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.”

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.

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.

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.

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).

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.”

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:

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.

Lest we forget that The Ellen DeGeneres Show, now in its 7th year, attracts an average 5.2 million viewers daily, making it one of the highest-rated daytime shows.

Ellen has openly referred to her wife Portia de Rossi on her show more than a few times — to an audience of soccer moms who travel from all over the country and stand in line for hours hoping for seat in her studio.

And as for “Dancing With the Stars,” — which has scored some of its highest ratings ever this season — the very openly gay Bruno Tonioli is already on the judges panel.

Do your homework, Gary.

Santiago and Lehmkuhl

From Gawker:

We got wind of the cast of Logo’s new “gay housewives” show. And it’s filled with just the fame-hungry, attractive, horrible people you could have imagined. They’re all models! This is going to be a fantastic mess.

The show, which was initially called Kept, is now tentatively being called The A List and is scheduled to air on Logo sometime this fall after taping in NYC this summer.

Just as we told you — and despite his denial at first — D-lister and former reality show contestant Reichen Lehmkuhl has signed up to be a part of the cast along with his boyfriend (Rodiney Santiago). That means of the six people cast on the show, five of them work as models, have worked as models, or claim to work as models.

Yay, abs and shallowness! Let’s meet our gaggle of famewhores, shall we?

Check out Gawker.com for cast photos and bios.

Kanyon

Former WWE and WCW wrestler Chris Kanyon was found dead in his New York apartment Friday night, the victim of an apparent suicide.

Kanyon, whose real name was Christopher Klucsaritis, ended his professional wrestling career in 2004, and was the first openly gay wrestler in the WWE.

Kanyon wanted to base his character on that, but the WWE showed interest; he later claimed the WWE released him due to his coming out.

Kanyon reportedly suffered from depression and bi-polar disorder, and had frequently spoken about committing suicide.

According to reports, a pill bottle and “several notes” were found near his body.

Cynthia Nixon (left) and Joy Behar

Nixon was honored for her work fighting for gay marriage.

“We are bringing marriage back to its fundamentals and revitalizing it from its roots up,” the Sex and the City actress said at the award gala in New York City on Saturday night.

Behar, a co-host of ABC’s The View and host of her own nightly talk show on HLN, received the Excellence in Media award for advocating for gay rights issues on her shows.

Brothers & Sisters was handed the outstanding drama series award for its plot about a gay married couple looking to start a family.

Other GLAAD Media Awards presented include:

• Excellence in Media Award: Joy Behar
• Vito Russo Award: Cynthia Nixon
• Outstanding Drama Series: Brothers and Sisters (ABC)
• Outstanding TV Movie or Mini-Series: Prayers for Bobby (Lifetime)
• Outstanding TV Journalism Segment: “Why Will Won’t Pledge Allegiance” American Morning (CNN)
• Outstanding Talk Show Episode: “Ellen DeGeneres and Her Wife, Portia de Rossi” on The Oprah Winfrey Show
• Outstanding TV Journalism – Newsmagazine: “Uganda Be Kidding Me” (series) on The Rachel Maddow Show (MSNBC)

Complete list of awards are posted at GLAAD’s website.

The network confirmed this week that the couple, played by Brett Claywell (as Kyle Lewis) and Scott Evans (as Oliver Fish), are being written off the show.

ABC issued this statement:

The groundbreaking Kyle/Fish relationship on One Life to Live was embraced by fans both as a great story and a fair and honest reflection of the LGBT community.

We’re glad their story resonated with the audience, and understand the fans’ disappointment now that it has concluded. The show has a history of bringing LGBT stories to the screen — earning two GLAAD awards in the process — as well as returning popular characters when they serve the ongoing story.

These great characters remain in Llanview, and while there are no immediate plans to advance their story, the door is always open for their return.

GLAAD, the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, announced Friday that it is lobbying ABC Daytime to review its decision to end the storyline.

