When “True Blood” first premiered in 2007, it was a free HBO preview weekend where I lived. Even then, as graphic scene after graphic scene (more explicit than what I was used to on basic cable) flashed by like the highlight reel of a series of “Sweet Home Alabama” meets “Dracula” adult films, I knew people would be talking about this show.
Fast-forward to last week, when “The Hollywood Reporter,” “Entertainment Weekly” and “Gawker” were all displaying the headline “True Blood is the Gayest Show on Television.”
It might be overly provocative, but they’re all heading toward the same point. The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation recently came to the conclusion that “True Blood” has the most lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender (LGBT) characters of any show on television.
On Sept. 29, GLAAD released its 2010-2011 TV Season “Where Are We on TV” report. The report meticulously analyzes every show on broadcast and cable channels for the breakdown of every (both series regulars and characters who just pop up on occasion) character’s race, gender and sexual orientation.
As far as “True Blood” is concerned, their words straight from the study are, “Thanks to its large cast (and often sexually ambiguous vampires), HBO’s “˜True Blood’ is the most inclusive program currently on television, featuring six regular and recurring LGBT characters.”
According to Richard Ferraro, the Director of Public Relations at GLAAD, the real strength of “True Blood” lies in the racial and gender diversity of its gay characters.
GLAAD reported that four percent of 587 series regulars (as opposed to recurring characters who just pop in now and then) on television on broadcast channels (ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox and the CW) and cable channels (pretty much every other channel) were LGBT characters. Some shining examples include Pam and Lafayette on “True Blood,” Kurt on “Glee,” Cameron and Mitchell on “Modern Family” and a sprinkling from a number of different shows on every station.
For those of you who don’t know, Pam (Kristin Bauer) is one of the “sexually ambiguous” vampires, while Lafayette (Nelsan Ellis) works as cook in what seems to be the only eating place in all of Bon Temps. Kurt (Chris Colfer) is the only openly gay student at McKinley High School where “Glee” is set (but is rumored to have a love interest this season, assuming “Glee” decides to start having plots again); and Cameron and Mitchell, along with their adopted Asian daughter Lily, are one of three interconnected families living in an American suburb.
The question is whether four percent (up from last year’s three percent) is even noticeable.
Do people sitting in Tuesday night watching Kurt and the rest of the “Glee” kids put up with Rachel’s head Gleek-in-charge antics think to themselves, “Regardless of my personal religious and political stances on gay rights, I’ve definitely noticed the slight, one percent increase in the number of TV characters who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender?”
Probably not. But the characters that are showing up are fleshed out.
GLAAD president Jarrett Barrios said in the “Where Are We on TV” report that the recent critical and commercial success of shows like “Modern Family” and “Glee” clearly indicate that mainstream audiences embrace gay characters and want to see well-crafted stories about our lives.
Peter Carley, the interim director of the UCLA LGBT Resource Center on campus, agrees. According to him, Kurt’s relationship with his father, in particular, really stands out. Mike O’Malley’s Burt steps up the plate when his son comes out to him, and hands out verbal beatdowns to anyone who messes with Kurt.
It’s those sort of roles that get people Emmy nominations.
If you are tired about hearing about vampires from me, e-mail John at ajohn@media.ucla.edu.