“What is love, anyway? Maybe it’s supposed to break all the rules. Like me and Jan or Oscar and some guy.”-Michael Scott
In this column, I look at one TV episode for each night of the week to see how well it represents minorities. For each episode, I see if it passes the Bechdel test, a test that asks whether the premiere has two female characters who have a conversation about something other than a man. I will also see whether it passes the same test modified to apply to people of color (the “Troy and Abed test”) and then modified to apply to queer people.
Family Guy (Fox)
On Sunday I looked at this animated sitcom. The episode was “Farmer Guy.”
Bechdel test: Pass
Troy and Abed test: Fail
Will and Jack test: Pass
Notes: This is the second week in a row where Family Guy has passed the third test because of an interaction that was just a same-sex couple telling each other that they’re gay. Also: everything else that’s horribly wrong with this episode.
Castle (ABC)
On Monday I looked at this procedural about a writer who shadows a homicide detective. The episode was “Watershed.”
Bechdel test: Pass
Troy and Abed test: Fail
Will and Jack test: Fail
Notes: They had a Latino character call Castle out on not putting more Latino characters in his books. Ha!
New Girl (Fox)
On Tuesday I looked at this sitcom about a group of roommates. The episode was “Elaine’s Big Day.”
Bechdel test: Pass
Troy and Abed test: Pass
Will and Jack test: Fail
Notes: Cece continues to have no inner life and for some reason Schmidt gets to choose between two girls he’s been horrible towards.
Modern Family (ABC)
On Wednesday I looked at this family sitcom. The episode was “Games People Play.”
Bechdel test: Pass
Troy and Abed test: Pass
Will and Jack test: Pass
Notes: Bleck.
The Office (NBC)
On Thursday I looked at the last episode of this long-running sitcom. The episode was “Finale.”
Bechdel test: Pass
Troy and Abed test: Pass
Will and Jack test: Fail
Notes: Oscar has a weird line about how to hang out with guys he’ll have to act the way he did before he came out. Like he’s not a guy anymore? This show sure didn’t know what to do with Oscar the past year.
Nikita (The CW)
On Friday I looked at this spy thriller. The episode was “‘Til Death Do Us Part.”
Bechdel test: Pass
Troy and Abed test: Pass
Will and Jack test: Fail
Notes: I’m loving the hero, villain and victim in this episode were all female. It’s a pretty rocking show, despite the lack of queer characters.
