NBC/Second City and HBO Launching New Diversity Programs
Continuing in the direction of making the landscape of television less male and white, both NBC and HBO have just announced programs designed to find diverse talent.
More specifically, NBC has partnered with the legendary Second City to find new sketch talent (via The Wrap) in the form of fellowships, scholarship awards, and a festival. Hopefully, this will help them avoid such things as having to hold a “secret” audition for a new black female cast member for SNL.
HBO has launched their own HBOAccess Writing Fellowship that will search for unrepresented writers from “diverse backgrounds” (via Deadline). If accepted, you’ll get a week long intensive, 8 months writing/development period with HBO top brass, and a live table read. With Girls, Silicon Valley, Veep, The Comeback, and Togetherness, we’re HBO would like to continue their hot comedy streak.