When BYUtv was casting new stars for its flagship sketch comedy show “Studio C,” it deliberately looked for diversity. And it succeeded — four of the 11 cast members are people of color; five are women.
That’s up from one minority and four women actors (out of 10) in the original cast. The new cast members came from across North America — Arizona, California, Connecticut, Florida, New Jersey, Quebec, Tennessee and, yes, Utah. And, no, they’re not all members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which owns Brigham Young University and BYUtv.
Cast members say they’ve had a great experience working on the show, which returns Monday at 6 p.m. MT. They positively gush about BYUtv, the university and the people there. But going off campus has been, at times, considerably less positive.
“I’ve had some experiences in private settings outside of my job … regarding my race,” said Arvin Mitchell, an African American who grew up in Missouri. “And when I got to Provo, I ran into a few [problems] at the laundromat, at the gas station.”
Including a woman who “acted like she had never even seen a black person on television before,” who approached him while he was doing his laundry. “And she goes, ‘Well, you know, I grew up here. And first the Mexicans came and they would pick their fruit and then they would leave. And then you all start showing up.’”
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