Homosexuality on Prime Time TV - Page 2

[Holiztic]

Originally Posted by BedHead

My parents refuse to watch any show ever again if there's even a hint of homosexuality on it. Pretty soon they're going to have to give up TV!!!

I'm sure I have a number of those in my family

[caiesmommy]

I'm not really liking the Claire, Heroes story line...meh still good that they are showing it...even if it's just for teenage boy ratings

House has had gay characters. Had a gay man as a patient and a female couple had a sick baby who died in another episode

[Holiztic]

Originally Posted by caiesmommy

I'm not really liking the Claire, Heroes story line...meh still good that they are showing it...even if it's just for teenage boy ratings.

I don't mean to disagree, but I don't see this at all. First of all--there is no guy involved. Usually when they "do it for the guys" there is somehow a guy involved--interested in one of the girls or somehow taunted by the girls' affections. Right? Also, I wouldn't put Gretchen in the category of being a man's fantasy at all (either her looks or the way she's written).

Just the way I see it.

[caiesmommy]

Originally Posted by Holiztic

I don't mean to disagree, but I don't see this at all. First of all--there is no guy involved. Usually when they "do it for the guys" there is somehow a guy involved--interested in one of the girls or somehow taunted by the girls' affections. Right? Also, I wouldn't put Gretchen in the category of being a man's fantasy at all (either her looks or the way she's written).

Just the way I see it.

I do agree on the Gretchen not being a "fantasy" but I think my issue was the way it was advertised pre-season...sadly that's the storyline I feel was presented the most and has the least to do with character plot.

[Ditto]

What an interesting discussion! I've been noticing it too. I loved Callie's scene in Grey's Anatomy and was pleasantly surprised by the lesbian characters in FlashForward. And yes, I agree that HGTV rocks at displaying all kinds of families and has done so for many years.

Having said all that, I hear about the "homosexual agenda" from my family and my partner's family. They feel that it's in their face and blatant and way too much. Maybe that will get better with time, maybe not.

And Ellen, you gotta love Ellen and the way she just keeps on keeping on. I try to be like her (granted on a much, much smaller scale, lol). I have a lot of respect for the way she is out, everyone knows about Portia, everyone knows they got married. But it's not what Ellen is about, it doesn't define her. Heck, it hardly even factors in to her show. I'm a fan! People who are homophobic seem much more open to this approach.

[baltic_ballet]

United States of Tara - the son Marshall is gay and they are accepting and supportive of him.

The Amazing Race - most seasons have a same sex couple team.

I think their was a gay wedding between a couple of the officers on The Bill and one of the DC's Jo Masters is a lesbian.

[Holiztic]

Originally Posted by baltic_ballet

United States of Tara - the son Marshall is gay and they are accepting and supportive of him.

Well, if we're going to branch out into cable (esp. premium) dramas, the list goes on and on!

[baltic_ballet]

Originally Posted by Holiztic

Well, if we're going to branch out into cable (esp. premium) dramas, the list goes on and on!

Sorry, I am in Australia and don't know what's on prime time and what's on cable in the States

[Fuamami]

I thought gay characters were pretty passe! I don't watch TV anymore, but wasn't Will & Grace on for years?

[StoriesInTheSoil]

Originally Posted by Fuamami

I thought gay characters were pretty passe! I don't watch TV anymore, but wasn't Will & Grace on for years?

I don't understand how a whole demographic's TV representation could be passe?

Will and Grace was great for what it was but in our culture, we get a lot of ideas from the media so television portrayals of homosexuality are very important (IMHO) especially those like on Gray's Anatomy that focus on many other aspects and approach it in a very normal sort of way. Does that make any sense?

[Holiztic]

While I think Will & Grace was a good show and was important for its time, I have to say I see a whole lot more depth in the portrayals of homosexual persons and relationships coming out (no pun intended!) now.

I just erased a whole discussion on how I thought Will and Jack were too tokeny and we only "knew" they were gay but didn't really see it or feel it. I was trying to say it was all too hokey, contrived. But then I realized what the issue was-it was a comedy (like The Birdcage), still valuable, but by its nature it can't show the depth and reality that a drama or reality show can (though I fully admit even those are still contrived. I mean, L Word went pretty over the top in la la hollywood land towards the end!)

