Category: Television

CBS plans more gay characters since receiving ‘failing’ score from GLAAD

LGBTQ Nation • Sunday, August 1, 2010 • Filed under: Television • Comments (1)

CBS has announced plans to add more gay characters to its fall line-up after receiving a “failing” grade in the annual Network Network Responsibility Index, a media survey by GLAAD that monitors the portrayal of gay, lesbian and transgender people on television.

In the season that starts in September, the network said a gay character will join “The Good Wife,” a lesbian character will join “Rules of Engagement” and a gay character will appear in the new sitcom “$#*! My Dad Says.”

Speaking last week to television reporters, Nina Tassler, CBS entertainment president, said the network was adding the characters to its prime-time programs “because we’re very disappointed in our track record so far.” Continue reading…

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GLAAD gives MTV high marks in fourth annual Network Responsibility Index

LGBTQ Nation • Thursday, July 22, 2010 • Filed under: Television • Comments (1)

MTV has been awarded high marks from Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD), earning an “Excellent” rating from the advocacy group for its portrayal of gay, lesbian and transgender people on television.

GLAAD released its fourth annual Network Responsibility Index (NRI) on Thursday, a report that maps the quantity, quality and diversity of images of LGBT people on television. Prime time programming on the five broadcast networks was evaluated as well as original prime time programming on 10 of the highest-rated cable networks.

“It is with great pride that GLAAD honors MTV with our highest mark of excellence in recognition of the network’s commitment to fair and accurate representation of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community,” said GLAAD President Jarrett Barrios.

“From their inception, MTV programs like ‘The Real World’ and ‘America’s Best Dance Crew’ have offered richly diverse portrayals of gay and transgender people that help Americans better understand and accept our community,” said Barrios.

Of MTV’s 207.5 hours of original prime time programming, 42% included LGBT-inclusive images that reflected the ethnic and racial diversity of the LGBT community as well as a strong cross-section of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people, said GLAAD.

GLAAD reviewed more than 4,700 hours of prime time programming for inclusion of LGBT characters or issues on the five major networks (ABC, CBS, The CW, Fox and NBC) from June 1, 2009 to May 31, 2010. GLAAD also examined 1,227 hours of original prime time programming on 10 highly-rated cable networks. Each hour was reviewed for on-screen LGBT representations.

Based on the quantity, overall quality and diversity of these representations, a rating was assigned by GLAAD’s Entertainment Media Program to each network: Excellent, Good, Adequate, or Failing.

Here are the findings from the GLAAD Network Responsibility Index:
(Download a copy of the report here.)

Broadcast Networks

  • After three years in second place, The CW is now the top broadcast network with 35% of its prime time programming hours being LGBT-inclusive. This is the highest percentage ever recorded for a broadcast network, though it should be noted that The CW airs less prime time programming hours than the other four broadcast networks.
  • ABC dropped to third place in terms of its percentage of LGBT-inclusive programming hours (26%). ABC received a “Good” rating because of the quantity and strong quality of its LGBT images.
  • Fox ranked right behind The CW in its percentage of LGBT-inclusive programming hours (30%) but received an “Adequate” rating because of the stereotypical and defamatory nature of some of its content. NBC also received an “Adequate” because of the comparatively low quantity of LGBT stories (13%).
  • CBS once again received a “Failing” rating with only 7% LGBT-inclusive hours of primetime programming, the vast majority of which came from its reality series.

Cable Networks

  • In addition to MTV’s groundbreaking “Excellent” rating, for the first time a majority of cable networks received higher than an “Adequate” rating. ABC Family (37%), TNT (34%), Showtime (32%), Lifetime (31%) and HBO (26%) all received “Good” ratings for the quantity and quality of their LGBT-inclusive original programming.
  • FX aired a significant amount of LGBT-inclusive programming (27%), but often relied on stereotypes or problematic representations of the LGBT community.
  • USA (4%), A&E (3%) and TBS (2%) all received “Failing” ratings for their lack of LGBT-inclusive images.

