# 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:** 16\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Netbrian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/71e660/32.png) [@Netbrian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Netbrian)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2004, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/viacom-re-announces-a-gay-tv-channel-program-or-help-develop-some-shows/237337/41 "2004-03-31T20:37:12Z")
> [@Hamish](#): > > How about some Saturday morning cartoons? Japan has a whole industry of queer-themed animation. It’s hard to get a gay kiss in prime time on mainstream American television, while an anime aimed at teenagers – Maho Tsukai Tai – has a gay kiss in the opening credits. You could have Sailor Moon and Card Captor Sakura uncut. If they plan to indeed go the anime route, there’s no way I’m letting them get away without showing Revolutionary Girl Utena, even without the rather bizzare movie (bizzare relative to the series anyhow). ---
**Author:** ![Hamish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a5b964/32.png) [@Hamish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hamish)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2004, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/viacom-re-announces-a-gay-tv-channel-program-or-help-develop-some-shows/237337/42 "2004-03-31T20:49:07Z")
> [@Netbrian](#): > > If they plan to indeed go the anime route, there’s no way I’m letting them get away without showing Revolutionary Girl Utena, even without the rather bizzare movie (bizzare relative to the series anyhow). Ditto. Although I think an older audience would get more out of Utena. I was thinking saturday morning cartoons = little kids. ---
**Author:** ![xizor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xizor/32/102_2.png) [@xizor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xizor)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2004, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/viacom-re-announces-a-gay-tv-channel-program-or-help-develop-some-shows/237337/43 "2004-03-31T21:26:34Z")
I hear it is going to be called “The Pride Channel”. They have already sent me notepads and stuff with the logo on it. Unless this is from a different gay cable channel… ---
**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, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/viacom-re-announces-a-gay-tv-channel-program-or-help-develop-some-shows/237337/44 "2004-03-31T21:30:55Z")
The news releases I read referred to “Outlet” as the proposed name. ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2004, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/viacom-re-announces-a-gay-tv-channel-program-or-help-develop-some-shows/237337/45 "2004-03-31T21:52:04Z")
> [@xizor](#): > > I hear it is going to be called “The Pride Channel”. They have already sent me notepads and stuff with the logo on it. Unless this is from a different gay cable channel… What the hell? How do I get on the mailing lists to get the free shit? ---
**Author:** ![DocCathode](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doccathode/32/18773_2.png) [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2004, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/viacom-re-announces-a-gay-tv-channel-program-or-help-develop-some-shows/237337/46 "2004-03-31T22:44:44Z")
Outlet?!? Out-let?! I shudder. If that name is truly emblematic of the channel, I expect regular weather updates informing us that it’s raining men. “This just in- According to our sources [sub]What sources now?[/sub], at just about half past ten, for the first time in history it’s gonna start raining men!”\* At which point the anchor will step out from behind the desk, tear away the suit to reveal plastic yellow boxers and dance. \*I don’t know why, but I love that song. ---
**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 31, 2004, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/viacom-re-announces-a-gay-tv-channel-program-or-help-develop-some-shows/237337/47 "2004-03-31T23:26:40Z")
> [@threeorange](#): > > IIRC, that atrocity _was_ inflicted by the WB. Nope. It was [UPN](http://www.tvtome.com/HomeboysinOuterSpace/). ---
**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, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/viacom-re-announces-a-gay-tv-channel-program-or-help-develop-some-shows/237337/48 "2004-03-31T23:27:58Z")
> [@Sampiro](#): > > …You may want to consider having this moved to _Cafe Society_… After reading **Sampiro** ’s very entertaining post that directly preceded your recommendation, I think I liked it better in IMHO. But hey, if they move recipes here, who am I to argue? > [@lieu](#): > > (Re: Tales from the Men’s Room) > Or even Tails from the Men’s Room If the BBC steals the concept, they’ll entitle it Tales (or Tales) From the Loo. ---
**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, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/viacom-re-announces-a-gay-tv-channel-program-or-help-develop-some-shows/237337/49 "2004-03-31T23:39:08Z")
> [@Eve](#): > > The news releases I read referred to “Outlet” as the proposed name. I kinda like GLBTv. Especially if xizor’s “Pride Channel” info is accurate – Dear God, could anything be more cliche’d than naming it the Pride Channel. Oops, I forgot we were discussing television, what was I thinking? ---
**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, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/viacom-re-announces-a-gay-tv-channel-program-or-help-develop-some-shows/237337/50 "2004-03-31T23:47:30Z")
> [@Otto](#): > > What the hell? How do I get on the mailing lists to get the free shit? No mailing list required, [just get a dumptruck down to Gilbert, AZ](http://www.azcentral.com/home/garden/articles/1025ev10fill25b.html) ---
**Author:** ![xizor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xizor/32/102_2.png) [@xizor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xizor)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2004, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/viacom-re-announces-a-gay-tv-channel-program-or-help-develop-some-shows/237337/51 "2004-04-05T20:05:55Z")
> [@Otto](#): > > What the hell? How do I get on the mailing lists to get the free shit? Step 1). Get a job in the Cable TV industry. Step 2). Prepare to be flooded with crap from EVERY wanna be cable channel. The [Anime Network](http://www.theanimenetwork.com/index.html)? [Reality Central](http://www.realitycentral.com/index.aspx)? As Dave Barry says, I swear I am not making this up. ---
