Network Responsibility Index Continues to be Covered on TV and Blogs
August 4, 2009
Since the release of GLAAD’s third annual Network Responsibility Index (NRI) last week, the blogosphere has been abuzz with responses to the report. CBS and SyFy have promised big changes and Chelsea Handler comedically pointed out a few things she thinks we missed.
Video courtesy of E! Online:
We at GLAAD always appreciate Chelsea’s humor. A strong and hilarious ally to the gay community, she hosted the 20th Annual GLAAD Media Awards in San Francisco earlier this year, so despite what some blogs would have you believe, there is no feud between GLAAD and Chelsea Handler. We thank her for bringing attention to the NRI on her Chelsea Lately!
The NRI analyzes programming on the five broadcast networks, the eight highest rated non-children’s/news/sports cable networks plus HBO and Showtime which, as subscription networks, do not receive as many viewers but are considered to be among the major cable networks.
Paul James as gay frat boy Calvin Owens on ABC Family's Greek
E! was not among those networks this year. However, because ratings change from year to year, the ten cable networks counted this year are not necessarily the ten that will be counted in next year’s NRI. Case in point: the second annual NRI counted Spike, which was replaced this year by Sci Fi (now SyFy). This may change again in next year’s report. Several cable networks that did not crack our top ten but air significant LGBT content, such as ABC Family, Bravo and BBC America, were included in the “Additional Cable Overview” found in the rear of the NRI.
Bloggers also wondered why daytime television was not included in the report. There is little question that the daytime TV landscape for LGBT characters is better today than it has ever been. We commend the writers of daily dramas such as As the World Turns, The Young & The Restless, Guiding Light and One Life to Live for seamlessly incorporating LGBT characters into their stories. However, tracking 6,113.5 hours of primetime network and cable television is a big task.
While right now we do not have the staff capacity to include daytime in the NRI, we do monitor storylines and recognize outstanding representations in the Daily Drama category at the GLAAD Media Awards.
Related Posts:Be an Ally & a Friend Today!
April 14, 2009
Today, GLAAD unveiled our all-new “Be an Ally & a Friend” public education campaign. This year’s campaign has 22 public service announcements (PSAs) featuring 32 top entertainers from the world of television, film and music.
Sally Field and Ron Rifkin
“Now, more than ever, we need the support of straight allies in our work towards full equality for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community,” says GLAAD President Neil G. Giuliano. “Straight allies play a vital role in fostering a climate of understanding and respect for LGBT people in their communities, helping all of us to recognize the common ground that we share.”
The campaign, now in its third year, features two distinct spots: one about the importance of accepting a gay friend or family member, the other about standing up for gay and transgender equality. These PSAs encourage the audience to “be an ally and a friend,” sending viewers to online resources to give them the tools to support LGBT family, friends, colleagues and fellow students, and find ways to get involved in gay and transgender advocacy in their own communities. There are multiple 20- and 30-second versions of the spots, as well as versions of the PSA in Spanish.
Ellen DeGeneres
“The diverse group of 32 talented entertainers – gay, straight and transgender – who gave their time and energy to this campaign deserves our deepest thanks for participating in this effort to reach a critical audience,” Giuliano continues. “We are so thankful to the networks across the country who have proudly broadcast the ‘Be an Ally & a Friend’ campaign in both English and Spanish, sending a clear message of acceptance and support to their viewers.”
The PSAs feature (alphabetically) actor Kevin Bacon, William Baldwin (Dirty Sexy Money), Candis Cayne (Dirty Sexy Money), Gabrielle Christian (South of Nowhere), comic Kate Clinton, Lauren Collins (Degrassi: The Next Generation), actor Alan Cumming, talk show host Ellen DeGeneres, Loretta Devine (Grey’s Anatomy), Sally Field (Brothers & Sisters), Van Hansis (As the World Turns), Cheyenne Jackson (Glee), Paul James (GREEK), T.R. Knight (Grey’s Anatomy), Alec Mapa (Ugly Betty), Becki Newton (Ugly Betty), comic Graham Norton, Tony Potts (Access Hollywood), Maeve Quinlan (South of Nowhere), Anthony Rapp (Rent), comic Caroline Rhea, Ron Rifkin (Brothers & Sisters), Anika Noni Rose (The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency), Adamo Ruggiero (Degrassi: The Next Generation), Zoe Saldana (Star Trek), Kyra Sedgwick (The Closer), Jake Silbermann (As the World Turns), singer Joss Stone, Michael Urie (Ugly Betty), Sofia Vergara (Madea Goes to Jail), musician Rufus Wainwright and Eduardo Xol (Extreme Makeover: Home Edition).
The first PSA stars Kyra Sedgwick, Kevin Bacon, Ellen DeGeneres, Anika Noni Rose, Alan Cumming, William Baldwin, Rufus Wainwright, Sally Field and Ron Rifkin. It can be viewed at www.glaad.org, or here:
Additional PSAs will be unveiled approximately every two weeks throughout 2009. The PSAs will also be available through broadcast collaborations with national cable networks including IFC, Lifetime Movie Network, Lifetime Television, Sundance Channel, The N and Comcast cable systems; local cable systems and network affiliates; online at YouTube and Facebook; and others to be announced.
NAACP Image Awards Winners
February 13, 2009
Though we reported last month that the NAACP Image Awards held an unprecedented number of LGBT-inclusive nominations in its 40th year, sadly, these noms didn’t turn to gold last night.
Even though gay talent like Wanda Sykes (The New Adventures of Old Christine) and Patrik-Ian Polk (Noah’s Arc: Jumping the Broom) were recognized through their nominations, both were beat out by their straight colleagues. Straight actors playing gay characters like Paul James (GREEK), Sonja Sohn (The Wire) and Michael K. Williams (The Wire) went home empty-handed as well.
Patrick-Ian Polk
The only LGBT-inclusive nominee to win was ABC’s Grey’s Anatomy, which was awarded Outstanding Drama Series.
For a complete list of LGBT nominees, please click here.
For a complete list of NAACP Image Awards winners, please click here.
NAACP Image Awards Nominations are LGBT-Inclusive
January 8, 2009
The nominations for the 40th Annual NAACP Image Awards were announced yesterday, and we are pleased to report that many of them are for LGBT-inclusive projects.
Established in 1967, at the height of the civil rights movement, the NAACP Image Awards is the nation’s premier event to honor outstanding black actors, actresses, writers, producers and directors.
Below is a list of LGBT-inclusive nominees. For a complete list, please click here.
Wanda Sykes
Outstanding Comedy Series — Ugly Betty
Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series — Paul James*, GREEK
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series — Wanda Sykes**, The New Adventures of Old Christine
Outstanding Drama Series — Grey’s Anatomy, House, Lincoln Heights, The Wire
Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series — Blair Underwood*, In Treatment
Michael Kenneth Williams as Omar in The Wire
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series — Michael Kenneth Williams*, The Wire
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series — Sonja Sohn*, The Wire
Outstanding Reality Series — Project Runway
Noah's Arc
Outstanding Independent Motion Picture — Noah’s Arc: Jumping the Broom
Outstanding Writing in a Dramatic Series — Liz Friedman & Sara Hess – House – “Lucky Thirteen”
Outstanding Writing in a Motion Picture — Patrik-Ian Polk & John R. Gordon – Noah’s Arc: Jumping the Broom
Outstanding Literary Work – Fiction — E. Lynn Harris**, “Just Too Good to Be True”
*plays LGBT character
**artist is LGBT
The 40th Annual NAACP Image Awards will be broadcast live Thursday, Feb. 12 at 8 PM on Fox.
