"Gimme Sugar"... Gimme a Break!

So I know it's a *real* big step for queers everywhere, now that we have our very own cable network. But with it's newest episodic gem, "Gimme Sugar", I think Logo has proven that just because it's "LGBT" content doesn't mean it's progressive for our communities...let alone palatable in any respect.

[Len]

LOGO has never been "ours" always MTV's and has always shown through blatantly! You were expecting what???? We got basic commercial TV with a few role changes, notice I said a few. I do not recommend LOGO to anyone. A huge disappointment as far as this gay man is concerned.

[ChefJJ]

Agree.. I wonder what the problem is? Is it the lack of writers or actors or funding?

[Amanda]

Gimme Sugar is pathetic. Must be written by hetero men. Much of LOGO seems to be geared towards men in general. More erectile dysfuntion commercials would really help the community. I do not hate men however I tire of the image put out by logo about our community as a whole. Shows like Gimme Sugar just reinforce all of the incorrect presumptions about some of us.

[Christine]

*sigh* If only I could say I haven't been expecting more. But as one can see from most of my recent blogs, this one included, I am rather disgusted by the acculturation and capitalization of queer content. In the past few years, we've had a chance to do something really neat, really progressive...Instead we've gone the way of every other addition to the ranks of monetizable cable. I'm sad to see that too many of in the gay community turned demographic have given over rights to their image and likeness for the sake of being on tv...no matter what it looks like. I know it's been a long hard rode of being "othered" and a lot of people are desperate to assimilate...but we still have SO much work to do for our communities and for dominant culture as well. I'm scared to think what inspiration programming like this is giving our queer youth? These viewers are the next generation of activists we need.

[Imprtnrd]

Amanda wrote:

Gimme Sugar is pathetic. Must be written by hetero men. Much of LOGO seems to be geared towards men in general. More erectile dysfuntion commercials would really help the community. I do not hate men however I tire of the image put out by logo about our community as a whole. Shows like Gimme Sugar just reinforce all of the incorrect presumptions about some of us.

Well, I guess we are not missing out on anything.....we have Time Warner and no LOGO, if there is, it cost extra. What do they do stereotype?

[luckygirl1969]

Amanda wrote:

Shows like Gimme Sugar just reinforce all of the incorrect presumptions about some of us.

Correction: Shows like Gimme Sugar just reinforce all of the incorrect presumptions about MOST of us! I'm sure I speak for many when I say that that sad excuse for a reality show doesn't reflect my life in the least.

[FrankIrvingstone d]

The erectile dysfunction ads are more than likely from the local cable company.

LOGO is a great channel and as a homosexual I am glad for it.

In the end LOGO will do more good for our equal rights than GLADD.

[FrankIrvingstone d]

So what cable channels do you recommend out there in West Virginia?

Len wrote:

LOGO has never been "ours" always MTV's and has always shown through blatantly! You were expecting what???? We got basic commercial TV with a few role changes, notice I said a few. I do not recommend LOGO to anyone. A huge disappointment as far as this gay man is concerned.

[indpt]

I applaud Viacom for adding a station targeting the LGBT community. They did a great with thevisible vote 08. They support many websites I like such as Tripout, AfterEllen, 365gay and AfterElton. I admit they seem to air some shows that reinforce negative stereotypes. In their letter to share holders they refer to Logo as an emerging brand… So it may be that they are open to suggestions to improve their programming. I have thanked them for their support and communicated my concerns. Perhaps they will listen since we are their targeted market and they are in it to make money. More viewers = more money.

[dante2810]

I have not watched MTV since the 80's.
I have never watched LOGO because we do not have it here either (Time Warner) so I cannot give an opinion on shows on it...

The one thing that we sometimes forget as viewers is that many of these shows are meant to be fantasy, an escape from our own day to day lives. Granted I would not particularly care to watch a show that expressed my routine since it would be nothing new for me. But a show that depicts a lifestyle or situation that I will never find myself in at least allows me to live a vicarious life for 30 or 60 minutes.

Comedian J.J Walker (remember Good Times sitcom?) was on our local morning radio show last year (he was in town to perform at local comedy club) and they got on the topic of his old sit com.
He stated, in a very articulate and serious way, that we will never see classic sitcoms like Good Times, What's Happening, The Jefferson's, Sanford and Son etc because no body want to project the African American community in that way anymore. Thus you then had the Cosby's and Fresh Prince that show what many want to aspire too (well off, successful, educated, etc.)... he made very good sense.

I tend to see that in our own Gay themed shows. We all know what our lives are like, but many want to be able to see what they could be like or the wish they were like. Remember, TV is an escape mechanism. Hell I watch Stargate Atlantis and wonder what it would be like to travel to other worlds....

What they should do is put on some "reality" shows, not as scripted as what we see but pick out three or four gay couples and families and follow them for a season, showing everyone that we have just as many concerns, fears, joyous moments and heartache as anyone else. Plus you also can show the stuff we, as gays (LBT too) and gay couples, go thru because we are who we are including the discrimination we face, the rude responses from people when they realized that those two guys are the fathers of those two kids, and so on...

Just my two cents.

