Justin Has a Big Night on Tonight’s New Ugly Betty
March 17, 2010
On tonight’s Ugly Betty, Justin, Betty’s fabulous nephew, makes a huge step forward when his acting class turns into a chance at a romance.
In the episode titled “All the World’s a Stage,” Justin has some struggles with love, for the first time in Ugly Betty history. The question on everyone’s mind is: will Justin feel his heart skip a beat for a boy or a girl?
When Justin discovers that he has to get intimate with one of his classmates on stage, he confides in Marc, hoping to relieve some of his pre-show jitters. Will Marc’s advice settle Justin’s concerns or lead him to question himself even more?
It's a big night for Justin on Ugly Betty!
Ugly Betty has been one of television’s most LGBT-inclusive shows, featuring regular and recurring LGBT characters and addressing LGBT culture in an accessible, yet humorous way. In the past, Ugly Betty has been nominated for three GLAAD Media Awards and won twice in the Outstanding Comedy Series category. Although Ugly Betty’s openly gay creator, Silvio Horta, has said in the past that Justin is based on his own youth, the show has left its viewers waiting for a concrete answer to one of the show’s biggest unanswered questions since it premiered in 2006.
Will tonight’s episode answer the question that is on every Betty fan’s mind? Tune in tonight to find out! We look forward to seeing more of Justin’s growth as Ugly Betty finishes up its final season on ABC.
Related Posts:ABC’s Supernanny Seeks Same Sex Families
February 24, 2010
ABC’s hit parenting show, Supernanny, is searching for same sex couples with kids who need a nanny intervention!
Will Jo Frost come to your household to tell your kids who's boss?
Do your children backtalk, sass, stomp, and scream when they don’t get their way? Then send ABC’s #1 nanny, Jo Frost, to whip them into shape! ABC is looking for same sex parents of children from toddlers to teens in the Northern California area for a future episode of Supernanny, that will provide visibility to an often underrepresented kind of family.
If you and your partner need a solution to your problem child’s shenanigans and live in Northern California, contact Supernanny casting for your chance to be featured on an upcoming episode.
Supernanny Casting:
(323) 785-1051 or email szeluff@shedmediaus.com
Related Posts:ABC Announces Ugly Betty’s Fourth Season Will Be Its Last
January 29, 2010
It was recently announced that ABC’s groundbreaking hit series, Ugly Betty, has been cancelled after four seasons on the air. Throughout its run, openly gay creator and executive producer Silvio Horta ensured that Ugly Betty was often at the forefront of equal and accurate representations of the LGBT community. The show was one of the few series in history that featured a transgender character, Alexis Meade, for nearly two seasons, in addition to Wilhelmina’s gay personal assistant, Marc St. James.
Will Justin come out before Ugly Betty concludes its run?
There has been an overwhelming public outcry from Ugly Betty fans, many of whom are LGBT due to the show’s consistent inclusion of LGBT characters and storylines as well as its queer-friendly sensibilities that many in the LGBT community could relate to. The show often sends a message about self-acceptance, and of loving oneself even if the rest of the world may not. And while Alexis and Marc have made the show one of the gayest on television, Betty’s reputation as the outsider is often the most relatable to queer audiences everywhere.
In a statement by Ugly Betty’s openly gay executive producer, Silvio Horta, said that although they’ve decided to cancel the show, “we want to allow the show ample time to write a satisfying conclusion.”
This is no doubt a relief to those who wonder if Justin’s coming out be included in this conclusion? Although Horta has stated that Justin Suarez, Betty’s fashion-forward, tap dancing nephew, would grow up to be gay, his sexuality has remained largely unaddressed. If Justin was to come out this season, he would be following a growing trend of adolescent LGBT characters in television. We look forward to following his story, and those of the other characters, as the series concludes its run.
Related Posts:ABC Hears GLAAD: Books Adam Lambert on The View
December 4, 2009
After discussions with GLAAD regarding the cancellation of Adam Lambert’s planned appearances on Jimmy Kimmel Live and Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve, ABC has listened to our concerns and booked Adam to appear and perform next week on The View.
