Page 14 - aruba-today-20210115

A14 PEOPLE & ARTS
Friday 15 January 2021

Study: Pandemic eats into LGBTQ representation on network TV

By MARK KENNEDY
AP Entertainment Writer
NEW YORK (AP) — LGBTQ
and gender inclusiveness
on television has retreat-
ed slightly this season due
to delays and shutdowns
caused by the COVID-19
pandemic, according to
a new study out Thursday
by the advocacy group
GLAAD. The percentage of
regularly seen LGBTQ char-
acters on streaming as well This combination of photos shows show writers and creators, from left, Greg Berlanti, Shonda Rhimes, Ryan Murphy and Lena Waithe
as prime-time broadcast who were named in a study about LGBTQ and gender inclusiveness on television.
TV and cable during the Associated Press
2020-21 season fell. Prime- Recurring LGBT charac- television were people of Ellis noted that data from said. An estimated 4.5% of
time broadcast fell to 9.1% ters were also down. There color, meeting GLAAD’s the Nielsen company adults in the United States,
after reaching an all-time were also declines in LGBTQ challenge. And for a sec- shows that pandemic-af- approximately 11.3 million
high of 10.2% last season. representation on stream- ond year, GLAAD counted fected Americans — age people, identify as LGBTQ,
That represents the first ing services and prime-time more LGBTQ regular and 18 and over — are averag- according to the Williams
decrease since GLAAD’s scripted cable shows, trig- recurring women on prime- ing 37 hours of TV a week Institute at UCLA School of
2013-14 report. “We’re gered in part by production time broadcasts than LG- — almost a second full- Law. GLAAD and The Har-
hoping that is just a blip shutdowns of such series as BTQ men. The advocacy time job. That means the ris Poll have found that 20%
and not the beginning of a “The L Word,” “Euphoria” group noted that nearly stakes are even higher for of Americans ages 18-34
trend,” GLAAD’s President and “Killing Eve.” GLAAD is half of all LGBTQ repre- GLAAD’s goals of reaching identify as LGBTQ.
& CEO Sarah Kate Ellis said asking the industry to reach sentation in prime-time representation, even as the While streaming and cable
in an interview, adding that 20% representation of LG- scripted cable is seen on fragility of positive move- shows have found homes
the decrease overall was BTQ regularly seen charac- just three networks — FX, ment is clear. for LGBTQ characters,
largely due to fewer shows ters on all three platforms Freeform and Showtime. It “The content is more impor- GLAAD focuses on gains
being made. by 2025, and to ensure that urged other networks to fol- tant than ever and it’s hav- made on broadcast chan-
GLAAD’s report, “Where half of LGBTQ characters low their lead. ing a bigger impact than nels because, unlike those
We Are on TV,” found that on every TV platform are The report also found that ever. So for us we’re thrilled TV alternatives, channels
70 out of 773 series regu- people of color within the nearly one in every five LG- that the drop wasn’t as big like ABC, NBC, CBS and Fox
lar characters on broad- next two years. The group BTQ characters is connect- as it could have been. But, are in everybody’s house-
cast scripted prime-time found good news on the ed to just four show writers if all things are equal, then hold. “We still do focus
TV were LGBTQ. Last year, second request in the lat- and creators — Shonda even if the quantity of pro- on broadcast because
those numbers were 90 out est study — over half of LG- Rhimes, Greg Berlanti, Lena grams goes down, the rep- that’s where a majority of
of a total of 879 characters. BTQ characters on cable Waithe and Ryan Murphy. resentation shouldn’t,” Ellis Americans are still taking
in and absorbing content.
Katie Couric, Mayim Bialik to be ‘Jeopardy!’ guest hosts That’s still where the ma-
jority of Americans might
pion, and Bialik, former meet their first gay person
star of CBS’ “The Big Bang or transgender person or
Theory” and current star bisexual person for the first
of Fox’s “Call Me Kat,” is time,” Ellis said. GLAAD also
a neuroscientist, making found that the number of
them fitting choices to characters living with HIV
serve up clues for contes- plunged from nine to three
tants for the brainy quiz — all three on FX’s “Pose,”
show. set in the late 1980s. The
Rodgers, the Pro Bowler organization is calling on
and two-time NFL MVP, the industry to introduce
had already leaked the no less than three new
In this combination photo, Mayim Bialik, from left, attends the Israeli Consulate Celebration of news of his hosting earlier regular or recurring LGBTQ
the 70th Anniversary of Israel on June 10, 2018, in Los Angeles, Katie Couric arrives at the Vanity this week. characters living with HIV
Fair Oscar Party on Feb. 9, 2020, in Beverly Hills, Calif., Aaron Rodgers arrives at the ESPYS on July
12, 2017, in Los Angeles and Bill Whitaker attends the CBS Upfront on May 15, 2019, in New York. “I apologize to ‘Jeopar- each year on cable or
Associated Press dy!’ if they wanted to an- broadcast primetime.q
nounce it, I just got so ex-
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Katie Trebek, the face of the the first guest host. cited,” Rodgers said Tues- Solution Sudoku
Couric, Mayim Bialik, Aar- show for 36 years, died Once his run is done, ex- day. “The show has been 1/15 Difficulty Level
on Rodgers and journalist from pancreatic cancer ecutive producer Mike so special to me over the 6 7 4 5 8 2 1 9 3
Bill Whitaker are among Nov. 8, and the final shows Richards will fill in for two years.” 2 1 8 9 3 4 7 5 6
the future guest hosts who he recorded aired last weeks while the newly an- Whitaker, a “60 Minutes” 5 9 3 1 7 6 8 2 4
will fill in for the late Alex week. The show has opted nounced guests prepare correspondent, will also be 8 5 9 7 2 3 4 6 1
Trebek on “Jeopardy!” to use a series of interim for their stints. a guest host. 2021 Conceptis Puzzles, Dist. by King Features Syndicate, Inc. 3 6 2 4 5 1 9 7 8
The show announced guest hosts rather than im- Rodgers, the superstar The show will make a do- 1 4 7 6 9 8 2 3 5
Wednesday that Couric, mediately find permanent quarterback currently nation to the guest hosts’
the journalist and former replacements. leading the Green Bay charity of choice that 9 2 6 8 1 5 3 4 7
“Today” show host, will be- Ken Jennings, considered Packers through the NFL matches the total dollar 4 3 1 2 6 7 5 8 9
come the first woman ever the show’s greatest cham- playoffs, is a former “Ce- amount won by contes- 7 8 5 3 4 9 6 1 2
to host the show. pion, is currently serving as lebrity Jeopardy!” cham- tants during their run.q Puzzle on Page 13