How TV platforms and producers are handling old episodes with blackface and other outdated, insensitive content

On Friday, The Office proved how far some older shows will go to wipe their slate clean of racially insensitive material, by re-editing one of its episodes to remove a scene featuring a character in blackface. That came the same week that other sitcoms including Community Scrubs and 30 Rock all had episodes pulled that included characters in blackface.

Those subtractions come amid a larger push that has forced the producers and distributors of older shows to re-evaluate their content for things that may have seemed fine years ago, but look badly outdated in 2020. The decision to pull or re-edit episodes, or in some cases add a disclaimer, is often a collaborative one. At least, thats the desirable approach.

Even more desirable would be not waiting for a moment of public backlash to right old wrongs. (Themost desirable possibility, of course, would be to not create offensive material in the first place.)

Also Read: 'The Office' Season 9 Christmas Episode Re-Edited to Remove Blackface Scene (Exclusive)

One somewhat regular check-up on old material tends to occur when series get licensed for another life on a new platform. Then, old episodes need to be rechecked for numerous reasons, including music rights, according to one industry insider. At that time, socially problematic issues can arise and the episode(s) in question can be re-edited if need be, and in extreme cases, pulled.

Through corporate processes like these, most of the truly problematic stuff would have been removed (quietly) years ago. Saturday Night Live, which has been around since 1975, is a good example of this. The culture has changed so much in the last 45 years that what was acceptable as edgy art in the early days might not be in 2020. But because Lorne Michaels show has existed on so many platforms (like the short-lived SeeSo, and soon, Peacock), some Saturday Night Live library material that wouldnt fly in the current climate hasnt actually been available for many years.

Examples of such previously scrubbed material include Jimmy Fallon doing a Chris Rock impersonation in blackface in 2000, and the Chevy Chase-Richard Pryor job interview sketch from the 70s, in which Chase uses the n-word and other racial epithets during a word-association round. Those can both be found in ripped form on YouTube, but the skits do not exist within the archives of official SNL licensing partnerships.

Also Read: Netflix Pulls 'Community' Episode 'Advanced Dungeons & Dragons' Due to Blackface Scenes (Exclusive)

In 2020, social media sometimes knows of a problem before a platform does. Want to get the attention of a network executive? Make an old show trend for all the wrong reasons. Along with Scrubs, late-night hosts Jimmy Fallon and Jimmy Kimmel have been called out for previous instances of wearing blackface. In recent weeks, the list of shows that have either been taken down completely or shed specific episodes includes W/ Bob and David, Chris Lilleys Summer Heights High, Angry Boys, We Can Be Heroes and Jonah From Tonga, and British comedies like Fawlty Towers and Little Britain.

And then there are the self-policing producers. On Monday, Tina Fey and partner Robert Carlocktook it upon themselvesto reach out to each platform where their sitcom 30 Rock is available, including Hulu and Amazon Prime, and ask that four episodes be taken down. When Scrubs creator Bill Lawrence was asked on Twitter if he would follow suit, he replied it was already in the works. One day later, those episodes were removed.

Office creator Greg Daniels went the extra mile by removing a scene in the hopes that the episode in question could still remain. We cut a shot of an actor wearing blackface that was used to criticize a specific racist European practice, Daniels told TheWrap. Blackface is unacceptable and making the point so graphically is hurtful and wrong. I am sorry for the pain that caused.

Also Read: 3 'Scrubs' Episodes Featuring Blackface Pulled From Streaming (Exclusive)

When it comes time to yank entire episodes, the platform distributing the series prefers to let producers make the official request to remove potentially offensive material. In most cases, the platform is (generally) paying for the opportunity to offer the program to subscribers and doesnt own or control the content. The platform would prefer the tough decision be a collaborative one with open communication between the parties.

With Community, it was Netflix who made the call to pull an episode of the former NBC comedy that had a character in blackface, an individual with knowledge of the decision told TheWrap. Community producer Sony Pictures TV declined to comment.

There are, of course, some exceptions to including everyone in the decision-making process. When Bill Cosby was accused and then later convicted of sexual assault, it was clear that presenting The Cosby Show to subscribers was just a bad idea. Hulu, which had the streaming rights, did not completely dump the series, though the service ceased promoting the classic sitcom to users and including it on any watch lists. While Hulu let the rights expire, The Cosby Show was still technically available for anyone who specifically searched for it. (Amazon Prime never pulled the series, where its still available today).

Then theres the case of Its Always Sunny in Philadelphia, the long-running sitcom that features blackface in a Season 6 episode. Last week, Netflix, which owns the Sunny rights overseas, pulled the episode but its still available on Hulu, which has the streaming rights to the FX comedy stateside.

