The AfterElton.com Readers' Choice: The Top 25 Gay TV Characters

[Source]

Readers' Choice: The Top 25 Gay TV Characters Revealed!

Posted byMichael Jensen, Editor on November 29, 2007

Fans of Brothers & Sisters cater waiter Scotty were heartbroken when Scotty exited the show less than halfway through the first season. After all, he had been the one to challenge Kevin Walker (Matthew Rhys) to loosen up his buttons and live life as a gay man a little more freely. And it was with Scotty that Kevin shared that first kiss that told gay viewers Brothers & Sisters was going to be much more than another drama chastely portraying a gay couple’s neutered relationship.

As written by B&S creator Jon Robin Baitz and acted by Macfarlane, Scotty is unabashedly gay, proud of who he is, and feisty when backed into a corner. After he left the show, fans pined for his return, finding Kevin’s subsequent relationships with Chad Barry (Jason Lewis) and Jason McCallister (Eric Winter) to lack the same chemistry.

Indeed, some started referring to Scotty as Kevin’s "Mr. Big" (referencing Carrie Bradshaw’s on again/off again relationship on Sex and the City) in hopes that Scotty might return. Scotty has indeed returned to B&S and just last week found himself again dating Kevin, setting up a possible love triangle with Kevin and his most recent boyfriend Jason McCallister (Eric Winter), yet another way B&S is breaking ground in portraying gay relationships on broadcast TV.

Brothers & Sisters Kevin Walker (Matthew Rhys) came along last year at a time when gay viewers could be forgiven for thinking they might never see another fully-developed gay character on broadcast television. Will & Grace, a show not without critics for its less than three-dimensional portrayal of gay men, had recently gone off the air and two new shows which prominently featured gay men – Crumbs and The Book of Daniel – were both cancelled after airing fewer than ten episodes. And most other gay characters on television were those relegated to only brief appearances such as Stanford Blatch on Sex and the City or Joe the bartender on Grey’s Anatomy.

And the prognosis for Brothers & Sisters wasn’t terribly great either as the show debuted with extensive rewrites of the pilot, rumors of on-set strife, and with Rhys stepping into the role of Kevin Walker after Jonathan LaPaglia was replaced.

But almost from the get go gay viewers found themselves watching something very different — a fully realized portrayal of a gay man who was kind, petty, funny, sexy, smart and not just a little self-destructive when it came to love.

In B&S’ first season, Kevin had not one, not two, but three love interests. Gay viewers, starved to see same-sex affection, were practically gleeful when Kevin kissed Scotty (Luke MacFarlane) not to mention when he later shared a bed with Chad Barry (Jason Lewis) with none of the resulting controversy and threats of boycotts that erupted when thirtysomething showed two men in bed.

Brothers & Sisters S2E08

"Something New"

This episode is also my favourite. Scotty and Kevin become closer again. I think that it is very loveable that Scotty tries not to relate seriously to Kevin. He tries to push Kevin back to Jason, he pretends it wasn't a big deal.

Kevin: That doesn't look safe.
Scotty: It lowers you blood pressure.
Kevin: Yap. So does a glass of wine, with far less risk of paralysis.

I like Scotty's shirt. Actually he wore it a couple of times more, in Season 1 Episode 4 and Season 3 Episode 10. Anyway Kevin asks Scotty as his date for Kitty's wedding.

Scotty: Oh, how appealing. A spite invite?
Kevin: No! Yes. A little. You know going to a wedding alone is torture.
Scotty: What about Jason?
Kevin: Reverend "God-Forbid-I-Call-You-Back" won't be there.
Scotty: Yeah, but his brother, Robert, will. What will he think?
Kevin: Who cares? Mia Tello's is catering.
Kevin: They're serving those little Gorgonzola and potato pizzas with saffron and sage.
Scotty: You had me at gorgonzola.
Kevin: Thought so.

Scotty! You were caught by Mia Tello's Gognzola and potate pizzas.
Then next day, perhaps, Scotty comes back from work with 'Sebastian'.

Kevin: Light some candles, I'll be right back.
Scotty: Oh, candles? I mean, it's just takeout when you think of it.
Kevin: Yeah, sure, yeah, sure. No candles. Ah, well, we can still have champagne, right?
Scotty: Sure.

