Image Credit: David M. Russell/CBS; Michael Ansell/CBS; John Paul Filo/CBSLaptop? Check. Diet Raspberry Snapple? Check. Ten-day supply of Xanax? Check. If you haven’t already guessed, Press Tour ’10 is upon us! First up: CBS’ exec session with Eye prez Nina Tassler. Herewith, are the highlights:
* Asked about the failing grade her network recently received from GLAAD, Tassler conceded that she’s “very disappointed” with CBS’ poor track record of integrating gay characters on its programs. She then revealed that we’ll meet Alicia’s gay brother on The Good Wife this season. In far less exciting news, gay characters will also be introduced on Bleep My Dad Says and Rules of Engagement.
* Regarding The Good Wife losing ground to Parenthood among adults 18-49, Tassler acknowledged that the Tuesday 10 pm time slot has become “more competitive.”
* Is Tassler concerned that David Letterman will bolt at the end of his contract? Doesn’t sound like it. “As long as Dave is happy,” she said, “we’re very happy to have him there.”
* Good Wife viewers will be kept guessing about Kalinda’s sexuality—at least during the first part of the season. “As long as people keep talking about it,” said Tassler, “we don’t want to spill the beans just yet.”
* Charlie Sheen’s personal drama will not delay production of Two and a Half Men. I think I speak for everyone when I say, “Phew!”
Coming up later today: Panels on The Big Bang Theory, Hawaii 5-0, and more!
I don’t see any reason why a television station should be disappointed for not having many gay characters. Again it looks like society’s ills have been accepted as a norm.
Whether or not you like it, gay people exist and are part of the fabric of society. And therefore they should be represented, along with everyone else. This is inarguably true.
On a more subject note, I’m sorry you are clinging to your sad prejudices. Positions like yours will increasingly be a relic of the past as we move–all too slowly, alas–towards a more inclusive society in which equality is truly practiced, not just blandly espoused.
Its not that there is a shortage of gay actors, its that they can not portray a gay person. And CBS is very short with gay characters and Women leads.
If they want to include everyone, I think they should also include more Hispanics, Asians, Blacks, etc. It seems like the only minority they are actively seeking to portray are gay people.
So I don’t know what you’re talking about with this “everyone else” stuff.
someone’s assless chaps are in a bunch.
Bravo Ed!
I have a hard time watching straights act on television.
So awkward…..
I couldn’t have said it better myself, Ed. Bravo!
And shame on you Nancy.
Gotta go with what whatevs said…let’s just make sure everyone has a part in a show if you are a bisexual Hispanic Mormon…let’s make sure you have a role…I’m so sick of this political correctness.
It’s not always about gay people!
Thanks Nancy. Nice to know you consider me ill. You seem like a real piece of work. Bet you are a Tea Bagger too.
Quite true TC I do enjoy my tea
Eh no, you’re just a b**ch.
i like the sweet peach tea at Sonic:)
Sorry, Nancy, gays are not one of “society’s ills.” People who look at those who are different than them as “society’s ills” are the problem. Different is not bad; stupidity is bad, m’kay?
WTF? “Report abuse” on this homophobic comment above. Society’s ills? Gosh, I can’t wait for homophobic behaviour to get people jail time…
Nancy, being gay is not one of “society’s ills.” It’s just something you’re born with. Someday I hope we reach a point where someone being gay is about as interesting and shocking as a person’s eye color or hair color.
And no Lisa, there is still up to debate on whether it’s genetic. Can’t use that argument.
Just die Nancy.
Wow, in all seriousness…think about what you just wrote. God is always listening.
really did you think about what you said? so being bigot is ok but defending the right of the lives of innocent human beings who are gay someone needs to think. Nancy said something just as bad and you agreed. Grow moral you can’t have it both ways
wow lois, you’re trying to tell others that God is always listening? do not judge lest ye be judged…i think you’re the one in trouble dear
This girl Nancy is feisty!
Who knew one person can make everyone angry!
Nancy, you ignorant sl*t.
Molly, perhaps you could come up with a more intelligent comment if you’d like to join the discussion.
go molly i love it! please lois tell that to your bestie nancy. she could use a lesson in intelligence.
Intolerance is one of society’s biggest ills. Perhaps Nancy you need to go mediate on that. Being gay is one of the normal permutations of human genetics and that of a number of other species.
Not the norm, Paloma. Facts disprove what you wrote.
Really LoisW? Where do you get your facts? Mine come from genetics and biological research.
