Don't Get Mad, Get GLAAD

Media watchdog the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD), which recently gave failing grades to most of network TV for their lack of LGBT characters and story lines, posts a daily list of recommended viewing of TV shows with positive depictions of the queer community.

Who knew?

While I (and the rest of us) appreciate the work this group has done over the years to foster a more accepting environment for LGBT people, they really need to get a better publicist. You can rage against the machine all you want, GLADD, but it doesn't help if nobody knows you doing it!

Wait a minute. That sounds a lot like what I do. :-/

So here's a list of GLAAD's recommended viewing for Tuesday, August 25, 2009:

8:00 pm Hell’s Kitchen, FOX (1 hr) NEW
Gordon Ramsey is back and this time he has a new crew behind him. Mainly, season two-winner, lesbian Heather West as his new sous chef. Maybe she can give lesbian contestant Tennille a few pointers on how to deal with Ramsey’s outbursts.

8:30 pm Ruby & the Rockits, ABC Family (30 min) NEW
Ruby, an up can coming young rock stars, gets new bass player, Nils, who she soon falls for. But sorry Ruby, your bassist has a secret!

9:00 pm Big Brother, CBS (1 hr) NEW
Tonight will determine who has the Power of Veto. Let’s see if Kevin can win it on behalf of gay roommates everywhere!

10:00 pm Flipping Out, Bravo (1 hr) NEW
Jeff Lewis and crew are back for a third season, but with the economy in the toilet, flipping houses isn’t such a lucrative option. Maybe they can take a page from Zoila’s book and clean them? Yeah, right! Better watch and see what happens!

10:00 pm Addicted to Beauty, Oxygen (1 hr) NEW
If you needed one more reason to fear cosmetic surgery and medi-spas here it is. Watch as these catty six work and play together all while trying to take care of customers needs.

I'm especially intrigued by "Ruby and the Rockits", featuring ex-Partridge turned Las Vegas cheese ball, David Cassidy as a middle-aged man who finds out he has a teen-aged daughter who wants to be the next Miley Cyrus. (That's right, shoot for the stars, kid.) This show should be a lesson to all of us about the dangers of unprotected sex.

I haven't watched this one yet, but it may be worth a visit just to see if Cassidy will be wearing his signature ruffled puffy-shirt and red velour vest with matching bell-bottoms.