25-02-2005 22:30									#31
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In all honesty, I don't watch shows about developing relationships of any kind either, JCC. Mind you, I don't watch TV at all so I'm a bad example, but the case holds true for the US too. It's not merely homophobia from what I can tell, there are no serious shows about "relationships" on network TV at all. Desperate housewives appears to be some sort of thinly-repressed voyeur porn, and the OC looks like more of the same gorgeous twentysomething drama fluff that's been around since before 90210. There doesn't seem to be a market for serious examination of anything, at least not to me. You want that, read a book or watch a movie. TV is churned out too regularly to stay witty or cerebral for long.

	25-02-2005 22:34									#32
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quote: there are no serious shows about "relationships" on network TV at all

Yep. So claiming the US isn't 'ready' for a serious show on homosexual relationships is silly because we've already decided we don't like those type of shows for heterosexual relationships, well at least those shows aren't geared for men . The most popular shows don't give a rats ass about that. The relationships are either taboo (workplace) or silly (like the OC)

	25-02-2005 22:37									#33
	Tired of ads?

quote: Already has been one. It was called "Freaks and Geeks" and was canceled due to low ratings. Though I don't know if they had any gay characters on it (didn't really watch it too much).

Yes, one. He was a math teacher.

	26-02-2005 00:15									#34
	Lose 30 kilos (of popups)

It's funny that you guys were making fun of Will and Grace for not being very realistic, it is a sitcom on NBC after all. That would be like making fun of friends because it isn't realistic either.

BTW speaking of freaks and geeks, to quote Ted Striker

I'd hit it

referring to the lead girl who played velma in the scooby doo movies

	26-02-2005 00:33									#35
	Inflate your Upload Space

why would I want to watch a show about gay people?

leave me to my Seinfeld reruns please.

	26-02-2005 00:50									#36
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quote: Then why are you here?

Breaking up the America bash circle jerk you all were enjoying.

quote: There's your safety "I'm not homphobic" line. Well done.

Followed by your usual I am a hateful person, god I should go kill myself line.

quote: So in order to be a man of any worth you have to be "badass"? There's no room for anything else, gay or straight? Wow...

Man, stupidy and undeserved hatred in the same post, on a role

But as is obviously the case, it is an example that American television does not only showcase the steriotypical foo foo fashion guru gay. Most of the heterosexuals in Real World are not drag queens either.

Now please continue upir hate mongering

	26-02-2005 02:59									#37
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"Realistic" dramas generally don't do as well, like "Freaks and Geeks", so I'm not surprised a "realistic" teen drama with gays isn't on this second either. TV usually has outrageous situations (like those from 24, FearFactor, CSI, Survivor, GilmoreGirls, OC, etc etc etc etc etc) and characters to attract viewers which dissolves all hope of "realism".

quote: Having "lesbians" on the OC hardly counts, as this is probably done most for the purient tastest of the male watchers-

I highly doubt any of the OC is targeted at straight males. Straight men would only be interested in the 2 women kissing then change the channel - not worth watching 30minutes of a show for only a 3second kiss when there is pr0n or 30minutes of sports/violence on another channel. The OC seems more for female teens and female 20-somethings... and if some females happen to be gay or experimenting they surely can relate more with a gay female than a gay man.

quote: there is no in depth discussion of homosexuality or how it feels to be gay, exploring deep relationsships, that sort of dynamic.

As mentioned by others, the average viewers/youths don't want to watch that on TV & I hardly call 1 show (Degrassi) as proof otherwise.

For "realistic" deep discussions on relationships one shouldn't look to fictional 30minute TV programs whoring themselves for ratings anyways, not anymore than than they should seek entertaining violence at a nunnery.

	26-02-2005 06:11									#38
	Help yourself to an AD-FREE life

Shocked no one has mentioned Buffy: The Vampire Slayer yet.

	26-02-2005 06:59									#39
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The best show about gays was an American comedy called "Brothers" from the 1980s. It was hilarious for the first couple of seasons.

There were two main gay characters in it, one of whom was just a regular guy, but the other was flaming. The brothers of the regular guy were coming to terms with his homosexuality.

Best episode: the one where Donald had to walk home from the Julio Iglesias concert because he'd thrown his car keys on stage in a fit of passion.

	26-02-2005 15:31									#40
	Got spare money?

quote: Originally posted by St Leo Are lipstick lesbians or butch lesbians the primary stereotype?

In real life ?

Neither.

The problem with people decrying stereotyping (not you) is that of course these stereotypes exist in real life, so having a makeover show with three flaming queens in it is hardly a great shock. Whatever next, a war film with the traditional melting pot American cast, a Western with bad ass Injuns, a t.v. movie with noble slaves, et cetera, et cetera... ?


As someone pointed out, shows that attempt to explore characters with a little more depth to them, tend to get the boot- 'Freaks and Geeks' Once and Again', 'My So-Called Life'.

It's astonishing to me that 'Six Feet Under' lasted as long as it did, with a distinctly unglamorous older woman exploring her sexuality rather late in life, a closeted gay character (Christian too), a seriously f**ked up teen sister (again not an obviously pretty girlie type) and a somewhat feckless heterosexual male lead character.

The strength of the writing and the quirkiness may have hooked viewers wanting relief from the assembly line dramas pumped out by the big companies.