# Viacom Re-Announces A Gay TV Channel: Program or Help Develop Some Shows **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 30, 2004, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/viacom-re-announces-a-gay-tv-channel-program-or-help-develop-some-shows/237337 "2004-03-30T16:19:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![JohnBckWLD](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d6d6ee/32.png) [@JohnBckWLD](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnBckWLD)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2004, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/viacom-re-announces-a-gay-tv-channel-program-or-help-develop-some-shows/237337/1 "2004-03-30T16:19:18Z")
Dateline 3/29/04 5:56AM EST [Viacom Plans to Start Gay TV Channel](http://money.cnn.com/2004/03/29/news/fortune500/viacom_gaytv.dj/) > [@Sumner Redstone](#): > > The media company shouldn’t have abandoned plans it was studying two years ago for a cable network aimed at gays Translation: Sell your stocks in the company (Disney?) that owns the Lifetime Network. No announcement on a **channel name** , timeline or (for that matter) the almost endless **programming** possibilities. Like most cable networks, I assume it’ll be a blend of: Re-runs: Golden Girls, et al. and Original Programming: I’m not going to even tread here…that’s your job. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2004, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/viacom-re-announces-a-gay-tv-channel-program-or-help-develop-some-shows/237337/2 "2004-03-30T18:04:04Z")
The original programming will probably suck - a lot. You’ll get a lot of shows based on network programs substituting gays and lesbians for straights . Bad reality shows. Bad game shows. They’ll end up doing for gays what the WB did for blacks when that network first started up. Of course, there’ll be a couple of decent shows. Until they become mainstream and the network screws 'em up. ---
**Author:** ![caphis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e19adc/32.png) [@caphis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/caphis)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2004, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/viacom-re-announces-a-gay-tv-channel-program-or-help-develop-some-shows/237337/3 "2004-03-30T18:09:21Z")
Whatever happens, I hope they don’t parade around “Queer Eye” type shows day in and day out. Don’t get me wrong, “Queer Eye” is certainly entertaining, but we homos are much more than entertainment. I hope that this network will show that. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2004, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/viacom-re-announces-a-gay-tv-channel-program-or-help-develop-some-shows/237337/4 "2004-03-30T18:33:10Z")
Okay there’ll be _Soap_, _Will and Grace_, and _Ellen_. There was _Love, Sidney_ but I think they avoided acknowleging the lead character was gay in the series. But if they’re willing to go with closeted characters, it’s a wide open field: _Frasier, The Odd Couple, Kate and Allie, Gilligan’s Island, Starsky and Hutch_. ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2004, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/viacom-re-announces-a-gay-tv-channel-program-or-help-develop-some-shows/237337/5 "2004-03-30T18:37:58Z")
Ummm, how about a show with _me_, hosting old movies? Where do I get hold of these people? ---
**Author:** ![UrbanChic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/9dc877/32.png) [@UrbanChic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UrbanChic)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2004, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/viacom-re-announces-a-gay-tv-channel-program-or-help-develop-some-shows/237337/6 "2004-03-30T18:40:44Z")
> [@Mr. Blue Sky](#): > > They’ll end up doing for gays what the WB did for blacks when that network first started up. And what might that be? ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2004, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/viacom-re-announces-a-gay-tv-channel-program-or-help-develop-some-shows/237337/7 "2004-03-30T18:49:06Z")
> [@JuanitaTech](#): > > And what might that be? Actually, I meant UPN. I was thinking of the classic “Homeboys In Outer Space”. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2004, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/viacom-re-announces-a-gay-tv-channel-program-or-help-develop-some-shows/237337/8 "2004-03-30T18:56:48Z")
It’s inevitable. There WILL be a show featuring horribly stereotypical homosexuals. Big question: When they get around to making original shows, will they hire only homosexual actors to portray homosexuals? ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2004, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/viacom-re-announces-a-gay-tv-channel-program-or-help-develop-some-shows/237337/9 "2004-03-30T19:27:15Z")
Perhaps they’ll use CGI to add gay characters to old shows. Now _All in the Family_ rerun viewers will see Archie butt heads with Gloria’s significant other Rosie O’Donnell and see what happens on this week’s episode of _Johnny Loves Chachi_. The _Queer Duck_ marathon will last for 43 minutes during the first weekend, followed by _Cooking With Mizrahi_, _Shopping With Feirstein_, _k.d. lang’s Celebrity Harley Trips_, _Jim J. Bullock’s Safari World_, _Richard Chamberlain’s Oldies Hour_, and for a touch of class _The David Hyde Pierce Show_ (similar to _The Actor’s Studio_ except each week his guest is either Cher, Liza Minnelli or Bette Midler). ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2004, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/viacom-re-announces-a-gay-tv-channel-program-or-help-develop-some-shows/237337/10 "2004-03-30T19:28:36Z")
