GLAAD To Be Noticed

For those that are interested, there is an interesting article on the state of gay characters on television in the Hollywood Reporter. Below are the excerpts that specifically refer to the show. For the full article go to:
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/awards_festivals/news/e3i539b9b9d3539a4ca80537cb03e52e60e

Kevin Walker, one of the lead characters on ABC's drama "Brothers & Sisters" (created and executive produced by Jon Robin Baitz), is frequently singled out as the most substantial depiction of a gay man on network primetime television to date. Part of what makes the character -- played by Welsh actor Matthew Rhys -- so rich, advocates say, is that his sexual orientation isn't his entire raison d'etre but simply part of a complex fabric of personality.

"The gay-character story line is no longer the novelty," says Brian Graden, entertainment president of MTV Networks Music Group and president of Logo. "The character on 'Brothers & Sisters' is as complicated and human as everyone else."

The Walker character enters the conversation in a year when lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals remain only a tiny proportion of regular characters on network series -- less than 2% -- according to the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, which is set to host its 18th annual GLAAD Media Awards on Saturday at Hollywood's Kodak Theatre. Yet, the quality of some characters' lives continues to improve, showing them to be people who are successfully integrated into their family and work environments, much like a large proportion of gay Americans."

Then later in the article:

"There have been wonderful, realistic portrayals on cable, and they sit right next to network channels," says "Brothers & Sisters" executive producer Greg Berlanti. "They're one click away, and you have to compete with how real your stories are (on broadcast). If their stories are outlandish, you have to be effective to compete and stand out. They're playing by a different set of rules, but I think one elevates the other."

Berlanti also credits a younger generation of executives who grew up seeing gay characters on television and who are now attaining positions of power. "I think that people 30 and younger, for the most part, are much more open. The same is true of execs. As the new generation comes in, they want to see stories that are truthful and realistic."

Also, the GLAAD Awards are this weekend, so keep your fingers crossed for us. Happy Friday everyone!

-art alamo

Comments

[will]

Art:
Your posted article cited Brian Graden, entertainment president of MTV & Logo saying of "Brothers & Sisters": "The gay character storyline is no longer the novelty."
I would like to play devil's advocate to that remark.

NOVELTY: the quality of being novel, new, unique.

I propose that Kevin is so rare on television (network or otherwise at this point) & Matthew Rhys is so ALIVE in the role that Kevin Walker CONTINUES to be novel & remain a novelty (in the very best sense of the word). In the sense of giving us uniqueness & freshness & strangeness & originality, spontaneity, daring, cheekiness, impulsiveness, sassy, nervy, sexy, compulsive....

OK! I consulted a thesaurus! Whatever! Matthew is so worth it.
(By the way, everybody should give big thanks & support to both MTV & Disney. They back our community 100% - they literally "have our back").

[MW]

I was drawn into this show by the Kevin character - complex multi-dimensional, smart, funny, and so much fun to watch. KUDOS to ABC, the show's producers and writers. Y'all totally rock!!

[Kong Chang]

Again, congrats with the GLAAD nomination. Hopefully you guys will win the award tomorrow, you guys deserve it! Albeit, you do have stiff competition from "The L Word" girls, but I think B&S will do very well.

KC
Maintainer of Luke MacFarlane Fansite

[Jude]

Wishing B&S the best of luck tonight at the GLAAD Awards. The TEAM deserves major kudos for creating Kevin as a multi-dimensional character along with Matthew Rhys's realistic and delightful portrayal.

[Lee]

Congratulations on winning Best TV Drama Series at The GLAAD Media Awards.

It is a much deserved honor!

[Judy L]

Congratulations on your win!!!

[Kong Chang]

Congrats on the GLAAD TV Media Award win for Best TV Drama!!

I can't believe you guys beat out "The L Word"!!! :)

Give yourself some kudos! :D

P.S. Now bring back Scotty. :P

KC
Maintainer of Luke MacFarlane Fansite

[Jeffrey]

VEry funny, Will. And i agree with you and your idea of the character of Kevin's "novelty" as well but I would say that the character is a novelty in that Kevin is presented as an interesting, intelligent, and insightful gay man who has other events in his life rather than just playing "the witty and wacky gay brother". I think what Graden was referring to about gays as novelty on televison was just to have ANY homosexual character on televison AT ALL. Good Luck to "Brothers & Sisters" at the GLAAD Awards...you all deserve evrything nominated for..for creating the most refreshing show of the year. Cheers!!