**Author:** ![St\_Ides](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ccd318/32.png) [@St\_Ides](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/St_Ides)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2004, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/viacom-re-announces-a-gay-tv-channel-program-or-help-develop-some-shows/237337/52 "2004-04-05T20:53:34Z")
[It’s been done.](http://www.pridevisiontv.com/) We’ve had it as a digital channel in Canada for quite a while. Just watch out for the late night gay porn, though I have been known to watch the “all-female cast” movies. ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Bean](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_bean/32/1760_2.png) [@Green\_Bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Bean)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2004, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/viacom-re-announces-a-gay-tv-channel-program-or-help-develop-some-shows/237337/53 "2004-04-06T03:15:23Z")
I would like to see a show that explores some of the less obvious problems and issues related to being a GLBT person. I became interested in this after a lesbian friend told me about some health issues that hit the lesbian community harder than (or differently than) the general female population. Lesbians seem to be less likely to have health insurance. For a whole host of reasons, they often end up in marginalized or low-paying jobs without benefits. (The economic implications of being gay would make for some great shows, too.) Lesbians can’t get bennies by marrying, and partner benefits aren’t too common. And when they see a doctor, they are faced with a choice of whether to tell the doctor that they are lesbians. In some cases, this can be relevant to them receiving proper treatment. And much of the research on women’s health assumes that the “average” woman has given birth. Obviously, a significantly smaller percentage of lesbians have given birth. Again, this can be relevant. And if plain ol’ lesbians have these problems with health care, I can’t imagine what kinds of problems some others must have! Anyway, I think a series exploring these and other issues would be really interesting. And, frankly, things like this would give a more solid _raison d’etre_ for the channel than a passel of gay-themed sitcoms. I think one of the reasons that Lifetime is so frequently ridiculed is that it says it’s “for women,” but doesn’t do anything but show a lot of boring re-runs and make goopy movies-of-the-week. If that’s their thing, fine, but it would be better if they actually did some _useful and informative_ woman-themed programming. I would also like to see a show on GLBT history. I’ve read quite a few books on the subject, like _Gay New York_ and _Odd Girls and Twilight Lovers_. That’s some interesting stuff! The shows could be an hour long, and focus on one topic or person–sort of like those shows on the History channel. Another possibility would be a news show specifically dealing with GLBT issues. Imagine a Crossfire-type show, but without the built-in adversarial situation. You could have 4-6 hosts, making sure that they were from a variety of orientations. Every host wouldn’t necessarily be on every show. The format could be flexible, but it could generally start with a briefing of relevant news stories. Then the hosts could discuss whatever issues are on the table. They could bring in guests, just like they do on Crossfire. And like Crossfire, they could intersperse the “serious” and “important” stuff with some goofy and fun stuff. With lively hosts who aren’t afraid to argue, but who are good humored about it, this could be a really great show. And what about an original science fiction series? There are any number of possibilities. Oo! Here’s a premise: As it turns out, homosexuals really are out to convert straight people. Fast forward 100 years or so. The recruitment drive has worked out a little _too_ well. Gays are in the majority, but their biological reproduction rate is about the same as it is now. Oops. The population is dropping fast. But nobody (other than a few kooks) wants to force women to breed. What to do? Meanwhile, society has become significantly less child-centric, leading to problems for those people, gay and straight, who do have children. It could play out in school funding, safety regulations, or even just reduced tolerance for kids in general. Hmm…it would be interesting if society became polarized along parent/non-parent lines. And what if the countries we now call “third world” continue to have high population growth? How would that play out? Eh, the possibilities are endless! Gay sci fi! I love it! ---
**Author:** ![DocCathode](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doccathode/32/18773_2.png) [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2004, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/viacom-re-announces-a-gay-tv-channel-program-or-help-develop-some-shows/237337/54 "2004-04-06T21:40:44Z")
> [@Green Bean](#): > > And what about an original science fiction series? There are any number of possibilities. Oo! Here’s a premise: As it turns out, homosexuals really are out to convert straight people. Fast forward 100 years or so. The recruitment drive has worked out a little _too_ well. Gays are in the majority, but their biological reproduction rate is about the same as it is now. Oops. The population is dropping fast. > Eh, the possibilities are endless! Gay sci fi! I love it! I recommend Harry Harrison’s story The Final Encounter. The human race has successfully colonized numerous worlds. One of these has an all male population. Their science allows two men to combine their genetic material and produce offspring, without need for a woman. One of the protagonists is from this world. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2004, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/viacom-re-announces-a-gay-tv-channel-program-or-help-develop-some-shows/237337/55 "2004-04-06T22:04:31Z")
> [@DocCathode](#): > > I recommend Harry Harrison’s story The Final Encounter. The human race has successfully colonized numerous worlds. One of these has an all male population. Their science allows two men to combine their genetic material and produce offspring, without need for a woman. One of the protagonists is from this world. Lois McMaster Bujold has a similar world in her Miles Vorkosigan extended universe, as detailed in _Ethan of Athos_. What cracks me up is that the world was founded by hard-core right-wing loony-tunes religious types, who saw women as the source of all sin, and founded a planet where they could outlaw them, and live “without sin.” A few generations down the line, and their religious sanctuary has turned into Planet Fire Island. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![DocCathode](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doccathode/32/18773_2.png) [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2004, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/viacom-re-announces-a-gay-tv-channel-program-or-help-develop-some-shows/237337/56 "2004-04-06T22:42:55Z")
Continuing the hijack I’d really like to see an adaptation of LeGuinn’s Left Hand Of Darkness. The people of Gethen are, most of the time, neuters. But, for a few days each month, a Gethenian develops sexual desire and a gender. A Gethenian may be the father of a child and the mother of another. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/viacom-re-announces-a-gay-tv-channel-program-or-help-develop-some-shows/237337.md?page=2)