PS- You may want to consider having this moved to _Cafe Society_ as you’d probably have better turnout. ---
**Author:** ![Homebrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Homebrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Homebrew)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2004, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/viacom-re-announces-a-gay-tv-channel-program-or-help-develop-some-shows/237337/11 "2004-03-30T19:38:10Z")
> [@Eve](#): > > Ummm, how about a show with _me_, hosting old movies? Where do I get hold of these people? Is there a petition for me to sign? ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2004, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/viacom-re-announces-a-gay-tv-channel-program-or-help-develop-some-shows/237337/12 "2004-03-30T20:03:28Z")
Forget the petition, where do I send my resume to be your PA? ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2004, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/viacom-re-announces-a-gay-tv-channel-program-or-help-develop-some-shows/237337/13 "2004-03-30T20:44:25Z")
_Gay, Happy Days?_. ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2004, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/viacom-re-announces-a-gay-tv-channel-program-or-help-develop-some-shows/237337/14 "2004-03-30T23:59:01Z")
OK, I am _so_ going to look into this . . . You may recall that AMC (before they went down the terlet) auditioned me as a movie hostess. I wouldn’t have to host only gay- or camp-oriented films (after all, stations are restricted in what they can get broadcast rights to). I can natter on entertainingly about any kind of film. My only contract demand is that I get to open the show by sweeping into the room like Loretta Young. ---
**Author:** ![JohnBckWLD](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d6d6ee/32.png) [@JohnBckWLD](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnBckWLD)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2004, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/viacom-re-announces-a-gay-tv-channel-program-or-help-develop-some-shows/237337/15 "2004-03-31T00:37:17Z")
> [@Eve](#): > > OK, I am _so_ going to look into this . . . Unsolicited advice: The early bird gets the worm. Print out the old resume and contact the Human Resources Dept. @ Viacom A S A P. They’ll either be impressed with the fact you read the press release in the WSJ or horrified by the fact you heard it on one of their radio stations that carries the Howard Stern Show. If they ask, tell 'em both: you’ll come off as well-rounded (or schitzophrenic). Good luck. ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2004, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/viacom-re-announces-a-gay-tv-channel-program-or-help-develop-some-shows/237337/16 "2004-03-31T01:11:21Z")
Tomorrow, at work. Wheels will turn. Spin, too, probably. ---
**Author:** ![DMark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@DMark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMark)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2004, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/viacom-re-announces-a-gay-tv-channel-program-or-help-develop-some-shows/237337/17 "2004-03-31T01:20:53Z")
Having spent many years reviewing Gay and Lesbian films at the Berlin FilmFest for the Advocate, I can assure you there is no lack of material. Every year there are some really great full-length films, as well as some good short films and documentaries. This would be a good place for some of these films to find an audience. Also, I am sure many of you will be shocked to know there are several Gay people who have worked on films, television sitcoms and dramas, and theater. My guess is there might be, oh I donno, maybe 200,000 people jumping at the chance to do projects that are close to their heart. If there was ever a marriage made in heaven - Gay Network and original programming sounds like a perfect match! ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2004, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/viacom-re-announces-a-gay-tv-channel-program-or-help-develop-some-shows/237337/18 "2004-03-31T01:37:52Z")
Moving this to Cafe Society. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2004, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/viacom-re-announces-a-gay-tv-channel-program-or-help-develop-some-shows/237337/19 "2004-03-31T02:04:00Z")
Eve, tell them your online cult of devotees will all subscribe to their channel if they put you on the air. ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2004, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/viacom-re-announces-a-gay-tv-channel-program-or-help-develop-some-shows/237337/20 "2004-03-31T02:12:46Z")
> [@Little Nemo](#): > > Eve, tell them your online cult of devotees will all subscribe to their channel if they put you on the air. Yeah, right, the same cheapskates who won’t shell out five bucks for a message board? Some big butter an’ egg men _I_ gots. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/viacom-re-announces-a-gay-tv-channel-program-or-help-develop-some-shows/237337.md?page=2)