Also Read: Tina Fey Pulls 4 '30 Rock' Episodes From Circulation, Apologizes for Blackface Use

Both Hulu and FX are owned by Disney, and the parent company has tied to the two brands with the launch of FX on Hulu. That gives Hulu and FX even more reason to try to make a mutually agreed-upon decision if creator and co-star Rob McElhenney doesnt make it for them. Representatives for McElhenney did not respond to TheWraps request for comment.

At press time, the episode was still up on the FX on Hulu site.

Instead of pulling content altogether, some platforms may prefer to put a thoughtful disclaimer on a property, as HBO Max did with Gone With the Wind. The streamer pulled the 1939 film, which has long been criticized for its sympathetic portrayal of the Antebellum South, two weeks ago. On Wednesday, the Oscar-winning drama returned with a video disclaimer and two short videos that discuss the historical context of the film.

Disney+ has also featured a disclaimer that read outdated cultural depictions on some of its decades-old content. But the call to feature disclaimers to pull insensitive material outright really depends on the level of offense and outcry.

Jenny Maas contributed to this story.

Don't even think of mimicking these celebrities.

Joni Mitchell

The singer posed in blackface on the cover of her album "Don Juan's Reckless Daughter" in 1977, and later went on to justify it by saying, "I have experienced being a Black guy."

Ted Danson

The "Cheers" star appeared at a New York Friars Club Roast in 1993 with then-girlfriend Whoopi Goldbergwearing blackface makeup to perform an offensive N-word-filled comedy routine.

Tom Hanks

The Oscar-winning actor came under fire in 2012 when video surfaced ofa 2004school fundraiser featuring Hanks and another man wearingblackface and stereotypical African clothing. Hanks later condemned the bit as "horribly offensive."

Jane Krakowski

The actress appeared in blackface in two episodes of the 2006-13 sitcom "30 Rock," in one case dressing as a Black man while co-star Tracy Morgan, who is African American, appeared as a white woman. Series creators Tina Fey and Robert Carlock pulled the episodes from circulation in 2020.

Tyra Banks

The host of"America's Next Top Model" took heat, as did her show, for a photo shoot in 2009 in which competingmodels were made to look "biracial." Styling techniques includedthe darkening of contestants'skin.

Paula Deen

Following the epicure'souster from the Food Network in the wake of her infamous N-word controversy, Deenposted a photo on Twitter from her show's 2011 Halloween episode featuring her son, Bobby, dressed as Ricky Ricardo, complete with brownface makeup.

Beyonc

The diva took heat for a 2011L'Officiel Paris cover with an "African Queen" theme for which the pop star's skin was darkened.

Jon Hamm

In a 2012 episode of "30 Rock," Hamm teamed with Tracy Morgan to re-create a parody version of a dated old TV show modeled on the stereotype-laden "Amos and Andy." Hamm doesn't so much blacken his face as dirty it, but the episode proved so problematic that creator Tina Fey pulled it from circulation in 2020.

Julianne Hough

The singer/dancer/actress drew criticism overa 2013 Halloween costume for whichshe donned dark makeup to masquerade asUzo Aduba's "Orange Is the New Black" character Crazy Eyes.

Shane Dawson

The YouTuber known for his outrageous characters in 2014 was forced to apologize for the use of blackface in some of his videos, including a parody of talk show host Wendy Williams.

Kylie Jenner

Fans of the reality star jumped all over a photo she posted to her Instagram account from a 2015 shoot, outragedthat herskin appeared to be darkened."This is a black light and neon lights people lets all calm down," Jenner responded.

Luann de Lesseps

The former countess and "Real Housewives of New York" star apologized for her 2017 Halloween costume as Diana Ross -- even though she insisted that she didn't actually do blackface. "I had bronzer on that I wear normally like the rest of my skin," she later told Andy Cohen on "Watch What Happens Live." "So I didnt add anything to or would ever, ever dream of doing a blackface. Ever."

Oliver Peck

The longtime "Inkmasters" star announced he was departing the show in 2020 after an old photo resurfaced of him wearing blackface while portraying an NBA player.

Jimmy Fallon

The late-night host came under fire for a 2000 "Saturday Night Live" sketch in which he impersonated former "SNL" cast member Chris Rock -- in full makeup.

Jimmy Kimmel

In June 2020, ABC late-night host apologized for a series of sketches from earlier in his career when he darkened his skin to impersonate Black stars such as NBA player Karl Malone and Oprah Winfrey. "I apologize to those who were genuinely hurt or offended by the makeup I wore or the words I spoke, he said of the sketches from "The Man Show" which he co-hosted from 1999-2003.

These celebrities offer a timely reminder that its never OK so dont try it

Don't even think of mimicking these celebrities.

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From '30 Rock' to 'Community,' Who Decides What Old TV Episodes Are Too Insensitive to Keep in Circulation? - TheWrap