Why should Gossip Girl be the only primetime soap having a gay ‘ol time experimenting with its characters sexuality? This January, 90210 will embark on a major same-sex storyline that will pair the show’s token lesbian, Gia, played by Rumer Willis, with another major (and heretofore straight) female character.
“This isn’t a fling,” insists executive producer Rebecca Sinclair. “We’re coming at this [relationship] from a genuine place and not going, ‘Let’s do a titillating story that will grab some promotion.’ This is a real aspect of teenager life that’s interesting… And there’s been a real void in the 90210 universe in terms of gay and bisexual characters.”
Yeah, yeah… let’s get the big question: Who will Demi’s daughter coax out of the closet and into her loving arms?
Nope, it’s not Naomi — it’s teenage mom Adrianna!
For more scoop on this story, including surprising details on how the romance unfolds and an exclusive interview with Adrianna’s portrayer, Jessica Lowndes, pick up the new issue of Entertainment Weekly (on sale tomorrow). In the meantime, what are your initial thoughts on a Gia-Adrianna pairing? Head to the comments!
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“Two girls making out” has become the saddest ratings stunt of the year. Wake me up when an actual, heartfelt gay storyline happens.
Watch One Life to Live. Their gay storyline is awesome.
I agree. Obviously soapy but a good storyline.
I absolutely agree…OLTL has the best gay storyline going so far
Actually One Life to Live had the first gay storyline on Soaps way back if I remember correctly. Ryan Phillipe before he was famous played a young gay teen with Aids. Now at the time I don’t remember him having a boyfriend but it was a big deal then.
Donna Pescow played a open lesbian on All My Children in the early 1980s. She didn’t have a partner, either, as I far as I can remember, but the story line dealt with how she had a crush on her longtime friend Brooke, and how they would deal with it. It seemed to ring more true, dealing with the social and societal issues with coming out in the 1980s, rather than feeling like a stunt of trying to lure viewers in to trying to get a thrill seeing girls mking out.
Yeah no kidding – and funny how it’s always the shows with the SUCKY RATINGS (Gossip Girl, 90210, Melrose) that resort to these sort of stunts.
Don´t forget Heroes
You know what else is funny? All the shows you mentioned are run on the CE, which is owned by Warner, just like EW is.
That is why EW covers Gossip Girl, 90210 and melrose Place despite their ’sucky’ ratings.
Do they own TVGuide? How about E!? EW doesn’t cover these shows any more than those publications do.
Simple fact is that they have sizable internet audiences in the target demographic.
I do agree with the sentiment about this particular instance being a ratings stunt. It could be more, I guess. People said that about Willow on Buffy and it wound up being one of the better LGBT plotlines in primetime television history.
Though I wouldn’t call anything Gossip Girl does a “ratings stunt”. It’s entire show is one big ratings stunt in a way. There are no lines to cross, it’s hedonistic and unapologetic about it.
Nothing wrong with a good ol’ threesome in a show like that.
Yeah because a show with big ratings like Grey’s Anatomy would NEVER do anything like THAT! Stop blaming the little guys. If you don’t like it, don’t watch!
The new Melrose Place introduced Katie Cassidy’s character as bisexual from the pilot so you can’t really say that shows do this to help their ratings when MP did it from the get go.
Watch Brothers&Sisters. The gay couple is the most normal, together couple on the show. They deal with issues you would expect from any couple.
So true! I love that couple.
True, but the show is dull and they get very little screen time.
Rumer Willis + gay storyline = art imitating life
skins is one of the few shows i’ve seen do the gay/lesbian story well. series three on earlier this year, did a major storyline about emily and naomi getting together. it wasn’t done in a sleazy way, it was done with so much heart, great writing and beautiful acting. they treated it the same way they treated every other couple storyline on the show-everyone could relate to their story, gay or straight
Yes! I 100% agree. Emily and Naomi was the highlight of the series for me.
Grey’s Anatomy…yay!
Wow, I totally thought it would’ve been Silver.
Both Silver and Adrianna can do better than Rumer Willis!
I thought it would’ve been Silver too.
Yeah, that was my first thought too. However, remember a scene a few weeks ago in the newspaper office with these too…it was all being set up.