Adam broke the news tonight via his Twitter profile:
GLAAD President Jarrett Barrios also released the following statement:
“ABC has taken a step towards fairness by inviting Adam Lambert to perform on The View,” said Jarrett Barrios, President of the GLAAD. “GLAAD has been advocating against the double standards that have been applied to Lambert as an openly gay performer. We thank community members and allies for voicing their concerns with ABC so that entertainers like Adam have the opportunity to be broadcast into living rooms across America.”
GLAAD has consistently stated that ABC’s treatment of Adam Lambert over the past two weeks has been subjecting him to a an unfair double standard. We are pleased that ABC has decided to give Adam the opportunity to appear on the network amidst the fall out from his performance at the American Music Awards.
Related Posts:Good Morning America Cancels Adam Lambert Appearance After Racy AMA Performance
November 24, 2009
On ABC’s Sunday night broadcast of the 2009 American Music Awards, American Idol runner-up Adam Lambert gave a show-stopping performance of his lead single “For Your Entertainment,” that ultimately proved to be quite controversial.
Since coming out on the cover of Rolling Stone in June, there’s no denying that Lambert has become the most prominent openly gay music performer of the year. In a show packed with A-List talent such as Whitney Houston, Jay-Z, Kelly Clarkson, and the openly bisexual Lady Gaga, Lambert was chosen for the plum show-closing performance at the AMA’s, a strong testament to America’s anticipation for his debut album, For Your Entertainment, which was released yesterday.
Prior to the show, Lambert promised MTV that his AMA performance would be “sexy” and he certainly delivered. Strutting amongst leather-clad musicians and dancers, Lambert made out with a male keyboardist, danced suggestively with numerous dancers of both genders and simulated oral sex with a male dancer on a leash. The simulated oral sex was censored for the West Coast broadcast, though the rest of the performance was shown in full.
Not surprisingly, the performance sparked the ire of the anti-gay Parent’s Television Council which called on its members to contact ABC and Dick Clark Productions. ABC says they has received 1,500 complaints, though they also say this is only a “moderate” number. It’s unlikely ABC will face any fines from the FCC, which does now allow “indecent material” between the hours of 6-10 PM. Lambert took the stage well after 10 PM.
The fall out continued this morning as ABC’s Good Morning America announced that they had canceled tomorrow’s planned performance by Adam Lambert. In a statement to Entertainment Weekly, they said:
“Given his controversial American Music Awards performance, we were concerned about airing a similar concert so early in the morning.”
GLAAD has reached out to ABC to voice our concerns. In positive news however, the above Entertainment Weekly article also reports that CBS‘ The Early Show has booked Lambert to appear, as has David Letterman, so be sure to tune in to CBS tomorrow for your Adam Lambert fix!
Related Posts:Where We Are on TV: An Update
October 30, 2009
In the ever-changing television landscape, nothing is ever certain, particularly when it comes to LGBT representation. Just weeks after GLAAD released its 14th annual “Where We Are on TV” study, noteworthy changes have already occurred in the broadcast TV landscape.
FlashForward's Janis Hawk (Christine Woods)
The study reported that Dr. Arizona Robbins (Jessica Capshaw) on ABC’s Grey’s Anatomy would be the only lesbian series regular on network television. That changed when plot developments revealed that FBI agent Janis Hawk (Christine Woods) is a lesbian on the hit new series FlashForward, also on ABC. In last week’s episode, Janis went on a first date with an attractive woman named Maya. Although Janis was shot at the end of the episode, Janis does survive…though in the violent world of FlashForward she should watch her back lest our lesbian count drop back down to one. ABC recently announced it had picked up the series for an extended 25-episode first season.
Another noteworthy development came this past Monday when NBC’s Trauma definitively revealed the identity of its gay character, who was counted but unidentified in our study. Word had spread earlier that San Francisco paramedic Tyler Briggs (Kevin Rankin) was the gay character. Sure enough, in the Halloween-themed episode, Tyler came out to his partner Cameron Boone after Tyler had had enough of Boone’s homophobic jokes in the middle of the Castro. Unfortunately, NBC announced Wednesday that it would not be picking up additional episodes of Trauma beyond the original 13-episode order. The remaining eight episodes are expected to complete production and make it to air.
