“The Simpsons” will no longer have white actors voice non-white characters on the show, Fox announced on Friday.
“Moving forward, ‘The Simpsons’ will no longer have white actors voice nonwhite characters,” the network said in a brief statement.
The pledge follows the announcement by “Family Guy” star Mike Henry earlier on Friday that he would step away from the Fox sitcom as the longtime voice of the Black character Cleveland Brown.
Also Read: 'Family Guy' Actor Mike Henry Will No Longer Voice Black Character
This is not the first time “The Simpsons” has had to reckon with race in voice casting. Hank Azaria announced back in January that he would stop voicing the Indian American convenience-store proprietor Apu Nahasapeemapetilon after taking heavy criticism, including in a 2017 documentary titled “The Problem With Apu” by comedian Hari Kondabolu.
“My eyes have been opened,” Azaria said in an interview about the criticism at the time. “I think the most important thing is we have to listen to South Asian people, Indian people in this country when they talk about what they feel, how they think about this character, and what their American experience of it [is].”
In his statement on Friday, Henry made a similar acknowledgment that “persons of color should play characters of color.” He had voiced the character for more than two decades, since the show’s debut in 1999. He also voiced a number of other minor “Family Guy” characters, including a Latina maid named Consuela.
Also Read: Jenny Slate Exits 'Big Mouth,' Will No Longer Voice Black Character
Animated TV comedies have faced something a reckoning regarding cross-racial casting across the last few days. Earlier this week both “Big Mouth” star Jenny Slate and “Central Park’s” Kristen Bell announced that they would step away from voicing their characters, both of whom are biracial. Both shows said they would replace the actresses with Black or biracial voice actors.
Summer TV 2020: Premiere Dates for New and Returning Shows (Photos)
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The CW/HBO Max/Netflix/TNT
Summer is in full swing, and everyone is staying at home as much as possible to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Luckily, dozens of new and returning shows are premiering this summer. The list includes some big titles like "The Twilight Zone" and "The Umbrella Academy," plus original shows for new streaming services HBO Max and Peacock.
Also Read: Fall TV 2020: Every Broadcast Show Canceled, Renewed and Ordered – So Far (Updating)
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Showtime
Series: “The Chi” Net: Showtime Premiere: Sunday, June 21 Time: 9 p.m.
Also Read: Here’s the Fall 2020 TV Schedule for Broadcast Networks – So Far
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HBO
Series: “Perry Mason” Net: HBO Premiere Date: Sunday, June 21 Time: 9 p.m.
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Paramount Network
Series: “Yellowstone” Net: Paramount Network Premiere Date: Sunday, June 21 Time: 9 p.m.
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AMC
Series: “NOS4A2” Net: AMC/BBC America Premiere Date: Sunday, June 21 Time: 10 p.m.
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TLC
Series: "B90 Strikes Back!" Net: TLC Premiere Date: Monday, June 22 Time: 8 p.m.
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OWN
Series: “Greenleaf” Net: OWN Premiere Date: Tuesday, June 23 Time: 9 p.m.
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TBS
Series: "Celebrity Show-Off" Net: TBS Premiere Date: Tuesday, June 23 Time: 10 p.m.
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DC Universe/HBO Max
Series: “Doom Patrol” Net: HBO Max/DC Universe Premiere Date: Thursday, June 25
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HBO Max
Series: “Search Party” Net: HBO Max Premiere Date: Thursday, June 25
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CBS All Access
Series: “The Twilight Zone” Net: CBS All Access Premiere Date: Thursday, June 25
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Netflix
Series: "Dark" Net: Netflix Premiere Date: Saturday, June 27
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Showtime
Series: “Black Monday” Net: Showtime Premiere Date: Sunday, June 28 Time: 8 p.m.
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HBO
Series: “I’ll Be Gone in the Dark” Net: HBO Premiere Date: Sunday, June 28 Time: 10 p.m.
