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:Interview with Out Actor Jason Stuart
August 10, 2009
As the conversation continues about whether actors can be out in Hollywood and still be cast in roles that are either LGBT or straight, the answer is ‘yes’ for out actor-comedian Jason Stuart. He guest stars tonight on TNT’s hit The Closer as the owner of a storage facility that discovers a dead body.
A character actor, Stuart has been showing his range lately: He will pop up in an upcoming episode of the FX series It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia as an event director, and later in the Catherine Hicks/Greg Evigan thriller The Truth About Layla as a police officer.
Given the challenges faced by actors who choose to live openly and honestly, Stuart created and is national chair of the Screen Actors Guild LGBT Actors Committee. The committee encourages the auditioning and casting of out actors while offering a network of support to these actors.
Jason Stuart with Kyra Sedgwick on the set of "The Closer"
In an exclusive interview, Stuart spoke to glaadBLOG about being an out performer in 2009.
Does being an openly gay actor in Hollywood hinder the chance of lucrative career?
A big fat no. I have been out for 16 years and just played a half dozen really different roles in the last year, such as a priest, an event manager, a male nurse, a cop, and of course the manager of a storage unit business on The Closer. So the climate has changed from my experience pre-Ellen. Yes, there are certainly challenges at times, but to me it’s a dream come true to get to be working actor at a business I love.
Have you noticed a disparity between roles written for gay men opposed to openly gay women?
There does seem to be more gay male roles than lesbian roles. But I think that also reflects that there always more roles for men than women period. This is an issue the SAG LGBT Actors Committee addresses. We need to support our out lesbian sisters in getting more roles and having more visibility.
Do gay decision makers in Hollywood support out gay actors?
Regardless if they’re gay or not, I think there are decision makers who don’t care if actors are gay and they just want to make a great film or TV show. There are 500 channels on TV, let’s show the powers-that-be that gay means ratings and money in their pockets.
Now that the climate seems better for character actors to be out, when will it be okay for out leading men?
Pre-Ellen I couldn’t get arrested as a character actor in TV or film. I would work maybe once or twice a year as an actor, and I was lucky to be a stand-up comedian in addition to being an actor. From stand-up I learned first hand the mainstream public just wants to laugh and see good stories. Now I am fortunate to work all the time.
NO H8
Why can’t we just fast forward and support the leading man or woman who chooses to come out and make him or her the next big thing? After a while it will not matter. History shows this. Twenty years ago you would never see a Black woman as a judge on TV, now it’s common place. Lets learn from the past.
With actors feeling more comfortable being out in the workplace, and our increased visibility in the media, are we edging closer to equality?
We’ll have equality as soon as we as gay Americans stand up and be counted. I’m not talking about the upcoming U.S. Census, but that’s also a start. I’m talking about living our lives openly and honestly and showing the world who we are. At lunch last week, my best friend Alexandra Paul—my Grace—kissed her husband hello in a public restaurant. She didn’t have to look around first to see who was watching. I’ve learned to act the same way with my boyfriend. Well, I will as soon as I get one!
For more information about Stuart and a list of his upcoming stand-up performances, check out http://www.jasonstuart.com
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.
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