In the past few years there have been a few gay lead characters in comedy series on shows aired by the major US networks, and quite a few more – both comedies and dramas – that have had LGBT supporting characters. However, there’s never been a drama with a gay lead character – until now, that is.

Alan Cumming is due to be the first when Instinct starts airing on CBS in the States.

He’s set to play Dr. Dylan Reinhart ‘a gifted author and university professor living a quiet life teaching psychopathic behavior to packed classes of adoring students. But when top NYPD detective Lizzie Needham (Bojana Novakovic) appeals to him to help her catch a serial murderer who is using Dylan’s first book as a tutorial, Dylan is compelled by the case, comes out of retirement and taps into his old skill set. Though Dylan and Lizzie initially clash, when it comes to catching killers, they realize they will make an ideal team if they both trust their instincts.’

Cumming has been keen to praise CBS for taking a chance on a gay lead, especially in the Trump era. Deadline reports that at a TCA Winter Tour event, he said, “I applaud everyone at CBS for having the courage to put that on, in the climate that might not be the best time to do it… the President is actively condoning, by his silence, violence and persecution against the LGBT community.”

He adds, “I think it’s the perfect time and needs to be done.. it’s all that more important we should have a character with a healthy same-sex marriage.”

However, he was also keen to let it be known that, “I’m also conscious of the fact that, most times, when we see gay characters on American television, their gayness is the prime thing.” However he feels that with Instinct it’s “refreshing” that Reinhart’s sexuality is “the fourth or fifth most interesting thing about the character.”

The show is yet to receive an airdate, but is expected to debut this Spring or Summer. It’s not known yet if we’ll see it in the UK. [Read more…]

For the last few years Alan Cumming has been extremely good on The Good Wife. Indeed he’s been a little too good, as he’s so talented it’s felt a little silly that he’s been playing a seond fiddle character. Now though it looks like the bisexual Scottish actor might be getting a show of his own, as Deadline reports that US TV network Showtime has signed on to help him develop his passion project – a series about gay New York restaurateur, Florent Morelle.

Described as a half-hour dark comedy project, the show is currently titled Florent, and will be ‘Inspired by the true story of Morellet, who in the early ’80s opened a restaurant in NY’s wild and woolly Meatpacking District, Florent will explore the light and dark of that time, as well as the craziness of a place that become a destination for everyone from NY’s literati to the neighborhood hookers and hustlers, the NYPD, and the burgeoning LGBT community — all through the eyes of Florent, played by Cumming (with advice from the real restaurateur himself). Morellet ran his idiosyncratic French diner for 23 years, until his landlord drastically increased his rent.’

The series was previously set up at The Sundance Channel, but Showtime has now taken it over. Cumming is still playing Eli Gold in The Good Wife, and is currently contracted for the whole of upcoming season. However if Florent moves forward, he will segue over to that after his commitment to the legal show is over.