WASHINGTON, Nov. 13, 2012 ― Since starting this column, I have noticed one thing in listing show descriptions: there are a lot of gay characters on the television these days. With a little research I discovered 28% of all primetime TV have shows that feature LGBT themes. One in four scripted series and one in five reality shows in the 2010-2011 season included gay characters, actors and/or story lines. The recent election that was seen as a huge gay rights victory may well be more proof that being gay in America isn’t as hard as it used to be, especially when you consider the top scripted show has two openly gay men as a “normal” couple.
Whether you are for or against gay rights, the trend is unmistakable, America is becoming more comfortable with the gay world. Just some food for thought.
Tonight’s viewing:
8 p.m. EST. Singing, dancing and an election in this hour.
ABC: Dancing With the Stars: All Stars: (Live) The eighth-round results show features performances by Kylie Minogue and Ne-Yo.
CBS: NCIS: (New) Part 1 of 2. A Navy lieutenant who recently returned home from the Middle East is murdered. Gibbs (Mark Harmon) believes a friend of the victim, a Marine captain suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, may be the key to finding the killer.
FOX: Raising Hope: (New) Jimmy (Lucas Neff) finds out he has an older brother from the time he was briefly adopted by another family, so he enlists Sabrina’s (Shannon Woodward) help to stage a sibling reunion.
NBC: The Voice: (Live) Two vocalists from each team are eliminated.
CW: Hart of Dixie: (New) Lemon (Jaime King) gets creative as she tries to swing votes in the mayoral election, which polls paint as a very tight race between Lavon (Cress Williams) and Ruby (Golden Brooks).
8:30 p.m.
FOX: Ben and Kate: (New) Ben (Nat Faxon) scrambles to find a job so he can participate in Maddie’s (Maggie Elizabeth Jones) Career Day at school.
9 p.m. Technology, transplants and job hunting in this hour.
ABC: Happy Endings: (New) Max (Adam Pally) has become a hit on the Bar Mitzvah circuit as an energetic emcee, and allows Brad (Damon Wayans Jr.) to partner up with him. But not everything turns out kosher.
CBS: NCIS: Los Angeles: (New) Conclusion. Sam’s (LL Cool J) most private secrets are threatened to be revealed during the continued investigation into the death of a CIA agent who once worked with Sam.
FOX: New Girl: (New) Jess’ (Zooey Deschanel) search for a new job gets intense. Meanwhile, her time of the month affects the guys; Schmidt (Max Greenfield) starts a relationship with his boss; and Nick (Jake M. Johnson) acquires insight from a silent source.
NBC: Go On: (New) Ryan (Mathew Perry) becomes a big-brother figure for Owen (Tyler James Williams). Meanwhile, Yolanda (Suzy Nakamura) believes she can graduate from the group.
CW: Emily Owens, M.D.: (New) Emily (Mamie Gummer) and Micah (Michael Rady) are baffled when a patient who needs an immediate kidney transplant refuses to accept one from her new husband.
9:30 p.m.
ABC: Don’t Trust the B–- in Apartment 23: (New) June (Dreama Walker) finds James (James Van Der Beek) irresistibly attractive when she learns he may be chosen as People magazine’s Sexiest Man Alive.
FOX: The Mindy Project: (New) Mindy asks Danny to be her new gynecologist, though neither one of them can admit their unwillingness to go through with an exam.
NBC: The New Normal: (New) Technology gets the best of the gang, so they decide to unplug all electronic devices for one day. Elsewhere, Rocky (NeNe Leakes) teaches Jane (Ellen Barkin) how to use Twitter, but Jane then posts a very private video featuring Bryan (Andrew Rannells).
10 p.m. Family drama and mob connections in this hour.
ABC: Private Practice: (New) Sam (Taye Diggs) stars in a reality show and assists his mother when her boss becomes sick. Meanwhile, the search continues for a girl who disappeared from the hospital.
CBS: Vegas: (New) During election time, Savino (Michael Chiklis) wants a mayor in office who is “friendly” to his mob-related interests and concerns, so he throws his considerable power and support behind the challenger to the incumbent.
NBC: Parenthood: (New) Camille (Bonnie Bedelia) and Crosby (Dax Shepard) help Kristina and Adam (Peter Krause) find balance while Kristina (Monica Potter) undergoes treatment; Sarah (Lauren Graham) and Zeek (Craig T. Nelson) worry about Amber’s (Mae Whitman) relationship with Ryan (Matt Lauria); Julia continues making efforts to connect with Victor; and Drew (Miles Heizer) reaches out to Amy (Skyler Day).
Basic cable:
New episodes of:
Doomsday Preppers: Bugged Out at 8 p.m. on NGC
Pawn Stars at 8 and 8:30 p.m. on History Channel
Alaska: The Last Frontier at 9 p.m. on DSC
Mankind: The Story of all of us at 9 p.m. on History Channel
Doomsday Preppers at 9 p.m. on NGC
Dangerous Grounds at 9 p.m. on Travel Channel
Alaska Marshalls at 10 p.m. on DSC
Chopped on Food Channel at 10 p.m.
Sons of Anarchy at 10 p.m. on FX
For movie lovers:
Poseidon at 8 p.m. on AMC
Red Riding Hood at 8 p.m. on HBO
Unknown at 8 p.m. on CINEMAX
Bad Teacher at 9 p.m. on STARZ
Rob Roy at 9 p.m. on REELZ
The Exorcist at 9:40 p.m. on ENC
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