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CBS is Adding Gay Characters


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CBS President Nina Tassler told a packed crowd at Wednesday’s Television Critics Association press tour that she is “not happy” with their poor showing on GLAAD’s Network Responsibility Index and they they’re actively adding gay characters to their slate of existing shows.

“We’re not happy with ourselves,” she said. “We're adding a few characters this season because we're very disappointed in our track record so far.”

Specifically, Tassler said to look out for a gay character on the hit series The Good Wife — Alicia Florick (Julianna Margulies) has a gay brother. Tassler also promised a gay character on the sitcom Rules of Engagement and a recurring character on the new show S*** My Dad Says.

"It is encouraging that CBS shares our disappointment in the network's lack of gay and transgender representation and we are hopeful that the new characters will help build awareness and understanding of our community among viewers," GLAAD President Jarrett Barrios said. "After two years of receiving a 'failing' grade and a commitment last year to be more inclusive, we hope that CBS President Nina Tassler makes true on this promise to bring the network more in line with the industry standard.'"

A new daytime talk show set to replace the long-running soap As the World Turns will be hosted by Sara Gilbert, who is a lesbian.

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Reader Comments
  • Name: blaa blaa
    Date posted: 9/18/2010 8:12:16 PM
    Hometown: blaatown

    Comment:

    Who cares about a gay character track-record. Shouldn't the goal be entertainment? Instead of making TV that is "tolerable" to every little sub-group, why not focus on making a "great" show for a single group. Maybe that way the networks wouldn't be losing more viewers every year. I hope they have a gay viewer lined up for Rules of Engagement to help balance the loss of this viewer. If the story dictated a gay character that would be fine. But they are determined to fit in a gay character and then attempt to make a story for it. What a load of crap. There goes the last network show I watch.

  • Name: Pam
    Date posted: 7/29/2010 1:27:52 PM
    Hometown: Florida

    Comment:

    Agree with ArtNOLA. HGTV is very inclusive of real gay couples on nearly all of their shows. And they never make a big deal of it or treat them any differently. And a lot of their designers are gay. Again no big deal. Networks need to follow their lead. Show gay people or gay characters just as they do non-gay people and characters. When it becomes no big deal to see us on TV, more of us will be on TV.

  • Name: Javier
    Date posted: 7/28/2010 5:50:40 PM
    Hometown: Houston

    Comment:

    CBS says this every year and they do nothing. Saying they are adding gay characters is a way to get gay people not to hound them until next year when the report once again finds CBS has a dismal record on gay characters.

  • Name: Warner
    Date posted: 7/28/2010 5:34:22 PM
    Hometown: Salem, OR

    Comment:

    honestly, the only thing from this artcle that makes me happy is that there is going to be a 's*** my dad says" tv show. I love shit my dad says!!!!!!!!!!!! that website rocks!!!!!!

  • Name: ArtNOLA
    Date posted: 7/28/2010 5:20:14 PM
    Hometown: New Orleans

    Comment:

    One thing I am really happy to see is how gay inclusive the shows on HGTV are. I can't think of one show, that involves homeowners, that hasn't included either single gays or gay homeowners. Instead of people portraying gay characters, these are real people, real couples, and more importantly home owners. This helps to demonstrate that we are productive members of society, and we are human beings just like everyone else. Anyone who doesn't watch shows on HGTV should start, if for no other reason, to supporst their sponsors.

  • Name: Conor Matthews
    Date posted: 7/28/2010 4:27:47 PM
    Hometown: Dundalk, Ireland

    Comment:

    Forgive the pun, but thats kind of gay! I mean they make it sound like gays are this qouta that people have to reach. So what if GLAAD says you have a "poor" rating. What does that even mean? They gave Fox a good rating, and Fox has that stereotypic gay kid on Glee (which i do love). And the phrasing scares me; adding gay characters. 1-Writers would have be forced to add unnecessary characters to their well crafted shows, and could be potentially just underdeveloped once offs, or permanent characters that break the tone of the show. 2-There should be CHARACTERS as opposed to GAY characters. So what if the character is gay or not. Should that really matter. Maybe a view years ago we needed to say "oh look! heres a gay", but society has moved on, and I'd like top think gay is more of a norm and a default. 3-Should it not be more important to talk about gay issues in general as opposed to having them orbit a gay character?



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