[Len]

Not LOGO. So you wanna say what wonderful TV you have in NJ? I was not aware that crap TV was related to a state. So you identify with the commercial 20 something, body beautiful, party druggie, cookie-cutter queer on LOGO eh? Not me.

FrankIrvingstoned wrote:

So what cable channels do you recommend out there in West Virginia?
<quoted text>

[indpt]

dante2810 wrote:

I have not watched MTV since the 80's.
I have never watched LOGO because we do not have it here either (Time Warner) so I cannot give an opinion on shows on it...
The one thing that we sometimes forget as viewers is that many of these shows are meant to be fantasy, an escape from our own day to day lives. Granted I would not particularly care to watch a show that expressed my routine since it would be nothing new for me. But a show that depicts a lifestyle or situation that I will never find myself in at least allows me to live a vicarious life for 30 or 60 minutes.
Comedian J.J Walker (remember Good Times sitcom?) was on our local morning radio show last year (he was in town to perform at local comedy club) and they got on the topic of his old sit com.
He stated, in a very articulate and serious way, that we will never see classic sitcoms like Good Times, What's Happening, The Jefferson's, Sanford and Son etc because no body want to project the African American community in that way anymore. Thus you then had the Cosby's and Fresh Prince that show what many want to aspire too (well off, successful, educated, etc.)... he made very good sense.
I tend to see that in our own Gay themed shows. We all know what our lives are like, but many want to be able to see what they could be like or the wish they were like. Remember, TV is an escape mechanism. Hell I watch Stargate Atlantis and wonder what it would be like to travel to other worlds....
What they should do is put on some "reality" shows, not as scripted as what we see but pick out three or four gay couples and families and follow them for a season, showing everyone that we have just as many concerns, fears, joyous moments and heartache as anyone else. Plus you also can show the stuff we, as gays (LBT too) and gay couples, go thru because we are who we are including the discrimination we face, the rude responses from people when they realized that those two guys are the fathers of those two kids, and so on...
Just my two cents.

I agree TV is fantasy and a comical escape. Hell we gotta plenty of material if we can't laugh at ourselves well .. Anyway Logo has some very good shows but others like gimme sugar, a reality show, emphasizes stupid behavior and seems more like a lesbian show written for straight guys. Again I appreciate the efforts of Logo and let them know what I would like to see on TV. Hey you want to volunteer for the reality show??

[lndychick]

I have to remind myself that the L Word is just a TV show too and not get irritated by the pretty pretty girls, outlandish plots, etc.

My Gay Husband was hooked on Noah's Ark, but he was honest about loving the pretty men not the plots.

[StevenFL]

I have had LOGO for the past 2 years here in Tampa Bay. In Tampa, Brighthouse Cable has tounted this as huge, innovactive, provactive, and an exciting new realm for us.

Really? I am far from impressed. I have found more insightful programming on Lifetime for Women, Bravo, and SciFi and that is sad that I can more readily identify with those networks that do not use the gimmick of sexuality are it's main marketing forte in this.

My mother, whom of which I visited in West Virginia, watched LOGO on several occasions and stated that it was not showing enough programming for the GLBT community. Quite telling when a straight person says that.

[StevenFL]

Len wrote:

Not LOGO. So you wanna say what wonderful TV you have in NJ? I was not aware that crap TV was related to a state. So you identify with the commercial 20 something, body beautiful, party druggie, cookie-cutter queer on LOGO eh? Not me.
<quoted text>

West Virginia is not that backwards. I lived in Martinsburg for 21 years (all youth), but even when I went back home, my mother had LOGO and she was not impressed. Not so much about the gay facet, just about the fact there was not enough gay people or issues on the network. Yes, my mother is a proud, card carrying member of PFLAG. If I lived the "Queer as Folk" life, I would be Michael and my mother would be Debbie.

[StevenFL]

FrankIrvingstoned wrote:

So what cable channels do you recommend out there in West Virginia?
<quoted text>

LOGO is in West Virginia. If not, then try BRAVO, Lifetime for Women (no joke, they support gays) and the Oxygen Network.

[yoWA]

I love LOGO~

[FuckTheNewLOGOsh ows]

Seriously, watching Gimme Sugar is annoying. Devonee or whatever her name is is a stupid annoying heterophobic chick and a complete and total bitch what? She cries and sobs about losing her girlfriend even though shes a flirty slut whore? Seriously I've seen this crap too many times in STRAIGHT relationships, i don't need it on a network that USE to be halfway decent.
I LOVE to watch Mean Girls, seriously I do get caught up watching that show, it's really good and I'm glad it got shipped over to America. Queer As Folk? I loved it when it was on Showtime, because Debby is only good when she can have an uncensored swearing mouth. The Graham Norton Anthology is GREAT too bad they HARDLY AIR IT ANY MORE. Ugh I can't remember the wedding show they had, the second season had Elvira Kurt as the host but that was a great show and some of the episodes made me cry because I want to be able to marry my partner in the future.
Point is, MTV needs to seriously pay attention to their audience before they lose money on this network. TransAmerican Love Story was adorable but really, Shirts And Skins, Gimme Sugar, Queer As Folk... I think I should just give up hope :(. Does anyone else agree?