Gimme an “L” MTV has adapted the British TV series Skins - which focuses on the lives of a group of
teens that partake in drug dealing, partying, and losing their virginity - into a trifecta of controversy.
Sponsors such as Subway, Proactiv and Taco Bell pulled advertising from the scripted
show – no, The Hills is off the air and isn’t affected by the boycott, and is losing Taco Bell really that bad? I digress . . . Aside from the U.K. version (now in its fifth season) not creating a firestorm (or flame) of hullabaloo, a chief difference is that a gay male character, Maxxie (Mitch Hewer), has morphed into a beautiful lesbian cheerleader Tea (Sofia Black D’Elia). While the boy never had a set of pom poms (that we know about), Maxxie was all about the joys of gay life. Although Tea is cut from the same cloth, she seems bored by regular life in general. Hopefully, she has met her match with her classmate Betty (Blaine Morris), after she
declares her feelings for Tea by kissing her in the school cafeteria – perhaps in honor of fish stick Friday? Anyhoo…Tea is an example of a common trend with teenaged lesbian characters on the tube, from the sometimes-bisexual duo of the now-former Cheerios Santana (Naya Rivera) and Brittany (Heather Morris) on Glee, to Wildcats’ resident lesbian cheerleader, Patty (Elena Esovolova).
Breaking the mold of pumped up sporting events is Shay Mitchell, as Emily Fields
on ABC Family’s (big emphasis on Family) Pretty Little Liars. Her character is one of four girls being terrorized by a mysterious figure, known as “A,” who’s continued threats persist one year after their clique leader Alison is murdered. So, it’s like a TV version of I Know What You Did Last Summer, and in Emily’s case it may
have included a visit to Lilith Fair - I’m just sayin’. As if dealing with the unnerving threats of “A” isn’t enough, she has to contend with
coming out to her less-than-receptive parents, having her girlfriend shipped off to a sobriety camp of sorts (here’s a hint; don’t drink the Kool-Aid, it’s straight-laced - if you get my drift), and even standing up to a bully. You go, girl! Literally. Let’s just hope these gals are wearing panties, just in case the saying “liar-liar pants on fire,” comes into play with “A’s” revenge tactics.
Cut. Print. That’s A Wrap! To the actors/actresses who came before the current faces of gay teen TV, I salute you.
In particular, I’d like to give a shout out to former Ugly Betty co-star Mark Indelicato, who kept us in stitches as Justin Suarez for four seasons on the show I still miss watching every week. T.V.’s changing landscape is a clear-cut example of; when one closet door closes, a bunch of new ones open up. Until next time, that’s all of the news that’s fit to print.
MARCH 2011 | RAGE monthly 29
Skins’ Tea (Sofia Black D’Elia) l (Michael J. Willett)
Wildcats’ Patty (Elena Esovolova)
90210’s Teddy Montgomery ( Trevor Donovan) & Ian (Kyle Riabko)
Pretty Little Liars’ Emily Fields (Shay Mitchell)
Ugly Betty’s Justin Suarez ( Mark Indelicato)
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