Well said, Nancy. And to some of you who really had some harsh words for Nancy-she has a right to speak up as well.
she has a right to say what she wants and we all have a right to call her out on it. people like you and nancy are sick individuals, who spend your days hating on others to make up for your pathetic lives. i believe you and nancy could find happiness together, living together with your 300 cats
In the infamous words of Dan Akyroyd: Nancy, you ignorant slut.
No Aushole, you don’t speak for everyone. “Two and a Half Idiots” is the worst show to EVER grace the television. I don’t understand who can possibly find it funny, and these people need to be rounded up and unbrainswashed immediately. Garbage like this makes me fear for my fellow citizens.
I think Ausiello was being sarcastic.
I agree with J.G. I think it was sarcasm but if it wasn’t I can no longer trsut Ausiello’s judgement.
Elitist people like you should be rounded up and “unbrainwashed.” Garbage like you makes me fear for my fellow citizens.
Elitist? Uh, no I never said I was better. I just think that this trash is rotting peoples’ minds. Please stop being so over-dramatic.
Amen, Becca! It baffles me that idiotic trash like “Two and a Half idiots” still gets such high ratings. The majority of the best shows are on Cable, and CBS only has 2 watchable shows anyway, with How I Met Your Mother & The Good Wife.
Oh my gosh! Those ARE the only two shows I watch on CBS. I’m still bitter over the fact that they got rid of THE CLASS.
Dude, Big Brother 12!!
Isn’t Big Band Theory on CBS too? That’s a pretty fun show. I mean, not appointment television for me, but it’s certainly not bad television.
I’m with Becca, TAAHM is trash. And not good trash, but creepy trash. I’d rather bunk with that clown from It for a month than have to watch Charlie Sheen in shorts for half an hour.
Becca…you go girl! The people who watch “Two and 1/2 Idiots” just have a humor that does not cater to much intelligence. These people are also likely to be seen going to movies like Knocked up and Wedding Crashers, and well, you get the idea…:)
they are also people who are bigots like you and Nancy who can’t accept that gay people are human who watch that crap
Pedro, how awfully judgemental-I thought we were just giving our opinion-not resulting to name calling.
I’m dead! Favorites – “drinking” from the sprinkler, chbuby toddler hands holding pens, the static (HA!), and those last two black and whites – BEAUTIFUL!
I think they should be concern too. Can’t wait for news on The Big Bang Theory.
enough with all the gay this or that..just let people be people and if a character is written that way fine..but just to say oh! we need to represent every aspect of society on xxx amount of programs reeks of pc-ness…
That is exactly what I think. If the characters on the show are not gay, then that doesn’t mean you have to incorporate it in the show. It is what it is.
as a gay, i fully agree. i’d rather see a gay character that works in the context of a show to advance the story, rather than try to awkwardly cram one in just to raise the “gay quotient” of characters on tv.
It seems CBS’ answer to the criticism is to just throw in a gay character. And I think this is just one group that pays attention to networks and who is portrayed. Asian groups pay attention to how many asian people are represented, etc. Just GLAAD is more well known. There are plenty of groups who are keeping track.
I agree with Breckster82. The inclusion of any character, gay or straight, has to be organic to the story line.
Ditto:)
“Rules of Engagement” was renewed but not “Old Christine.” Something is seriously wrong with CBS.
What is wrong with CBS is women are not equal.
LOL, hear hear! It’s ironic that the president of CBS Entertainment is a woman (and Latina) given how horrible the network’s track record continues to be with portrayals of women and diversity.
“911″ – that’s the number you call in case of emergency. Shouldn’t it be “411″? Unless you are trying to tell us that CBS’s tour was a disaster.
Nothing against “The Good Wife” which is a very good show, but I’m kind of glad to hear that Parenthood is gaining ground. I have a couple of favorite actors on that show so I’m rooting for it to do well.
Me too
Lauren Graham and Peter Krause anyday!!!
Okay, I’m really just reminding you-Parenthood is on NBC-at least it was last year…if it’s changed, then that’s new news. It’s a quality drama.
Lois – just to clue you in on the article above that you clearly did not read, they’re competing on different networks in the same time slot. For me, The Good Wife is such a high quality TV drama and is one of the only shows I will watch on CBS.
What is sad is grading a network based solely on if there are gay characters on the shows. Creatively, being gay or racially diverse doesn’t always pertain to every show.
yes that would be like watching a show just for the hot chicks, oh wait I do that, never mind.
ythu-Good sense of humor!
