American Broadcasting Company did it again!

For two years in a row ABC has topped GLAAD's list of the most queer inclusive network and cable channels. FX came in second, while basically every other channel received big, fat failing marks:

At the other end of the scale, NBC, Fox, A&E, Spike, TBS, USA Network and TNT all received fail grades from the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD).
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ABC — led by "Brothers & Sisters," "Desperate Housewives" and "Ugly Betty" — was given a grade of "good," with the highest score among broadcasters. The report said 24% of ABC's programming hours was considered inclusive. The report praised "Brothers & Sisters" in particular for portraying the first gay marriage on television.

Isn't it a bit sad that 24% inclusivity counts as "good?"

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An old, largely forgotten battle reignites this morning.

Former Grey's Anatomy actor Isaiah Washington, who left the show after calling costar TR Knight a "faggot," has filed a complaint against ABC for using his picture in a recent episode of the popular show about doctors and their problems.

[Washington] claims the producers failed to get consent over the use of the picture.

His attorney, Peter Nelson, sent notices to ABC and SAG indicating the alleged inappropriate use of Washington's image, the actor's manager Howard Bragman said.

"They have the rights of the character to advance the story, but not the image," he said, adding that what he expects out of this debacle is a "financial settlement."

Of course he does…

A reader reminded us of how much ABC's "The Look Of Love" tickles our aural fancy. We can't believe it's never crossed these blessed pages in the past.

The Brothers & Sisters are about to get a new brother. Well, brother-in-law.

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GLAAD and its star-studded pals will celebrate the non-profit's 19th annual media awards this weekend.

You know, when scads of celebrities come together to talk about how television help gay people - the least taxing of all activism.

In honor of the big event, Variety published a sizable article looking at the evolution of homos in media, especially on ABC, which garnered five nominations for its shows, like Brothers & Sisters.

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Wow. What an unbelievable shit show ABC aired last night.

We're talking, of course, about the Democratic Debates in Pennsylvania. Host Charlie Gibson talked up the event in his introduction, highlighting the city's resounding history. Too bad Gibson and cohost George Stephanopoulos couldn't think of anything historic to discuss. Rather than ironing out the issues ahead of the April 22nd primary vote, the ABC news men stuck to past scandals, readdressing Jeremiah Wright, Hillary Clinton's Bosnia trip and why Barack Obama doesn't wear a flag pin.

It wasn't until over an hour into the overhyped event that we actually got to hear about real issues, like Iraq and capital gain reform. By this point, however, we'd already zoned out and could only wonder, "Why are we watching this shit?"

While we deride ABC for their lackluster showing, we were intrigued by Hillary Clinton's Bosnia defense, in which she kind of, sort of admitted to lying (she, naturally, phrased it more politically). The Senator also mentioned that she apologized for claiming she came under sniper fire, but we don't recall that ever happening. Whatever, she was probably just dumbstruck by the shear inanity of last night's event.

We won't admit to watching Cashmere Mafia (at least not yet), but Eli Stone? It's worth it's TiVo timeslot and then some. If you haven't been watching the new series or missed our earlier post, it stars Jonny Lee Miller (one-time husband of Angelina Jolie) as a hot shot (and plain hot) San Fran attorney who suddenly gets communiques from a higher power, leading him to use his legal skills to do … good. Some might argue the calls from above are the result of the brain aneurysm he's living with; others argue he's a prophet.

But the hook? The messages from God, or whoever, are delivered in the form of song. Originally, we thought they were all going to be George Michael songs, though last night's came from the Rascal's "Good Loving." (Michael, who even cameoed in the first episode, does have the names of his songs being used as the names of each episode.)

We've already had "Freedom" and "Father Figure." Last night's episode, "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go," was just the right mix of musical camp and dramedy. And it was tres entertaining.

After the jump, a clip from the first episode, with Michael's "Faith."

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Hysterical news anchor Alycia Lane ain't laughing this morning. Philadelphia's ABC brass decided to sack Lane after the brunette went ape shit last month in New York.

Alycia Lane "has been released from her contract effective immediately," KYW-TV said in a statement Monday, the day she had been due back on air.

Lane is accused of scuffling with a plainclothes female officer during a traffic dispute last month. A police complaint also said she used a sexual slur. Lane has denied the allegations.
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"After assessing the overall impact of a series of incidents resulting from judgments she has made, we have concluded that it would be impossible for Alycia to continue to report the news as she, herself, has become the focus of so many news stories," station president and general manager Michael Colleran said in the statement.

Lane's attorney described the dismissal as "unfair".

In case you don't recall, Lane allegedly attacked a female copper, whom she called a "dyke bitch". We'd expect such language from Michael Savage, not a pretty female reporter. Of course, Lane's not the most stable: she once emailed steamy pictures of herself to married Rich Eisen. No wonder Playboy wants Lane's goods.

Oh, brother!

Gay Brothers & Sisters creator Jon Robin Baitz has been "ousted" from his hit ABC show. Writes Baitz:

I have left the show I created, Brothers & Sisters, from which I was ousted, not fired, an important distinction, to set the whisperers down the lane straight, so to speak.
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[I am] no longer the instigator of plot, and no longer the voice of the thing. It is no longer in my dreams. I do not wake up and make notes about future episodes.
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With my show no longer actually even remotely mine, I had no reason to stay west.

Baitz doesn't get into the specifics of the backstage drama, but the South African native says he's happy "being back in New York, the essential grown-up city." As opposed to Los Angeles, which is run by children.