UPDATE: The CW Pulls Defamatory Promo for High Society
March 1, 2010
After GLAAD reached out to The CW about a promotional video for its new reality show, High Society, the network quickly responded and said the trailer would be pulled from circulation as soon as possible, although it is expected that the full removal of the preview could take several days.
High Society features openly gay writer and NYC socialite, Paul Johnson-Calderon.
In the trailer, a party goer said that the show’s star, NYC socialite Tinsley Mortimer, looked “like a tranny.” Within the same preview, Jules, Mortimer’s friend, says “I use the N-word sometimes.”
The CW attracts a large LGBT viewership due to its significant LGBT inclusion on shows such as Gossip Girl and America’s Next Top Model, and was second only to ABC in GLAAD’s 2008-2009 Network Responsibility Index. Many in the LGBT community were offended by the appearance of this comment on The CW, which worked only to perpetuate discrimination towards the transgender community.
GLAAD commends The CW for such a timely response to the derogatory trailer, and looks forward to the premiere of High Society, which also features openly gay Manhattan socialite Paul Johnson-Calderon in the cast.
Related Posts:What to Watch: Thursday, January 7
January 7, 2010
You can catch your breath after last night’s TV onslaught because it’s slim pickin’s tonight, unless the Orange Bowl strikes your fancy. One repeat worth watching though is a great, inclusive episode of Supernatural.
Who you gonna call? Sam and Dean!
Thursday, January 7
9:00 pm Supernatural, The CW (1 hr) REPEAT
We had no idea about the gay twist in this episode when it originally aired last year, so here’s your chance to catch a fun hour featuring the ghost busting Winchester brothers. When Sam and Dean attend a “supernatural” convention, they discover that the hotel is haunted by evil ghost children. But the brothers discover they can’t save the day alone and enlist a pair of Sam and Dean wannabes to help them out.
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: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:here! Networks Nominated for Daytime Emmy Award
May 15, 2009
Yesterday morning, here! became the first LGBT network to win a nomination for a Daytime Entertainment Emmy Award. here! Networks’ Ribbon of Hope Celebration was nominated in the Outstanding Special Class Special category.
Congrats to here!
From here’s press release:
“We are grateful to receive our first Daytime Entertainment Emmy Award nomination
for the ‘Ribbon of Hope Celebration.’ As we continue to fight this deadly pandemic
our program recognizes the excellent work done by the television industry to promote
HIV/AIDS awareness and education,” said Paul Colichman and Stephen P. Jarchow, co-
founders of here! Networks and executive producers of the “Ribbon of Hope
Celebration.” “We continually work to entertain and inform, and the ‘Ribbon of Hope
Celebration’ represents an important part of our mission. To be the first gay and
lesbian network nominated for a Daytime Entertainment Emmy Award by the National
Academy of Television Arts & Sciences is truly an honor.”
Also of note, after two Outstanding Younger Actor nominations, Van Hansis earned his first nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series for his role as Luke Synder on As the World Turns. The Ellen DeGeneres Show again led the pack in talk show nominations with 12.
The 36th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards will be telecast on August 30, 2009 on The CW and will be hosted by Vanessa Williams.
Jay and Miss J.: The “Unlikely Heroes” of Top Model
November 19, 2008
Cycle 11 of America’s Next Top Model airs tonight, and even though transgender model Isis and bisexual beauty Elina have been eliminated, everyone’s favorite gays, Mr. and Miss J, blessedly remain.
The Los Angeles Times profiled the two personalities today, proclaiming Jay Manuel and J. Alexander to be the “unlikely heroes” of Top Model, “keeping viewers laughing, models in line and ratings high for 11 editions and counting.”
Writer Denise Martin continues:
“The girls competing to win a modeling contract don’t mind the critiques, however catty they may be. Manuel and Alexander seem like the gay best friends they always wanted: stylish, opinionated and happy to coif the contestants until they’re stunning.”
As we reported earlier, the two Js are set to star in their own show, called Operation Fabulous. Described as a cross between Top Model and Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, the two will travel the U.S. to give head-to-toe makeovers to women in small towns across the nation.
Jay Manuel and J. Alexander
Though the show is not officially picked up by The CW, the network’s President of Entertainment Dawn Ostroff, fully supports the series. “Jay is your parent in tough love,” she tells the Times. “He tells you the way it is, but only because he wants you to be the best you can be. As much as Miss J criticizes and rolls his eyes, deep down, he’s just looking for the girl who can get it done.”
Don’t miss any of their antics! The season finale of America’s Next Top Model airs tonight at 8/7c on The CW.
Top Model’s Isis to Appear on Tyra Tomorrow!
November 17, 2008
Calling all Isis fans — and we know there are a lot of you! On Tuesday’s Tyra Banks Show, America’s Next Top Model’s first transgender contestant, Isis, will appear as Tyra’s special guest.
According to Us Weekly, Tyra will surprise the aspiring model with the gender reassignment surgery she has always wanted.
The 22-year-old hadn’t gone under the knife yet because she couldn’t afford the $20,000 to $35,000 price tag.
“It’s hard. I try not to think about it because it is something I’m really passionate about,” she says. “I feel like I really was born in the wrong body, and it’s just the one thing that makes me feel uncomfortable.”
Watch an emotional sneak peek from tomorrow’s show. And don’t miss the episode! Check your local listings for air times.
Mr. Jay and Ms. J. Get Fabulous
October 10, 2008
America’s Next Top Model regulars Jay Manuel and J. Alexander are hitting the road in their own spinoff. Entitled Operation Fabulous, Jay and J. will travel the country giving makeovers to damsels in distress.
Jay Manuel in action
In towns across America, the guys will select five women and give them the full Top Model treatment, including hair overhaul, makeup tips, clothing advice, and above all, the confidence to WORK IT.
No word as to whether Ms. J. will give his signature runway coaching, or if that’s just reserved for the 5′9″-and-over set.
A premiere date has not been announced, but if it means more gay visibility on TV, we’re all for it!