In January, the One Life to Live characters engaged in an onscreen love scene in the first-ever gay sex scene on daytime television.

MacFarlane

Quote of the week… from Family Guy creator Seth MacFarlane, appearing on last night’s season premiere of HBO’s Real Time With Bill Maher:

“If you’re sitting at home in your undershirt, watching TV, worried about terrorism, and at the same time objecting to the person who’s putting their life on the line so that your family will be protected, then you’re the worst kind of fucking asshole there is.”

A nice cherry on the sundae of a week filled with right-wing(nuts) and homophobes who descended on Washington for the annual Conservative Political Action Conference to, among other things, voice their support for Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.

Earlier this week, TMZ.com released unaired footage of Magro in an altercation with an unidentified man who he refers to as a “fucking faggot” and “fucking queer.”

P.S. Can anyone explain the meaning of “creepy fans” — is this some cool, new Jersey Shore slang I’m not up on?

Magro (MTV photo)

A national American-Italian group are considering legal action against MTV over their controversial hit Jersey Shore, according to RadarOnline.com.

UNICO, the largest Italian American Service Organization in the U.S, said they have consulted attorneys because they are fed-up with MTV’s portrayal of young Italian Americans as booze-fueled hellraisers.

Earlier this week, TMZ.com released unaired footage of cast member Ronnie Magro in an altercation with an unidentified man who he refers to as a “fucking faggot” and “fucking queer.”

“[Ronnie’s tirade] is not a surprise!” a a spokesperson for UNICO told Fox News.

“How can anyone be surprised at anything any of these bimbos and buffoons would say or do. They have become celebrities for their reprehensible behavior and negative stereotyping, so this is no exception. It is unacceptable, as are the rest of their actions and behavior.”

Citing additional concerns about the program, Andre Dimino told RadarOnline.com: “We have consulted attorneys and are prepared to take legal action because we are so angry about the situation.”

“I cannot say too much right now about the actual legal steps we are going to take but we feel what MTV are doing with Jersey Shore is outrageous, ” Dimino added.

And at least one of the show’s advertisers, BeenVerified.com, is less-than-impressed with Magro’s behavior.

“Ronnie’s words are in no way acceptable. BeenVerified strongly believes that homophobic language or hateful language of any kind is never acceptable,” said a company rep.

Magro

And the footage has finally come to light…

Reports TMZ;

It all went down minutes before Ronnie’s first brawl on the show — in which he and another bar patron could be seen talking trash to each other and then exchanging blows on the shore in front of their girlfriends.

But in the new never-before-seen footage — Ronnie can also be seen and heard calling the guy a “f**king f**got” and a “f**king queer.”

Doing their best to keep “reality” out of the reality show, MTV never aired the footage. Watch it here:

Maddow

Columnist Howard Kurtz profiled the openly gay MSNBC news anchor, paying close attention to how her sexual orientation impacts her treatment of guests like Lt. Dan Choi, who came out on The Rachel Maddow Show last March, and who was recently called back to duty with his Army National Guard unit.

From the Post:

As one of the few openly gay television anchors, Maddow has kept the spotlight trained on the contentious issue of whether service members known to be homosexual should face discharge proceedings, as Choi did after that interview. But she doesn’t view herself as mounting a crusade.

“I was an activist before I went into the media,” Maddow says. “It is useful for me to tell my opinion on some things I cover. But I’m not trying to get people to march in the streets or call their congressmen. I don’t believe that’s my role.”

“We don’t really treat gay issues differently than other issues,” Maddow says. The controversy, she says, is just “a great story.”

Maddow, the first openly gay anchor to be hired to host a prime-time news broadcast on U.S. televison, said she accepts that some critics believe she’s biased on gay issues, and offers no apologies:

“I can’t do the show as a non-gay person. I don’t have that option,” Maddow told the Post.

Read the full article at The Washington Post.