Wow. I thought it would be Silver as well. Who would want to watch a mom (not to mention teenage mom) have a relationship with another girl? That would be too much like Friends; except Carol wasn’t the main character and we couldn’t see a play by play of her realtionship. Yea she doesn’t technically still have a baby to care about, but she’s already a mother, a drug user, and now a lesbian???? That’s too much. Is it going to be good though? I guess I’ll just have to see. =|
I thought it’d be bipolar Silver
“We’re coming at this [relationship] from a genuine place and not going, ‘Let’s do a titillating story that will grab some promotion.’”
Somehow I’m really doubtful of that.
Love it. Poor Navid is going to have a neurotic break.
I was expecting Silver too.
Lame. Adrianna is supposed to be with Navid.
Maybe NOW I can bring myself to watch this show.
Last season i was hoping Liam and Ethan were hooking up. Didnt happen. Im not watching this year.
Not every show needs a gay couple… well it is the new century and I’m “pro gay” but there is no need to show it everywhere… I don’t want to see guys kissing on every f*cking show!!!!!!!
‘Not every show needs a gay couple’? That is like me saying not every show needs a straight couple! Gay people are a part of life and it is about time we see gay people represented on network TV. Although most attempts at representing gay characters are stereotypes (with the odd exception here and there)at least it shows gay people represented. Furthermore, you say you are ‘pro gay’ then you make the rude comment about not wanting to see guys kissing. That is pretty sad. Straight people kiss all of the time in movies and on television and nobody makes a big deal about that. It is about time they do show some gay couples on TV actually kissing because most of the time they don’t, so your comment baffles me. I watch a lot of daytime TV and evening TV and the only gay couple I have seen kiss, other than the couple on “Brothers and Sisters”, is Luke and Noah on “As The World Turns”. I’m sure if you did a survey, gay people would probably get 1/2% or something like that of the kisses on TV. Usually the networks introduce a gay couple on a network TV show and they get to kiss once, maybe twice, and from then on the camera cuts away at the embrace before they even kiss. It is ridiculous and totally unfair and I don’t know why more people don’t complain about that. The reality is that gay people are way under-represented on TV period, and as for them kissing, well, in the big scheme of things that is virtually non-existent.
Feel free to say that not every show needs to have a stright couple–I’m straight, and I’m fine with that. It’s saddened me that over the last thirty years in TV, everything has to be relationship/sexually based. I would still love The Office (and might even love it more) if the Jima nd Pam storyline and all the other interoffice sex was eliminated and it ws jsut a focus on workplace. I stopped watching Friends when it shifted from the life of young 20somethings starting their life, into a combinatorics problem of which castmembers have not hooked up and hwo to get them coupled. I love a good romance, but it doesn’t have to be the only story.
I would also be bothered if a show that focused on a gay couple threw in a straight couple just for the heck of it.
That’s some good scoop! I’ve really enjoyed 90210 so far this season. I love no-brainer TV. After a long day at work, I don’t need a show that will make me think or change my life!
I’m with you on that one! I have to think enough all day long and it’s nice to have some guilty pleasure TV watching!
Can a show please have the balls to have a same-sex male relationship? Having Chuck kiss some dude for 1 second does not count. Why can’t one of the male leads on any of these shows fall in love with a guy or at least experiment/have an open mind. Have some balls, showrunners.
seriously! Everyone was all “ZOMG CHUCK KISSES A DUDE” and it wasn’t even a 2 way kiss!
If you want to see how a true male same sex relationship is handled then I suggest that you check out Kevin and Scotty on “Brothers and Sisters”. They are by far the best that have ever been written.
I agree. I ♥ Kevin & Scotty!
Yea but that’s a much different situation than this sort of same-sex experimentation and first-time relationship. It would be great if sort of unexpected yet powerful male same-sex experiences were shown on TV just as nonchalantly as the female variety is. What if Dan for instance started to have feelings for a gay guy in his class for instance? This would be a very helpful and realistic situation to put on TV and would help millions of males out there to be more open with how they feel with no shame.
sorry for the extra “for instance.” lol
Do you watch Greek? One of the main-ish characters is gay and in a fraternity, and it shows the real struggles he goes through. Some of the other characters are in the “coming out”/experimentation phase as well.
