GLAAD Reveals “Where We Are On TV”
This morning GLAAD released their annual Where We Are On TV report, a review of scripted GLBT primetime characters in the upcoming 2012-2013 television season. After a decrease last year, the number of regular GLBT characters on broadcast networks has risen to the highest ever recorded, while the overall GLBT character count also increased on cable television.
“This year’s increase of LGBT characters on television reflects a cultural change in the way gay and lesbian people are seen in our society,” said GLAAD President Herndon Graddick. “More and more Americans have come to accept their GLBT family members, friends, coworkers, and peers, and as audiences tune into their favorite programs, they expect to see the same diversity of people they encounter in their daily lives.”
You can see the entire report here, but let’s look at some highlights. First, the broadcast networks:
- Not surprisingly, ABC has the highest amount of representation with 5.2% (10 out of 194) of their regular characters identifying as GLBT.
- Fox is in second with six LGBT characters out of 118 total series regulars (5.1%).
- The CW will feature four regular LGBT characters out of 81 total (4.9%)
- NBC will feature seven regular LGBT characters out of 166 (4.2%).
- Wha-wha-wha-what? CBS will feature four LGBT characters out of 142 series regulars (2.8%), a huge rise of the pitiful 0.7% last year. They’re still last, but it’s a definite improvement.
Representation has also increased on cable networks:
- True Blood is the most inclusive show on cable television with six gay, lesbian or bisexual characters.
- Showtime has the greatest number of GLBT characters on cable with 12; seven of which are series regulars.
- HBO is right behind with nine, while FX has eight, Adult Swim with five, and ABC Family, MTV, Syfy, and TeenNick each have four.
The report also looks at scripted series with GLBT people of color on broadcast TV:
Bones, Fox
Don’t Trust the B—- in Apt 23, ABC
Emily Owens, M.D., The CW
Glee, Fox
The Good Wife, CBS
Grey’s Anatomy, ABC
The L.A. Complex, The CW
Malibu Country, ABC
The Office, NBC
Smash, NBC
Suburgatory, ABC
And scripted series with GLBT people of color on cable TV:
Anger Management, FX
Army Wives, Lifetime
DTLA, Logo
Enlightened, HBO
House of Lies, Showtime
Major Crimes, TNT
Pretty Little Liars, ABC Family
Single Ladies, Vh1
Superjail!, Adult Swim
Teen Wolf, MTV
True Blood, HBO
White Collar, USA
All in all, It looks as though there will be healthy representation this season. But how many of these characters (and shows) will stick around?