In a letter to ManCrunch.com, CBS Standards and Practices said it had reviewed the proposed ad, which would cost an estimated $3 million to air, and “concluded that the creative is not within the Network’s Broadcast Standards for Super Bowl Sunday.”

In the ad two sports fans are watching an NFL game and discover their mutual affection over a bowl of chips. They proceed to make out to the surprise of another sports fan watching nearby.

Watch the ad here:

Earlier this week, CBS said it would only allow advocacy ads that were “responsibly produced.”

“We think it’s totally discriminatory that they’re accepting other ads that make social statements, but they’re not allowing ours,” ManCrunch spokeswoman Elissa Buchter told TVGuide.com.

CBS and its Super Bowl commercials made headlines earlier this week when women’s advocacy groups issued statements protesting the network’s decision to air a spot sponsored by Christian organization Focus on the Family, which features Florida Gators football star Tim Tebow, his mother, and what some are arguing is an overt pro-life message.

CBS has also rejected a GoDaddy.com commercial about a fictional “Lola,” a retired football player who explores his feminine side by going into the lingerie business. Watch that ad here:

According the the rejection letter Go Daddy received from CBS, the ad “had the potential to offend a significant number of people.”

Update, January 29, 2010:

The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD), the nation’s lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) media advocacy and anti-defamation organization, today called on CBS to publicly explain its advertising standards following its decision to exclude an ad with gay content from the Super Bowl broadcast.

“CBS has a problem when they do something like this at the same time as they allow an anti-gay group like Focus on the Family to place ads during the Super Bowl,” said GLAAD President Jarrett Barrios. “This network should come clean to the public about what’s going on because this seems to be a homophobic double standard.”

Produced by O’Donnell, who also makes a brief appearance, A Family Is a Family Is a Family is a documentary where kids in nontraditional families talk about their lives.

The film also features musical elements (inspired by Marlo Thomas’ 1970s kids’ TV special Free to Be… You and Me) celebrating the love and support found in families of all kinds.

“I think kids in general say the truth,” O’Donnell said in an interview with Entertainment Tonight.

“Not only are the kids in this cute, they are poignant,” she said. “What they are asking for is safety, security and acceptance: That their families are just as valid as anyone else’s should they be raised by a grandmother, a mom and a dad, two dads, or one mom. Whatever makes up your family, it is valid and worthy and it should be cherished and respected.”

In the upcoming documentary, O’Donnell diplomatically addresses her breakup with Carpenter after ten years together, telling daughter Vivienne, “Even though Kelli and I aren’t living in the same house anymore, family is forever.”

Here’s the extended ET interview:

The definition of a family is at the heart of the comedian’s documentary, which premieres this Sunday, January 31, on HBO at 7 pm ET.

O’Donnell, 47, recently announced she will be moving in with her new love interest, Texas-based artist Tracy Kachtick-Anders, who has six kids of her own.

Daniel and Jordan Pious

Carol Rosenfeld and Brandy Snow

Daniel and Jordan Pious are brothers from Barrington, Rhode Island. Daniel, 24, is straight, and Jordan, 22, is gay. Jordan always wanted to be on the Race because it was his #1 dream in life. Says Daniel, in his cast biography, “All I really want is to make it far enough so Jordan feels as if his dream is achieved.”

“My coming out and being comfortable with myself really started to happen in high school and actually my brother was the first person i came out to in my immediate family,” said Jordan. “My brother means the world to me and what we have right now is everything and he is without a doubt my best friend.”

Carol Rosenfeld, 47, and Brandy Snow, 40, are from Los Angeles, and had been dating for 5 months when the race began taping in November, although they’ve know each other for more than 2 years.

“I think there will be a cross section of opinions about us,” says Rosenfeld. “I think people unfortunately who’ve never been around gay women are going to have some pre-determined points of view and opinions” and they hope competing in the race will enable them to “change some minds and hearts.”

Also contestants this season, Jeff Schroeder and Jordan Lloyd, from CBS’ Big Brother 11. (Jordan won BB11.)
The Amazing Race 16 premieres Sunday, February 14 at 8 p.m. ET.
Photo and video credit: CBS Television.