Trauma's Tyler Briggs (Kevin Rankin)
Besides the impending loss of Trauma, NBC also announced the cancellation of the critically-acclaimed Southland before its second season could even premiere. But there is still hope for Southland’s Officer John Cooper (Michael Cudlitz) as TNT is reportedly interested in picking up the show. This news does not bode well for NBC’s LGBT representation, which looked promising coming into the new season. NBC’s primary LGBT characters now reside on The Office, Heroes and Mercy, which recently received a full season pick-up.
Additionally, if recent internet speculation on AfterEllen and other sites proves true, The Good Wife could become the only scripted series on CBS to feature a series regular member of the LGBT community. Though CBS has not yet confirmed this, subtle dialogue has suggested that investigator Kalinda Sharma (Archie Panjabi) could indeed be bisexual. We look forward to following this story and hope the The Good Wife will signal some progress for a network that has been lagging in scripted LGBT representation.
In the coming months The CW will see a rise in LGBT inclusion. Entertainment Weekly’s Michael Ausiello confirmed yesterday that 90210’s barely-there lesbian, Gia (Rumer Willis), will be getting some major screen time come January when she embarks on a relationship with series regular Adrianna (Jessica Lowndes). If the following statement from executive producer Rebecca Sinclair is any indication, we may have to start counting Adrianna as a bisexual character as this likely won’t be a mere ratings stunt:
“This isn’t a fling,” insists executive producer Rebecca Sinclair. “We’re coming at this [relationship] from a genuine place and not going, ‘Let’s do a titillating story that will grab some promotion.’ This is a real aspect of teenager life that’s interesting… And there’s been a real void in the 90210 universe in terms of gay and bisexual characters.”
This is shaping up to be an interesting season on many fronts! Check the glaadBLOG for TV Gayed, our weekly listings that bring you the latest on what’s LGBT on TV!
Related Posts:GLAAD Releases 14th Annual Where We Are on TV Study
October 1, 2009
Today, GLAAD released the14th annual “Where We Are On TV” study, a comprehensive review of scripted LGBT primetime characters in the 2009-2010 television season. After more than doubling last year,the overall number LGBT characters on broadcast networks continues a steady rise.
Glee's Kurt Hummel (Chris Colfer)
The report shows that 18 LGBT characters will account for 3% of scripted series regulars in the 2009-2010 broadcast television schedule, up from 1.3% in 2006, 1.1% in 2007, and 2.6% in 2008. The number of scripted LGBT series regulars found on mainstream cable networks continue to decline, from 40 in 2007, 32 in 2008 to only 25 this year.
This research serves as a benchmark for GLAAD’s advocacy efforts of increases in LGBT characters and stories. The storylines and characters in the Where We Are On TV report will later be reviewed for GLAAD’s fourth annual Network Responsibility Index, released after May 2010 sweeps, which grades networks on overall LGBT impressions.
For this upcoming season, ABC continues to lead the other broadcast networks in LGBT representation, with eight LGBT characters out of 168 total series regular characters (5%), the highest number and percentage of LGBT characters of any network for the 2009-2010 season. Fox, which only two years ago featured zero series regular LGBT characters at the launch of the season, now offers four LGBT series regulars out of 105 (4%). NBC has three series regular LGBT characters (3%) out of a total of 126. The CW is showing gradual improvement with two LGBT series regular characters out of 69 (3%). Unfortunately, CBS continues to disappoint. Out of 132 series regular characters, none are LGBT.
On mainstream cable networks, the number of announced LGBT series regular characters dropped to 25 from last year’s total of 32. The presence of LGBT-focused cable networks here! and Logo, which program specifically for LGBT viewers, add an additional 27 series regular LGBT characters.
