The push for greater diversity in media has led to a reexamination of some of our favorite TV shows, including the 90s sitcom Friends. Quinta Brunson, the star and creator of Abbott Elementary, recently used her platform as host of Saturday Night Live to address the lack of representation in the iconic series.
During her opening monologue, Brunson humorously compared Friends to her own show, Abbott Elementary. While Friends followed a group of friends in New York City, Abbott Elementary focuses on a group of teachers in a predominantly Black school in Philadelphia. Brunson pointed out the stark contrast between the two shows, noting that Abbott Elementary features a diverse cast that reflects the real world.
Brunson joked about her unconventional path to hosting SNL, saying, “I wanted to be on SNL back in the day, but the audition process seemed long. So instead, I just created my own TV show, made sure it became really popular, won a bunch of Emmys, and then got asked to host. So much easier, so much easier.” She added, “It’s a network sitcom like, say, Friends. Except, instead of being about a group of friends, it’s about a group of teachers. Instead of New York, it’s in Philadelphia, and instead of not having Black people, it does.”
While Brunson’s remarks were delivered with humor, they touched on a serious issue. The lack of diversity in Friends has been a point of criticism for years, and even one of the show’s creators, Marta Kauffman, has expressed regret. Kauffman recently pledged $4 million to support African and African-American studies at a university, acknowledging the show’s shortcomings.
Reflecting on her journey, Kauffman said, “I’ve learned a lot in the last 20 years. Admitting and accepting guilt is not easy. It’s painful looking at yourself in the mirror. I’m embarrassed that I didn’t know better 25 years ago.” She added, “It took me a long time to begin to understand how I internalized systemic racism. I’ve been working really hard to become an ally, an anti-racist. And this seemed to me to be a way that I could participate in the conversation from a white woman’s perspective.”
The discussion about diversity in entertainment continues, but steps are being taken to address past mistakes and create a more inclusive future. Brunson’s comments and Kauffman’s actions serve as reminders of the importance of representation and the need for change.
