Yeo has guested on "The Lyon's Den," done tons of voiceover work, and tested for several sitcom pilots, so she's no stranger to Hollywood's casting offices. But she has yet to break through to casting directors' must-see lists. Showcases like this, as much as any acclaimed play or guest star spot, are just another way to chip away at the industry's vast indifference to unproven success -- a prevailing risk-aversion which knows no color.