Stargate Universe's Camille Wray (Ming Na)
This marks the fifth year that GLAAD has analyzed the demographics of the race, gender and ethnicity of all the 600 series regular characters expected to appear on the broadcast networks in the upcoming season. Male characters continue to outweigh female characters 57% (345) to 43% (255) in overall numbers, while 77% (466) of all series regular characters are white, down 2% from last year. African American representation has remains at 11% (67) while Latino/a representation has dropped to 5% (27). GLAAD counted 23 Asian Pacific Islander characters (4%), four more than last season.
“Our analysis also shows where there’s still work to be done. This past year, we’ve seen real progress from many networks toward making their scripted programming more LGBT inclusive,” said GLAAD President Jarrett Barrios. “At the same time, we continue to advocate that other networks including CBS follow suit and that networks across the board better reflect the diversity of the LGBT community.”
Complete results of GLAAD’s “Where We Are On TV” report can be accessed here.
Related Posts:NBC’s SNL and ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Defame Caster Semenya
September 25, 2009
Last week, we reached out to NBC with complaints about a joke told at the expense of champion South African runner Caster Semenya during September 17th’s episode of Saturday Night Live Weekend Update Thursday.
Although NBC listened to our complaints, the network has yet to issue a statement, an apology or give an acknowledgment that the joke was in poor taste.
Please contact NBC and voice your serious concerns about this joke. Ask NBC to apologize and cut the joke from future airings.
Sharon Pannozzo
NBC Publicity
Sharon.Pannozzo@nbcuni.com
This week, a viewer also alerted us to a recent segment on Jimmy Kimmel Live! titled “Kids Weigh In” which perpetuated a series of severely insensitive media reports questioning Caster Semenya’s gender.
“Kids Weigh In” was introduced with a monologue by Kimmel that quickly shifted from comedic to offensive when he reported on the rumors surrounding Semenya. Among several distasteful comments, Kimmel referred to Semenya as a “hermaphrodite,” and to her hairstyle as a “hermafro.”
Kimmel’s reference to Semenya as a “hermaphrodite” is in itself offensive—the term is outdated and stigmatizing. The use of such a term was only one of the many problems that the segment illustrated—Kimmel later commented on the IAAF testing of Semenya’s gender saying, “if it takes three months to figure out whether you’re a woman or not, then you probably aren’t.”
During the segment, several children were asked to decipher the athlete’s gender, because according to Kimmel, “kids are the most honest people in the world.” In the interviews, eight children were shown a photograph of Semenya and asked if she was male or female.
Although the video clip was intended to be a humorous take to the gender debate surrounding Semenya, the end result proved to be defamatory.
GLAAD is currently reaching out to ABC and Jimmy Kimmel Live! about the segment. To voice your concerns please contact:
Aime Wolfe
Aime.wolfe@abc.com
Out Counts at the Emmys
September 21, 2009
Last night’s 61st Primetime Emmy Awards represented a great achievement in visibility for members of the LGBT community. The show was hosted by Neil Patrick Harris, the Emmy-nominated star of CBS’ How I Met Your Mother and an actor who has only seen his profile rise since coming out publicly in 2006. Harris got a big thumbs up on his hosting from encore Emmy winner Jon Stewart. “You’re doing a wonderful job,” Stewart said. “I’m serious. You’re tremendous. And these shows, they usually suck.”
Cherry Jones accepts the Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series
Cherry Jones took home the statue for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series for her role as President Allison Taylor on Fox’s 24. In her speech, Jones saluted the artistry and gifts of her co-workers as Keifer Sutherland looked on with obvious pride in his co-star.
The trophy for Outstanding Dramatic Series went to AMC’s hit drama Mad Men starring Jon Hamm and Bryan Batt. Batt is a speaker at the upcoming Out in Hollywood III: The Rise of the Out Actor, an invitation-only panel discussion presented by GLAAD’s Entertainment Media Program in conjunction with the SAG National LGBT Actors Committee. At the panel, prominent actors, casting directors, producers and directors will discuss the opportunities and challenges actors face by coming out.
