Part 4: Current Representation on Network Television & The Introduction of Ray on the CBS Series "Mom"

Parts 4 through 7 will focus on the character of Ray on the CBS series Mom. Over the next few articles we will follow the, introduction of Ray (portrayed by Leonard Roberts), the return of Ray, Ray's sexuality, and finally, the disappearance of his character.

Part 4: Current Representation on Network Television & The Introduction of Gay Black Men on CBS

In recent years there has not been a great amount of diverse representation on CBS sitcoms.?There have been several sitcoms within the past decade that had premiered, and cancelled, on CBS.?Some of those programs, with gay or underrepresented characters and themes, being The McCarthys (2014 to 2015), Partners (2012 to 2013) and Superior Donuts (2017 to 2018).?Mom, which has been airing in a prime-time time slot since 2013 on CBS, introduced a character who was both an African American man, and identified as gay in 2017.?Until this point in the series there have been recurring guest roles where the actors were people of color, but that not being a focus of the character.?

In the season four episode, titled “Tush Push and Some Radishes”, which aired on April 6, 2017, the character of Ray was introduced on Mom.?Ray Stabler is portrayed by guest star Leonard Roberts.?The episode, as many do, focuses on Christy who is a single mother, and her mother Bonnie, both of whom are recovering alcoholics.?This episode in particular focuses on the character of Bonnie discovering that her estranged mother has passed away. While rummaging through Bonnie’s deceased mother’s apartment, after finding almost six thousand dollars in cash in the freezer, a tall, handsome, well dressed African American man walks into the apartment.?When Christy and Bonnie ask the man who he is, he responds by stating that it his “mother’s place”.?The scene ends with Christy saying “Oh my god, have we been cleaning out the wrong apartment?” and the audience laughing.?Jokes ensue upon the introduction of Ray.?When Bonnie asks the gentleman who his mother is, and he responds with the name Shirley Stabler, Christy (Anna Faris) delivers the line “Wow. Grandma just got a lot more interesting.”?The show continues to deliver one line jokes surrounding race.?Bonnie continues to doubt the validity of the relationship, and accuses him of pulling a scam.?Ray proves his claims by showing the two a photo on his phone of his parents.?Christy states, “Wow, there’s Grandma with a Black man.”, and immediately apologizes to Ray for whispering “Black man”, stating that they have Black friends.?Both Ray and Bonnie, shocked that the other exists, begin to compare how each of their childhoods and relationship with the mother in question was less than ideal.?Ray takes a call on his cell phone, and when he returns he apologizes, stating that he has a trial coming up. Bonnie makes the assumption that he is the one on trial and asks “Oh really? What did they get you for?”?It is unclear if the assumption is based on his race, or based on Bonnie’s own experience with the law in reference to her past run ins due to her drug and alcohol problems.?However, Ray makes it clear that he is the lawyer in the case.?

Banter begins based on Bonnie’s assumption that Ray had an easier and more privileged childhood than she.?Bonnie (Allison Janney) states that due to being abandoned by their mother she never finished high school, and says;

“… and she put you through Law School!?”?Ray quickly responds with “I put me through law school. I put me through college. I put me through everything. She gave me nothing.”?

This somewhat clears the air, but Bonnie does not yet put the issue to rest.?They continue to argue their disadvantages.?After Bonnie lists that she was abandoned as a child, and is also a woman, Ray points out that he is Black, and further retorts by stating that he is gay.?The scene ends with Christy saying “I think he wins.”?It is also to be noted that Christy quickly refers to him as “Uncle Ray”, establishing the familial relationship early on.?

Following the scenes where the introduction of Ray is the centralized theme it is emphasized that Bonnie is upset that her mother abandoned here, yet kept and raised her son.?It is made clear in the writing that her character is not upset or shocked that he is Black or a homosexual man.?In that following scene Bonnie argues against a statement that Christy makes, which is that everyone’s life is hard.?Bonnie retorts with “Not my long lost brother.?He apparently made something of himself.”?Christy quickly corrects her by emphasizing that he is “… a super successful lawyer who overcame poverty and racial prejudice.” The writing of Christy’s character in the episode comically emphasizes Ray’s race and sexual orientation, but mostly race.?It can be viewed as a positive note that Bonnie’s dislike for Ray has absolutely nothing to do with his race or sexual orientation.?Bonnie’s dislike of Ray is more rooted in his success, and her failures in life.?The remaining of the episode does not have additional appearances by the character of Ray.?The ending of the episode, and acknowledging of Ray’s existence, is left very open.?If the audience were not to meet Ray again in future episodes, it would not come as a surprise.??

Note: Mom aired on CBS from 2013 to 2021. This portion of research has been completed by the author's viewing of television series via DVR, OnDemand, and HULU.