20 Shows That Hired Zero Black Writers But Called Themselves “Authentic”

Television producers and networks constantly seek to create stories that feel genuine and relatable. However, many shows that claim to reflect real life or explore complex human experiences don’t have diverse writing teams. Throughout television history, some of the most praised series have had writers’ rooms that largely or completely excluded Black writers. This lack of behind-the-scenes representation often led to storylines that missed important nuances related to race and culture.

‘Friends’ (1994–2004)

This popular sitcom followed the lives of six friends in Manhattan and became a huge success worldwide. However, many viewers and critics noticed that the show didn’t reflect the real diversity of New York City, as the main cast and writing team were all white. The show’s creators later acknowledged they should have done more to include Black perspectives and characters during its ten-year run, especially given its setting in such a multicultural city.

‘Seinfeld’ (1989–1998)

Larry David and Jerry Seinfeld famously created a show that found comedy in the small, everyday moments of life. While set in New York City, the show’s writers were all white, and characters of color were often portrayed as stereotypes or given limited roles. The show’s creators primarily drew from their own experiences, which didn’t fully represent the diversity of the city itself.

‘Girls’ (2012–2017)

Lena Dunham’s HBO series aimed to realistically depict the lives of young women in Brooklyn. However, it quickly faced criticism for its lack of diversity, specifically its all-white cast and writing team, given the show’s setting in a diverse neighborhood. While Dunham explained she wrote based on her own experiences, the show’s lack of inclusivity remained a major issue. Critics pointed out that the writing team could have benefited from the perspectives of Black women, who could have offered richer insights into the millennial experience in New York City.

‘Sex and the City’ (1998–2004)

I loved watching this show about dating and relationships in New York, but looking back, it really bothered me how little diversity there was. The writers were mostly white and gay men, and honestly, the world they showed felt very limited to a certain part of Manhattan. It claimed to be realistic, but it almost completely ignored the experiences of women of color, which felt like a huge oversight. It just didn’t feel authentic when so many voices were missing.

‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ (2017–)

I was completely captivated by the first season of this show – it really made me think about what it means to control your own body and how women are often denied that power. But I was really disappointed to learn that the writers’ room lacked Black voices, especially considering how much the story drew from the painful history of slavery. It felt like a crucial part of the conversation was missing, and critics rightly pointed out that the show wasn’t fully addressing the racial implications of forced servitude and reproduction. I was relieved to hear the showrunner recognized this mistake and committed to bringing more diversity to the writing team moving forward. It’s a powerful show, and I think it will be even stronger with a wider range of perspectives.

‘Game of Thrones’ (2011–2019)

The series was a massive fantasy story set across many lands and cultures, and it cost more to make than almost any other TV show. However, the writers’ room was overwhelmingly composed of white men throughout its run. Although the show imagined cultures inspired by societies outside of Europe, these groups were often depicted using stereotypical and overly romanticized tropes. Because of the lack of diversity among the creators, the rich world of the show was seen primarily through one cultural perspective.

‘Breaking Bad’ (2008–2013)

Vince Gilligan created a critically acclaimed crime drama often ranked among the best TV shows ever made. While the series featured a complex story about Walter White’s descent into crime, the writing team was primarily composed of white individuals. Despite being set in New Mexico, a state with a large Hispanic population, the creative team lacked diversity. The story heavily centered on the white protagonist, and the experiences of other cultural groups involved in the drug trade were portrayed through an external lens, rather than from their own viewpoints.

‘Better Call Saul’ (2015–2022)

The show continued the strong storytelling and in-depth character work of the original series. However, for most of its run, the writing team lacked Black representation, despite praise for its realistic portrayal of legal procedures and the world of crime. This lack of diversity was pointed out in industry analyses that tracked the slow pace of inclusion in high-end television dramas.

‘The Big Bang Theory’ (2007–2019)

The show, a comedy about a group of socially awkward scientists, became a huge hit on television. However, despite lasting for many seasons on CBS, the team writing the show was entirely white. Although one of the characters was Indian, the show frequently used stereotypes for laughs instead of showing a real understanding of the culture. While the series presented itself as a celebration of those who don’t fit in, it didn’t include diverse perspectives when creating its humor and stories.

‘Modern Family’ (2009–2020)

The popular sitcom, known for its realistic, documentary-style format, was praised for how it showed families in a new way, including a gay couple and a character of Colombian descent. However, for much of its run, the show’s writing team didn’t include any Black writers. While the show aimed to reflect the diversity of modern families, it lacked the perspectives of Black creators. This meant that its version of a ‘modern family’ was created without input from a significant part of the American population.

