I think we should all write to the WB and let them know that their indian demographic wants to see Mindy and Brenda go on tv.

their email address is: faces@talk.thewb.com

Here is their address: 4000 Warner Blvd, Bldg 34r, Burbank CA 91522 attn: viewer comment/WB’s Entertainment President David Janollari

Instead of just commenting on the roles that these actors play lets be proactive and help get a strong atypical role on tv for all of us!

“Indians are funny ?!” “They don’t all work in corner shops ?!” “They don’t all have arranged marriages ?!” “The older generation don’t all speak like Apu/Peter Sellers ?!” The list goes on and on but you get my drift.

(Try to catch some of the episodes on DVD if any of you over in the US can find some — especially the “Going out for an English” restaurant-sketch in the very first episode of the first series, it’s incredibly astute, very funny indeed, and now regarded as being something of a classic. It’s quite outrageous if you’ve never seen it before).

Isn’t David Schwimmer producing/directing a new comedy show about a US-based Indian family ?

I was watching Q&A on C-Span (Yes, I know I have no life ) and Brian Lamb, who is actually one of the founders of the channel, had a Q&A with two of his staff. One of them was Indian. In talking to the Indian guy Brian Lamb asked questions that showed him to be completely ill-informed about India. And I think Brian is a reasonably smart guy. So imagine what would be the sitaution of a regular Joe?

Two points: 1) How was the seterotype made – 1D vs. 3D characterization?, 2) If as a group, you are sure of yourself it would never bother you. Do you think French care about what anyone else thinks about them?

Literature is full of stereotypes. The classic one being “Shylock” in Merchants of Venice. It does show ShakespeareÂ’s prejudices and the times he lived in.

If it becomes derogatory, then it should be opposed vehemently. I was at a party and this drunken kid would not shut up about “Apu”. He would mimic Apu and then laugh by himself for another 3 minutes. It was pretty bad. I think some of the ones used in USA are not done in playful way and are in bad taste.

However, I have always enjoyed Peter Sellers take on stereotypes. He would put a lot of effort in it. Typically, Germans (the ones I know) enjoy Indiana Jones movies too – I guess they know that they are really much more than that. It all matter of how they are done. I saw one of the Indiana Jones movie with a German friend of mine and man, he had fun. He discussed the fine points of the movie for a week.

Kush

PS: I have only enjoyed Johnny Lever in one of his earliest movies “Jalwa”. Since, then he is a one-act pony.

Americans have far more personal experience with Homer types, Latinos, nerds, stoners and alcoholics than desis in the U.S. In a data-poor environment, the perception becomes the reality.

Al Mujahid – fair point. I don’t live in the States, in fact I’m very lucky in where I live; I have not had to suffer much prejudice at all in London (pre-7/7!) I can understand how Apu could be used as fodder.

But that’s the way the Simpsons works, EVERY character is as stereotyped as they can be, and bear in mind they were created over 10 years ago, it’s admirable there’s an Indian character at all.

Apu – Stereotypical Indian convenience store clerk. Bumblebee Man – Stereotypical Mexican. Krusty and Dad – HILARIOUSLY stereotypical Jews. Ned – Stereotypical middle American bible basher. Dr Nick – Stereotypical hispanic slacker. Karl – Stereotypical black guy, manual labourer and great at basketball. Comic Book Guy – Stereotypical nerd. Otto – Stereotypical stoner. Barney – Stereotypical alcoholic.

The list goes on. But I started with the ‘ethnic’ characters. On the surface the show looks very shallow. But all those characters (with the exception of the Bumblebee Guy) are realistic, developed people. Take the episode where Quimby introduces Proposal 24 – scapegoating immigrants for all the wrongs in Springfield (Much Apu About Nothing, series 3 episode 20). Apu becomes a victim of overt racism in a clear satire of California’s Proposition 187. It’s a very politcally charged episode strongly criticising the scapegoating of immigrants and highlighting Homer’s willingness to go along with the propaganda, as an average American.

If the Simpsons had chucked in an Indian doctor/IT technician/accountant (which weren’t so numerous back in ’92) with no Indian characteristics, it would’ve been a non-character. All of the characters are defined by their stereoptypical tendencies and the humour in that, of course with no greater example than Homer – stereotypical American: selfish but with a pure heart, loves his family, easily swayed, horrendously fat and outrageously dumb. U.S.A.! U.S.A.! U.S.A.!