Absolutely right. Can you imagine the executive meetings? “Oh, we need to cast a lesbian on “How I Met Your Mother,” or, “Let’s add a gay character to NCIS” (which WOULD be fictional, under the current “don’t ask, don’t tell” regime).
WB, Diversity “doesn’t always pertain to every show”? What world do you live in? When I walk down my street I see people of every colour, and probably of every sexuality. Same goes for where I work. And Brett, there are plenty of gay people in the military with or without don’t ask.
What about the Networks treatment of women this season and their sexist decisions – AJ Cook, Paget Brewster, Melina Kanakaredes and Liz Vassey – did Nina not feel like commenting on their departures from the network? Hoping more shows from other networks start gaining on CBS ratings. As for Two and a half men CBS are crying poverty and cutting budgets on other top shows but still they can justify the MILLIONS paid out to the wife beating Charlie Sheen!! Shame on you CBS – SHAME!!!
How can CBS be sexist when it’s RUN BY A WOMAN?!!
TWO & A HALF MEN’S Budget doesn’t take away from the budget on any other show – it doesn’t work that way. All the formentioned actresses are being replaced with new Female characters,and perhaps ethnic.
As for the GLADD thing -CBS is buckling under pressure of the “Gay Agenda”. Sexuality shouldn’t be the focus of a character.
yes Melina Kanakaredes will be replaced with S Ward but not the others!!! No replacement for Liz Vassey on CSI and there MAY be a replacement with a new female character on Criminal Minds for EITHER AJ Cook or Paget Brewster. So basically CBS have let 4 females go and will replace possibly 1 possibly 2!!! As for CBS being run by a woman Nina still has to answer to Les Mooves.
How wonderful of you to cover the gay front, Aus. Too bad you didn’t manage to ask Tassler anything about CBS’ misogynistic practices.
Firing AJ Cook from Criminal Minds and demoting Paget Brewster (who will ultimately be fired at the end of this season). As well as axing Melina Kanakaredes from CSI:NY and Liz Vassey from CSI; guess all of that is a non issue.
It is a non-issue as this was done for budgetary reasons,.and the characters are being replaced with new female characters.
How is “The Good Wife” losing ground to “Parenthood” in the 18-49 ratings demo! I thought TGW was doing very well in the ratings, topping everything else in it’s time slot, even “Parenthood”!!!!
Not at the end when Parenthood found its footing as seen in the ratings report on May 3rd “On Tuesday, “Parenthood” ranked #1 in adults 18-49 and other key demos in the 10 p.m. ET hour, topping the original drama competition of CBS’s “The Good Wife” and ABC’s V.” “Parenthood” has now ranked #1 in its slot in adults 18-49 versus regular competition for six of the last seven weeks.” The Good wife often won viewers and household but came in second int the key demo.
Hi there just wanted to give you a brief heads up and let you know a few of the ptciures aren’t loading correctly. I’m not sure why but I think its a linking issue. I’ve tried it in two different web browsers and both show the same outcome.
Charlie Sheen’s personal problems should derail that show.
Seems like a lot of angry people read–and respond to–this stuff.
I think “The Good Wife” and “Parenthood” can co-exist. That’s why there are DVRs.
I think CBS’s failing grade from GLAAD is not fair. Every network can’t have a “Glee” (which is a shame, because “Glee” is fantastic!).
Peace.
Hey there just wanted to give you a brief heads up and let you know a few of the imgaes aren’t loading properly. I’m not sure why but I think its a linking issue. I’ve tried it in two different web browsers and both show the same results.
Anyone who has ever watched even 10 minutes of CBS will know they don’t feature gay characters because when they do we’re portrayed as mentally ill transexuals, pedophiles, deceitful liars etc on the million plus one shows they have based on cop/lawyer/forensic people. Same could be said for Law & Order on Nbc. That network is homophobic too. The most progressive is Abc in my opinion. But who expects a network like Cbs whose median age is the OLDEST of any network to give a crap about gay ppl anyway. The ppl in that age group are more likely to be intolerant of homosexuals in general. Just from a generational standpoint. Just look at the crap shows they have almost always SAFE and traditional. And it works well for them. They’re No.1. Guess they figure “if it ain’t broke..” you know the rest.
Allicia’s gay brother… interesting. Never saw that coming, but that would be an interesting addition, especially since that family seems quite conservative.