ABC Show "Work It" Insults Puerto Ricans, Now It's Cancelled

Courtesy: ABC

It didn't even get to the third episode and ABC has already cancelled its new show "Work It."  According to Zap2It.com, the ratings were not that great.   But was it just poor ratings that took down this cross-dressing comedy or did the backlash from angry Latino viewers do the job?

Well, the power of the viewer is alive and well.  Whether they prove it by not turning to a certain TV channel or by lashing out on the web; you have a voice.

In my last blog "ABC's New Show 'Work It' Doesn't Work for Puerto Ricans", I told you about BellaVida Letty who started a petition right after she saw the show.  Did her petition reach the big wigs at ABC?  We'll never know.

The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation  better known as GLAAD had complained about the show's insensitivity to the gay and transgender community long before it even started airing.  But for some reason, it appeared that ABC execs were not listening.

Here's GLAAD's reaction to the cancellation:

“While many of ABC’s positive and groundbreaking portrayals of LGBT people have been critical and popular successes, the public had little interest in this outdated show." 
--- Herndon Graddick, Senior Director of Programs and Communications at GLAAD

I applaud Bella Vida Letty for not just complaining about a show that obviously took a low blow at the Puerto Rican community; she took action.

Bella Vida Letty

In a few days she was able to get more than 700 people to sign her petition for an apology from ABC.  That's 700 people who told their friends and family, and those people told their friends and family, and you know the word spread.

Letty is proof that you can't just sit around and complain about something that you don't agree with, you must speak up. Whether small or large, Letty made her mark.

My hope is that ABC learned from this controversial show.  Next time ABC execs and writers have what they believe is a brilliant idea; test it with a group of viewers. Not just one group but several.  Get feedback from the outside, and then see if its funny enough to put on TV.

You can even contact me.  I can get a group of Wise Latinas to tell you the real truth.  We don't hold back our feelings and opinions.  Right Letty?

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Rebecca Aguilar is the founder of Wise Latinas Linked, a social networking group for Latinas on Facebook and Linkedin.  It has a membership of more than 3,000+.