[will]

An Appreciation of Kitty & Kevin.

When Kevin meets Jason McCallister for the first time (a blind date, courtesy of Kitty), he is unaware that Jason is the senator's handsome "gay brother" that the 2 sibs have been buzzing & gossiping about for a few episodes (since the senator's debut). Kevin is obviously aware, however, that Jason is gay, and he later explains their disastrous meeting on his insecurity & overzealousness (Kev makes some anti-McCallister remarks as a need to display his "liberal street cred", he says). This explanation is a little far-fetched, but it sets in motion (for me) what Robbie might call a "glorious confection" & a chance for the 2 sibs to have a long-running bitch-fight.

Both Kevin & Kitty are needy-neurotic siblings & they share character traits that match-up with & compliment one other - more than any other 2 sibs on the show. Kitty may display her "conservative street cred" because that's what she does for a living, but Kevin's "liberal spiel" last night is because the boys are required to NOT hit it off immediately, to "meet angry".

Last night confirmed something that I've suspected (& commented on) before: Actress Calista has more CHEMISTRY with actor Matthew - their scenes crackle & pop & boomerang throughout the episode - than she's had with any of the boyfriends. She morphs from being mildly neurotic & dull....to a twitty, funny, bratty, super-neurotic sister (& it suddenly becomes her). Kevin matches her, character trait for character trait (they really do share a lot of behaviour in common); and during "Game Night", mid-game, Kevin, like a guy suffering Tourette's syndrome, blurts out "Backstabber!" & "Die, Kitty, Die!".

Apparently Senator McCallister knew Kevin was a "serial dater", and apparently Kitty descibed him somewhere along the line as a "man-whore". The comedy & one-liners flowed freely & fluidly last night (democratically, evenly distributed) but I just wanted to offer up an appreciation to Kevin & Kitty Walker. They have a truly obsessive & specifically modern relationship. So much of what we think of as the glittering B&S "sibling banter" (when it works) comes directly from these 2 & usually when they're at each other's throats.

[Scott]

Wonderful episode last night - one of the best yet. This show's ultimate strength is the Walker family, and last night was a showcase of their dysfunction and love.

The Kitty/Kevin conflict led to some great arguments and snarks (loved the Charades debacle) and I really hope we get to see Jason McCallister again. The actor was appealing and played well off Matthew Rhys. Although Kevin's not blameless, I do want something to go right for him as he's a good guy at heart.

Everyone was in top form last night, perfectly in sync with their characters. It reminded me again of why I can't get enough of this show. Hard to believe there are only 4 episodes left of the season!

[brian]

congrats for the win

[will]

I posted earlier that the comedy (the one & two-liners) in "Game Night" seemed to be more sure-footed. If I'm not mistaken, there are 3 writing credits for this episode - team Pete & Cliff... & Molly Newman. Molly has writen a few B&S episodes now, but the one I liked best (aside from this) was the "Love is Difficult" episode co-written with Robbie. Something went DEEPER in that show than we've ever gotten before (& I'm thinking specifically of Rachel talking to the therapist about Joe & herself).

There was a moment last night in the kitchen (before the trivia Capulet-Montague section) where Kitty insults Rebecca (who, Kitty doesn't realize, is standing maybe 20 ft. behind her) & Rebecca kind of smiles & lets it roll off her back (like water off a duck's back I think is the phrase I'm looking for). No "melodrama", no shots of an "anguished" Rebecca. She laughs it off & I immediately liked her better. What a contrast to the angst & self-pitying atmosphere of "The Other Walker".

The casting of Eric Winter is amazing. His FEATURES reminded me several times of Rob Lowe during his one scene last night. He & Rob could easily pass for real-life siblings. (BTW, I find Emily's resemblance to Rachel - physically & in mannerism - to be equally inspired casting).

[mark]

"Game Night" was one of the best of the season.

I love this cast.

Calista Flockhart was the MVP. She did her best work in quite a few episodes.

