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No more lesbian cheerleader on "Heroes"

by
Malinda Lo

Yesterday I visited the set of NBC's Heroes, where I learned that the lesbian cheerleader named April, who was to have been played by Lyndsy Fonseca, has been dropped from the show. Earlier this month, Fonseca was cast on ABC's Desperate Housewives as the daughter of Nathan Fillion (Waitress, Firefly), another new addition to the show. When I asked Heroes creator Tim Kring whether he had recast the part of April, he said, "Well, yes, in a manner of speaking, yes. She obviously appeared in the show, so it's not recast, it's just that character can't be on our show anymore. She's got another job."

Fonseca has already shot one episode of Heroes, so you'll see her in that episode, but it's unclear as to whether her character's sexual orientation will have any role in that one-time appearance. "The character went away when she got a new job," Kring said of April the cheerleader. "When we make those kinds of deals — smaller-arc deals — we don't have the right to hold onto them if they get a big series regular job, so that's what happened."

Last season, Heroes encountered some controversy when the character of Zach (Thomas Dekker) was de-gayed, so I asked Kring if this new development meant that there would be no gay characters in Season 2 of the show. "I'm not saying that, no," he responded. "I'm just saying that character — we had to go a different direction when she got another job." So far there's no word on what that other direction is, and ABC has not yet responded to my requests for further information, but we'll let you know if we find out more.

Season 2 of Heroes premieres Monday, Sept. 24 at 9 p.m. ET on NBC.

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    • Submitted by
    Malinda Lo
    on July 25, 2007 - 1:28pm.
    TAGS :: 
    playthemusic814's picture

    *shrug*

    Submitted by
    playthemusic814 (243 posts)
    on July 25, 2007 - 3:38pm.

    Quelle surprise...

    ~It means pride.~

    Omega II's picture

    WIsh list

    Submitted by
    Omega II (389 posts)
    on July 25, 2007 - 6:23pm.

    So much for my wish list item over on TWoP. At least it wasn't TPTB that canned her this time. Lets hope Tim Kring veers another lady over to the black outfit.

     

    "I can explain why I like, but not why I love."

    KineticStillness's picture

    I'm calling bullshit on his

    Submitted by
    KineticStillness (158 posts)
    on July 25, 2007 - 7:18pm.

    I'm calling bullshit on his rambling explanation.  If you have a story arc for a character you cast the person for all the episodes of that arc before you start filming.  They, even if they get another job, have to adapt their schedule especially since I very much doubt she would have been so central to their storylines that she would have to be filming every single day.  That's kind of why it is called a contract and that's why his excuses are bullshit. 

    I think the network didn't want a gay person on their most popular show so they degayed the guy last year and pre-emptively degayed the girl this year.  So, ABC degays the shows and NBC hires Isaiah Washington for one of their most anticipated storylines.  I mean, really, don't they realize that Bush will be out of office soon which means gays as pariahs is sooo yesterday! 

    Omega II's picture

    Thomas Dekker(Zack) was on a

    Submitted by
    Omega II (389 posts)
    on July 25, 2007 - 11:10pm.

    Thomas Dekker(Zack) was on a per episode deal. Lyndsy Fonseca was probably on the same type arrangement, so when a more steady job showed up she took it.

     

    "I can explain why I like, but not why I love."

    Xaverie's picture

    Rumour is that they didn't

    Submitted by
    Xaverie (69 posts)
    on July 26, 2007 - 4:11pm.
    Rumour is that they didn't de-gay the kid last year. As soon as the kid's manager heard they were gearing up for him coming out, the manager pulled him from the show. Apparently something about not wanting him to labelled as "that gay kid from Heroes" which is pretty lame.
    XSaraXPoeX's picture

    AAARGH!

    Submitted by
    XSaraXPoeX (36 posts)
    on July 25, 2007 - 8:18pm.

    Gotdamnit! That just sucks! :]

    http://sarasdarkness.blogspot.com

    lovecatcadillac's picture

    *pouts* Aw, piss it.

    Submitted by
    lovecatcadillac (81 posts)
    on July 25, 2007 - 9:38pm.
    I was looking forward to seeing April the Gay Cheerleader. I bet that if they ever have an out gay character on the series, they'll be killed by Sylar or some other villain before their first episode is even halfway over. *sighs*
    Samfeasor's picture

    I remember when science

    Submitted by
    Samfeasor (80 posts)
    on July 26, 2007 - 9:02am.

    I remember when science fiction used to be groundbreaking. I love Heroes, 'cause it tells great stories... and I wouldn't really care that there are no GLBT characters (past my usual annoyance with every single show ever, really) except that they keep saying there will be a gay character and then taking him/her away. Like I believe that they can't recast the part and re-shoot those scenes? Please.

    I think it was Kate Mulgrew that called this the last frontier in scifi. With scifi's resurgence in the past few years, you'd think we'd get something.

    Omega II's picture

    I wish...

    Submitted by
    Omega II (389 posts)
    on July 26, 2007 - 7:40pm.

    I wish they would recast and reshoot, but given the time constraints of production on Heroes it be a major pain in the ass.

     

    "I can explain why I like, but not why I love."


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