“When television networks share real stories of our community, audiences begin to see the common ground that we all share,” said Barrios. “Over the last year, viewers across the country celebrated the arrival of Mitchell and Cameron’s baby on ABC’s ‘Modern Family’, while teens and parents everywhere were moved by Kurt Hummel’s relationship with his father on Fox’s ‘Glee.’ These images and stories are being noticed by viewers, critics and Awards programs and we urge other networks to open their airwaves to such powerful and inclusive messages.”

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GLAAD pressures ‘The View’ to correct statements on HIV, African Americans

LGBTQ Nation • Tuesday, July 13, 2010 • Filed under: Health and Wellness, Television • Comments (0)

Refusing to be ignored, GLAAD (the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation) has teamed with the Black AIDS Institute and the National Black Justice Coalition (NBJC) and placed a full page ad in Monday’s Variety magazine, calling on ABC Television and its popular morning program The View, to correct a misleading quote about the spread of HIV among African Americans.

Last month, co-host Sherri Shepherd and guest host, comedian D.L. Hughley, blamed increased HIV rates among straight African American women on gay and bisexual black men men who are secretly gay, often referred to as “on the down low.”

“When you look at the prevalence of HIV in the African American community, it’s primarily young women who are getting it from men who are on the down low,” Hughley said on the June 22 broadcast.

Shepherd added, “It’s so big in the black community with women because they’re having sex with men who have been having sex with men.”

The Variety ad placement comes nearly three weeks after GLAAD issued a “Call to Action,” charging The View with perpetuating “dangerous myths,” despite evidence to the contrary from the Centers for Disease Control.

(The ad appears below; click on image to enlarge.)

Click to enlarge

After the show aired, thousands of people stood with GLAAD and demanded an apology and a correction. But so far, ABC and The View have remained silent on the issue.

“ABC and The View’s refusal to correct these inaccurate remarks comes at the expense of African American gay and bisexual men, straight African American women and millions of audience members who need facts about HIV/AIDS, not myths. It’s extremely disheartening to see a program that usually covers our community with respect, unwilling to correct this serious lapse in editorial judgment,” said Rashad Robinson, GLAAD’s Senior Director of Programs.

GLAAD has cited a 2009 interview in which a senior CDC official said that heterosexual black men with multiple sex partners — not bisexual men who secretly have sex with men — are responsible for high rates of HIV among black women.

In that interview, Dr. Kevin Fenton, director of the National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD and TB Prevention, said, “We have looked to see what proportion of infections is coming from male partners who are bisexual and found there are actually relatively few.”

“More are male partners who are having female partners and are injecting drugs or using drugs or have some other risks that may put those female partners at risk of acquiring HIV,” he added.

As of late Monday, still no comment from ABC or The View.

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‘Today’ show opens annual wedding contest to gay couples

LGBTQ Nation • Friday, July 9, 2010 • Filed under: Television • Comments (0)

Just days after it was revealed that the Today Show‘s “Modern Day Wedding” contest excluded gay and lesbian couples, NBC — bowing to activist pressure — has opened the contest to same-sex couples, and is extending the entry deadline to allow gay couples time to participate.

Following a “call to action” earlier this week by the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD), Today announced that it will allow gay couples to enter its annual contest, which each year features one couple to marry on live television, after voting by the show’s viewers. Among the prizes, an all-expense paid honeymoon.

Late Thursday, following a meeting with GLAAD, NBC issued this statement:

Over the past few days TODAY has received a considerable response regarding our wedding contest application. The rules stated that eligible couples must be able to be legally married in New York, where we will host the wedding, therefore excluding same-sex couple applicants.

Our intent was not to be discriminatory or exclusive.

In 2005 when the wedding took place outside of New York, the application process was open to same-sex couples. We have listened to every voicemail and read every email. We take this feedback seriously, and we will change our application process. TODAY is a longtime supporter of the LGBT community, and GLAAD considers us an ally. We are committed to keeping those relationships strong and positive.