[brendat]

I am still amazed at the humaness of this show - along with the human emotions. You have to search for the wisdom embedded in the characters, but the true-selfness of all these people is apparent - tho I still say Kitty is becoming too Ally McBeal. I love the writing of Cliff Olin etal, as well as the cadence of scenes from last night - day followed night in each interaction. Couldn't have been more fun than when watching Kitty and Kevin revert to adolescent behavior, and I was on Team Kevin - thought the Sen a bit of a dip over the entire incident. And Joe - pegged him as a rotter from the beginning - wonder if the kiss took place or this is another intrigue? Time will tell...

[abby]

Game Night was an amazing episode! I could tell it would be really great when it included the whole family together. Something crazy was bound to happy.

I extremely loved the way that Rebecca has some similar features to Sarah and Kitty, and how Rob Lowe and Eric Winter looked like they could be real life brothers. I know that half of the Kitty/McCallister story is a work but there's another half to it. It also seems that they don't act like a couple while they are at work, or flirt with each other anymore. I can still see chemistry, but i'd like to see a little more connection between the characters.

[will]

Art:
You're gonna think I'm nuts here, but what are the chances you guys can look at the "American Idol" contestants of the last few seasons & cast one of them in a 5 or 6 episode guest role as Rebecca's best friend? He or she can be in trouble with the law - no melodrama please! - & get Rebecca into some trouble.

Whenever these ex-contestants appear in stage musicals, say, the box office receipts jump up (I'm not kidding); apparently there's a lot of name recognition in former Idols OR SOMETHING & this move can at the very least steer a younger audience your way & help heft up the ratings.

[ilovemylife]

Best TV Drama! GLAAD Says it Best - Don't they. Beats getting a Golden Globe. Don’t you think?

Last night's show was really, really good. The short little introduction to Eric Winter in the scene with Calista was wonderful. It took me a little bit to realize just who it was she was talking too even after the camera gave me a look. Cute little wink.

As much as I love Matthew Rhys, I am dangling in anticipation that one day, one episode, one scene, one little sentence out of Kevin's mouth to a potential beau friend just might not be so incriminating. What did he do take a "stupid" pill or something. Keep him away from Imus.

...Okay, just kidding, but seriously, can't some writer be allowed to put a leash on Kevin's tongue? Then get “mindless” out of the sphere of dating and bedroom talk etiquette. You know, think first, then speak ... or go to the next room to take a phone call from your current boyfriend after sleeping with your previous beau friend. It used to be called “common” sense.

Just saying some obvious bits of advice for the single looking to connect one day before he leaves those wonderful 30’s. Do it while the body is still talking.

"Drowning in Rhode Island" and no internet, cable TV or phones all day - See New England can "storm it up" with the best of your areas.

http://ilovemylifebrothersandsisters.blogspot.com/

[Jude]

Congratulations on the win! I'm thrilled for you all, truly. It's nice to see a show I like actually get some well-deserved kudos.

I, too, liked Rebecca much better in this episode. But Kevin's "Die, Kitty, Die!" outburst was the absolute best!

Thanks for writing such hilariously realistic sibling sniping. Both Kitty and Kevin are bitchy and snarky... and remarkably like two of my sisters!
[not me, though... no, never me.]

[yvette]

I posted ealier about the kevin/jason scene, but I must also says that this was by far my favorite eposide to date. It had just the right mix of humor and tension. Maybe it's just me but is anyone else wondering if Joe actually kissed Rebecca first or was it really the other way around or was it mutually. Remember we did not actually see them kiss!!!

[Lennie]

Many congratulations on the award - it is absolutely deserved. It is such a pleasure to see a network show treating homosexuality so...normally. It helps that Matthew Rhys is amazing. That dinosaur impression will stay with me for a long time :D

[will]

yvette & brendat:
Funny thing about Rebecca. When Justin showed up at her door & you just intuited SOMETHING had happened (after the guitar scene)....MY mind went straight to the worst case scenario. I thought: Oh, god, Rebecca slept with him! Then I thought, What great drama! How is she gonna mix it up with Sarah now? This'll be MAJOR drama! Then I thought (as Rebecca was still hemming & skirting the issue with Justin) OH my god, Joe raped her!

At any rate, when she finally said she'd only been kissed, my mind had already gone in a thousand horrible directions & it was sort of anti-climatic at that point.

