I am longing for the time when every actor, of all colors, genders, ages and ethnicities, is just treated as "an actor." J August has a job, and that's a major accomplishment for all actors and aspiring actors all over the planet, no matter the color. He's working in a hardcore competitive field, so he is to be congratulated for landing a job and getting his contract renewed. Oh yeah, and he is a gorgeous and talented, young African-American male actor. I love that he is playing a highly educated honest, ethical man, instead of a gang member or a victim of whatever circumstance. Not that there's not a place for those scenarios, treatments, storylines; it is valid and timely to portray a different positive perspective. It's sad that's it's not commonplace.

avidrdr23 | June 09, 01:44 CET

What? I didn't know about this. Is there a way I can read about this online?

electricspacegirl | June 09, 03:13 CET

I was just about to ask the same thing, electricspacegirl. How can we have never heard about such a thing? And seriously, if anyone has a link, I'd love to check it out.

Lirazel | June 09, 04:06 CET

I tried Googling the LA Times articles and came up with nada. However, there was this, which I'd never seen before (and hope hasn't been on W'esque previously) that appears to be related:

Richards Brings Diversity to 'Angel'

Wiseblood | June 09, 06:37 CET

Not entirely related, but from the linked article:

"nobody could pronounce Jaime"

Is it not pronounced Jay-mee?

ormaybemidgets | June 09, 06:55 CET

ormaybemidgets Nope. Jamie is pronounced "Jay-Me." Jaime is "Hi-mee." Like Jaime P. Gomez, the lovely Det. Evan Cortez from "Nash Bridges."

ShadowQuest | June 09, 07:48 CET

I watched the season premier tonight, after reading about David Feige, co-creator of the series with Steven Bochco. He (Feige) is a lawyer and author, and one of the founding members of the Bronx Defenders, a nonprofit organization providing free legal representation to Bronx residents charged with crimes. This r/l info. piqued my interest, and it does indeed seem to be a real cut above your standard procerdural. Which you would expect from Steven Bochco, in any case.

And J. is marvelous, I'm so happy to see him with a regular role. TNT has given Raising the Bar a plum position, following The Closer.

Shey | June 09, 11:46 CET

I loved J in Angel and am sorry that I haven't seen him in anything else since here on UK TV. I am happy for him as well.

twinkle | June 09, 13:37 CET

l was watching Raise the Bar last night and seeing J, August portray the conservative lawyer, lt took me back to Angel season 5, when his character Gunn played a lawyer. Pretty ironic.

zee | June 09, 14:22 CET

Jaime is pronounced "Hi-may" ("Hi-mee" is also wrong). It's Spanish. ;)

J. August Richards' real name is Jaime Augusto Richards III. His parents are from Panama.

[ edited by NileQT87 on 2009-06-09 15:25 ]

NileQT87 | June 09, 15:24 CET

l didn't know that, his first name and that his parents were from panama.

zee | June 09, 17:01 CET

I thought it was pronounced "Hay-mee." Given the breadth of opinions about pronunciation on this board, I can see where Mr. Richards would have thought the general public might be confused. I enjoy "Raising the Bar" -- most law shows are from the point of view of the prosecutors (the "Law & Order" franchises, the "CSI" franchises), so it's nice to see one that's well done and from the point of view of the defense. Also, it's a great role for Mr. Richards, who does it justice (no pun intended).

Shapenew | June 09, 17:29 CET

Thanks, ShadowQuest and NileQT87, I guess he made a good choice going with J! I didn't know his family was from Panama, very interesting.

I haven't watched Raising the Bar because I'm not very into the TNT dramas (The Closer, Saving Grace) but maybe I'll give it a shot. J is a great actor, although I don't know if he could carry a show as the main character as the article suggested, and TNT really is promoting the hell out of it, so they must think they have a winner.

ormaybemidgets | June 09, 17:51 CET

I live 30 minutes from the Mexican border, have taken years of Spanish and lived in Mexico for 10 months. Believe me, Jaime is "Hi-may". There are lots of them here. It's Spanish for James.

I never realized Jaime was difficult to pronounce until I heard J. talk about nobody being able to say his name and thus using "J." or "Jay".

Granted, foreigners or East Coasters saying La Jolla, El Cajón or Alejo is always hysterical ("La Hoy-ya", "El Cah-hone" and "Ah-lay-ho"). I can't tell you the amount of times I've heard those mangled. And you always have to spell out every street name over the phone. Granted, I get into a pissy fit over the American mispronunciations of Los Ángeles ("Los Ahn-hel-les"), Florida ("Flor-ee-da") and Amarillo, Téxas ("Ah-mar-ee-yo, Tay-hahs"). It's too late now.

[ edited by NileQT87 on 2009-06-09 19:59 ]

NileQT87 | June 09, 19:50 CET

Hmm, with J. plus Charisma, the show had 2 "Hispanics nobody knows are Hispanic" in the cast.

NileQT87; I always regard La Jolla as the trap you all set for English-speakers who don't know California conventions, and San Rafael as the trap for Spanish speakers :-).

[ edited by DaddyCatALSO on 2009-06-09 20:19 ]

DaddyCatALSO | June 09, 19:54 CET

Speaking of where I live... Charisma Carpenter was once a San Diego Padres cheerleader!

You can tell pretty easily that Charisma has Cherokee/Spanish-Mexican/Irish ancestry. Her eyes, in particular.

[ edited by NileQT87 on 2009-06-09 20:16 ]

NileQT87 | June 09, 20:10 CET

In soem scenes and stills she looks so very Indian. Exampels "Blind luck?" in "Nightmares" or just before "I'm the dip" in "Dead Mans' Party".

She eneds to paly a Native AMerican role. If they did a miniseries of Stirling's Conquistador she'd be great as Sandy, opposite Seth as Roy. Aly in the female lead as Adrienne.

[ edited by DaddyCatALSO on 2009-06-09 22:11 ]

[ edited by DaddyCatALSO on 2009-06-09 22:12 ]

DaddyCatALSO | June 09, 20:20 CET

Sorry if this is rude, and feel free not to answer if it's none of my business, but where do you live, NileQT87??

I ask because I live in El Cajon off of Jamacha... and it feels incredibly weird to be talking to someone who's basically my next door neighbor. ;)

korkster | June 10, 01:30 CET

I'm pretty sure some of my fellow 'Muricans from the West Coast would mangle some names here in the Deep South. If it were "Flor eee da," I suppose all these Floridians around me don't know how to pronounce the name of their own state.

It's "Flor-da" if you're from the Deep South, and that's right where North Florida is located. It's "Flor eee da" if one is a Spanish speaker.

Don't let it drive you into a hissy. It's pointless. Take it from one who teaches pronunciation...

Po tay to
Po tah to

Oh yeah, J. August Richards. He's still very well alive in my dreams. :) I had no idea he was of Panamanian descent. Cool.

WhoIsOmega? | June 10, 02:04 CET

I say this with affectionate amusement, not scorn. Growing up in L.A., some of the tourist pronunciations of place names were hilarious.
La Cienega and (farther south) San Juan Capistrano are two that I've heard mangled in the most creative ways imaginable. ;)

Shey | June 10, 15:35 CET