We have opened up the application process to same-sex couples, and will extend the deadline to Monday, July 12. Moving forward, we ensure that our future wedding contests will be inclusive of all couples.

GLAAD’s call to action prompted thousands of phone calls, emails and letter to NBC, urging the network to allow the gay community the same opportunity to participate in the contest.

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Playgirl hunk Levi Johnston calls for truce with Sarah Palin after appearing on Kathy Griffin’s ‘D-List’

Kelvin Lynch • Wednesday, July 7, 2010 • Filed under: Alaska, Celebrities, Television • Comments (0)

Levi Johnston wants to take off the boxing gloves with the Palins.

Just days after appearing on an episode of Kathy Griffin’s “My Life on the D-List” reality show, where the hilarious comedian went to Alaska to visit her faux boyfriend Levi Johnston, the Playgirl stud is saying he wants to bury the hatchet with the Palin family.

During the episode, Griffin was determined to get into the “Palin Compound” using Levi, and tried several times to make him talk about Sarah, Todd, and Bristol. Johnston went along with it a bit, even driving Griffin by the Palins’ home. But mostly, he remained uncharacteristically quiet, particularly in light of the scathing interview he gave Vanity Fair last year, titled, “Me and Mrs. Palin”, in which he tore into the former Alaska Governer-turned-media magnate and was highly critical of the way she and Todd raised their children.

But now Johnston has told People magazine he wants to improve his relations with the Palin family, particularly Sarah Palin:

“Last year, after Bristol and I broke up, I was unhappy and a little angry,” Johnston said. “Unfortunately, against my better judgment, I publicly said things about the Palins that were not completely true. So to the Palin family in general and to Sarah Palin in particular, please accept my regrets and forgive my youthful indiscretion. I hope one day to restore your trust.”

Sarah Palin has yet to issue a statement in response to Johnston’s apology. It appears to come after he and Bristol Palin both realized they needed to put aside their differences and hostilities for the sake of their child, Tripp. Either that, or he was strong-armed into it.

Bristol Palin spoke of the “need for good co-parenting” in People, which she described as “creating healthy and honest relationships between the parents” (someone’s been reading self-help books). Bristol added, “Tripp one day needs to know the truth and needs to know that even if a mistake is made the honorable thing to do is to own up to it.”

Okey-dokey, then.

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‘True Blood’ star Joe Manganiello smolders as werewolf Alcide

Kelvin Lynch • Wednesday, July 7, 2010 • Filed under: Celebrities, Television • Comments (0)
By Kelvin Lynch

Joe Manganiello joins 'True Blood' this season as Alcide

True Blood fans are in for a treat this season, with the addition of hunky Joe Manganiello.

The cute, sensitive actor, best known for his work on One Tree Hill, beefed up for the role, becoming the towering, muscle-bound (and oft-naked) werewolf Alcide on Alan Ball’s hit HBO series.

In Charlaine Harris‘ books (which are loosely followed by Ball), Alcide is described by Sookie as follows:

“He was huge. His eyes were green. His tousled hair was curly and thick and black as pitch. His brain buzzed and pulsed with energy. Kind of a red effect. Werewolf. Big as a boulder, with biceps that I could do pull-ups on. He would have to shave a second time if he planned on going out in the evening. He would fit right in on a construction site or a wharf.”

Manganiello has appeared on numerous TV shows besides One Tree Hill, including CSI:Miami, How I Met Your Mother, and ER.   However, his biggest role to date was on a short-lived series in 2007 called American Heiress.

Alcide is sent by Eric to protect Sookie while she searches for Bill

Alcide made his first appearance in last week’s episode, sent by Eric to help Sookie find her true love Bill, who is being held captive by Russell, the Vampire King of Mississippi. However, Sookie and Alcide soon develop some hot chemistry of their own.

Alcide is described in the books as a “proper gentleman”, and on the show he is saddled by a crazy relationship with a woman who is destined to cause trouble.  But his purpose is to protect Sookie.

Manganielllo said in an interview with HBO, “Alcide presents a very interesting option for Sookie … he starts off, obviously, as a bodyguard and protector, and they’re both kind of in interesting spots as far as relationships go … I don’t know what I can say much more than that. It definitely percolates.”

