Media

Samantha Bee is late night TV’s leading hypocrite when it comes to racial diversity

by Joe Concha, opinion contributor - 03/10/17 12:20 PM ET

TBS’s “Full Frontal” represents the worst kind of hypocrisy when it comes to scolding other networks for their hiring practices.

Exhibit A came on Wednesday, when the increasingly pious Samantha Bee of “Full Frontal” decided to target MSNBC for not hiring enough black women to work at the network.

{mosads}”You know, maybe cable news should hire more black women, except not you, MSNBC, we know you’d sweep her out of the way to make room for whichever Roger Ailes’ harassment survivor pops out of your underground railroad next week,” Bee declared before putting up a mock promo for former Fox News host Gretchen Carlson smiling alongside the MSNBC logo.

On cue, many in media ran with Bee’s comments as they often do in an effort to help the lecture go viral.

But how many stopped at asked a simple question?

How many black women are currently on the “Full Frontal” staff at TBS?

A request for comment was not returned from Turner PR. But International Movie Database (IMDB) does list cast and crew of movies and television programs alike, including Bee’s.

Result? Bee’s program employs one African-American woman out of a staff of 33 producers, directors and writers listed.

All hail basic cable! Samantha Bee wins for Outstanding Achievement in News and Information #TCA16 pic.twitter.com/BRBFWzQrPa

— The TCA (@OfficialTCA) August 7, 2016

But Bee will get a pass here because media routinely fawns over the myopic narrative of her program: Attack Trump, attack conservatives, all without remotely considering making a joke about the other side, and you’ll be receiving weekly praise and plenty of awards for the next few decades.

Part of that attack came earlier this week when Bee decided it was a great idea to shame a 20-year-old student who is undergoing treatment for brain cancer with the kind of hyperbole that is now part of the daily vernacular when it comes to Trump. (Or for that matter, anything to the right of John Kasich.)

“This year, the bow ties were gone, replaced by Nazi hair, Nazi hair, Nazi hair…” the show’s “correspondent” Michael Rubens said while showing a photo of Coddington.

When @iamsambee makes fun of your brother for having "Nazi hair." He actually has stage 4 brain cancer, but whatever floats your boat. pic.twitter.com/ULJC8nA3IX

— Megan Coddington (@meg_kelly16) March 9, 2017

To be fair, obviously neither Rubens nor Bee nor the crack producing and writing team could have possibly known Coddington was receiving treatment that changed the color of his hair from dark to orange. But they clearly could have seen this was a very young adult who may not reacted very well to being called a Nazi in front of millions on national television without the ability to defend himself.

That’s called bullying, and the show should be utterly ashamed regardless of the cancer aspect.

The segment serves as a microcosm of the kind of hateful rhetoric that passes for comedy these days. We received a preview of what was to come the night of Trump’s victory during a Stephen Colbert-hosted panel when it had become apparent the Republican would score a stunning upset.

“Anything that you want to tell us about how you’re feeling right now?” Colbert asked Julia. Friedman, an alleged comedian.

Her answer?

“I feel as if I’m about to give birth to a baby that’s already dead.”

Colbert — a devout Catholic — didn’t show anything resembling principle, a backbone, a moral compass when presented with such a sick thing that has zero comedic value.

Instead, to a huge national audience on Showtime, Colbert made a joke.

“That’s the panel discussion you can have only on Showtime!” exclaimed Colbert.

But ratings are great for the CBS Late Night host, having beat Jimmy Fallon every week since Trump took office.

They’re also great for Bee on TBS, who will also host an anti-White House Correspondents Dinner the night of the actual one on April 29.

Don’t bother reading the reviews. They’ve likely been written in advance, and they’re tremendous.

Hopefully Bee will invite her staff up on stage to allow them to take a bow.

And maybe, finally, illustrate the “Full Frontal” is anything but shining beacon for diversity.

Joe Concha is a media reporter for The Hill.

The views expressed by contributors are their own and are not the views of The Hill.

Tags Joe Concha Samantha Bee TBS