The LGBT community was also well represented behind the scenes. Irish lesbian Dearbhla Walsh earned the Emmy for Outstanding Directing for a Miniseries, Movie or a Dramatic Special for Little Dorritt (PBS), based on the work of Charles Dickens. In her speech, Walsh thanked her partner, Irish television presenter Anna Nolan. Kristin Chenoweth won the Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series for her work on the now canceled Pushing Daisies (ABC) produced by the out team of Bruce Cohen and Dan Jinks. Michael Sucsy, the openly gay writer/director/producer of Grey Gardens (HBO) accepted the award for Outstanding Made for TV Movie.
GLAAD celebrates the work of these talented artists and the networks that support them. As people see stories about their lives and the common ground we all share, it leads to greater awareness, understanding and equality.
Related Posts:GLAAD Releases Third Annual Network Responsibility Index
July 27, 2009
Today, GLAAD released its third annual Network Responsibility Index, a report that maps the quantity, quality and diversity of images of LGBT people on television. HBO ranked highest among all networks, while ABC led broadcast networks for the third year in a row.
"True Blood's" Lafayette helped make HBO the leader in LGBT representation among all networks evaluated
GLAAD reviewed all primetime programming — 4,901 hours — for inclusion of LGBT characters or issues on the five major networks (ABC, CBS, The CW, Fox and NBC) from June 1, 2008 to May 31, 2009. GLAAD also examined all original primetime programming — 1,212.5 hours — on 10 highly-rated cable networks (A&E, FX, HBO, Lifetime, MTV, Showtime, Sci Fi, TBS, TNT, and USA). Each hour was reviewed for on-screen LGBT representations. Based on the quantity, overall quality and diversity of these representations, a grade was assigned by GLAAD’s Entertainment Media Program to each network: Excellent, Good, Adequate, or Failing.
The full, detailed report can be downloaded here: http://www.glaad.org/nri2009
HBO received a Good rating and scored the highest rating of the 15 networks evaluated with LGBT characters on shows including True Blood, The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency and Entourage that reflect the ethnic and racial diversity of the LGBT community. Of HBO’s 14 original series, 10 included LGBT content and 42 percent of the network’s total programming hours included LGBT representation. However, representation of the lesbian, bisexual and transgender communities was minimal.
"Grey's Anatomy's" Callie and Arizona helped keep ABC tops among broadcast networks
ABC and The CW ranked first and second among the five broadcast networks, just as they have every year since GLAAD began tracking for the Network Responsibility Index. However, the rankings among the remaining broadcast network shifted with CBS dropping to last place and Fox rising to third.
The 14th Annual GLAAD Where We Are On TV report on diversity will be issued in September. This analysis will examine LGBT inclusion as well as the gender and race/ethnicity of all scripted characters scheduled to appear during the upcoming season. With brand-new LGBT-inclusive shows such as Glee and Modern Family, we are optimistic that the 2009-2010 television season could see some marked improvement among the major networks. Continue checking glaad.org and glaadblog.org for the latest on the Network Responsibility Index and Where We Are on TV, as well as further news on the coming TV season.
Related Posts:T.R. Knight Leaving Grey’s Anatomy
June 18, 2009
Entertainment Weekly’s master of anything and everything pertaining to television, Michael Ausiello, confirmed yesterday what had been rumored for months: T.R. Knight is leaving Grey’s Anatomy.
R.I.P. George O'Malley
From The Ausiello Files:
Fall’s still months away, but one of last season’s bigger Grey’s Anatomy cliffhangers has already been resolved: Sources confirm to me exclusively that T.R. Knight’s wish to be released from his contract has been granted. The official decision, I’m told, came down in the past few days, just as many of his castmates began receiving their formal pickup letters from ABC.
Knight’s departure would seem to confirm that George doesn’t survive, although fans have wondered whether (creator Shonda) Rhimes is planning to pull an Elizabeth Reaser (Jane Doe/Rebecca) and have him live, only to be replaced by another actor, thanks to plastic surgeon Sloane’s handiwork. That’s “hilarious, ridiculous,” the boss has said. However, I’ve heard that she was interested in having Knight appear in next season’s first three episodes, but a short-term deal could not be brokered.
