Grading the Majors

ABC

Summary

ABC has, by far, the most distinguished record of GLBT representation among the five major broadcast networks. Beginning in the 1960s, they can be credited with a surprising string of gay television firsts, and their current slate of scripted programming offers viewers nearly half of all existing GLBT characters on network television.

Discussion

When it comes to landmarks in LGBT television representation, ABC has quite a string of accomplishments. Consider the following: 

• First network to air a gay-themed episode (1967) — Half-hour crime drama N.Y.P.D. featured an episode where the police must track down a blackmailer who is targeting gay men, prompting several suicides among his victims.

• First series with a recurring gay character (1972) — The Corner Bar, a short-lived 1972–73 sitcom, had actor Vincent Schiavelli playing an openly gay bar patron.
• First series to depict a recurring gay male couple (1975) — George and Gordon on Hot L Baltimore.
• First featured gay character on a comedy (1977) — Billy Crystal played Jodie Dallas on Soap. (You might remember that when the character is first introduced, his mother walks in on him wearing her dress. She shrieks, then asks, "You wear that belted?" Alas, by the end of the series, the character is dating a woman.)
• First featured gay character on a drama (1982) — Dynasty 's Steven Carrington, played by Al Corley from 1981–82 and Jack Coleman from 1982–88.
• First soap opera with a recurring gay character (1983) — Donna Pescow played lesbian Dr. Lynn Carson on All My Children for one year.
• First series to show two gay men in bed together (1989) — An episode of thirtysomething made headlines when it showed two men in bed together. Unfortunately, though the two gay characters (played by David Marshall Grant, who is now a writer on Brothers & Sisters, and Peter Montefiore) starred in this episode, afterward they more or less vanished from the show.
• First series to feature a gay teenager (1994) — Wilson Cruz starred as Rickie Vasquez on ABC's short-lived but widely acclaimed drama My So-Called Life. At first Rickie claims he is bisexual, but later admits to being gay. 
• Longest run for a gay character in a prime-time drama (1994–2005) — Bill Brochtrup's turn as openly gay police assistant John Irvin on NYPD Blue lasted for nine years. The part was introduced as a recurring character in the second season, became a regular character in the seventh season, and stayed on until the show's finale. 
• First show to have an openly gay title character (1997) — Ellen DeGeneres on Ellen came out in real life and on TV in "The Puppy Episode."
• First lesbian kiss on daytime television (2003) — Bianca Kane (Eden Riegel) and girlfriend Lena (Olga Sosnovska) locked lips on All My Children.
• First soap opera to feature a transgender story line (2006) — Zarf/Zoe, played by actor Jeffrey Carlson, was introduced this past year and will undergo male-to-female gender reassignment sometime in 2007. 

While it wasn't a first, ABC also deserves recognition for one of network television's rare openly gay men of color. Spin City's Carter Heywood (Michael Boatman) was an African-American professional, political and outspoken. There was nothing stereotypical about his character.

These past accomplishments are certainly impressive, but perhaps even more impressive is ABC's current programming slate. According to GLAAD's most recent study, there are only 15 scripted GLBT characters regularly appearing in prime time on the five major broadcast networks — and seven of them — almost half — are on ABC.

And unlike the other networks' offerings, most of ABC's GLBT characters will be back for the 2007–08 season, including Kevin Walker (Matthew Rhys) on Brothers & Sisters, Marc St. James (Michael Urie) on Ugly Betty, Alexis Meade (Rebecca Romijn) on Ugly Betty, Joe on Grey's Anatomy and Andrew Van De Kamp on Desperate Housewives.  

ABC did stumble a bit this season with the character of Jonathan on Ted Danson's failed sitcom, Help Me Help You. Played by Jim Rash, Jonathan was another in a long line of stereotypically fussy gay men who don't realize they are gay. After suffering low ratings, Help Me was pulled off ABC's schedule.

Fortunately, the disappointment of Help Me, Help You has been far outweighed by the contributions to GLBT visibility of ABC's two biggest freshman hits: Brothers & Sisters and Ugly Betty. 

Brothers & Sisters deserves viewer support for its sophisticated and even-handed treatment of gay subject matter, including gay sexuality. With little fanfare, Kevin Walker has emerged as one of the most complex gay characters ever seen on television.

Ugly Bettyis also at the vanguard in terms of gay representation — Not as much for Michael Urie's character, but for the surprisingly sensitive way the show has handled Alexis' gender reassignment, as well as how it has handled young Justin Suarez's story line.

Justin may not be specifically identified as gay, but many gay men no doubt identify with Justin's misfit, sissy-boy status. The plight of an effeminate young boy and his loving family's response to him seems to be new territory for prime-time television. 

Both Ugly Betty and Brothers & Sisters have done well in the ratings, and their GLBT characters are firmly integrated into these shows. Even if next year ABC added no additional GLBT characters to their prime-time lineup, the network is well-positioned to maintain its lead in terms of gay visibility.