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Creative Differences

Country music goes Democratic along with the White House

Obamaworld ushered in a new form of integration that makes me very happy: Country singers in the Democratic Party!
Singing at Barack Obama’s inauguration were none other than country superstars Garth Brooks and Jennifer “Sugarland” Nettles (pictured at right, below and center). Country supercouple Tim McGraw and Faith Hill (shown top right) celebrated with a sparkling [...]

Ricardo Montalbán helped Hollywood discover Latinos

Mexican-American film and TV star Ricardo Montalbán passed away Wednesday, at 88. Latino Hollywood’s small club of headline actors will miss the elegant hearththrob, as will his many fans.
Ricardo Montalbán is best known to modern audiences as Mister Roarke from “Fantasy Island” (1978-’84) and Khan Noonien Singh from “Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan” (1982). [...]

Yellowface casting in “Airbender”?

Asian-American actors complain (legitimately) that half the parts they’re offered are as martial artists, like Bruce Lee. Now some may be wishing they hadn’t complained, as they watch a bushel of plum Asian roles in a big-budget martial arts movie go to white actors. Is Hollywood bringing back “yellowface” — dressing up white actors as [...]

“Benjamin Button” a fable of diversity

What a wonderful holiday surprise: Brad Pitt’s new movie “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” features a loving interracial family at its center. Pitt plays a character raised by an African-American mom (the brilliant Taraji Henson, pictured at right) — and it works.
The movie takes full liberty with the short story on which it’s based. [...]