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:Thom Bierdz’s Character Comes Out on The Young & The Restless
July 7, 2009
After a shocking return to The Young and The Restless as Phillip Chancellor III in May, openly gay actor Thom Bierdz’s character will reveal that he is gay.
Bierdz played Phillip for three years before leaving Y&R twenty years ago to pursue a film career. Phillip was written off the show after he died in a drunk driving accident, returning only for a dream sequence in 2004.
Since then Bierdz has found success as a painter and has publicly discussed his life as a gay man having to hide his sexual orientation for the sake of his acting career. In those interviews, Bierdz had expressed an interest in returning to Y&R on the condition that his real life sexual orientation be incorporated into Phillip’s life as well.
In a closely guarded surprise May return, it was revealed that Phillip Chancellor III is alive and well…but how? In an episode slated to air today or tomorrow on CBS (depending on Michael Jackson memorial coverage), Phillip will tell his wife, Nina, that he faked his death because of his difficulty in accepting his own sexual orientation. Twenty years later, Phillip and Thom both return to Genoa City proud, out gay men.
Related Posts:What to Watch: This Weekend
April 24, 2009
Your TV will be on fire this weekend, burning up from all the great stuff you’ll be watching! Our picks: a Barbara Streisand concert, the TV Land Awards and, as always, Brothers & Sisters. Happy viewing!
FRIDAY
Bianca and Reese, in happier times
> 12:00 PM All My Children, ABC (1 hr) NEW
Bianca has returned from France, ready to forgive Reese for kissing Zach the night before their wedding day. We all know Reese loves Bianca, but is she willing to leave Pine Valley? Times vary; check listings.
> 12:00 PM The Young and the Restless, CBS (1 hr) NEW
The blogosphere has been buzzing about this, but today, it is finally revealed that Rafe is gay! Times vary; check listings.
> 10:00 PM Real Time with Bill Maher, HBO (1 hr) NEW
This no-holds barred news show is broadcast live, so you never know what to expect. Bill regularly discusses LGBT issues and features gay panelists and commentators, so check it out!
SATURDAY
> 8:00 PM Streisand: Live in Concert, CBS (1 hr) NEW
If you missed Babs on her 2006 tour, watch the highlights from the comforts of your living room!
> 9:00 PM Color Splash, HGTV (30 min) NEW
Gay interior designer David Bromstad reworks living spaces. Tonight he shakes up a den by adding unexpected color where it will make the biggest impact.
> 9:00 PM Groomer Has It, Animal Planet (1 hr) NEW
Jai Rodriguez hosts this campy fave, with Huber and Bill as gay contestants. (Poor “Chicken Joe” was given the boot last week!)
> 10:00 PM The Graham Norton Show, BBC America (1 hr) NEW
Openly gay talk show host Graham Norton sits down with actress Gillian Anderson, actor/comedian Chris Addison and singer-songwriter Sinéad O’Connor, who probably won’t rip up a picture of the Pope this time because that was so 17 years ago.
SUNDAY
> 8:00 PM The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency, HBO (1 hr) NEW
Precious is Botswana’s first female private investigator. She has a gay hairdresser named BK who acts as a crucial means of emotional support.
Neil is the host with the most!
> 8:00 PM TV Land Awards, TV Land (2 hrs, 30 min) NEW
Neil Patrick Harris hosts the seventh annual ceremony, which recognizes the best in television from years past. With Don Rickles as one of its honorees, you know it’s going to be an uproarious event.
> 8:00 PM Any Dream Will Do, BBC America (1 hr) NEW
Contestants compete for the lead in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat in a production on London’s West End. One of the judges is openly gay actor/singer John Barrowman, with host Graham Norton. Only eight boys remain as the competition grows fierce.
> 8:00 PM The Amazing Race 14, CBS (1 hr) NEW
Lesbian contestant Kisha finished first with her sister last week while gay racer Luke is staying strong with his mom. Only a few more legs to go… Who will win the race?
> 8:00 PM Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, ABC (1 hr) REPEAT
Gay designer Eduardo Xol joins the team this week to help a family in Alabama rebuild their deteriorating home.
> 8:30 PM Sit Down, Shut Up, Fox (30 min) NEW
Andrew is a bisexual drama teacher at Knob Haven High.
> 9:00 PM Desperate Housewives, ABC (1 hr) NEW
Secrets abound on Wisteria Lane this week, as Lynette hides something from Tom, Gaby covers for her husband, Orson lies to Bree and Susan reveals her truth to Dave. The scandal!
> 9:30 PM American Dad!, Fox (30 min) NEW
After Steve is kicked off the football team (by his own dad!) he joins forces with Roger to form a team of misfits that threaten the school championship.
> 10:00 PM Brothers & Sisters, ABC (1 hr) NEW
How are our boys faring after last week’s Indecent Proposal? Will Chad make another appearance to heat things up in Kevin and Scotty’s apartment?