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Netflix
Series: "Unsolved Mysteries" Net: Netflix Premiere Date: Wednesday, July 1
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We TV
Series: “Marriage Boot Camp” Net: We TV Premiere Date: Thursday, July 2 Time: 9 p.m.
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BET+
Series: "Carl Weber's The Family Business" Net: BET+ Premiere Date: Thursday, July 2 Time: 9 p.m.
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Netflix
Series: “The Baby-Sitters Club” Net: Netflix Premiere Date: Friday, July 3
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Amazon Prime Video
Series: “Hanna” Net: Amazon Prime Video Premiere Date: Friday, July 3
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Showtime
Series: “Outcry” Net: Showtime Premiere Date: Sunday, July 5 Time: 10 p.m.
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Netflix
Series: "Stateless" Net: Netflix Premiere Date: Wednesday, July 8
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CBS
Series: “Tough as Nails” Net: CBS Premiere Date: Wednesday, July 8 Time: 9 p.m.
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HBO Max
Series: “Close Enough” Net: HBO Max Premiere Date: Thursday, July 9
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HBO Max
Series: “Expecting Amy” Net: HBO Max Premiere Date: Thursday, July 9
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USA
Series: "Cannonball" Net: USA Premiere Date: Thursday, July 9 Time: 8 p.m.
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USA
Series: "Chrisley Knows Best" Net: USA Premiere Date: Thursday, July 9 Time: 9 p.m.
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Apple TV+
Series: “Greatness Code” Net: Apple TV+ Premiere Date: Friday, July 10
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Apple TV+
Series: "Little Voice" Net: Apple TV+ Premiere Date: Friday, July 10
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Starz
Series: “P-Valley” Net: Starz Premiere Date: Sunday, July 12 Time: 9 p.m.
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Peacock
Series: “Brave New World” Net: Peacock Premiere Date: Wednesday, July 15
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Peacock
Series: “The Capture” Net: Peacock Premiere Date: Wednesday, July 15
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Peacock
Series: “In Deep With Ryan Lochte” Net: Peacock Premiere Date: Wednesday, July 15 Time: N/A
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Peacock
Series: “Intelligence” Net: Peacock Premiere Date: Wednesday, July 15
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Lifetime
Series: "Married at First Sight" Net: Lifetime Premiere Date: Wednesday, July 15 Time: 8 p.m.
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ABC
Series: "United We Fall" Net: ABC Premiere Date: Wednesday, July 15 Time: 8 p.m.
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Netflix
Series: "Indian Matchmaking" Net: Netflix Premiere Date: Thursday, July 16 Time: N/A
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The CW
Series: "Killer Camp" Net: The CW Premiere Date: Thursday, July 16 Time: 8 p.m.
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Netflix
Series: "Cursed" Net: Netflix Premiere Date: Friday, July 17 Time: N/A
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Amazon Prime Video
Series: "Absentia" Net: Amazon Prime Video Premiere Date: Friday, July 17
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TNT
Series: "The Alienist: Angel of Darkness" Net: TNT Premiere Date: Sunday, July 19 Time: 9 p.m.
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Series: "The Andy Cohen Diaries" Net: Quibi Premiere Date: Monday, July 20 Time: N/A
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Series: "Die Hart" Net: Quibi Premiere Date: Monday, July 20 Time: N/A
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Netflix
Series: "Love on the Spectrum" Net: Netflix Premiere Date: Wednesday, July 22 Time: N/A
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Comedy Central
Series: "Corporate" Net: Comedy Central Premiere Date: Wednesday, July 22 Time: 10:30 p.m.
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HBO
Series: “Room 104” Net: HBO Premiere Date: Friday, July 24 Time: 11 p.m.
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Syfy
Series: "Wynonna Earp" Net: Syfy Premiere Date: Sunday, July 26 Time: 10 p.m.
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Epix
Series: "Helter Skelter: An American Myth” Net: Epix Premiere Date: Sunday, July 26 Time: 10 p.m.
