Staff Writer
It’s been sixteen years since Ellen DeGeneres came out in a groundbreaking episode of her self-titled sitcom. Since then, lesbian and gay supporting characters have been featured prominently in shows like Glee, Grey’s Anatomy, The Bridge, and more. However, with shows like Orange is the New Black, leading characters who are lesbians are sure to be on the rise in the near future.
First out of the gate? A new sitcom by funny woman DeGeneres. The series is yet to be titled, but will focus on a lesbian woman, and her straight best friend, that gets pregnant before the best friend is set to marry the love of his life. It sounds more awkward than funny, to me; but, seeing as it will be executively produced by DeGeneres, and written and executively produced by 2 Broke Girls scribe Liz Feldman, it’s sure to bring accolades if it’s picked up.
NBC has optioned the new multi-camera show, further cultivating their reputation for airing LGBT driven programs. First was the well received Will & Grace and now Sean Saves the World. Ryan Murphy’s The New Normal was a comedy centered on two gay dads who decide to have a baby via surrogate, but the series was canceled after one season.
Just last week, Willa Paskin wrote an article on Slate about what she calls the “moment lesbians are having on TV.” She explains that it’s not a boring advancement, but it’s also “Not nearly as progressive as it first appears, since some of the characters’ attraction to other women simply fits in a male fantasy.”
Given NBC’s lean toward gay men instead of gay women, it’ll be interesting to see if it’ll be a) picked up and, if it is picked up, b) stays within the realm of realism of what gay women and women in general are put through on a daily basis.
What do you think PopWrappers? Should NBC be the ones putting this sitcom out there? Or do you have faith in the creative team behind the series? Either way, DeGeneres is returning to her roots and that’s bound to draw a bounty of laughs.
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