[will]

I want to say, too, that I find the fact that Kevin's being such a dittering klutzy emotional wreck... a little charming.

I LIKE how he sticks his foot in his mouth & then kind of surveys what he's done & retracts.
I LIKE people who are not sure of themselves 100% romantically & what it is they want exactly & kind of make it up as they go along & are somewhat prone to barricading themselves with "defenses".

Scotty tried to break through those defenses; even CHAD of all people, was trying to make emotional contact with the "real" Kevin.

But I'm just jazzed with this character & this soulful & klutzy journey & am most of all jazzed with having Matthew Rhys around for another season.

He "fills up" Kevin well - and shades his emotional ambivalance in. He WEARS Kevin Walker well, if that makes sense. He's a great fit.

[CeCe]

Congrats on the GLAAD win! Woohoo! So deserved!

I'm beginning to think I need to re-watch Sunday's show. It seems you all loved it, and I was really dissatisfied after it was over! I mean... do families really have a game night like that, with uniforms and an emcee (Uncle Saul)? It was hard to watch because it felt so, so... bizarro world! And the Jones family? Dispicable! Blech. I'm sure there are people out there like that, but I would not be inviting them into my home.

Rebecca just makes me nervous every time she's on screen because I think, "wtf else is she going to do now?" Also, I might be missing something because I was not in love with her from whatever show she used to be on. She's trouble, that girl, and she has really interrupted the whole vibe I used to get from the show. I suppose that's the plan, and maybe I need to be more patient, but UGH! I am not a patient girl! The Joe thing at the end was just ... blech ... and I hope Rebecca is lying, as someone suggested somewhere, and that nothing happened, because that's waaaay too soap opera.

And I'm with ilovemylife up there... in the last couple episodes, it seems Kevin has indeed taken a "stupid" pill, although I'm more likely to call it a "dickhead" pill. :( Kevin is the gay celebrity fantasy love of my life, and I'm finding it difficult to find anything redeeming about him lately. He was downright mean to Chad last week, and a complete ass to Jason this week. His outbursts during the charades game were funny, and his dinosaurs were indeed brilliant, but other than that, I'm not happy with him, and if he doesn't smarten up soon, I'm going to have to spank him! ;)

All that said, I still adore this show, and am THRILLED that you are here, and will be here next year! Hugs!

[will]

CeCe: Where in the hell have you BEEN for the past 3+ weeks? This site misses you horribly, girlfriend!

About "Game Night"....OF COURSE it's a dumb-dumb idea, but it gets the entire family together (you'll notice B&S is always looking for novel ways to get everybody onscreen & interacting: family dinners, Justin's "family day" at rehab, "game nights" etc). Yes, those family uniforms were totally bizarro. In fact, that whole friggin Jones' family was bizarro in that they were so smiley & serene & picture-"perfect". A "model" family. ("Blech" is right! - Nora looked tired trying to keep up appearances!). And that truly bizarre scene near the end with Nora & Kitty bribing the kiddies to get the trophy (This seemed stuck in to get laughs, but, hey, Sally & Calista made it work).

About Rebecca: I HOPE she becomes a "bad" girl that gets into weird (illegal) trouble. Maybe she can become a stoner chick. But Justin's got dibs on that storyline angle.

And, yeah, Kevin's a bigtime dick lately, but I DEFEND HIS RIGHT to be a dick! I am just letting my instincts TRUST the writers here on his plotline (only smarten up the dialogue please you writers & work out plausible character motivations next time Kev breaks up with somebody). As a gay man, we've never had this kind of nuanced gay character on the networks before. OUR stories have always been subservient to the "lead" characters....(always the bridesmaid - never, never the bride), but here Kevin IS one of the lead characters, his story IS front & center. So this kinda gives a lot of us hope. And about "spanking" Kevin, CeCe....well, forget it, never mind. I was going to make a tacky joke.

Good to have you back posting sister. Missed you.

[Sam]

Congrats on the award! B&S has done a great job with the Kevin character, who is one of the best characters on television, gay or straight.

So far I'm loving Jason McCallister! He is already shaping up to be my favourite love interest for Kevin. I don't understand all the fuss over Scotty. I hope you can get Eric Winter signed on for season two, because he's awesome!

Also, Kevin's dinosaur impression? Brilliant.