Gays of our Lives (June 23, 2009)

Donate Life Hollywood, an organization that seeks to see stories and tales of organ transplants on television depicted with accuracy, has awarded Brothers & Sisters its first Inspire Award. The award was given for the “Just a Sliver” episode, during which Kevin Walker (Matthew Rhys) donated a piece of his liver to his ailing infant daughter. Grey’s Anatomy and Samantha Who? were also honored.

"Their efforts produced not only incredibly inspiring stories," says Tenaya Wallace, campaign director of Donate Life Hollywood, "but stories that got it right, which helps save lives."

The award was handed out at the Donate Life Film Festival at the Directors Guild of America on June 13^th.

Brothers & Sisters won the ‘Inspire’ Award for this episode

In other B&S news, Dave Annable (Justin) and openly gay actor Luke Macfarlane (Scotty) traveled to South Africa earlier this month to promote the show’s third season, which will hit the airwaves in that country in August. Reporters were forbidden to ask the actors personal questions, including the salacious details that led to Balthazar Getty’s (Tommy) role on the show being greatly diminished.

Luke Macfarlane gives an interview at a South African radio station

BITS AND PIECES
Gossip Girl and The Secret Life of The American Teenager were among the shows nominated for Best Drama in the 2009 Teen Choice Awards… Forbidden Love star Jo Weil (Olli) is taking part in “Puzzle der Wünsche,” a charity event designed to raise awareness for German children living in poverty. The event takes place August 4^th .

Season 4 of Weeds was the top selling DVD last week, generating 6 million dollars in sales. The first season of True Blood, which had been at the top for 3 weeks running, fell to 10^th place, but still made 4 million dollars in sales… NBC is concerned that even though Southland bleeps out foul language, they could still be fined by the FCC, especially with the show moving to an earlier time slot next season. Show execs and writers met with the network to hammer out a solution… Congrats to Maura West (Carly, As The World Turns), who had her fifth child, a girl, last week.

Stars of Aussie soap Home & Away are taking part this month in an anti-homophobia campaign … Season 4 of Waterloo Road, which featured Chris Geere as gay teacher Matt Wilding, will be released on October 5^th.