Students brand two NBC skits disrespectful

Eight-hundred fifty-six students participated in a mass letter-writing campaign to NBC because of the network's alleged use of racial stereotypes of Indian Americans during mid-August episodes of two of its major programs - "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" and "Caroline in the City."

The Indian American Student Association sponsored the campaign. IASA utilized the annual Festifall event on Sept. 5 to inform students about the incidents and allow them to sign letters bound for NBC.

"The Tonight Show" received 272 letters from University students. The remaining letters were sent to the "Caroline in the City" show, as well as to Alan Frank, general manager and vice president at NBC's Detroit affiliate, WDIV. Each letter contained several requests.

The first incident, a skit performed by Jay Leno called "When Elvis Meets Gandhi," appeared on "The Tonight Show" during the show's Aug. 18 episode. The second incident in question aired during the Aug. 17 episode of "Caroline in the City," in which a joke portrayed an Indian American as inadequate in performing his or her job.

Pareen Shah, IASA vice president, was one of the campaign's leaders. He said the two NBC incidents depicted uneducated and stereotypical representations of Indian Americans.

"When the media has these images that are negative, it doesn't really help our cause," said Shah, a Business junior. "Hopefully, they'll consider our requests, and hopefully act on them and be aware in the future not to make the same mistakes again."

Shah said he understands that Leno's skit involving Mahatma Gandhi did not intend to be offensive. Nonetheless, the content was disrespectful, he said.

Jennifer Barnett, publicist for "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," said all of Leno's material is intended as humor, rather than as insults or attacks on viewers' feelings.

"I don't think that the skit was meant to be derogatory to anybody," Barnett said. "All of the comedy on Jay's show is meant to be comedy."

Barnett said the show's supervising producer, Patti Grant, is expected to respond to the 272 letters they received from University students.

"She'll probably put together some sort of letter in response to the letters," Barnett said.

Barnett said Leno probably won't make an on-air apology because he would then have to issue public apologies to all groups he includes in his material.

"He can't start that precedent, unfortunately," Barnett said.

The letters addressed to "The Tonight Show" asked for an on-air apology during the show, as well as the production of a documentary intended to educate people about Gandhi and his life's contributions.

"I know it's a big thing to ask, but hopefully something will come out of it," said IASA co-President Ruhul Shah, an LSA junior. "It's something that needs to be done in light of the Jay Leno show. ... I don't think it's too much to ask to give an apology on the show for a few seconds," he said.

Pareen Shah, who earlier wrote an individual letter to Frank that was nearly identical to the one signed by hundreds of students this month, said Frank's response was inadequate.

"It didn't really say anything," he said.

Because Frank is focused on local viewers, many of the letters were directed to him. Supporters of the letter-writing drive said they hoped Frank would address students' concerns during the periodical editorial piece he is in charge of broadcasting. After receiving the letters, the station forwarded them to the network, Frank said.

Frank said receiving the large amount of identical letters was ineffective because the station would rather receive individual comments from its viewers.

"It was odd," Frank said.

While Frank said that the way in which Indian Americans were portrayed on the two episodes in question was insensitive, the intent was not to offend viewers.

"I think we have to assume this was a one-time exception," Frank said. "Hopefully, the people will be more aware of the sensitivities."

LSA sophomore Jigar Shah, the Asian-Pacific advocate for IASA, said he hopes the letter-writing campaign promotes racial awareness, more education and the breaking of racial stereotypes and barriers.

"(Regarding) Indians in the media, there is no balance," Jigar Shah said.

Jigar Shah also pointed to the fact that the episodes in question appeared at the same time India celebrated its 50-year independence from Great Britain, a time of acknowledging the country's positive events during the past 50 years.

"They should have been celebrating the country itself, not the poverty," Jigar Shah said, referring to the NBC incidents and negative emphasizes of India in the media.

An unnamed representative of the "Caroline in the City" show said the office had not yet received the letters directed to that show.

Pareen Shah said members of the Indian American community have traditionally not been vocal when faced with incidents such as this.

"We want to start making strides, so I guess this is one of our first steps," Pareen Shah said. "We feel it's our right not to be offended against."

Ruhul Shah said he hopes IASA's campaign will make all people aware of the ignorance behind many representations of Indian Americans. He said preventing such incidents from occurring is also a primary concern.

"We will follow up on it if nothing happens," Ruhul Shah said, adding that IASA would continue to contact NBC, whether through more letters or phone calls.

09-17-97