Gay characters drop on networks, rise on cable

Gay characters drop
on networks, rise on cable

LOS ANGELES — The number of gay characters depicted on TV is falling on network series but rising on cable, a study by the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation found. In the 2007-08 TV season, broadcast series will feature seven regularly seen characters who are gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender, down from nine characters in 2006 and 10 the season before, GLAAD said. Most are on one network — ABC. The new figure represents 1.1 percent of all regular characters on ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox and CW, compared with 1.3 percent in 2006, according to the study released Monday. A total of 87 comedies and dramas with 650 characters were analyzed. By comparison, cable shows will feature 40 gay characters as series regulars, GLAAD said. ABC shows are home to six of the seven, with one on NBC..

Starbucks to give
away digital songs

SEATTLE — Starbucks Corp. plans to give away 50 million free digital songs to customers in all of its domestic coffee houses to promote a new wireless iTunes music service that’s about to debut in select markets. From Oct. 2 to Nov. 7, baristas in the company’s more than 10,000 U.S. stores will hand out about 1.5 million “Song of the Day” cards each day. The cards can be redeemed at Apple Inc.’s online iTunes Store. Thirty-seven artists with featured songs include Paul McCartney and Joni Mitchell — the first two to sign on with Starbucks’ Hear Music label — along with Joss Stone, Dave Matthews, John Mayer, Annie Lennox and Band of Horses. The first song will be Bob Dylan’s “Joker Man.” Also on Oct. 2, Starbucks will start selling iTunes digital release cards that allow a full album of music and bonus material to be downloaded online. KT Tunstall’s “Drastic Fantastic” and the soundtrack to the film “Into the Wild” with new music from Pearl Jam frontman Eddie Vedder will be the first two featured albums. Starbucks also will offer a limited-edition reloadable purchasing card that includes two free iTunes downloads.

Today’s birthdays

Broadcast journalist Barbara Walters is 78. Actor Robert Walden is 64. Actor-producer Michael Douglas is 63. Model Cheryl Tiegs is 60. Actor-director Anson Williams is 58. Actor Mark Hamill is 56. Polka bandleader Jimmy Sturr is 56. Actress Heather Locklear is 46. Actress Aida Turturro is 45. Basketball player Scottie Pippen is 42. Actor Will Smith is 39. Actress Catherine Zeta-Jones is 38. Actor Chris Owen is 27. Rapper T. I. is 27.