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Despite the fact that none of the 26 new shows on network TV feature an African American lead character, several African American characters play secondary roles, also known as the “Black Best Friend.”

Two new popular shows, “Grimm” and “Up All Night” feature Russell Hornsby and Maya Rudolph playing the role of “Black Best Friends.”

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The Washington Post reports:

What they have in common — besides not being white, of course — is a devotion to helping their white friends achieve, sometime to the detriment of their own circumstance. And despite the BBFs often having an amazing pedigree, with cool jobs, prestigious careers or intriguing personal history, viewers rarely see their lives away from the lead character.

Indeed, there are so many BBFs on new fall shows this year — I count 13 shows, from NBC’s canceled “Playboy Club” to CBS’s hit “2 Broke Girls” and Fox’s “The New Girl” — that you can stick them in their own categories.

Read More At The Washington Post