Utah station KSL-TV is criticized after deciding not to air Ryan Murphy's new comedy about a gay couple, reasoning, 'This program simply feels inappropriate on several dimensions.'
- Aug 27, 2012
AceShowbiz - GLAAD is blasting KSL-TV, the NBC-affiliated television station in Salt Lake City, Utah, for refusing to air "The New Normal". Via a statement, the group's president Herndon Graddick says, "While audiences, critics and advertisers have all supported LGBT stories, KSL is demonstrating how deeply out of touch it is with the rest of the country."
He also tries to reach out to Jeff Simpson, CEO of KSL's parent company, Bonneville International. "We invite Jeff Simpson to sit down with GLAAD and local LGBT families," Graddick adds. "We know that if he would, he would see that not only are our families normal, but by citing 'crude and rude' content and refusing to affirm LGBT families, KSL and Mr. Simpson are sending a dangerous message to Utah. They should make that right."
Ellen Barkin, who lands a role on the upcoming comedy, has also reacted to the boycott by KSL-TV. She tweeted, "Anyone in Utah interested in @NBCTheNewNormal please clog up @ksl5tv feed 4 their blatantly homophic decision 2 not air the show #KSLBigots." She wrote in another post, "Shame on u @kslcom not airing @NBCTheNewNormal So L&O SVU (rape & child murder) is ok? But loving gay couple having a baby is inappropriate?"
KSL-TV announced on Friday, August 24 that it decided not to broadcast "New Normal" this fall. "After viewing the pilot episode of The New Normal, we have made the decision to keep it off our fall schedule," Jeff Simpson told Deseret News. "For our brand, this program simply feels inappropriate on several dimensions, especially during family viewing time."
This is not the first time KSL-TV takes an unpopular move to show consistency with its mission. Back in 2011, the Mormon church-owned station banned "The Playboy Club" for promoting a brand that stands for pornography, so it reasoned.
Ryan Murphy-created "New Normal" itself centers on a homosexual couple who decides to use a surrogate to have a baby. It is scheduled to premiere Tuesday, September 11 at 9:30 P.M. on NBC.
One Million Moms group has earlier protested the show, claiming that the "program is damaging to our culture," and blasting NBC for "using public airwaves to continue to subject families to the decay of morals and values, and the sanctity of marriage in attempting to redefine marriage."
