Could Canon Slash Work?

Again, Brothers & Sisters is on ABC, one of the more liberal channels. Look your acting as if I, personally am against slash. I in no way am against slash. I just don't know if it can survive. I think canon slash, when done properly can flourish. But when a show does slash for the sake of being different or for the sake of the shock factor, it ends up falling flat. I'm not saying any of the shows mentioned in the few posts above have done that, I'm just saying with a topic this taboo it had to be done with care.
 
I'm sorry you feel like I care whether or not you personally like slash or love slash or want to abolish it all together. I don't. I do, however, like to bat these ideas around a while to see if I can understand where you're coming from.

So, are you suggesting that homosexually just can't be done well on CBS? That this particular network is the only thing keeping these topics from being properly addressed in a crime drama? I'm also not aware of any shows that have brought up homosexuality for "shock value". Do you have an example?

It seems glaring to me that if homosexuality was mentioned with some degree of maturity more often, any "shock value" it might have had would quickly fade and isn't that for the better?

I'm not really concerned with which major networks are more likely to embrace it. NBC, ABC, CBS, FOX etc. are major networks and have the potential to reach a similar scale of audiences, I'm more interested in why they're willing only depict such a narrow view of homosexual characters. They can be lawyers and decorators and occasionally medical professionals but God forbid we put the law in their hands. Why is nothing so terrifying as a gay with a badge and a gun?
 
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I'm going to ignore the attacks that so eagerly put towards me.

What I'm saying is, can you name a show on CSI that has survived with a prominent homosexual couple on it?

I am not saying CBS is keeping it from happening. I'm saying THAT IN MY OPINION they are the most conservative and seem to be the one least likely to do something like it.

This is all strictly opinion. If you disagree, that's fine. But I expect some respect. I have not done anything personally to you to deserve such hostility.

And I don't have an example of the "shock value" example, I was just tossing it around as a possibility.

I have no problem with a gun-toting homosexual. I am in no way a homophobe so you suggesting so, is insulting and ridiculous.
 
They can be lawyers and decorators and occasionally medical professionals but God forbid we put the law in their hands. Why is nothing so terrifying as a gay with a badge and a gun?
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How many cops are in NYC? There's absolutely no way that none of them are gay so why should crime dramas or the networks ignore it? Six Feet Under was a great show on HBO and they had a gay couple on there and OMG, one of them was a cop. It was written well and there was no 'shock value'. It was part of the show and they adopted a couple boys and eventually got married.

So, are you suggesting that homosexually just can't be done well on CBS? That this particular network is the only thing keeping these topics from being properly addressed in a crime drama?
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I'm not so sure about the network but I'll use NY as an example since it's my favorite of the CSI shows. The writers can't even pull off Danny and Lindsay as convincing, not to mention they have zero chemistry. I have no faith in them that they could write a gay couple and not screw it up. NY says they're all about the personal aspects then why not go there. They just had to be the first CSI show to have a baby so why not be the first CSI show to have a gay couple or at least a gay character?
 
1CSIMFan said:
How many cops are in NYC? There's absolutely no way that none of them are gay so why should crime dramas or the networks ignore it? Six Feet Under was a great show on HBO and they had a gay couple on there and OMG, one of them was a cop. It was written well and there was no 'shock value'. It was part of the show and they adopted a couple boys and eventually got married.
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I never really watched Six Feet Under more than a couple of times, but I did NOT know there was actually a gay cop character! I might just have to look into this ASAP! :D
 
I think everybody just needs to settle down a bit. I see a debate going on, or at least it was a debate. Everybody in this thread has a right to question the view of another so they can get a better understanding of where the other person is coming from. That's part of a debate and it does help if certain opinions (when they get specific) can be backed up by facts.

Now back on track:

I never really watched Six Feet Under more than a couple of times, but I did NOT know there was actually a gay cop character! I might just have to look into this ASAP! :D
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Indeed there was. It lasted throughout all six seasons of the show and like any couple, they had their ups and downs and a break up but in the end, they were together. They lived in LA and Keith was a cop while David was co-owner of his family's funeral home. CBS or any of the networks should take a look at that show to see how to handle a gay relationship.
 
1CSIMFan said:
Indeed there was. It lasted throughout all six seasons of the show and like any couple, they had their ups and downs and a break up but in the end, they were together. They lived in LA and Keith was a cop while David was co-owner of his family's funeral home. CBS or any of the networks should take a look at that show to see how to handle a gay relationship.
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That's awesome, I knew the main character David was gay but I hadn't been watching consistently enough to see him in any romantic relationships.

I really do enjoy this discussion at it's heart so I'm going to make this as clear as I know how, so I don't have to be bothered to include it in every post. Questioning an opinion is neither a personal attack NOR is it the accusation of homophobia. Respect does not mean I will fold my hand and agree to disagree. Continuing inquisition does not imply disrespect either. If I can't question a platform I don't understand I'm never going to be any closer to comprehending it.

so.. in terms of this civil discussion. CBS is a conservative network, as are a few others, I wouldn't begin to deny that, so yah, they might be the last network to ever do a good job of working realistic homosexual characters into a show. If that's the only argument you're making here then I guess we agree there.

I'm also talking about a similar but somewhat separate idea; that is, why we (not YOU individually) are more uncomfortable with the concept of a minority (this minority in particular) playing the hero in a drama. Like 1CSIMFan mentioned Six Feet Under pulled it off really well, which is great! And I love to see it happen, but I think we all ought to be open to this idea on the major networks too. (ALL major networks, not any particular one)
 
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I think Six Feet Under pulled it off because it was on cable. Basic networks are a different story, or at least CBS is. You can tell they lean more towards a different audience. I think a canon slash on a CBS show or even CSI would be great. I just hope it doesn't raise any unnecessary conflict amongst people. Since it is a taboo topic and all.
 
