CBS’s Nina Tassler on the network’s woeful LGBT representation: “We’re not happy with ourselves”

President of CBS Entertainment Nina Tassler was asked this morning about her network’s horrible track record in recent years of having any LGBT characters in its dramas and comedies.

The exec said at the Television Critics Association Summer Press Tour event in Beverly Hills that there were a couple of pilots and a couple of other pieces in development “that unfortunately we didn’t pick up.”

“But we are adding a few characters to this season because we are very disappointed in our track record so far. We know we will do better. We’re going to meet Alicia’s brother on The Good Wife as a gay character. We’re also going to be adding a new character to Rules of Engagement. Jeff and Audrey’s surrogate will be a member of Jeff’s softball team and she’s a lesbian. We’re also going to be recurring a gay character in Bleep My Dad Says. The character Tim Bagley played will be returning this season.”

Tassler added: “Once you come out of your pilot season disappointed with yourself, you go into the current series season and say “Let’s look for every opportunity to imporove the numbers we have represented in the cast so we’re going to do that. And then we’ll continue to focus on that as we go into development season. We’re not happy with ourselves.”

CBS received a “failing” ranking last week from the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD). The network has more hit ensemble dramas than any other with the CSI and NCIS franchises as well as Criminal Minds and The Mentalist but not a single regular character is gay – not ONE. Ditto for its comedies which include Two and a Half Men, Big Bang Theory, Rules of Engagement and the now-canceled New Adventures of Old Christine.

But CBS has featured gay contestants on its hit reality shows Amazing Race, Big Brother and Survivor.

GLAAD President Jarrett Barrios has just issued this statement in response to Tassler’s comments: “It is encouraging that CBS shares our disappointment in the network’s lack of gay and transgender representation and we are hopeful that the new characters will help build awareness and understanding of our community among viewers. After two years of receiving a ‘failing’ grade and a commitment last year to be more inclusive, we hope that CBS President Nina Tassler makes true on this promise to  bring the network more in line with the industry standard.’”