CBS Adds More Gay Characters In Response to GLAAD Survey
CBS will add more gay and lesbian characters to its prime-time line up after a study by the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation gave the network failing grades for not including enough GLBT-inclusive characters in its programming.
The survey released last week found that 7 percent of CBS' prime-time programming included GLBT content and gave the network a failing grade.
It's not entirely clear if the new gay characters were in the pipeline already when CBS got its bad GLAAD grade, or if they were added in response.
"The Good Wife" will have a gay brother for Julianna Margulies' character, according to CBS Entertainment President Nina Tassler. A lesbian will be added to the comedy "Rules of Engagement,'' and the new comedy "`S#*! My Dad Says" will also have a recurring gay character.
A pilot that CBS did not pick up for the 2010-2011 season as well as a couple of projects that failed to reach the pilot stage had gay or lesbian characters, Tassler said.
"Once you come out of your pilot development season disappointed with
yourself, you go into the current series season saying, `Look, let's look for
every opportunity we can to improve the numbers we have represented in the
casts,'" Tassler said.
GLAAD president Jarrett Barrios hopes Tassler "makes true on this promise to bring the network more in line with the industry standard.''
With reporting from City News Service
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