Six Feet Under was the best attempt to gay men
Brothers and Sisters.
Also Six Feet Under (though not current).
Both shows have long-term, supportive same-sex male relationships.
Also Modern Family.
And Marc on Ugly Betty had a long-term boyfriend for about year, I think.
I say as well why always just a temporary thing and why always women not men!
Cause girls are more accepted.. on Gossip they brought Eric out of the closet and now hes all but dissapeared. One of these CW shows needs a Brian Kinney (QAF) who bangs everyone with no guilt involved. It would be awesome to see a tenn version of Brian Kinney. I think Melrose may go for it. But they need to actually go for it and stop p*ssying around with same sex pecks
It seemed to me that the producers are forcing the storyline… It’s like they need a gay character to make the show look good… Pathetic! I don’t mind gay characters but hate it when they force the issue… Then again, it’s California! They should’ve made one of series regulars gay from the very beginning.
-TL
Exactly. Why do they have to “turn” gay or experiment briefly? If you’re going to have a gay character, just have a gay character.
And like that I add 90210 to my TiVo.
I’m right behind you Leigh!
I expected Naomi for some reason. The OC already did this story line marissa and 13(olivia wild) at least gossip girl tried to switch it up using guys. The only show that did this well was south of nowhere with ashley and spencer.
OMG! I loved Spashley! They were so volatile, but in a good way. Nice shout out!
I LOATHE these “girl turns into a lesbian for sweeps” storylines. How come they never do this with male characters? At least that would actually be daring.
exactly.
I completely and totally agree. Not only is a waste of storyline time which could be constructively spent elsewhere, it further disenfranchises lesbians/bi women when the character goes back to men the next week.
Yawn.
Sweeps = Nov., Feb., and May. Not January.
Hmm. Going the Otalia route, eh? Not sure this audience will appreciate that.
-TeenDramaWhore.co,
“We’re coming at this [relationship] from a genuine place and not going, ‘Let’s do a titillating story that will grab some promotion.’
I read the script
its not cheesy at all. and is genuine
Yawn, nobody is interested in two girls making out (at least not the female audience of that show , try it with two guys and it might be hot)
Eh, there are girls that are not 100% straight and will be interested in seeing two girls making out.
Actually Gia was supposed to seduce Navid, WTH the writers are doing? Gia and Adrianna, yeah, Big Time…
First, Chuck Bass, then Ade, those actors are not even gay! Please CW stop using the gay-key to drag your shows out of the mud.
So basically what you are saying is that Naomi is such a bitch IRL cause obviously they are playing themselves…LOL
Adrianna?
REALLY?
I seriously thought it was going to be Silver. It would have made so much more sense.
I would have guessed Silver, too. Though, who knows? Adrianna has been through a drug storyline (check), a pregnancy storyline (check), Troy Donahue lookalike ex-boyfriend returning storyline (check). Maybe this was merely next on the list…
Shocker? Um…no. This type of stunt has occured far to often in the past two years to be any kind of shock anymore. *yawn* Wake me when you have a good story not a lame stunt.
The whole girl-on-girl thing can be very entertaining, but EVER teen show has done it already, it’s just as overdone as pregnancies, murders and first-times, 90210 needs to find some new stuff to do.
I agree that a gender preference switch (conveniently timed for sweeps) would have been much more in character for Silver. I’m totally against Ade hooking up with anyone other than Navid.
Ooh yay, more gay agenda pushing. I actually like Adrianna this season. Then you stick her with someone even less attractive than Navid. Who I did like for her, but still. This is ridiculous. You don’t need a gay in the show to make it work. And if you have them, make it like Modern Family which is freaking hilarious.
you are an ignorant piece of crap.
haha! I agree!
How is she being ignorant? She is not knocking homosexual relationships on TV, she mentioned she liked the couple on Modern Family…
I do not think you are an ignorant piece of crap.
I don’t mind that 90210 is trying a gay storyline…I mind why they are doing it. I do not believe for a moment that they are doing this for anything besides a ratings stunt.