‘Stranger Things’ (2016–)

As a critic, I have to admit ‘Stranger Things’ immediately grabbed me with its loving tribute to 80s sci-fi and pop culture. But looking back at the first season, it’s clear there was a significant oversight. The show was created by a very small, and frankly, homogenous writing team – they didn’t have a single Black writer on staff. While Lucas Sinclair was a key character, his experiences as a Black kid in that era weren’t really delved into. The show strived for authenticity in its setting, but the people making the show didn’t reflect the diversity of the audience it ultimately connected with so powerfully. It’s a bit of a disconnect, and something that’s become more apparent with time.

‘The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel’ (2017–2023)

This comedy, created by Amy Sherman-Palladino, follows a housewife who becomes a stand-up comedian in the late 1950s. While funny, the show faced criticism for not having any Black writers, considering the important role Black artists played in both jazz and comedy during that period. The series tended to downplay the racial segregation and civil rights movement happening at the same time as the main character gained popularity. The writing primarily centered on one particular Jewish-American perspective, without including the experiences of other marginalized groups from that era.

‘It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia’ (2005–)

The team behind the popular comedy series has acknowledged a lack of diversity in its early seasons, admitting they primarily hired white men for the first twelve years. This was despite the show being set in Philadelphia, a city where most residents are people of color. Rob McElhenney, one of the show’s creators, later said he regretted this lack of inclusion, recognizing it hindered their ability to tell a wider range of stories. While the show aimed to portray a realistic and unflinching look at flawed characters, the creative team itself wasn’t representative of the city it portrayed.

‘Silicon Valley’ (2014–2019)

This HBO comedy poked fun at the tech industry, highlighting its over-the-top nature and social awkwardness. However, the show faced criticism because its writing team lacked diversity, reflecting the same problem it satirized in the tech world. Reports showed the staff didn’t include any Black writers during the show’s run. While the show effectively made fun of the dominance of white men in Silicon Valley, it didn’t address that same imbalance within its own creative team.

‘Veep’ (2012–2019)

The show’s witty writing and critical look at Washington politics received a lot of praise. However, the writing team for the first few seasons was mostly made up of white British and American writers. While the show intended to poke fun at American politics, it initially lacked diverse voices in its creative process, particularly from Black writers. Later seasons did become more diverse, but the show’s core style and perspective were already set by a relatively uniform group.

‘Fargo’ (2014–)

Noah Hawley turned the Coen Brothers’ film into a crime series set in the Midwest. Early seasons were written mostly by white writers who accurately captured the local way of speaking and the overall feel of the region. While the show later included Black characters, the writing team lacked diversity from the start. Although the series presented itself as based on true crime, the stories were consistently told from a white point of view.

‘Mindhunter’ (2017–2019)

This psychological thriller explored the FBI’s initial work in understanding and creating profiles of serial killers. Despite focusing on the Atlanta Child Murders in its second season, the show’s writing team did not include any Black writers. While the series emphasized historical accuracy and a deep understanding of criminal psychology, this lack of representation led to concerns about how it handled the racial issues at the heart of the cases it depicted.

‘How I Met Your Mother’ (2005–2014)

The popular sitcom spanned nine seasons, following a group of friends as they dealt with life and relationships in New York City. However, the show’s writers were all white throughout its entire run. While New York City’s diverse population was often visible in the background, the series rarely explored that diversity in any meaningful way. The stories about finding love focused exclusively on white characters and their experiences.

‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer’ (1997–2003)

Joss Whedon’s popular show cleverly used supernatural themes to depict the challenges of being a teenager. However, the writing team was overwhelmingly white, a fact later acknowledged by writer Marti Noxon as a major oversight. Despite portraying characters who felt like outsiders, the show didn’t include enough diverse perspectives from people of color.

‘Mad Men’ (2007–2015)

Matthew Weiner’s period drama meticulously recreated the advertising world of the 1960s, but its writers’ room lacked diversity, with no Black writers among its staff over seven seasons. While the show addressed the Civil Rights movement and societal changes of the time, it consistently presented these events through the eyes of white characters. Critics pointed out that this lack of Black voices in the writing process weakened the show’s claim to historical accuracy and authenticity.

Share your thoughts on these writers rooms in the comments.

2025-12-02 15:20