Annual GLAAD TV Report: MTV leads cable networks while USA, TBS and A&E all fail on LGBT visibility

The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) has released its fourth annual report charting LGBT visibility on television – both broadcast and cable and the results are, as always, both encouraging and discouraging.

Yesterday, I shared with you the broadcast network rankings and today, the focus is shifted to cable. [Here is a LINK to the full GLAAD Report.]

EXCELLENT:

MTV got the only “excellent” ranking of any cable or broadcast network. Here’s why: The reality series Making His Band featured transgender contestant Jalia Simms who became a shining example for the transgender community; The Real World: Washington D.C. featured two bisexual roommates: Mike Manning (pictured) and Emily Schromm; The Real World: Cancun featured gay roommate Derrick and bisexuals Emilee and Aiilya; On Randy Jackson Presents: America’s Best Dance Crew, the dance crew Vogue Evolution has four gay members and Leiomy Maldonado was the first a transgender competitor; Paris Hilton’s My New BFF featured a gay male contestant who won the competition; and True Life: I’m Changing My Sex featured a transgender man and a transgender woman.

GOOD:

***** ABC Family: The college drama Greek not only continued to feature gay fraternity brother Calvin, but he also began dating another gay fraternity brother named Grant. They don’t stay together in the end but Calvin helps Grant understand the importance of coming out of the closet.

The Secret Life of the American Teenager introduced the gay character of Griffin who comes out to best friend Ashley in the first episode in which he is introduced. Love it! Meanwhile, the now-canceled  10 Things I Hate About You featured a recurring character, lesbian student Mandela and her  girlfriend, Baby, who are voted the cutest couple in a yearbook survey. Also featured in the first season was
Cameron’s friend Michael, who comes out to Cameron. Cameron, a straight student, is often mistaken to be gay.

***** Showtime got a ranking of “Good” despite the cancellation of The L Word which greatly reduced its lesbian programming. The United States of Tara continued to shine a spotlight on Tara’s gay teen son who begins dating his best friend. The show also features the family’s gay neighbors Ted and Hany.

The dramedy Nurse Jackie starring Edie Falco featured the title character’s best friend who is a gay nurse named Mo-Mo De La Cruz  but he was gone after season one. Gay nurse Thor is still on the show as well as the bisexual Dr. O’Hara. On Weeds, the character of Celia (the brilliant Elizabeth Perkins) experimented with a lesbian relationship but it is her daughter, Isabelle, who is a lesbian.

***** HBO received a “Good” ranking on the strength of several regular gay characters such as Lafayette Reynolds on True Blood, the relationship between Alby and Dale on Big Love, Ari’s gay assistant Lloyd was promoted to agent on Entourage and the network also aired the documentary A Family is a Family is a Family: A Rosie O’Donnell Celebration.

***** TNT’s ranking of  “Good” was no doubt boosted by the arrival of Southland from NBC. The show features gay LAPD police office John Cooper while the now-canceled legal drama Raising the Bar featured gay law clerk Charlie Sagansky. The Closer has the recurring gay character of Dr. Morales while Men of a Certain Age has the recurring lesbian character of Maria.

***** Lifetime is the network that used to be tagged “television for women” but gay men always felt right at home here. They still do thanks to the network’s acquisition of Project Runway which features gay mentor Tim Gunn, gay judge Michael Kors and several gay contestants.

ADEQUATE:

***** FX: Dr. Liz Cruz remained a presence in the sixth season of Nip/Tuck but GLAAD was troubled by the show’s two episodes focusing on a transgender patient who had reassignment surgery reversed then re-performed then re-reversed. It painted transgender people as indecisive. I’m also personally disappointed in the show for not having the two hot docs ride off into the sunset together (or at least down Sunset Boulevard!) since they are so clearly in love with each other.

Meanwhile, Rescue Me badly handled its episode about Franco’s girlfriend who is rumored to be lesbian. The lesbians are portrayed as aggressive and threatening toward men and there is also a thinly-veiled suggestion of violence toward women.

FAILING:

*** USA: White Collar could have had a much higher ranking had lesbian FBI agent Diana Lansing not disappeared after the pilot and did not reappear until the season finale. She will, however, be a regular this season. The series stars Matthew Bomer, of course, but his character is not gay and the actor does not discuss his personal life these days.

***** TBS: It’s only gay representation was a variety special hosted by Ellen DeGeneres!

***** A&E: Mad Men had a fascinating gay character of Sal on (played by out actor Bryan Batt) but, frustratingly, he was written off. What was left was Kirstie Alley’s reality series Big Life in which she hired a gay assistant.