Why ‘Undercovers’ cast two black leads

http://livefeed.hollywoodreporter.com/2010/07/why-undercovers-cast-two-black-leads.html

NBC's "Undercovers" creator Josh Reims said that when he sat down with executive producer J.J. Abrams about their new spy show, he got the "Alias" question out of the way.


I said, 'We're not doing 'Alias,'" Reims said. "And J.J., to his credit, would say, 'Yes, if I go too far in the confusing, mythological whatever, craziness, just stop me.' So that was the extent of our discussions about 'Alias.'"

Critics at press tour were particularly interested in how the show came about casting two black leads. Was it part of a master plan or completely by happenstance? Turns out, a little of both.

"We didn't go out of our way to say 'we're hiring two black people to be the leads of the show,' but we certainly did not ignore the fact that it would be great if we could do that and if we found actors who were great enough," Reims said. "And luckily, we found [them]. We don't consider that we're, you know, revolutionizing TV, but at the same time, we do realize it is a big deal. We all wish it wasn't such a big deal at this point ... but unfortunately that's the way it is right now."

Star Boris Kodjoe added: "It is important that we get a chance to be trailblazers or door openers or whatever you want to call it. On the other hand, let's inspire people to regard it as normal so that more and more people don't consider it taking a chance, but just being creative."