Playing TCA Catch-up: Karl Rove, Joss Whedon, and "Do Not Disturb"

Abraham Higginbotham and Jesse Tyler Ferguson (Photo credit: Getty Images/Frederick M. March)

It's been a couple of days since I actually posted and it's not because I've been lollygagging around the hotel pool. Heck, I've hardly seen the sun in the past week much less a swimming pool. However, I did post the shocking news that the new Star Trek movie would not have a gay character. I'll pause while you swoon from the impact of that news. I also posted about how So You Think You Can Dance judge Nigel Lythgoe simply can not stand effeminate dancers. Hmm, someone have a personal issue perhaps?

Monday Fox presented their shows and I asked Fox Entertainment President Kevin Reilly about his show's getting a "fail" from GLAAD for the second year in a row.

On the plus side, the network finally has a regular gay character on their new sitcom Do Not Disturb (as opposed to Kenny on The War at Home who came out late in the show's run). The character is named Larry and is played by Jesse Tyler Ferguson who was the best thing in CBS's The Class. On the down side, in the first episode of DND Larry comes across as a bit of a cliche as he's very interested in seeing a homeless man's especially large penis or is otherwise talking about picking out drapes for his apartment. He does, however, have a partner. (For more on the show's pilot, check out our post over here.)

During the panel, I asked Abraham Higginbotham, the show's creator, about the character and imagine my surprise when Abraham turned out to be a very out gay man himself. Later that evening, I had the chance to interview both Jesse and Abraham about the show and Abraham turned out to have put far more thought into the character than I would have guessed from the pilot. Indeed, Abraham says Larry is him — grumpy, gay, and married.

I'll have more with both Abraham and Jesse later.

During the day, I also had the opportunity to ask Satan Karl Rove about whether the Republican party was going to try to gay-bash their way into the presidency again. Well, that's not quite how I put it.

Karl Rove

(Photo credit: Getty Images/Frederick M. March)

AfterElton.com: Mr. Rove, here in the back. In 2000 and 2004, gay issues like gay marriage and gay rights in general were widely perceived as being helpful to President Bush in winning re-election. I'm curious what your sense is of how McCain's campaign will use those issues or [if not his campaign] maybe supporters of his and whether you think those issues will resonate with voters again this election.
KARL ROVE: I think it was more in 2004 than it was in 2000. I think it entered into force in the 2004 race simply because it was not introduced by the political actors themselves. That is to say neither the Bush nor the Kerry campaigns brought the issue forward. It was brought forward by a Supreme Court decision in Massachusetts. It sort of exploded on the scene and got a life of its own. I don't think yet that the California initiative has done that, and I'm not certain it will by the end of the campaign.

Yeah, right, the Bush campaign didn't introduce those gay issues into the race. Rove's head then spun around as he spewed pea-soup over the audience. I'd loved to have been able to ask a follow up question, but I also worried about a free trip to Guantanomo Bay. However, Mr. Rove and I were washing our hands in the bathroom at the same time, but he cast no reflection in the mirror.

I'm just saying.

Wentworth Miller and more after the break!

Fox's party was at the Santa Monica pier which was loud and crowded, but afforded unexpected opportunities to meet folks. At one point Malinda Lo (my counterpart at AfterEllen.com) and I were chatting with a woman who turned out to be Joss Whedon's wife. How cool is that? Speaking of Joss, later I got to briefly chat with Joss himself about his upcoming series Dollhouse. We're doing a set visit to Dollhouse next week and I'm going to try to get more info, but I think gay fans will definitely have something to look forward to from Joss.

Wentworth Miller

(Photo credit: Getty Images/Frederick M. March)

Prison Break hottie Wentworth Miller dropped by to promote his show. I told him he'd ranked very highly on our AfterElton.com Hot 100 list which he said was great. Asked about having gay fans, Wentworth said, "A fan base is a fan base and I'm appreciative of that support wherever it comes from."

The new FX series Sons of Anarchy stars original Queer as Folk alum Charlie Hunnam, but alas no gay content. One of the the writers of 24 hinted there might be a gay angle in the second half of the season, but would commit to nothing.

That's it for today! Greg Berlanti is up next and I'll see what I can get about Brothers & Sisters!