ABC leads the way with gay characters

[Hathaway Browne]

Bit of "best of both worlds" with this story I guess. Disney and positive gay story (well for ABC anyway).

CBS has been criticised by the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) for its lack of gay characters.

During its 14th annual survey, the GLAAD noted that 18 LGBT regular series characters will appear on broadcast this season, representing 3% of characters on TV.

However, it has been pointed out that while ABC continues to lead in scripting gay characters - currently at a total of eight - CBS had none, out of 132 series regulars.

GLAAD President Jarrett Barrios said that NBC and Fox have made significant progress, with three and four gay characters respectively. The CW currently has two.

"CBS alone is a network that continues to weed out gay and lesbian programming, they're really out of step with network television," Barrios said.

It was also noted that the increase by other networks is "a critical way toward changing the hearts and minds of America".

-digitalspy

 

[jlewisinsyr]

Wouldn't CBS' The Amazing Race and the two gay participants (brothers) fall under the gay character umbrella? I think every episode/season has had a gay participant/character, then there is Survivor too. Of course I realize these are not "scripted" positions, but they are representative of gay individuals on their shows. Also these two shows are some of the most popular on TV, more popular then some of the scripted shows (many of which often don't last beyond their first season).

 

[hematite153]

Wouldn't CBS' The Amazing Race and the two gay participants (brothers) fall under the gay character umbrella?...

Yeah, I'd think they ought to....

 

[OrlandoMike]

I think we have come a long way since the "Uncle Aurther" days.

I'm not going to go through each network to see who has the most gay characters. If I TiVo'd every gay performer, I would be doing nothing but watching TV 24-7!

 

[rpmdfw]

Wouldn't CBS' The Amazing Race and the two gay participants (brothers) fall under the gay character umbrella?

Technically, no.

A "character" is a fictional creation portrayed by an actor. The creators have complete control over what a character does and says. A reality show contestant, is a real person with his or her own agenda. The show's creators can manipulate their screen time into a "storyline" through editing, but they cannot completely control how person acts or represents themselves.

And the reality show contestant in question has the chance to do press interviews after the fact and decry how editing mis-represented them. A fictional character has no such option.

So while I agree that reality show participants should be counted toward overall representations of gays and lesbians on television, they should not be considered on an analysis of "gay characters". For good or bad, the fictional characters are what "Middle America" looks to as examples of gays and lesbians. They can reenforce stereotypes, or not; they can portray us as self-loathing and pitiful; they can show that we're just like everyone else; or anything in-between or beyond. Since characters rely on "archtypes" for the most part, they tend to be much more useful and memorable in entering into the public consciousness and affecting change in our society. When you think of gays on television, who do you think of? I'd say your average American would probably think immediately of Will and Jack rather than Chip and Riechen.

 

[DVC~OKW~96]

Technically, no.

A "character" is a fictional creation portrayed by an actor. The creators have complete control over what a character does and says. A reality show contestant, is a real person with his or her own agenda. The show's creators can manipulate their screen time into a "storyline" through editing, but they cannot completely control how person acts or represents themselves.

And the reality show contestant in question has the chance to do press interviews after the fact and decry how editing mis-represented them. A fictional character has no such option.

So while I agree that reality show participants should be counted toward overall representations of gays and lesbians on television, they should not be considered on an analysis of "gay characters". For good or bad, the fictional characters are what "Middle America" looks to as examples of gays and lesbians. They can reenforce stereotypes, or not; they can portray us as self-loathing and pitiful; they can show that we're just like everyone else; or anything in-between or beyond. Since characters rely on "archtypes" for the most part, they tend to be much more useful and memorable in entering into the public consciousness and affecting change in our society. When you think of gays on television, who do you think of? I'd say your average American would probably think immediately of Will and Jack rather than Chip and Riechen.

Wow. Double wow. Excellent analysis and explanation. You ever consider doing under-grad lectures? Seriously.

I don't think of Will and Jack, as I don't want network comedy. I think of Brian, Justin, Michael, Lins, Mel, Emmett... but then I'm not your average American (statistically speaking) am I? And that was not network television.

But I do agree with what you are saying. The creation of a gay character is much more telling, than "allowing" someone who is gay to be on a show.

There are gay chefs, and gay designers, and gay fashion designers... on many of the "Who will be the next great..." type shows. That is not a gay character as you have defined.

Again, thanks. Your explanation clearly made quite an impression on me.

 

[jlewisinsyr]

Technically, no.

A "character" is a fictional creation portrayed by an actor. The creators have complete control over what a character does and says. A reality show contestant, is a real person with his or her own agenda. The show's creators can manipulate their screen time into a "storyline" through editing, but they cannot completely control how person acts or represents themselves.

And the reality show contestant in question has the chance to do press interviews after the fact and decry how editing mis-represented them. A fictional character has no such option.

So while I agree that reality show participants should be counted toward overall representations of gays and lesbians on television, they should not be considered on an analysis of "gay characters". For good or bad, the fictional characters are what "Middle America" looks to as examples of gays and lesbians. They can reenforce stereotypes, or not; they can portray us as self-loathing and pitiful; they can show that we're just like everyone else; or anything in-between or beyond. Since characters rely on "archtypes" for the most part, they tend to be much more useful and memorable in entering into the public consciousness and affecting change in our society. When you think of gays on television, who do you think of? I'd say your average American would probably think immediately of Will and Jack rather than Chip and Riechen.

Although I agree to a point, I think penetration rate is much higher in many of the reality shows. There is also a balance which you hit on a little bit with your last sentence.

Using the show Jack and Karen (sorry the show should have never been named Will and Grace, they're useless IMO), the gay characters represented a major portion of the character base, were in reality shows they may not, depending on when they leave the show.

I also think though that memorable characters vary by person depending on their likes and dislikes. I do not watch much in terms of standard scripted shows, they're just night time versions of soap operas which I have never cared for (I always hated going to my grandmother's house during the weekdays). I am big on the reality shows, The Amazing Race, Extreme Home Makeover, etc. The people in those shows are much more memorable and the shows much more entertaining to me.

Society seems to be divided between the two types of television, but there is no doubt reality shows have taken a huge piece of market share. In the end, getting back to the original topic, it's nice that someone is keeping track, but to me, it means nothing nor would it sway my decision in any way (I do watch CBS a lot because Survivor and The Amazing Race) or form.

 

[wallyb]

*insert Bevis And Butthead laugh*
He said " penetration rate."

 

[jlewisinsyr]

*insert Bevis And Butthead laugh*
He said " penetration rate."

I was waiting for someone to comment.

 

[Joevn]

Hmm...but what about Luke and Noah on "As the World Turns."

"The two made history on August 17, 2007, when the show "featured the first-ever" gay male kiss in American daytime." - Wikipedia

 

[Hathaway Browne]

We don't get that over here so I had to look them up. Daaaaaaaang why can't our soap characters be that good looking?