Writer: ‘Family Guy’ casting shows sensitivity
February 18th, 2010
Cailley Hammel, writing in the University of Wisconsin’s student newspaper, applauds Fox’s “Family Guy” for hiring an actress with Down syndrome to play a character with Down syndrome. The casting of Andrea Fay Friedman (left) in the role is evidence that the show “handled the Down syndrome plotline with surprising sensitivity,” Hammel writes. An excerpt:
… Knowing that [producer Seth] McFarland [sic] chose to be authentic in his casting decision as opposed to having a regular cast member read her lines is indicative of a layer of respect most people probably didn’t know he had. I sure didn’t.
While Sarah Palin may feel like she got a “kick in the gut” because of “Family Guy,” she’s just a maverick that needs to cool her jets a little. Taking the joke in the context of the episode as a whole, she should consider how a character with Down syndrome – someone from a marginalized group of people – was brought to primetime TV and treated on a level plane as her peers. And for someone like Palin, who considers herself a champion of the special needs community, she should really consider how important of a milestone that is.
(Photo from DSIAM.org)
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February 18th, 2010 at 9:06 pm
Very well put. When I watched the episode, what first struck me was — wow! A girl with Down syndrome going on a date, that is really cool and inclusive. Then, there was the joke… Come on, there is so much fuss about it! I didn’t think it was offensive at all. They didn’t mock people with intellectual disabilities. On the contrary, they were remembered and included with dignity.
February 18th, 2010 at 2:31 pm
Well, that’s one good thing out of all of this. Glad she got the job. Thanks for posting Pat.
February 18th, 2010 at 1:26 pm
There’s lots to debate on all this, but not as to Andrea Friedman: I’m a fan!