Ah, the old "I have this friend" trick. It works so well, until you actually do have this friend who needs you to intervene on her behalf — a lesson Cassie learned on Lincoln Heights this week.

Cassie and her gay BFF, Stacy, have heard word that Kelly is a lesbian. Cassie thinks Stacy should just ask Kelly to prom, but Stacy doesn't even know if Kelly is actually gay! What to do? Send in your wingwoman, of course.

Just watch:

… continue reading

I have an analogy, but you have to stick with me to make it work.

I put a lot of effort into maintaining the suspension of disbelief in my life. Like, I'm pretty sure if I find the correct wardrobe or train platform, I could get to Narnia or Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. And as long as I don't think about it too hard, I can actually believe that TV show characters are real people. This week, my favorite gay show mentioned a character from my second-favorite gay show, and it almost blew the entire illusion.

On Gossip Girl, Serena said that she's seen Flashdance a million times. If I'm going to convince myself that Bette Porter is a real person, I have to pretend Flashdance doesn't exist, because a welder, really? No freaking way. Not my Bette.

Now ABC Family is trying to ruin another magical thing in my life: the Olympics.

This week, the network announced they are picking up a show called Perfect 10. It will follow a group of teenage Olympic hopefuls around as they train to be world-class gymnasts. It is an hourlong drama that will focus on the personal lives and actual training that go into getting a girl ready for the intense international stage of competitive gymnastics.

I am an Olympic-aholic, and am especially enamored with the gymnasts. The leaping and twisting and turning and tumbling and catching and flying, it's unreal what those women can do. It's like magic! … continue reading

Heaven Kogo is a regular teenage girl — she just also happens to be a ninja. OK, so perhaps "regular" isn't the word; it would be more correct to refer to her as Samurai Girl, hence the name of the new three-part series on ABC Family that begins tonight at 8 p.m. EST.

The series is based on a young adult book series of the same name written by Carrie Asai. The character of Heaven seeks to avenge her brother's death and get out of an arranged marriage (she really gets herself into some crazy predicaments). Luckily, she's a master of the sword, and is able to take care of herself as well as some others (though the latter happens to be in a violent sort of way).

Jamie Chung plays Heaven, whose acting credits include Greek, Veronica Mars and CSI: NY. Oh yeah, and you also might remember her as herself, when she was a cast member on MTV's The Real World: San Diego. Good to see that something pleasant can come out of that kind of exhibitionism. … continue reading

I just finished watching the Tivo'd fourth episode ("Picking Teams") of ABC Family's Greek, and I'm so appalled, I had to blog about it. (Kinda like when something tastes really bad, and you say "ooh, this tastes gross, try it!")

When Greek debuted last month, I was pleasantly surprised at how decently it was written, how frankly it portrayed college life, and the fact that it included a well-adjusted black gay character. I wasn't overly impressed with the show's three lead female characters — Casey (Spencer Grammer), her best friend Ashleigh (Amber Stevens), and her arch-nemesis Rebecca (Dilshad Vadsaria) — who seemed like stereotypes of bitchy, backstabbing sorority girls, but I was willing to give the show the benefit of the doubt, especially because it was created by a gay man, Sean Smith.

The second and third episodes came and went, and the girls (and I use that term deliberately here, since that's how they're depicted) didn't get any better.

Casey and Amber discuss sex and infidelity (for a change)

Then came Monday night, and the infamous fourth episode.

The boys spent the episode discussing physics, drinking beer, playing floor hockey, and struggling with whether to come out to the fraternity.

The girls spent the episode having sex, scheming to have sex, or thinking up ways to use sex as a weapon. Oh, wait, I'm sorry: and drinking beer. … continue reading

Charisma Carpenter has signed on for a role in the last episode of ABC Family's series Greek. This is excellent news, especially since there's a chance of a recurring role next season. I'd hate to see her career disappear into the realm of the occasional guest star.

I can't say I've made the effort to watch Greek. Besides the fact that it's on ABC family, which I'm perhaps unfairly quick to judge as censored of all interesting content, I had my fill of doofy frat boys in college. But perhaps I've been a little hasty to judge the network and the show. As Sarah reported last week, Greek's class includes a gay college boy, and it's not the only ABC Family show to deal with gay issues positively. (By which I mean nobody turns evil or dies. Who's up for a rousing chorus of "We Are Family"?) … continue reading

This is a live blog from the bi-annual Television Critics Association conference. See more TCA live blogging here.

This morning it's all about ABC Family, specifically Greek and Kyle XY, two teen-focused ABC Family shows. I'm kinda interested in Greek, which follows a geeky freshman and his popular older sister in the fraternity and sorority system at a fictional college. Its main drawback it that it has fairly lame and stereotypical female characters except for the lead, Casey (Spencer Grammer), but it's got a gay black teen Calvin (Paul James) and they handle that pretty well.

I do wish they had the cast of Lincoln Heights here instead of Kyle XY, though. As soon as I think this, an ABC Family spokesperson comes out on stage and announces the second season premiere of Lincoln Heights: September 4th. It's like my thoughts are beaming straight to ABC Family! Some teasers for the new season of Lincoln Heights in the press release: Cassie (Erica Hubbard) and her relationship with pretty boy Charles heats up after being on hold for the summer while she was at Art Camp, and Cassie's younger siblings Tay (Mishon Ratliff) and Lizzie (Rhyon Brown) may have a "budding romance." (Not with each other, obviously. Eww.)

Back to the event at hand: the Greek panel. The promo for the show previews a lengthy upcoming scene of Calvin coming out to Rusty. It's actually an impressive scene, but I won't give away too many details because Michael's going to save it for his Best. Gay. Week. Ever. column on AfterElton.com tomorrow. [Updated to add: get the scoop on this now here.]

As ABC Family President Paul Lee talks about the success of their shows on iTunes, and online, the cast of Greek files on stage, and their average age looks to be about 20. Their eager, youthful exuberance emanates from the stage.

The first question is about Calvin and how his character's chameleon-like quality to get along with different groups relates to "his gayness." Creator Sean Smith gives a great answer, which again, I'm letting Michael keep for his column.

Now the wiseass questions begin: a reporter wants to know if any of them have actually been to college. Much laughter. Only one of the cast says yes. Yikes!

A reporter mentions that this show opened up a great conversation between her and her teenage sons. Various members of the cast enthuse about how college is about trying new things, building a new support system since you're away from your family for the first time, experimentation, etc.

I raise my hand to ask my first question at the conference. Why, aside from Casey, are all of the the show's female characters so stereotypically bitchy and backstabbing, while the male characters are much more three-dimensional and redeemable? Sean responds with an answer about wanting to introduce the stereotype of the sorority girl and then show the depth beneath that, show them as more well-rounded, etc.

So basically, they're backstabbing bitches with hearts of gold? … continue reading