'AMC' Introducing Transgender Character (in ABC Soap Opera)

SFGate ^ | November 26, 2006 | David Bouder (AP Writer)

[Zakeet]

In a story unusual even for a soap opera and believed to be a television first, ABC's "All My Children" this week will introduce a transgender character who is beginning to make the transition from a man into a woman.

The character, a flamboyant rock star known as Zarf, kisses the lesbian character Bianca and much drama ensues. The storyline begins with Thursday's episode of the daytime drama.

There have been a handful of post-surgical transgender characters in television shows, including a college professor in the 2001 prime-time CBS series "The Education of Max Bickford" and a model in the short-lived ABC soap opera "The City" in 1996, according to the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation. Showtime's "The L Word" currently features a character changing from a woman into a man.

"All My Children" was looking for something new, and knows its audience is always interested in anything to do with sexuality, said Julie Hanan Carruthers, the show's executive producer.

"After 36 years, you start rehashing," she said. "It's inevitable. We didn't want to fall back on the baby-switch story again."

The show wasn't interested in doing something just to be sensational, she said. GLAAD and some transgenders were brought in as consultants in shaping the character, teaching the producers when it is appropriate to call a character "she" even before surgery, she said.

Damon Romine, a spokesman for GLAAD, said he hasn't seen the show yet but feels people involved were genuinely interested in telling the story with dignity.

[Zakeet]

Y'all be sure to tune in.

[Dustbunny]

I have always said that Soap Opera's rot your brain, this proves it.

[ShadowDancer]

I despise soap operas, can't figure out why so many of my friends are so addicted to them. Having said that, I clearly remember running home full speed from school so I wouldn't miss Luke and Laura's wedding.

[Caipirabob]

Thanks, I'll make sure it's blocked.

[Silly]

I think Zarf catered Luke and Laura's wedding.

[Silly]

I think Zarf catered Luke and Laura's wedding.

[WKB]

Baptist ping

[mkjessup]

"The character, a flamboyant rock star known as Zarf, kisses the lesbian character Bianca and much drama ensues."

Hey, one of our own is now FAMOUS!

http://www.freerepublic.com/~zarf/

LOL, hey zarf? What a way to start a Monday, eh? ;)

[Joe Boucher]

I know folks who've watched this crap for decades and accociate with the characters.
Civilization as we know it is lost.

[PBRSTREETGANG]

Well...at least the name rhymes with "BARF".

[Alouette]

There have been a handful of post-surgical transgender characters in television shows, including a college professor in the 2001 prime-time CBS series "The Education of Max Bickford" and a model in the short-lived ABC soap opera "The City" in 1996, according to the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation. Showtime's "The L Word" currently features a character changing from a woman into a man.

They forgot to mention:

[Alouette]

tv transgender ping

[Corin Stormhands]

yer dang famous

[Thrownatbirth]

I punted AMC when they killed off Jenny Gardener.

Jet ski explosion. Seriously.

[metmom]

ping

[MissEdie]

I played hooky that day so I wouldn't miss a second of it!

[zarf]

Well, this is wonderful news to wake up to. Kissing the lesbian isn't so bad, but the fact that I can screw myself isn't appealing to me.

Maybe I should supplement my coffee this morning with a shot of Baileys or Kahlua.

[JimRed]

Pre-op or post-op?

[JustaDumbBlonde]

"Damon Romine, a spokesman for GLAAD, said he hasn't seen the show yet but feels people involved were genuinely interested in telling the story with dignity."

As if there is any dignity in the transgender story.

[MacArthur]

I did the same. I remember when AMC was a great show- Greg and Jenny,the Original Opal Gardner (not the "new " one), Phoebe, Lagley,Palmer and Daisy, etc. Then the show went downhill. Glad I stopped taping it years ago.

[WV Mountain Mama]

LOL!! I was thinking the same thing!!

[Thrownatbirth]

Yeah. I remember taping shows on Betamax. It was a great way to invite women to my apartment back in the day. :-)

[Republican Red]

I have watched All My Children for over thirty years. I'm not proud of that fact but it is what it is. My watched it with my mom and have been hooked ever since.

AMC currently has another weird story line. Erica Kane had the first abortion in soap opera history. Now they have this story that the baby was never aborted but rather an evil abortion doctor took the fetus from Erica's womb and transplanted into his wife's womb. The baby was born and raised by the evil doctor. The baby is now twenty something and has just discovered his true history.

I was surprised at this story line because the phrase "tried to murder me" is thrown around alot. The idea that the aborted baby now has a voice is unusual these days.

[Matchett-PI]

"I despise soap operas, can't figure out why so many of my friends are so addicted to them."

Easy. I don't even know them, yet I can tell you "who" they are. They're either air-head females or chickified/feminized males.

Men and women have more substantive things to do.

[Neoliberalnot]

One more lesson in the marketing of deviance. Genital mutilation has been around for centuries but hollywood persists in selling it as something new and normal. The sickos of yesteryear have reemerged, repackaged, and are now marketed by the hollywood elite.

[Minutemen]

I about zarfed when I read this.

[WKUHilltopper]

Have you seen that tv show that A&E is promoting? Something about "Gays on Strike" or something. I was channel surfing and I have no idea what it's about other than they had some guy kissing another on the lips! This was in the middle of the day while children could happen across this commercial. Sodomite TV at it's best!

They've pretty much covered every sin under the book. I guess the new series "Down on the Farm" is next...

[dixiechick2000]

Ick.


I don't watch that show,
and won't start now!

Thank you for the ping and post.