Going Lez for Sweeps: Gay for Ratings

Television networks write fleeting girl/girl relationships for the sake of ratings. And though we may like the on screen action, is this ultimately good or bad?

Marissa Cooper. Rebecca Logan. Samantha Jones. And now Claire Bennett aka The Cheerleader of Heroes have all joined the group of women who have kissed girls, and liked it--at least until television sweeps ended.  And though we may not know if Claire liked kissing her new roommate Gretchen, many are skeptical to see if this new developing plotline will disappear as soon as the season’s sweeps are over.

This ratings tactic which is becoming as American as apple pie is hitting network TV like the common cold, and though GLAAD may be happy for the visibility in these quick explorations in bi-curiosity, are these accurate portrayals of how girl/girl relationships play out, and even then, are these the portrayals that we want on television?

It seems that television has become the new version of the old-school lesbian pulp fiction. Straight-laced good girl meets a new mysterious vixen that looks at her in a way that’s more than just admiring her new pair of boots. Girl kisses girl for a dare and feels the kiss on her lips even long after the alcohol is gone. She goes with it for an episode or two, and sees where it takes her.

The OC’s Marissa turned gay for a couple of episodes when she met bad-girl Alex

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And just when things seems like they’re heading towards happily ever after, the lesbian reveals herself as a lazy, beer-guzzling, attitude-wielding maniac. That, or the girl realizes that gay isn’t the new black, and by the next episode, she’s back to her normal self, sans any trace of her recent intense encounter.

One Tree Hill’s Peyton was the love interest of Anna, a guest character who was written out shortly after sweeps

Or scenario number 2: Lesbian predator falls for unsuspecting girl who was just extra friendly at a sleepover. Lesbian gets her heart crushed, and is never seen again.  So maybe I’m exaggerating, but you get the point.

Willow and Tara remain a fan favorite even long after Buffy’s ending

And though not every relationship ends by the third episode, of the many curious encounters portrayed, we can count the lasting ones on one hand. Buffy the Vampire Slayer first pioneered the portrayal of a main character’s conflict and acceptance of her new-found sexuality. And though this trail was blazed years ago, few shows have seemed to follow in its path of retaining a queer main character in it’s cast. 

While I can pick apart these quickie romances, there’s still a positive highlight to all of this in the form of lesbian and bisexual visibility and let’s not forget, two hot TV stars making out. And though we may only get three seconds of a steamy kiss, is the storyline worth watching if we know that’s what writers are banking on?

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