Conservatives Trying To Squash ABC Sitcom About Gay Teen Before It Even Starts
Leaders of at least two conservative groups are trying to shut down an ABC sitcom loosely based on Dan Savage's life before it even gets off the ground, claiming the 50-year-old activist's "religious bigotry and personal offensiveness" are not TV-friendly.
The show, tentatively titled "The Real O'Neals" and starring Martha Plimpton, is currently in production as one of 12 comedy pilots the network is considering. Though it's not explicitly based on Savage's life, he claims the show was inspired by a meeting he once had with ABC executives who inquired about "aspects of his childhood."
Officially, the show's premise is that of "a family upended when a teenage son comes out as gay."
The AP reports that Tony Perkins and Brent Bozell, presidents of The Media Research Center and Family Research Council respectively, claim "their members have sent more than 21,000 postcards and made more than 4,000 telephone calls" demanding ABC cancel the show altogether.
In a letter, Bozell claimed Savage's sexuality is not the main concern. "They're choosing him for his signature, which is religious bigotry and personal offensiveness, not because he's gay," he said. "There are a thousand and one gay people they could have chosen."
Though Savage admits the show may have initially been inspired by his writing and experiences, he says the concept "has evolved throughout the development process and it wouldn't be accurate to describe it as autobiographical."
Even still, Bozell claims he wouldn't support the show if Savage wasn't involved."Where is the market demand for this?" he asked.
ABC hasn't commented on the situation and likely won't. For his part, Savage called the campaign "misdirected, as the show isn't by me — I'm not one of the writers — and it isn't about me."
