To my recollection, in TV history, there has only been one "anti-gay" gay TV show. It was back in the 80's and it was called Brothers. It was about three brothers who were "rough, hard, rowdy" type men. Except the youngest was gay. He was what I call, "anti-gay". He liked men, but he didn't swish, flame, lisp, sashay, scream like a queen, dress in outrageous clothes, was sexually promiscuous, horny, or have sex on the brain, or any of the stereotyped "gay" crap. The show lasted 5 years............FIVE years, which is an excellent run for any show........and yet, no one has done another one like it. WHY? All of the other gay shows I have ever seen are nothing more than soft core porn, with the possible exception of the British show Queer as Folk, although I had my doubts at some points. WHY aren't shows with just guys who like guys not popular? WHY are "gay" shows nothing but overly steroidal narcissists, who have no clue as to what life is about.....all they can do if find a hole to f**k....and thats about the extent of it. The ONLY shows I have seen with any type of real types of people in them, are ones that are so over the top on the stereotypes, which is sickening. I despise almost all gay shows and movies, because they are over the top on the stereotyping. I would think that gay film makers and TV makers would want the world to see that "gay" isn't anything more than a preference you were born with.......and nothing more. But I don't see it happening. Here is the first part of the first episode of Brothers from the 1980's... it's VERY bad quality, but I just put it out there to show you guys that you DONT have to be a stereotype to be gay. [YOUTUBE]PL3AA481BCDA403DC8[/YOUTUBE]
It's funny that you say queer as folk is the exception, cuz for me that's like the definition of softcore porn. I think most shows follow the storyline of one feminine gay boy and another masculine guy who was straight until he met him. It has gotten old.
I don't know British version of the QaF but American was very softcore like. First anti-gay I remember from TV series is Jack McPhee from Dawson's Creek. He was very normal teenager with normal teenager problems. There is also that guy from Melrose Place... he was a doctor or something and if my memory serves he had an affair with a military guy. So kinda in bullseye of gay problems of the time. Never fully watched the show tho' so can't be sure about whole thing.
Jack from Dawson's Creek is a great example. I think in some ways so is Ian from Shameless (US ver.). Yes he sleeps with a great abundance of men and works as a stripper, but all of his straight siblings are sex obsessed too. I don't watch a lot of TV but I think Blaine(?) from Glee was fairly normal (for a theatre/glee kid) too. And there's Nolan from Revenge, who's eccentric but not necessarily 'flaming'. There are plenty of examples out there, it just depends on if you're looking for them and how you're looking for them. It's TV, all the character have to be dramatic to some level or it's not interesting.
I lost Showtime, so I only saw up to Season 2 of Shameless. I would argue especially in the first two seasons, Mickey(Ian's fwb) would be considered a closeted gay guy or at the least bi. Don't spoil what happens after season 2 as I will be binge watching again eventually. Loved the showed, and it will be interesting to see how Karl and his younger sister will grow up.
Never watched a gay focused show for the same reasons, but there are some shows with believable people like in Six Feet Under to name one.
I don't know how popular the show is around EC, but on the show "The Night Shift" one of the main characters, Drew Allister, is a gay guy but he acts nothing like it. He's pretty masculine, he was in the army and in training to become a ranger, he fights, and he has a military boyfriend. Overall, not a stereotypical gay guy in the slightest.
Brooklyn nine-nine has a major character who is gay, Captain Holt, who exhibits approximately zero of the common stereotypes, is very good at his job and a really good guy all around, and is hilariously deadpan always. It's probably the most positive and non-stereotypical portrayal of a gay man I've come across on TV.
In queer as folk the usa version other than emmett and melaine no body followed a sterotype Lensi was a lipstick lesbain Ben was a very normal profoser Vick was your average old man Ted is the normal guy next door Justin is a very normal teenager ---------- Post added 16th Feb 2015 at 01:11 PM ---------- But sex scenes in bed rooms and bablyon are like more than just soft porn But really the show is a big hit the story and all the five seasons are worth watching !
LOL, except for Brian. He had to score every night. Justin was also an artist though, but he was vers. in bed. Ted wasn't stereotypical as an accountant, but the gay porn company bit was a little stereotypical. Michael Novotny was always quirky and owned the comic bookstore. He is the least stereotypical gay guy out of all of them. Doesn't like to sleep around and doesn't get HIV. He parties but is mostly under control and works in retail before pursuing his dream.
Ted looks more like those unlucky guys in drama shows who is keft alone and feeling lost Yeah your right anout mikey being plain normal But hey Dr.David was a hell of a doctor ! He is to die for (!)