Post by pavel on Jan 10, 2016 17:18:15 GMT -6
PASADENA, Calif. (AP) — A producer for ABC's new sitcom "The Real O'Neals" wanted a gay actor for the role of a teenager who comes out to his shocked Catholic family but was prevented by a law designed to protect gays and lesbians from asking those auditioning about their sexual orientation.
"It was very important to me and I was in a panic," said Todd Holland, an executive producer for the series that debuts March 2 before settling into a regular Tuesday time slot a week later.
Holland got his wish. Noah Galvin, the 21-year-old actor selected to play the Kenny character, is not only gay but eager to be an advocate for gay rights and defender of a show that took political heat even before ABC decided to pick up the pilot to make a series.
The story is loosely based on the upbringing of Dan Savage, author of the "Savage Love" sex advice column. His very involvement infuriated conservative groups, who regard Savage as an anti-religious bigot. They launched an unsuccessful campaign last spring to convince ABC executives not to pick up the show.
"As a gay man, this is a landmark role on network television," Holland said. "It should not be played by a straight man pretending to be gay."
Read more: kdhnews.com/living/ae/gay-actor-takes-role-of-gay-character-in-controversial-show/article_7e078c84-7e94-5926-87a4-d3f6007a5572.html
Cross-posted on the SLIHH sub-board.
"It was very important to me and I was in a panic," said Todd Holland, an executive producer for the series that debuts March 2 before settling into a regular Tuesday time slot a week later.
Holland got his wish. Noah Galvin, the 21-year-old actor selected to play the Kenny character, is not only gay but eager to be an advocate for gay rights and defender of a show that took political heat even before ABC decided to pick up the pilot to make a series.
The story is loosely based on the upbringing of Dan Savage, author of the "Savage Love" sex advice column. His very involvement infuriated conservative groups, who regard Savage as an anti-religious bigot. They launched an unsuccessful campaign last spring to convince ABC executives not to pick up the show.
"As a gay man, this is a landmark role on network television," Holland said. "It should not be played by a straight man pretending to be gay."
Read more: kdhnews.com/living/ae/gay-actor-takes-role-of-gay-character-in-controversial-show/article_7e078c84-7e94-5926-87a4-d3f6007a5572.html
Cross-posted on the SLIHH sub-board.