Move over “Jersey Shore,” the new, original comedy series “Blue Mountain State,” may soon boast an even bigger gay following.

The football-themed series focuses on what it’s like being a freshman at national champion Blue Mountain State, and follows three incoming freshman in a big-time, Midwestern college football program.

But there seems to be an underlying homo-erotic theme to “BMS,” begging the question, just who is the show’s target demographic?

Watch this clip and you decide:
P.S., yes, that’s N2N underwear model Alan Ritchson in the lead role.

A little more revealing than what we’ve come to expect from Spike TV — “Blue Mountain State” premiered this week, and airs Tuesday’s at 10 p.m.

Brett Claywell, left, and Scott Evans

ABC made history this week by airing the first-ever gay sex scene on daytime television.

One Life to Live characters Oliver and Kyle (portrayed by Scott Evans and Brett Claywell) engaged in an onscreen love scene on Wednesday’s episode. (Evans, the younger brother of ‘Fantastic Four’ actor Chris Evans, is openly gay.)

One Life to Live has been lauded for its groundbreaking exploration of social issues.

The show received mass critical acclaim for its 1992 homophobia storyline, which captured national headlines when it introduced the character of a gay teen (played by then unknown Ryan Phillippe) and culminated with the emotional display of the Names Project AIDS Memorial Quilt.

In case you missed Wednesday’s scene, here it is:

In 2007, the CBS’ As the World Turns, aired the first gay kiss on a daytime drama — In case you missed it, watch that scene here.

Just weeks ago, ABC came under attack from gay rights advocates for canceling a scheduled daytime concert by Adam Lambert due to his “controversial” performance at the American Music Awards where he kissed another male performer on stage.

Matt Ross plays Alby Grant in 'Big Love'

The creators of the HBO cable show, about a non-Mormon polygamous family living in Utah, plan to explore a same-sex relationship between two male characters involved in a fictional breakaway sect at the center of the series.

The first episode of the new season involves Alby (played by Matt Ross), a son of the leader of a fictional polygamist group, in a “close encounter” with a male trustee. Both have been struggling with their sexuality.

The theme will be developed over early episodes of Big Love when it returns to HBO on Jan 10, the network confirmed on Wednesday.

It follows an uproar in the U.S. gay community last year over the Mormon church’s prominent support of the campaign to overthrow same-sex marriage laws in California.

Joel Campbell, a columnist with the unofficial church website MormonTimes.com, accused Big Love of again using fuzzy plot lines to “stick it to the LDS church.”

Big Love, which first aired in 2006, stars Bill Paxton as a man with three wives and eight children. The show won three Golden Globe nominations this week.

Read the full story at Reuters.com.

Sorrentino

MTV’s new guilty pleasure reality show Jersey Shore star Mike Sorrentino (aka “The Situation”) has no problem with the attention he gets from gay men.

In an exclusive with Marc Malkin of “E!,” Sorrentino says:

“I’m very confident in being Italian. I’m proud to have spiky hair and I’m proud to have my six-pack. Whoever doesn’t like it, I’m not really too worried about it because everybody should love themselves. If you don’t love yourself, who will?”

Adding…

“I’ll be honest, I like the attention. I’m flattered if there are guys with different preferences that have crushes on me.”

Malkin reports that Sorrentino is also looking into trademarking his nickname, “The Situation.”

The show has been a favorite of LTBTQ viewers recently, who have closely followed the love story of Luke Snyder and Noah Mayer.

The characters Luke and Noah (or “Nuke,” as they came to be known), played by Van Hansis and Jake Silbermann, made history when they shared the first ever gay male kiss on daytime television in September 2007. (In case you missed it…)

Since then, fans have following their growth into becoming daytime’s first gay “supercouple.”

As The World Turns has been on the air 54 years; its last episode will end in September 2010.