Four Gay Characters Gone From Prime Time

The networks have announced what TV shows are getting canned in advance of the 2010-2011 season, and two gay characters have emerged as victims of the cancellations.

NBC axed the medical drama Mercy, which featured out actor Guillermo Diaz as the gay nurse Angel. ABC has also sent the Lost-esque FlashForward to the dustbin -- that show featured actress Christine Woods as lesbian FBI agent Janis Hawk. Hawk actually had a love life on the show with a storyline involving her meeting and dating another young woman.

Also canceled by ABC was Better Off Ted, a show starring out actress Portia de Rossi.

And, though the relationship between the two characters was awfully casual, the cancellation of NBC's Heroes also brought an end to Claire (Hayden Panettiere) and Gretchen (Madeline Zima), college roommates who looked to be getting closer than just friends at the end of the show's fourth season.