Gay watch dog group GLAAD rallies the mainstream press every fall to decry the dearth of gay characters on network television.
This year they lamented a drop in the nancy numbers, citing only 40 gay characters on network television. Media Week, however, points out that many reality television show personalities veer toward the queer. GLAAD entertainment media director Damon Romine insists GLAAD’s in the right,
First, he said, when broadcasters announce in advance their scripted plans for the upcoming season, “those plans don’t always include what reality shows are scheduled, and who has been cast on those shows.” Even when gay contestants are announced, Romine added, “It’s not a given that they’ll last on a series.”
While Romine may have a point, Tim Gunn – whose show, Project Runway, boasts a bevy of bent boys – points out that there’s a difference between real gay people and make-believe homos:
We don’t make a big deal about [sexuality]. These are people who are really just being who they are, and it’s simply a matter of fact. They’re just very honest portrayals, versus all the contrivances when they’re scripted.
Media Week points out, however, that regardless of whether the gays are real or scripted, advertisers are throwing mad dough at gay friendly television. And, really, isn’t that all that matters: green.
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Leland Frances
Once again, the jokes, er, folks at SAAD, er, GLAAD don’t get the punchline: shoot yourselves you silly fucks. These reports are YOUR failing report cards not the networks. A major part of your charter is to lobby them to include positive LGBT characters in their programs. If they aren’t then you’ve failed. Please return all the money trusting gays have sent you and go to work full time for Coors instead of just pimping and whoring for them indirectly.
Gregg
I think reality TV homos tend to be better “role models” than fictitious gays anyway. Dale on Top Chef is a great example. I’d much rather emulate him than the sniveling gays on Brothers & Sisters or Desperate Housewives.
Mr. B
Well, it depends on the reality show. On the “competition” shows that involve an actual talent, like Top Chef or Project Runway, everyone’s so busy doing the challenges that even though there’s drama, the main focus is on the people’s skills. For the “lifestyle” shows like Big Brother and The Real World, where the participants have nothing to do but hang around and act like assholes (and/or drunks and/or sluts), well…usually nobody’s a good role model on those shows.
That said, even though everyone seems to want the “token gay” for their reality show, the queers tend to dominate the competition-based shows (like on Bravo).
Mr. B
Err, all of that to say, I mainly agree that the “real” gays tend to be better role models than the fictitious ones. But then, who on Desperate Housewives should be emulated in real life anyway?