Premire review 

Yesterday, along with everyone else, I watched the series premiere of ABC Family’s 

. The series has been gaining some buzz on account of Jennifer Lopez’s executive producer credit and that it has an interracial lesbian couple at its helm. In a sense, it’s admiring what 

is doing here: not only are the moms lesbians, a given, but they’re also an interracial couple, and they have a son from one half of the couple’s previous marriage, plus adopted twin Hispanics, and foster a white daughter. And the entire time, no one really blinks an eye (well except for Callie).

It’s certainly unique and I think it’s important to show just how mixed American families are as of late. I love it, and the fact that everyone sort of takes it as the norm is even better. It’s still my philosophy that the media do have a responsibility to show us different cultures and realities. Already, people are yelling that there’s a liberal bias and agenda to the show, which… ugh.

All of that is really commendable. I was even shocked that it got greenlit — and it’s 2013.

The problem, instead, for me in the pilot is that I sort of feel like I’ve already seen this story — once we remove everyone’s ethnicities and sexual orientation. Callie is a bit jaded, but will eventually make progress. Mariana realizes her biological mom is not what she dreamed she would be. A guy falls for a girl, even though he has a girlfriend, and misses a big event for her. Weirdly, what I found the most compelling was that Mike wanted to be partnered with his ex-wife.

I know the argument to most minority underrepresentation arguments is that we should be given the same roles and storylines as our mainstream counterparts, but I don’t think the demographics should beget forgiveness for redundancy — as much as it kills me to actually say that. Then again, family dramas have never really been my 

can definitely find its audience in people who are looking for family dramas that are actually daring. The genre has been on a downswing since the 1990s, with perhaps only 

is the best representation of our melting pot today, being one of the few shows where various different families can sit down, watch it together, and point themselves out onscreen. And the television landscape desperately needs that.

About the author: Michael Collado Follow @michaelcollado

Mike\'s a television junkie located in Miami, where he spends all of his time watching TV with his best friends couch and cable access.

im desperately hoping that the fosters and twisted do horrible so the lying game comes back. saw fosters hate it twisted looks stupid only good show now is pretty little liars and switched at birth i dont know whynetworks insist on getting rid of good shows to put stupid new shows on why get rid of a good thing makes me want to stop watching abc family all together if pretty little liars went off i would they already stopped secret life with a horrible ending that left eveeyone hanging

Abc family really isn’t very good anymore. A lot of people are very disappointed in their programs. Fosters really sucks. Can’t stand it. Hope they put better programs on it.

We won’t be watching this show. Tired of the gays trying to ruin everything. This lifestyle is very destructive to the body itself and the diseases that go along with it. No different than drugs, cigarettes, etc. Need to educate all on this part of the homosexual lifestyle. Hope this pilot show disappears.

I think in one point, you’re right. We all need some education on homosexuality.

First of all, there can be diseases in any type of relationship gay or straight. It is different than drugs & cigarettes because people have a choice to smoke or do drugs.

It’s best if you don’t blatantly speak without knowing.

fuck you asshole. I hope you get a bunch of bloodly dicks stuck in your ass with AIDS

I think it’s really unfair for people to judge this show so quick, I’m looking at the commentators above me. How silly and trollish does one have to be to say they don’t enjoy something? The show itself definitely needs some work, but is it bad? Not even close. I had my issues with it (as a WOC at that) but it doesn’t take away the fact that it doesn’t appear to be whitewashed yet or that they will let it be that way. Same with Twisted, which in my opinion, the original pilot for the show was much better. It sucks that when a show premieres and it’s practically reaching past the majority white audience and not shucking and jiving for them that they get pissed and it becomes a bad show. It’s gross and it’s a liberal agenda~ and gay couples!!! EWWW! Like please, grow up and get over yourselves.

And let us not forget, Pretty Little Liars started off horrible. Have you ever went back and watched the pilot of that show or the first season (even Season 2)? It was lackluster at most, inspiring at little. And now the show is much better because time (and an acting coach, clearly) let it get that way. Not to mention, we’re watching four white girls search around for their dead white friend. And yes, though Shay Mitchell & Troian Bellisario are clearly not ‘white bread’ white, but they are put together for a white audience to feel comfortable with on their television screens (Troian plays a white girl and Shay plays a kind of minority who has all these either black, gay, or black lesbian ‘bad influences’ in her life. If you can’t see the issue in that…). ABC Family has been catering to one specific thing for a very long time and I think it’s great that they’re reaching out and attempting to give another demographic something to relate to, God forbid a 16-19 year old white girl can’t relate to Twisted or The Fosters. Spare me. If given the chance these shows could flourish into something much better. It’s great to see someone I can relate to on a show that’s not used specifically as comic relief or someone who’s whole story line revolves around her white counterparts…(hey Vampire Diaries, Teen Wolf, Awkward, or any other YA television show from the past 3-5 years that has that one~ minority in it, if even at all.)

hey! Why cant you write a post about the show without trying to put people down for their opinions. Just because people’s opinions don’t match yours don’t mean you have to go all negative on them. Everyone’s entitled to their opinion. You can’t make people like something. That seems to be the problem with the liberals today. They can’t state their opinion without putting other people down. Please quit being a bully.

