Remember all the suspense when it was rumored that Ellen DeGeneres would play the highest-profile gay character in TV history? They teased that episode for weeks, and we fondly recall a commercial where Ellen gestured to her cleavage in a low-cut blouse and said, “you know this talk about me coming out? This is all they’re talking about.”
Nowadays, though, gay characters are de rigueur, and it seems like every season is gayer and gayer. GLAAD took a sneak peek behind the scenes at the queers coming down the tubes in the 2011-2012 television season, and it looks promising!
Good Christian Belles is basically Steel Magnolias meets Desperate Housewives by the creator of Sex and the City. This is what’s known in the industry as gay man’s wet dream.
ABC, You had us at “CHENOWETH.”
Set amongst one of the staff and clientele of one of the infamous “Playboy clubs” in 1960’s Chicago, the show will include a bunny named Alice who’s a closeted lesbian in a marriage of convenience with a gay man. In fact, she and her husband are both secretly members of the Mattachine Society, the pioneering LGBT rights organization, and both are expected to have active romantic lives.
Are you serious? Can this be true? And not even on cable, but on NBC? Be still our hearts. Here’s a clip:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ghg-q_6lpg&feature=relmfu
We cannot get over how exciting this show looks. And yup, that’s Broadway star Laura Benanti (Gypsy) singing on stage.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3U_SlMpFJvk&feature=player_embedded
We have to admit that this trailer made us a little misty-eyed. But then again, we cry every time we watch The Muppet Movie.
See you in the fall, awesome shows!
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Our newsletter is like a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.
Erin
I think I read a while ago about a show coming out this fall about a lesbian couple… did I imagine that? Does anyone know anything about it?
IAbuseGays
I am looking forward to Smash and Playboy. Not as interested in GCB. Although the second clip with the two guys reminded me too much of Mad Men.
total hypocrites in hollywood
wow, hollywood is getting whiter every season
very very sad
matt baume
@total hypocrites in hollywood: That’s a good point. I’m trying to name a queer person of color on TV right now and Don Lemon’s the only one coming to mind.
Dick
Say what you will about the CW, but they are keeping Gale Harold employed and on the screen.His new series will be The Secret Circle.
tazz602
Let’s not forget Max from Happy Endings on CBS – the most non-stereotypical gay we’ve ever seen on any sitcom. Loves sports, not obsessed with his body, a bit of an Oscar Madison – but definitely loves the boys. I <3 Max!!!
jason
Playboy is a homophobic organization which has promoted the bisexual double standard for years. Like much of the rest of the sexual revolution, the aim of Playboy was to make bisexuality socially acceptable for women but not for men.
As far as I’m concerned, Playboy can go jump.
Frank
@Matt & total hypocrites in HW – Well off the top of my head I can think of Jasika Nicole from “Fringe.” Also if you have watched “Outsourced” there MUST be at least one queer person of color on it! But seriously I’m REALLY looking forward to “The Playboy Club” and not only because I know one of the very talented actors in the pilot or that it will be filmed in Chicago or that it has at least one actor “of color” or that it will actually have gay characters, but because it sounds like it will be a good program!
Reggie
@jason: playboy is run by a large number of women and gay men.. i used to be one of them
michiko
Santana Lopez (Naya Rivera) is a lesbian on “Glee.” Maybe that doesn’t fit in your cookie-cutter, check-off-the-box definition of person of color, though.
Frank
Also – I have a good friend who worked @ Playboy in the 70’s – 80’s and she said that it was the only office where she was respected and not harassed. She said that she heard about lots of crazy stuff but was never pressured to participate nor did she!
Reggie
@Frank: my ex husband was the first person to receive domestic partner benefits. christy hefner and hugh are and were very supportive of lgbt causes. a large percentage of the models we worked with were lesbians.. obviously of the lipstick variety. it is actually a very progressive company. the fact that it shows naked women as a business makes you wonder about feminism.. but they also employed real editorial and oddly while i was there was the top selling braille publication (for the articles) playboy has actually participated in gay pride activities
Chris
@Reggie: It’s best to just ignore Jason, he’s the internet’s version of a crazy preacher with a soapbox :/