Ugly Betty wins Family Television Award for best comedy

Last night the Family Friendly Television Forum (an initiative of the Associated Network of Advertisers) handed their ninth annual top honor for family friendly show to none other than AfterElton.com fave Ugly Betty. It's hugely significant that a show that tirelessly drives home messages of tolerance and gay inclusion has been labeled praiseworthy family viewing by an organization such as this, particularly when several of the show's primary storylines have involved a transgender family member, a gay romance, and a showtune-loving teen struggling to find his identity.

Now, to be clear, this is an association of advertisers granting this honor, not one of those wingnut conservative "family" groups who polices television shows for hints of things that might turn little Jack and Sally gay or lead them to believe in evolution or whatever (guess Cavemen will never catch a break, huh?).

But you know what? These are the people who are making the the money decisions behind the scenes, and that's even more important, given that we're talking about an advertiser-driven medium here. The Forum gave best drama honors to Heroes, new series to gay creator Bryan Fuller's wonderful Pushing Daisies, and top acting nods to America Ferrera, Friday Night Lights' Kyle Chandler, Chuck's Zachary Levi, and Zac Efron.