I will say this, most of the shows mentioned like Six Feet Under are done on cable TV. As was Queer As Folk. You can get away with so much more on cable then you can network TV. IMO

Torchwood is british. The UK and Europe are way more tolerant than america is. I'm talking in general here, not including everyone.

Do I think it could work, sure. There was Will and Grace, after all. Anyway you look at it, the USA is not ready to take that leap and have gay and/or lesbian couples on network TV. There are too many 'groups' out there that would threaten advertisers with boycotts.

I personally think it's nuts. I'd love to see a gay and/or lesbian couple be canon. Not a perceived or imagined one, but one that is actually created for a show.

I could see the Fox network trying something, they seem to take risks.

However, until the majority of America accepts gays and lesbians, it will be along time coming to see any slash as canon. Though I hope I'm wrong.
 
speedystokesgirl said:
I will say this, most of the shows mentioned like Six Feet Under are done on cable TV. As was Queer As Folk. You can get away with so much more on cable then you can network TV. IMO

Torchwood is british. The UK and Europe are way more tolerant than america is. I'm talking in general here, not including everyone.

Do I think it could work, sure. There was Will and Grace, after all. Anyway you look at it, the USA is not ready to take that leap and have gay and/or lesbian couples on network TV. There are too many 'groups' out there that would threaten advertisers with boycotts.

I personally think it's nuts. I'd love to see a gay and/or lesbian couple be canon. Not a perceived or imagined one, but one that is actually created for a show.

I could see the Fox network trying something, they seem to take risks.

However, until the majority of America accepts gays and lesbians, it will be along time coming to see any slash as canon. Though I hope I'm wrong.
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Thank you! Someone who understands reasoning.

The fact of the matter is, cable can get away with SOOO much more than ABC, FOX, NBC, and CBS. I mean even Rescue Me on FX and Entourage on HBO are all intensly vulgar shows that can get away with almost anything, including canon slash. As speedystokes saud, America is not ready for it. I think it's sad but it's a reality.
 
What I wanna know is, what's the problem with the networks that they're afraid to write canon slash? As for raiding unnecessary conflict just look at DL. Hasn't that raised enough conflict among people and it's a hetero relationship? Sure, the first time there is a canon slash couple it will be a hot topic but eventually people will get used to it just like they get used to everything else.

Are you saying that the only reason Six Feet Under pulled it off was because it was on cable? I'm not so sure I agree with that. I think it has a lot to do with the writing. Maybe the Six Feet Under writers could write it well into a CSI show and the CSI writers would totally screw it up on HBO too. I think the writing would be a big part of it, not whether it's on cable or not.
 
Yes, I understand you point, but do you really think a show like Queer as folk or The L Word or Six Feet Under could really survive on network TV? Even with good writing, it still would be at threat. Wanting it to survive and it actually having the potentia to survive are two different thoughts. I think you want it to survive, but who knows if it actually could? That is the reason there are shows like Queer as Flok and Six Feet Under on HBO and Showtime because that network isn't as strict.
 
Kimbo08 said:
speedystokesgirl said:
I will say this, most of the shows mentioned like Six Feet Under are done on cable TV. As was Queer As Folk. You can get away with so much more on cable then you can network TV. IMO

Torchwood is british. The UK and Europe are way more tolerant than america is. I'm talking in general here, not including everyone.

Do I think it could work, sure. There was Will and Grace, after all. Anyway you look at it, the USA is not ready to take that leap and have gay and/or lesbian couples on network TV. There are too many 'groups' out there that would threaten advertisers with boycotts.

I personally think it's nuts. I'd love to see a gay and/or lesbian couple be canon. Not a perceived or imagined one, but one that is actually created for a show.

I could see the Fox network trying something, they seem to take risks.

However, until the majority of America accepts gays and lesbians, it will be along time coming to see any slash as canon. Though I hope I'm wrong.
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Thank you! Someone who understands reasoning.

The fact of the matter is, cable can get away with SOOO much more than ABC, FOX, NBC, and CBS. I mean even Rescue Me on FX and Entourage on HBO are all intensly vulgar shows that can get away with almost anything, including canon slash. As speedystokes saud, America is not ready for it. I think it's sad but it's a reality.
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I've never suggested cable can't "get away with more" and I'm not trying to debate that. I'm trying to suggest that homosexuality isn't vulgar and therefore shouldn't be relegated to exist solely on shows that also allow full frontal nudity and R-Language. That it is possible to depict homosexuality in a mature way without a show immediately becoming as adult as QAF.

It's almost like suggesting homosexuality means something pornographic to some. I want to know why PG-13 level homosexuality is thought as something to be "gotten away with", in the first place.
 
Okay. Wow. I'm not saying that. I'm saying that that is the bototm line. It's not okay, but it is the way it is perceived. It's not right. I think it belongs on network television with other ships, I see nothing wrong with that. You're issue isn't with me, it's with the risk that Canon Slash may not work to some people.
 
OK, I think we ALL need a refresher of what this thread is about (including myself). Here is a link to the opening post and I've copy/pasted it below:

Okay, first of all, I don't want this to turn into an "I hate slash! You guys are evil!" thread. I'm not starting this thread to find out who likes slash. Rather, I'm interested in how a potential same-sex couple on one of the shows would work.

We even have a character--Bobby Dawson--who was intended to have been outed on the show. Unfortunately, that didn't happen. My question is this: What if the writers on one of the CSIs decided to try their hand at a slash (same-sex) couple? Could the writers pull it off? How would it play out?

So the point of this thread was if you think the writers could pull of writing a slash couple and how you think it would play out.
 
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