As if the season finale wasn’t enough of a tearjerker, brace yourselves for a season premiere that is sure to put us all through the wringer!
So what’s next for Knight now that he’s putting our beloved George O’Malley to rest? A veteran of the Broadway stage, rumor has it he will return to his theatrical roots in a revival of the comedic play Lend Me a Tenor. Knight will be missed on Grey’s, but whatever he does end up doing, we wish him all the best!
Related Posts:ABC Gives Early Pickup to Gay-Inclusive Modern Family
May 8, 2009
After an enthusiastic response to an early pilot screening, ABC has ordered 13 episodes of Modern Family, the new sitcom from the writer/producers of Frasier, Steve Levitan and Chris Lloyd.
Just your average American families
According to Variety:
Twentieth Century Fox TV is behind the show, which follows the lives of three American families, as seen through the eyes of a filmmaker. One home centers on a traditional nuclear family, another is a gay couple with a newly adopted Vietnamese child; and the third consists of an older man who has just married a younger Latina wife.
Modern Family stars Jesse Tyler Ferguson and Eric Stonestreet as the gay couple. Fans will recognize Ferguson from his roles in The Class, Ugly Betty, and Do Not Disturb, in which he also played a gay character.
Set to debut in the fall, the new series also stars Ed O’Neill, Julie Bowen, Sofia Vergara and Ty Burell.
ABC Adds New Gay-Inclusive Comedy
December 18, 2008
ABC — affectionately known as “Gay-BC” by queer television bloggers because of its longstanding inclusion of LGBT issues in its programming — has just greenlit a comedy pilot that features a gay couple at the heart of the show.
An American Family, from Steven Levitan and Christopher Lloyd, revolves around three families living in the same suburb: a family composed of a working dad, stay-at-home mom and three kids; another that includes a 60-year-old man who becomes a stepfather after marrying a Colombian single mom 30 years his junior; and a gay couple with an adopted Vietnamese baby.
Though ABC has ordered the pilot, it does not guarantee that we will see An American Family on the air this fall. In the meantime, we’ll just have to keep our fingers crossed that viewers can tune in to see a “first” on television: series regular gay parents.
Calling all Bianca Fans!
November 13, 2008
Traveling to Florida this weekend is a MUST for all you Bianca fans out there — and I know there are a LOT of you! (For the uninitiated, Bianca is the lesbian character on ABC’s All My Children.)
Eden Riegel at the 18th Annual GLAAD Media Awards
Daytime Emmy®-winner Eden Riegel, who plays Bianca, is one of 31 stars attending the ABC-SoapNet Super Soap Weekend on November 15-16 at Disney’s Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, FL.
Throughout the weekend, fans will have the opportunity to meet favorite stars from All My Children, One Life to Live and General Hospital. Festivities include celebrity motorcades, autograph sessions, game shows, interviews and the chance to purchase one-of-a-kind memorabilia from each of the shows. The Colgate® Total® Street Jam will close the event each day with live musical performances by some favorite Daytime stars.
ABC-SOAPnet Super Soap Weekend is included with theme park admission to Disney’s Hollywood Studios, so what are you waiting for?! Get to Orlando, already!
Questions? Call the Super Soap Hotline at (407) 397-6808, or visit the ABC Daytime web site at soapnet.com.
Coming Out with… The Stars of ABC
October 7, 2008
National Coming Out Day is Saturday! Mark the occasion by checking out this GLAAD PSA, part of our ongoing “Be an Ally & a Friend” campaign. All week we’re rolling them out, and this one is chock full of some of our favorite ABC stars!
This 20-second spot stars Ana Ortiz (Ugly Betty), Rebecca Romijn (Ugly Betty), Kate Walsh (Private Practice), TR Knight (Grey’s Anatomy), Michael Urie (Ugly Betty) and Rachel Griffiths (Brothers & Sisters). Share it with your friends! You know you want to…
