Turn Off The Computer & Turn On The TV!

Well, the new fall season of television programming has begun and there seems to be a surprising number of African Americans actors and actresses gracing the small screen. Just in case you've been living under a rock, a total of 21 (Count them!) are featured in new television shows this year. Are we finally getting our just due in prime time? If so, I think you will agree that it's long overdue. There's always plenty of room for more, but this is definitely a step in the right direction.

So, take a few minutes and check out these new faces and shows in this year's television lineup... you just might be surprised who you'll find on this list. Further, why not select a few of these shows and make a serious commitment to watch them? Heaven only knows when this phenomenon will happen again and the networks show "no mercy" when it comes to TV shows with low ratings. Please support and enjoy these shows while you've got the chance... once they're gone, it's too late!


Boris Kodjoe - Undercovers (NBC), Wednesdays, 8pm EST: Kodjoe plays CIA agent/catering entrepreneur Steven Bloom in this action-spy series. He started as a model, but many will remember him as heartthrob Damon Carter on Showtime's Soul Food TV series. Since then, he's had movie roles in Madea's Family Reunion (2006), The Gospel (2005), and Brown Sugar (2002).



Gugu Mbatha - Undercovers (NBC), Wednesdays, 8pm EST: In Undercovers, Mbatha-Raw stars opposite Kodjoe as his wife and partner-in-crime, Samantha Bloom. She's no stranger to the screen on British television. She starred in Spooks and the critically acclaimed sci-fi series, Doctor Who.




Vanessa Williams - Desperate Housewives (ABC), Sundays, 9pm EST: Of course, this isn't Desperate Housewives' first season, but there will undoubtedly be some dramatic changes to Wisteria Lane with the addition of Renée Perry, an old college rival of Lynette Scavo (Felicity Huffman).




Blair Underwood - The Event (NBC), Mondays, 9pm EST: He's joining good company in the list of black presidents on-screen: Morgan Freeman, Dennis Haysbert, and even a young Sammy Davis Jr. Underwood plays President Elias Martinez, who's Afro-Cuban, in this conspiracy-thriller series.




Michael K. Williams - Boardwalk Empire (HBO), Sundays, 8pm EST: Your favorite stick-up man is back on HBO on its new drama, Boardwalk Empire. Williams plays Chalky White, the de facto mayor of Atlantic City's black community, on this Prohibition-era series.





Mehcad Brooks - My Generation (ABC), Thursdays, 8pm EST: On My Generation, a docu-style TV series following a group of classmates 10 years after they graduate from high school, Brooks plays Rolly Marks, a devoted husband and soon-to-be father who's in combat in Afghanistan. If you were a fan of True Blood's second season, then you'll definitely remember this face. Perhaps you also caught Brooks in CW's/BET's, The Game.



Naturi Naughton - Mad Men (AMC), Sundays, 10pm EST: Every week, The Root counts how many black folks are on Mad Men, and now Naughton, who starred as Lil' Kim in Notorious, can be added to the cast list, at least for a few episodes.





Christine Adams - The Whole Truth (ABC), Wednesdays, 10pm EST: She plays Lena Gaudet, a go-getting Ivy Leaguer, determined to become partner the minute after she steps into the firm at James Brogan & Associates. Have you seen her before? She's also had several one-time appearances on a few television shows (Nip/Tuck, CSI: Miami, Lie to Me).




Flex Alexander - Blue Bloods (CBS), Fridays, 10pm EST: Alexander appears on Blue Bloods as Detective Demarcus, partner to Detective Danny Reagan (Donnie Wahlberg). He was Flex Washington on the UPN sitcom One on One. And, you might remember him from the short-lived, out-of-this-world sitcom Homeboys in Outer Space.




James McDaniel - Detroit 1-8-7 (ABC), Tuesdays, 10pm EST: McDaniel returns to television as Sgt. Jesse Longford, a 24-year veteran on the brink of retirement. On policing in Detroit: "I been a cop in Detroit so long, when I started, half the suspects was white." He's best known for his seven years on NYPD Blue. Looks like McDaniel couldn't stay away from the police unit.