And... After eating lobster

Scotty: Kevin.
Kevin: Umm.
Scotty: Kevin, go to bed.
Kevin: Actually, could you take your foot out? It's digging right....
Scotty: Oh, sorry.

Scotty:I should go to my air mattress.
Kevin: Yeah, you should.

I want to see it more!!! I love this scene. I probably watched this scene more then 50 times.

Kevin: Look, about last night...
Scotty: You don't have to say anything. I know what happened, you were vulnerable. Your boyfriend's a million miles away and I was a warm body after a lobster dinner. Add champagne and voilà. Mistake sex.
Kevin: What if it wasn't a mistake?
Scotty: Kevin, you don't have to make me feel better by turning yesterday's nostalgic sex romp into something that it wasn't.
Kevin: I'm not. Believe me, I'm not.
.
.
Kevin: Look, I know how I feel. So just let me feel that way. It hurts.
Scotty: Hey, it'll be all right, I promise.
Kevin: I'm not so sure.

Scotty tries to pretend it wasn't a big deal. He tries to push Kevin back to Jason. Kevin already realises how he loves Scotty, I guess.
At Kevin's office, he gets a phone call from Jason. He says he missed Jason, and also says Kevin needs to talk about something to Jason. We don't know how Kevin told him about Scotty though anyhow he did. When Kevin comes back home, Scotty is packing his stuffs.

Kevin: Cleaning or packing?
Scotty: Packing. A friend offered me her couch. I think it'll be easier this way.
Kevin: Yeah, you're right. It will be easier. But difficult is sometimes good, you know? Forces you to do things you didn't think you could.
Scotty: Oh, we can do it, Kevin. We always seem to end up doing it. What we never seem to understand is that it gets us nowhere.
Kevin: I finally spoke with Jason.
Scotty: Good, I'm glad, I...
Kevin: I broke up with him.
Scotty: Kevin, why do you always have to be such a drama queen? So he didn't call you for a couple of weeks.
Kevin: It's not that. Scotty, when I first met you, I thought we were too...
Scotty: Kevin, if you're about to romanticise what we had, just...
Kevin: I'm not. That's the whole point. Because what we had was.... It was messy. You know? We were hot and cold and back and forth. All ovet the place. But I wanna be back there with you. Because I wanna be honest about who I am.
Scotty: Did you tell Jason we slept together?
Kevin: Yes, I did. Look, I know I'm asking way too much of you. But like I said, easy isn't all it's cracked up to be.

I love this conversation. I want to have that one. Of course with Scotty.

Brothers & Sisters S2E07

"36 Hours"

Basically this episode is about detox of Justin. All we know is the fact that Jason never calls back to Kevin and the fact of Saul's sexual orientation.
There is no Scotty though, you can see his letter to Kevin saying

"HOPE THINGS WENT WELL. THOUGHT YOU MIGHT BE HUNGRY. -SCOTTY"

with some foods, I guess this meant a lot for Kevin.

Brothers & Sisters S2E06

"Two Places"

Scotty wearing glasses is priceless!!

Kevin: Ah, Jason, I've tried every number you've given me, and I know I'm about to leave you the worst answering machine message in history. But I don't have a choice. Umm, there's no wedding, because there's no baby. Kitty had a miscarriage... so I'm sure Robert would love to hear from you. I'd love to hear from you. Anyway I hope you are okay, Bye.
Scotty: I'm really sorry.
Kevin: Yeah. Me, too.
Scotty: Is there anything I can do?
Kevin: Yeah, you can deflate the mattress when you leave. I tripped on it earlier, almost killed myself.
Scotty: I'm serious, Kevin. After everything you've done for me.
Kevin: No. No, there is nothing. Thank you for the thought, though.

The beginning of their relationship again, but this time is different. It should be. I don't understand why Jason doesn't call back to Kevin.

Scotty: Well, if you're feeling romantic about him, The Thorn Birds. If you're angry at him, The Exorcist. And if you're just in the mood for a good time, and my personal favorite, Glitter.
Kevin: Let's start with The Exorcist.

So, Kevin is mad at Jason. Of course I understand, because he never calls back.