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Series: "Don't Look Deeper" Net: Quibi Premiere Date: Monday, July 27 Time: N/A
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Netflix
Series: "Last Chance U" Net: Netflix Premiere Date: Tuesday, July 28
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HBO Max
Series: “The Dog House" Net: HBO Max Premiere Date: Thursday, July 30
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Netflix
Series: "Transformers: War for Cybertron Trilogy" Net: Netflix Premiere Date: Thursday, July 30
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HBO Max
Series: “The Frayed” Net: HBO Max Premiere Date: Thursday, July 30
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Disney+
Series: “Muppets Now” Net: Disney+ Premiere Date: Friday, July 31
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Netflix
Series: “The Umbrella Academy” Net: Netflix Premiere Date: Friday, July 31
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Bravo
Series: "Real Housewives of Potomac" Net: Bravo Premiere Date: Sunday, Aug. 2 Time: 8 p.m.
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The CW
Series: "Taskmaster" Net: The CW Premiere Date: Sunday, Aug. 2 Time: 8 p.m.
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The CW
Series: "Fridge Wars" Net: The CW Premiere Date: Sunday, Aug. 2 Time: 9 p.m.
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Quibi
Series: "The Fugitive" Net: Quibi Premiere Date: Monday, Aug. 3
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MTV
Series: "Catfish" Net: MTV Premiere Date: Wednesday, Aug. 5 Time: 8 p.m.
-
The CW
Series: "Coroner" Net: The CW Premiere Date: Wednesday, Aug. 5 Time: 9 p.m.
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CBS All Access
Series: "Star Trek: Lower Decks" Net: CBS All Access Premiere Date: Thursday, Aug. 6 Time: N/A
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Netflix
Series: "Selling Sunset" Net: Netflix Premiere Date: Friday, Aug. 7
-
Series: "Surviving Jeffrey Epstein" Net: Lifetime Premiere Date: Sunday, Aug. 9 Time: 8 p.m.
-
Quibi
Series: "Mapleworth Murders" Net: Quibi Premiere Date: Monday, Aug. 10
-
HBO
Series: "Hard Knocks" Net: HBO Premiere Date: Tuesday, Aug. 11 Time: 10 p.m.
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Apple TV+
Series: "Ted Lasso" Net: Apple TV+ Premiere Date: Friday, Aug. 14
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Amazon Prime Video
Series: "World's Toughest Race: Eco-Challenge Fiji" Net: Amazon Prime Video Premiere Date: Friday, Aug. 14
-
HBO
Series: "Lovecraft Country" Net: HBO Premiere Date: Sunday, Aug. 16 Time: 9 p.m.
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The CW
Series: "Dead Pixels" Net: The CW Premiere Date: Tuesday, Aug. 18 Time: 8 p.m.
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Netflix
Series: "Lucifer" Net: Netflix Premiere Date: Friday, Aug. 21
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HBO Max
Series: "Ravi Patel's Pursuit of Happiness" Net: HBO Max Premiere Date: Thursday, Aug. 27 Time: N/A
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Showtime
Series: “Love Fraud” Net: Showtime Premiere Date: Sunday, Aug. 30 Time: 9 p.m.
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NBCUniversal
Series: "A.P. Bio" Net: Peacock Premiere Date: Thursday, Sept. 3 Time: N/A
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Netflix
Series: "Away" Net: Netflix Premiere Date: Friday, Sept. 4 Time: N/A
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Amazon Prime Video
Series: "The Boys" Net: Amazon Prime Video Premiere Date: Friday, Sept. 4 Time: N/A
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Hulu
Series: "Woke" Net: Hulu Premiere Date: Wednesday, Sept. 9 Time: N/A
Here’s when 75 broadcast, cable and streaming series debut and come back
Summer is in full swing, and everyone is staying at home as much as possible to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Luckily, dozens of new and returning shows are premiering this summer. The list includes some big titles like "The Twilight Zone" and "The Umbrella Academy," plus original shows for new streaming services HBO Max and Peacock.
Also Read: Fall TV 2020: Every Broadcast Show Canceled, Renewed and Ordered – So Far (Updating)