Just a quick review of ABC Family’s The Fosters below…
Yesterday, along with everyone else, I watched the series premiere of ABC Family’s The Fosters. The series has been gaining some buzz on account of Jennifer Lopez’s executive producer credit and that it has an interracial lesbian couple at its helm. In a sense, it’s admiring what The Fosters is doing here: not only are the moms lesbians, a given, but they’re also an interracial couple, and they have a son from one half of the couple’s previous marriage, plus adopted twin Hispanics, and foster a white daughter. And the entire time, no one really blinks an eye (well except for Callie).
It’s certainly unique and I think it’s important to show just how mixed American families are as of late. I love it, and the fact that everyone sort of takes it as the norm is even better. It’s still my philosophy that the media do have a responsibility to show us different cultures and realities. Already, people are yelling that there’s a liberal bias and agenda to the show, which… ugh.
All of that is really commendable. I was even shocked that it got greenlit — and it’s 2013.
The problem, instead, for me in the pilot is that I sort of feel like I’ve already seen this story — once we remove everyone’s ethnicities and sexual orientation. Callie is a bit jaded, but will eventually make progress. Mariana realizes her biological mom is not what she dreamed she would be. A guy falls for a girl, even though he has a girlfriend, and misses a big event for her. Weirdly, what I found the most compelling was that Mike wanted to be partnered with his ex-wife.
I know the argument to most minority underrepresentation arguments is that we should be given the same roles and storylines as our mainstream counterparts, but I don’t think the demographics should beget forgiveness for redundancy — as much as it kills me to actually say that. Then again, family dramas have never really been my thing. So maybe it’s just me.
Regardless, I think The Fosters can definitely find its audience in people who are looking for family dramas that are actually daring. The genre has been on a downswing since the 1990s, with perhaps only Parenthood the only viable option these days. The Fosters is the best representation of our melting pot today, being one of the few shows where various different families can sit down, watch it together, and point themselves out onscreen. And the television landscape desperately needs that.
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im desperately hoping that the fosters and twisted do horrible so the lying game comes back. saw fosters hate it twisted looks stupid only good show now is pretty little liars and switched at birth i dont know whynetworks insist on getting rid of good shows to put stupid new shows on why get rid of a good thing makes me want to stop watching abc family all together if pretty little liars went off i would they already stopped secret life with a horrible ending that left eveeyone hanging
Abc family really isn't very good anymore. A lot of people are very disappointed in their programs. Fosters really sucks. Can't stand it. Hope they put better programs on it.
The fosters don't suck it is actually getting good. I am kinda sad that Jesus left, but that no reason to get angry I think that its getting better.
We won't be watching this show. Tired of the gays trying to ruin everything. This lifestyle is very destructive to the body itself and the diseases that go along with it. No different than drugs, cigarettes, etc. Need to educate all on this part of the homosexual lifestyle. Hope this pilot show disappears.
I think in one point, you're right. We all need some education on homosexuality.
First of all, there can be diseases in any type of relationship gay or straight. It is different than drugs & cigarettes because people have a choice to smoke or do drugs.
It's best if you don't blatantly speak without knowing.
fuck you asshole. I hope you get a bunch of bloodly dicks stuck in your ass with AIDS
I think it's really unfair for people to judge this show so quick, I'm looking at the commentators above me. How silly and trollish does one have to be to say they don't enjoy something? The show itself definitely needs some work, but is it bad? Not even close. I had my issues with it (as a WOC at that) but it doesn't take away the fact that it doesn't appear to be whitewashed yet or that they will let it be that way. Same with Twisted, which in my opinion, the original pilot for the show was much better. It sucks that when a show premieres and it's practically reaching past the majority white audience and not shucking and jiving for them that they get pissed and it becomes a bad show. It's gross and it's a liberal agenda~ and gay couples!!! EWWW! Like please, grow up and get over yourselves.
And let us not forget, Pretty Little Liars started off horrible. Have you ever went back and watched the pilot of that show or the first season (even Season 2)? It was lackluster at most, inspiring at little. And now the show is much better because time (and an acting coach, clearly) let it get that way. Not to mention, we're watching four white girls search around for their dead white friend. And yes, though Shay Mitchell & Troian Bellisario are clearly not 'white bread' white, but they are put together for a white audience to feel comfortable with on their television screens (Troian plays a white girl and Shay plays a kind of minority who has all these either black, gay, or black lesbian 'bad influences' in her life. If you can't see the issue in that...). ABC Family has been catering to one specific thing for a very long time and I think it's great that they're reaching out and attempting to give another demographic something to relate to, God forbid a 16-19 year old white girl can't relate to Twisted or The Fosters. Spare me. If given the chance these shows could flourish into something much better. It's great to see someone I can relate to on a show that's not used specifically as comic relief or someone who's whole story line revolves around her white counterparts...(hey Vampire Diaries, Teen Wolf, Awkward, or any other YA television show from the past 3-5 years that has that one~ minority in it, if even at all.)
hey! Why cant you write a post about the show without trying to put people down for their opinions. Just because people's opinions don't match yours don't mean you have to go all negative on them. Everyone's entitled to their opinion. You can't make people like something. That seems to be the problem with the liberals today. They can't state their opinion without putting other people down. Please quit being a bully.