Manganiello will be in the buff for most of season three

Manganiello also calls himself “the piece of meat this year” and said he worked with Hugh Jackman’s “Wolverine” trainer Ron Matthews to get ripped for the role.

“On this show,” he said, “you’re going to be showing some skin at some point.  So I did two workouts a day.  My shoulders and arms got a lot bigger, but my waist got way smaller.  I’ve had to get all new jeans.”

We can’t wait to see him out of them!

True Blood resumes Sunday, July 11 at 9 p.m. on HBO (check local listings).

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GLAAD calls out ‘Today’ show wedding contest for excluding gay couples

LGBTQ Nation • Tuesday, July 6, 2010 • Filed under: Television • Comments (0)

NBC’s Today Show is taking applications for its “Modern Day Wedding Contest,” and will award the winning couple with a live wedding broadcast in October and an all-expense paid honeymoon — unfortunately, the network rules deny gay and lesbian couples from participating.

The contest gives away a full-paid wedding, to be broadcast on the show in October, as well as an all-expense paid honeymoon.

The Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) contacted the Today Show last week to find out why its application listed only “bride” and “groom” as options for applicants since Today welcomed same-sex couples to apply to its Hometown Wedding Contest in years past.

NBC originally sent GLAAD this statement regarding the 2010 Modern Day Wedding Contest:

“For the TODAY show wedding, the couple must be able to be legally married in New York, which is where the wedding will take place.”

According to GLAAD, the network is “mistakenly equating the marriage license with the wedding celebration.” A statement from the organization points out that New York recognizes marriages for same-sex couples performed outside of the state, including nearby states Vermont and Connecticut.

“Today Show’s ‘Modern Wedding Contest’ should recognize what most fair-minded Americans have already concluded – a wedding celebrates love and commitment, whether the spouses are straight or gay,” GLAAD President Jarrett Barrios said in a statement. “NBC should stop denying gay and lesbian couples the ability to share their stories of love and commitment and open its wedding contest to all couples.”

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‘Real World 24′ — Ryan’s first (wink!) gay kiss: ‘I feel like killing myself’

LGBTQ Nation • Thursday, July 1, 2010 • Filed under: Television • Comments (0)

MTV’s The Real World is back for another tiresome season (#24 for those keeping count!), this time back in New Orleans.

And during the roomies’ first night out, an encounter at a gay bar leaves Ryan Leslie, 21, a “straight hairdresser” from Arizona, freaked when a guy kisses him — on the neck.

OMG, the poor little twink!

Watch it here, Courtesy the Soup Blog at EOnline:

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Christian news site: ‘Lesbian activist’ Ellen DeGeneres bringing down ‘American Idol’

LGBTQ Nation • Friday, June 4, 2010 • Filed under: Celebrities, Television • Comments (3)

A Christian news site is making headlines by claiming Ellen DeGeneres is responsible for the ratings erosion of Fox’s American Idol.

DeGeneres

According to Gary McCullough, the director of Christian Newswire, Idol‘s decline can be directly linked to DeGeneres, whom he describes as a “lesbian activist” whose “lesbian one-liners” are hurting the shows ratings.

Says McCullough:

At this moment in entertainment history, network television is on a pro-homosexuality bender.

The producers of American Idol chose to be a part of this push; it was a huge mistake. The consequences of this choice were a drop in market share and a reduction in advertising dollars.

While many entertainers who profess an alternate sexual lifestyle are individually accepted and enjoyed by the public — when sexual behavior becomes their identifying trait in a specific broadcast, it limits the audience they will draw …

There is of course the insane possibility that Hollywood will forsake ratings – and the dollars that follow – and continue down the path of change. Perhaps next we will see the pro-pedophilia group NAMBLA use its influence in Hollywood to have “Dancing with the Stars” seat Roman Polanski as a judge.

Yes, he just compared homosexuality to pedophilia and statutory rape. Continue reading…

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