If this relationship lasts the rest of the season without sinking, I might change my mind.
But I agree that not all shows need a gay character.
enough with the lesbian storylines already!
can’t they think of something else?
and i was really enjoying 90210 this season!
Why does every show have to have a gay story in it now? Can some one tell me that? It is like they are shoving this down our throats and I do not like it. Gossip Girl, Heroes, Modern Family, Flash Forward, now 90210. And I am sure I am missing tons. I just don’t get it.
this is such an ignorant comment.
Yeah? Well that is my opinion. What point are they trying to make? Lets hear it Brenda Dubois from Beverly Hills.
I don’t think it’s an ignorant comment at all. It DOES seem like the shows are agenda-pushing. Is it seriously just coincidence that all of these shows have inserted a token gay relationship in the past few weeks?
I don’t think Flash Forward and Modern Family is doing the “token gay” thing, they had established homosexual characters from the start of the show, however I don’t think the first comment was ignorant. Brenda just seems to enjoy calling comments ignorant for no reason
First of all someone is posting under my name below. I have only responded to Mike B and Kayla.
Secondly, I want to ask you why you consider it agenda pushing to include a gay person on tv? This comment is just blatant prejudice and I can’t stand it. If they include a female character on a show, do you call it “agenda” pushing? How about if they put a bald person on a show? or a black person? How about a rich person? Why is it agenda pushing to incorporate a major part of society into a fictional environment? Stop labeling people and attaching them to a political movement.
Thirdly, America is so judgmental and label-happy, that any story-line or character that has a same-sex tryst or attraction is deemed “gay” and “agenda-pushing.” Some people are attracted to both sexes, some are attracted to one sex, whether their own sex or the opposite, some are attracted to particular people regardless of sex. Stop compartmentalizing society and expecting everyone to follow some false set of rules. You will improve your life and others’ lives by just being more open-minded.
Not an agenda. It is called better representation of the actual population in entertainment.
Okay, first, calm down.
Since you don’t know me at all, you really can’t say for sure how I should live, or change, in order to ‘improve my life and others’ lives.” I have no problem with accurate representation of the population. It just strikes me as odd that everyone has begun to accurately represent the population at the same time, that’s all.
Like it or not, there is still a large segment of the population who are uncomfortable seeing same-sex makeout sessions. While this may be an insensitive opinion, it does in fact exist. It’s a touchy issue, obviously, which is why it seems like such a big deal. These shows have chosen to represent the opposing view, which seems to communicate, “Be okay with this, now!” to a population who may not be okay with it ever, or at least not for a long time. Is that not the definition of an agenda? To see a problem, and take action to get people on board to change it, or to influence existing opinions?
I imagine gay people feel like there is FINALLY some represenation on TV. I believe the estimate is one in ten people are homosexual (that may be high, but still…). I am sure if we did a survey, the overall gay characters would still fall well short of that percentage.
I don’t know, Mike B. Replace the word “gay” with the word “African-American” in your original comment, and maybe you’ll be able to understand how offensive and close-minded you are.
exactly
This would be good if Rumor didn’t look like a man!
And another ignorant comment!
This is the only comment that I would agree with a negative stamp, however AD was more rude then ignorant… maybe you need to look up the definition of the word
She really does look like a man, her father to be more exact. She’d make an excellent transvestite character.
I would love teddy being gay
“gay now” in a tv show has become the new hack way of getting publicity and shock value. it was a tired writer’s device 10 years ago.
That’s how I feel. I have absolutely no problem with people who are gay in real life or television but wish that gay characters were introduced with less of the shock value aspect because it becomes contrived. At the same time so do a lot of other things on shows. Look at the original Melrose Place. I’m not saying that every show has to be like that where people are automatically accepted for their sexual preference by the core characters but am saying that it’s becoming a cliche to have the same basic storyline on so many different shows and to me takes away from what storylines can really achieve. I’m straight so I’m probably going ot be called ignorant from Breanda as well.
Ignorant!!!!!!!!
Ben does not sound ignorant about the issue, in fact he sound well informed. Just because someone does not agree with you, it does not make them ignorant. You really need to look up the definition of the word