Dj, there is a discrepancy between stating your opinions, and stating beliefs in a public forum that is obviously bound to insult people. When you say gays " ruin everything" it is apparent you are very biased against the (outdated term) " homosexual" lifestyle. You are hindering the personal empowerment of those that identify as LGBT, and that is a problem. It is quite hypocritical and ironic that you advise Brit to stop being a bully, when you are a bully yourself. That is the real problem here, hypocritical people like yourself that need to get their heads out of their asses, and really wake up at the rapidly changing demographics of America. Seriously, get yourself some Starbucks with maybe 5 shots of espresso. You need it. I really wish you the best of luck, and happiness since you are probably living in misery. Gays EVERYWHERE. DIVERSITY EVERYWHERE. FACE IT. GET OVER IT.
Well, maybe I don't agree totally with dj, but at least he or she has manners. I wouldn't want my child viewing your response in that it has language I wouldnt want them to read. Think of kids before you start going off on people. I flagged your comment because of this.
He has manners? Are you kidding me?
Viktor's comment is still viewable & rightfully so because there's nothing verbally wrong in it.
fuck you too cunt! you fucking twat!
I don't think I put down your beliefs at all, actually. I called you a troll, because that's what you're doing. And that's fine if that helps you sleep at night, my dear. You are very much entitled to your opinion, just as much as I'm entitled to say that your opinion is utter trash and you come off as, I don't know, a bigot. Which, if I didn't deal with people like yourself on a daily basis, I would easily snap on you without a second thought. What I will point out is the hypocrisy in what you said before I made my first comment and after. I'm not trying to make you like ANYTHING, that would take a lot more effort on my part than just commenting on a public forum. I simply called you out (twice, at that) for being a hypocritical bigoted queer-phobe. I stated nothing but facts and gave you a small portion of recognition in my comment. Get over yourself and believe what you want to believe, but it doesn't change anything about how gross of a person you are. I'm far from a bully for calling you out.
Hey, was checkin to see if viktor's comment was taken off for inappropriate language and saw your comment. Sorry dj hurt your feelings. You should really move on since the comment was 6 days ago. You and viktor need to learn to not take things so personal. It only makes the huge majority like dj proof that the LGBT community is a joke by your responses. It would have been better if you had not commented at all.
I absolutely LOVE this show. I recommend it to anyone! It is an easy show to relate to, and while it has a lot of DRAMA, the hallmark of this show is unconditional love regardless the circumstance. It's really a touching show. Go watch it, there aren't that many shows out there that are as meaningful as this one.
This show is a waste of time. Could have done a whole lot better with this show. Won't be watching it.Abc family is becoming a huge disappointment.
The Fosters is nice because of all the diversity, but it's frankly too much. It's really confusing to get into and I didn't really see any point. I get that its about the juvie girl, but the whole thing with the interracial lesbian moms with adopted twins and one biological son from a previous nonhomosexual marriage is overwhelming. I agree that pretty little liars started out bad, but I could get into it and I could see that it was going into an interesting direction. But, this is just boring. I love Twisted, it's really interesting. I think that they should just bring back Lying Game and scratch this one. Lying Game is really good and I don't understand why it didn't stick.
My brothers and sisters are so upset with this show. Why must homosexuals act like they are struggling as us blacks? They can't even begin to compare being gay with being black. Not very many blacks support this idea. This show disgusts me. I hope it fails and so do many of the black community!
I think it's horrible when blacks don't support gays.
I think it's so hypocritical.
Both groups have & are being beaten for a way that were born.
Both groups have been publicly discriminated for something they had no choice in. I think it's so easy for people to say "You choose to be gay" because anyone can be gay. But not anyone can "choose" to be black. & that's unfortunate because then you'd see an argument gays always get.
Imagine someone telling you, that all of the hate you've gotten in your life... All of the struggles you had to go through mentally because your parents or school peers didn't accept you... Imagine that, & people saying that it was your choice. It wasn't my choice like it wasn't your choice to be black. And like you (I'm Sure) I wouldn't change the way I was born. Because being gay has opened me up to a new world of accepting all types of people. Where people like you, will get judged by others for being black and yet you continue to judge others for a way they were born.
That's sad & extremely hypocritical
Very upset with this show. This show upsets me and the hispanic community that I live in. We used to adore jlo but not anymore. I feel that the hispanics should be given our own month if the gays get one. Why do the gays get special treatment? Most of us do not agree with this kind of lifestyle. We are very upset that our people are being used to promote this show. We are outraged and want this show cancelled.
I'm Latina and gay, aand let me tell you that there's a lot of people like me out there. I knowyhis, because I work for a outreach program aimed to provide resources to the Latino community and there I come across with a wide population with many kinds of "lifestyles" . Please, if you are going to express bigotry and ignorance don't use your ethnicity (and mine) as a shield. You don't have the right to speak for a heterogeneous community.
Seriously? Not sure where you are at, but that must be a small program and community you live in. I believe we are in America and last time I checked everyone has the right to speak out. Why don't you post something about the show instead of trying to take Antonio's first amendment away.
She didn't do anything of that matter.
She asked the commentator not to use his latino background to represent everyone in it. Because not everyone in it, agrees.
Are you serious right now? I love how you use your Latin blood to make it seem like you're proud of it. If you were, you'd know that there is a Hispanic Heritage month that runs in the fall...
I know this because I'm Latino.
It doesn't matter if you agree with it, because it's not your choice or their choice.
I think it's so sad when anyone who is already discriminated in the U.S. for the color of their skin or the neighborhood they were born into has an anger against homosexuality.
I love this show. Kudos to ABC Family for dealing w/ such socially sensitive issues such as gay marriage, interracial relationships, child abuse, cross dressing, and same race discrimination due to the shade of your skin. It's beautifully done with such a positive tone----something we don't see much on tv. I am very impressed.