Terrence Howard - Law & Order: Los Angeles (NBC), Wednesdays, 10pm EST: Deputy District Attorney Jonah "Joe" Dekker (Howard) is partnered with Ricardo Morales (Alfred Molina) and will appear in half the episodes this season. Aside from a cameo in Living Single (as one of Max's young lovers) and a stint on UPN's short-lived legal sitcom Sparks, Howard is pretty new to the small screen, but he's no stranger to the big screen.



Rose Rollins - Chase (NBC), Mondays, 10pm EST: Rollins is sticking to law enforcement in her role on NBC's new police drama. After her role in The L Word as soldier Tasha Williams, she's finding a niche for herself as a woman in uniform.





Romany Malco - No Ordinary Family (ABC), Tuesdays, 8pm EST: George St. Cloud (Malco) is an assistant district attorney and black best friend (BBF) to Jim Powell, the super-strong police artist heading up the No Ordinary Family cast. You may have seen Malco in The 40-Year-Old Virgin, Baby Mama, and as Conrad Shepard in Showtime's Weeds.




Reno Wilson - Mike & Molly (CBS), Mondays, 9:30pm EST: Wilson stars as Officer Carl McMillan, Mike's wise-cracking partner. McMillan is quite the fast-talker and a big supporter of his pal Mike's weight-loss plan. Seen his face before? He played Theo's college buddy on The Cosby Show and also had a role on Martin as Martin Payne's Eddie Murphy-impersonating cousin.



Regina Hall - Law & Order: Los Angeles (NBC), Wednesdays, 10pm EST: Evelyn Price is a deputy district attorney in this latest Law & Order spinoff. Viewers familiar with Hall's work will get to see her serious side after her roles in the Scary Movie franchise, Malibu's Most Wanted, and The Best Man.




Jon Michael Hill - Detroit 1-8-7 (ABC), Tuesdays, 10pm EST: Det. Damon Washington is the rookie in the homicide department. And, although he's a young actor, Hill has already nabbed a 2010 Tony Award nomination for his role in Superior Donuts.





Gabourey Sidibe - The Big C (Showtime), Mondays, 10:30pm EST: Sidibe (who again plays a student, Andrea), nabbed a recurring role on this show starring Laura Linney (as Cathy Jamison) as a teacher seeking hope and humor after her cancer diagnosis. Unlike Sidibe's character in the movie Precious, Andrea is a confident, smart-alecky student who helps Linney find hope in her situation.



Eamonn Walker - The Whole Truth (ABC), Wednesdays, 10pm EST: Walker plays senior assistant district attorney Terrence Edgecomb in this legal drama. He played Howlin' Wolf in 2008's Cadillac Records and is best known for his role as Kareem Said in HBO's Oz.





Aisha Hinds - Detroit 1-8-7 (ABC), Tuesdays, 10pm EST: In this new crime drama, Hinds is Lt. Maureen Mason, who manages the homicide unit of the Detroit Police Department. Recognize her? Hinds played a voodoo lady on HBO's True Blood for one season and also had a short stint on TNT's Hawthorne in its first season.



David Ramsey - Outlaw (NBC), Wednesdays, 10pm EST: Al Druzinsky (Ramsey), the liberal defense attorney and Cyrus Garza's (Jimmy Smits) best friend, is a hopeless optimist. Fans of Showtime's Dexter will be happy to see him back on the screen, or maybe you remember him as Pastor David Randolph on UPN's Good News?




Robbie Jones - Hellcats (CW), Wednesdays, 9pm EST: Jones plays a black male cheerleader in this teen comedy-drama series. He's had several one-offs on TV shows, including Raising the Bar, Southland, and Dark Blue. Sharon Leal (Why Did I Get Married?) and D.B. Woodside (24, The Temptations) will have recurring roles in the series, too.