When is a network scheduling move just business and when is it somehow, somewhat racist?
That's a question kicked around since May when Fox moved "Bernie Mac" — one of only two Big Four network sitcoms featuring a predominantly African-American cast — opposite the other, ABC's "My Wife and Kids," on Wednesdays at 7 p.m.
"Wife and Kids" star Damon Wayans was incensed. He sees it as a cynical attempt to have one show knock off the other in a medium that's not exactly known for diversity.
Fox has also scheduled the sketch comedy show "Cedric the Entertainer Presents," featuring another African-American star, opposite "George Lopez" — the only predominantly Latino show on a Big Four network — on Wednesdays at 7:30 p.m.
"Obviously, it would be better if those four shows were not up against each other," said ABC Entertainment president Susan Lyne.
"We've been in that time period now for two years," said ABC Entertainment chairman Lloyd Braun, clearly blaming Fox for the contretemps. "Fox made the decision, for whatever reasons they had, to move 'Bernie Mac' against 'My Wife and Kids.' "
Wayans went so far as to call Mac and ask him to join him in publicly criticizing Fox for its scheduling, but Mac declined.
"I told him that I couldn't support him because, I mean, I have no problem with Fox," Mac said. "And that was a business decision with Fox.
"I told him the same thing I'm telling you. That's not my fight. I mean, if ABC feels so warm about the situation, well, maybe they should move Damon. . . . I think Damon needs to worry about 'My Wife and (Kids).' "
And Fox executives are positively put-out at the suggestion that they've done anything untoward. To them, it was just a scheduling move. Entertainment division president Gail Berman said it was all about leading off Wednesday nights with a hit. "We felt that it was a great opportunity for us to launch this night of programming with an established anchor show."
Her boss, Fox Entertainment chairman Sandy Grushow, was less diplomatic.
"We really don't feel like we're under any obligation to ensure the success of any of our competitors' shows," said Grushow, who pointed out that ABC rather suddenly scheduled the two-hour season premiere of "NYPD Blue" opposite the debut of Fox's "24."
"I don't remember (Disney president) Bob Iger calling me and asking me for my permission," Grushow said. "We certainly didn't complain about it publicly, and I think we all believe that that knocked at least two or three share points out from underneath '24' from the get-go."
Besides, he said, "Whether casts are black, white, green, yellow, purple, we're in a business here." And "Bernie Mac" executive producer Larry Wilmore, who is himself African-American, suggested that portraying "Bernie Mac" vs. "My Wife and Kids" as a racial issue is inappropriate.
"To just think of our show (as) an African-American show kind of marginalizes what 'The Bernie Mac Show' is," Wilmore said. "I've always thought of it as an American show about American parenting. And the fact that we're black is really secondary.
"Leno and Letterman are two comedians on at the same time at late night. It's unfortunate that there has to be a decision, but both shows thrive and do well and they find an audience."
Of course, there are plenty of white comedians and plenty of primetime shows featuring all- or nearly all-white casts. There aren't many shows with a lot of African-Americans.
"I completely understand the other side," Wilmore said. "Is it a sad situation? Is it unfortunate? Yeah, I guess it is. And that's because it's such a competitive business which makes those things happen. You know, it's hard to fault a network for being competitive. That's what they do."
Wilmore pointed out that Fox executives obviously aren't out to hurt their burgeoning success with "Bernie Mac." (Of course, they wouldn't mind if they hurt ABC's show.)
Early returns indicate, however, that Wayans and ABC may have been more worried than they needed to be. "My Wife and Kids" handily beat "Bernie Mac" in the ratings when the latter show aired on Wednesdays at 7 p.m. several times earlier this summer.
"We found absolutely no reason to adjust the schedule and move away when, quite honestly, Wednesday at (7 o'clock) is really one of the few successes we've had in the last year or two," ABC's Braun said.
E-MAIL: pierce@desnews.com