[MusicianDad]

Ok... I have been holding it in but I just have to say it...

The vast majority of GLBTQ characters I see on TV, or in movies are imossibly stereotypical and it bugs the crap outta me. I'd rather they just not do it, then have the overly flamboyant, lisping and catty gay men or another equally over the top stereotype.

[sapphire_chan]

Originally Posted by MusicianDad

Ok... I have been holding it in but I just have to say it...

The vast majority of GLBTQ characters I see on TV, or in movies are imossibly stereotypical and it bugs the crap outta me. I'd rather they just not do it, then have the overly flamboyant, lisping and catty gay men or another equally over the top stereotype.

I always figured it was a regional thing. Like they were all supposed to be from L.A. or something?

[Fuamami]

Originally Posted by tinyactsofcharity

I don't understand how a whole demographic's TV representation could be passe?

Will and Grace was great for what it was but in our culture, we get a lot of ideas from the media so television portrayals of homosexuality are very important (IMHO) especially those like on Gray's Anatomy that focus on many other aspects and approach it in a very normal sort of way. Does that make any sense?

Yes. Sorry, I just thought it wasn't scandalous or worth mentioning if there were gay characters anymore. I really shouldn't even be participating in this discussion because I don't watch TV.

[Viola]

Originally Posted by sapphire_chan

I always figured it was a regional thing. Like they were all supposed to be from L.A. or something?

I think they are all just stuck in the 80s.

So what about One Life to Live, does anyone here watch that? Right now they have a number of gay characters. The one storyline was feeling heavy-handed--but I kind of liked the relationship between two of the characters when it finally got going. It's so hit and miss in soaps.

[StoriesInTheSoil]

Originally Posted by MusicianDad

Ok... I have been holding it in but I just have to say it...

The vast majority of GLBTQ characters I see on TV, or in movies are imossibly stereotypical and it bugs the crap outta me. I'd rather they just not do it, then have the overly flamboyant, lisping and catty gay men or another equally over the top stereotype.

Why hold it in? I think that's a great point and an important aspect to this discussion!

Are there any characters or storylines that you DO like or do you not see any? I will admit here that I don't watch a ton of TV. I watch only online and I only watch Heroes, Gray's, House, and Glee (I used to watch Private Practice but I am not going to anymore after the last episode) so I don't have a lot of television exposure.

Right now I'm really liking where Claire's storyline on Heroes is going. I know it was exploited and played up at first but I think it's really turning into a meaningful storyline. I hope it stays that way! I can see another Willow-type plot evolving.

[Holiztic]

Originally Posted by tinyactsofcharity

Right now I'm really liking where Claire's storyline on Heroes is going. I know it was exploited and played up at first but I think it's really turning into a meaningful storyline. I hope it stays that way! I can see another Willow-type plot evolving.

Oh, Willow and Anya.

[MusicianDad]

Originally Posted by tinyactsofcharity

Are there any characters or storylines that you DO like or do you not see any? I will admit here that I don't watch a ton of TV. I watch only online and I only watch Heroes, Gray's, House, and Glee (I used to watch Private Practice but I am not going to anymore after the last episode) so I don't have a lot of television exposure.

None recently, I don't watch much TV. Kerry Weaver when she was on ER wasn't too bad, and there's Karl, Homer's assitant for one episode in the Simpsons from waaaaaaaaay back when. Of course there is anime, GLBTQ characters in Japanese animation tend to be normal.

[Krisis]

Originally Posted by Holiztic

Oh, Willow and Anya.

Do you mean Willow and Tara? Because DH and I are just watching Buffy for the first time (we're halfway through season 6) and there is noooo Anya + Willow love, and I don't know what I'll do with myself if that becomes a plot point. Probably die.

[Holiztic]

Originally Posted by Krisis

Do you mean Willow and Tara? Because DH and I are just watching Buffy for the first time (we're halfway through season 6) and there is noooo Anya + Willow love, and I don't know what I'll do with myself if that becomes a plot point. Probably die.

Oh gosh, its been sooooo many years! Well, yeah, I guess I did mean Tara. I saw Tara's face in my head and wrote Anya. So who was Anya? Was she with Zander? It really has been ages, I watched them during first run and not since.

Thanks!