Dj, there is a discrepancy between stating your opinions, and stating beliefs in a public forum that is obviously bound to insult people. When you say gays ” ruin everything” it is apparent you are very biased against the (outdated term) ” homosexual” lifestyle. You are hindering the personal empowerment of those that identify as LGBT, and that is a problem. It is quite hypocritical and ironic that you advise Brit to stop being a bully, when you are a bully yourself. That is the real problem here, hypocritical people like yourself that need to get their heads out of their asses, and really wake up at the rapidly changing demographics of America. Seriously, get yourself some Starbucks with maybe 5 shots of espresso. You need it. I really wish you the best of luck, and happiness since you are probably living in misery. Gays EVERYWHERE. DIVERSITY EVERYWHERE. FACE IT. GET OVER IT.

Well, maybe I don’t agree totally with dj, but at least he or she has manners. I wouldn’t want my child viewing your response in that it has language I wouldnt want them to read. Think of kids before you start going off on people. I flagged your comment because of this.

He has manners? Are you kidding me? Viktor’s comment is still viewable & rightfully so because there’s nothing verbally wrong in it.

I don’t think I put down your beliefs at all, actually. I called you a troll, because that’s what you’re doing. And that’s fine if that helps you sleep at night, my dear. You are very much entitled to your opinion, just as much as I’m entitled to say that your opinion is utter trash and you come off as, I don’t know, a bigot. Which, if I didn’t deal with people like yourself on a daily basis, I would easily snap on you without a second thought. What I will point out is the hypocrisy in what you said before I made my first comment and after. I’m not trying to make you like ANYTHING, that would take a lot more effort on my part than just commenting on a public forum. I simply called you out (twice, at that) for being a hypocritical bigoted queer-phobe. I stated nothing but facts and gave you a small portion of recognition in my comment. Get over yourself and believe what you want to believe, but it doesn’t change anything about how gross of a person you are. I’m far from a bully for calling you out.

Hey, was checkin to see if viktor’s comment was taken off for inappropriate language and saw your comment. Sorry dj hurt your feelings. You should really move on since the comment was 6 days ago. You and viktor need to learn to not take things so personal. It only makes the huge majority like dj proof that the LGBT community is a joke by your responses. It would have been better if you had not commented at all.

I absolutely LOVE this show. I recommend it to anyone! It is an easy show to relate to, and while it has a lot of DRAMA, the hallmark of this show is unconditional love regardless the circumstance. It’s really a touching show. Go watch it, there aren’t that many shows out there that are as meaningful as this one.

This show is a waste of time. Could have done a whole lot better with this show. Won’t be watching it.Abc family is becoming a huge disappointment.

The Fosters is nice because of all the diversity, but it’s frankly too much. It’s really confusing to get into and I didn’t really see any point. I get that its about the juvie girl, but the whole thing with the interracial lesbian moms with adopted twins and one biological son from a previous nonhomosexual marriage is overwhelming. I agree that pretty little liars started out bad, but I could get into it and I could see that it was going into an interesting direction. But, this is just boring. I love Twisted, it’s really interesting. I think that they should just bring back Lying Game and scratch this one. Lying Game is really good and I don’t understand why it didn’t stick.

My brothers and sisters are so upset with this show. Why must homosexuals act like they are struggling as us blacks? They can’t even begin to compare being gay with being black. Not very many blacks support this idea. This show disgusts me. I hope it fails and so do many of the black community!

I think it’s horrible when blacks don’t support gays.

Both groups have & are being beaten for a way that were born.

Both groups have been publicly discriminated for something they had no choice in. I think it’s so easy for people to say “You choose to be gay” because anyone can be gay. But not anyone can “choose” to be black. & that’s unfortunate because then you’d see an argument gays always get.

Imagine someone telling you, that all of the hate you’ve gotten in your life… All of the struggles you had to go through mentally because your parents or school peers didn’t accept you… Imagine that, & people saying that it was your choice. It wasn’t my choice like it wasn’t your choice to be black. And like you (I’m Sure) I wouldn’t change the way I was born. Because being gay has opened me up to a new world of accepting all types of people. Where people like you, will get judged by others for being black and yet you continue to judge others for a way they were born.

Very upset with this show. This show upsets me and the hispanic community that I live in. We used to adore jlo but not anymore. I feel that the hispanics should be given our own month if the gays get one. Why do the gays get special treatment? Most of us do not agree with this kind of lifestyle. We are very upset that our people are being used to promote this show. We are outraged and want this show cancelled.

I’m Latina and gay, aand let me tell you that there’s a lot of people like me out there. I knowyhis, because I work for a outreach program aimed to provide resources to the Latino community and there I come across with a wide population with many kinds of “lifestyles” . Please, if you are going to express bigotry and ignorance don’t use your ethnicity (and mine) as a shield. You don’t have the right to speak for a heterogeneous community.

Seriously? Not sure where you are at, but that must be a small program and community you live in. I believe we are in America and last time I checked everyone has the right to speak out. Why don’t you post something about the show instead of trying to take Antonio’s first amendment away.

She asked the commentator not to use his latino background to represent everyone in it. Because not everyone in it, agrees.

Are you serious right now? I love how you use your Latin blood to make it seem like you’re proud of it. If you were, you’d know that there is a Hispanic Heritage month that runs in the fall…

It doesn’t matter if you agree with it, because it’s not your choice or their choice.

I think it’s so sad when anyone who is already discriminated in the U.S. for the color of their skin or the neighborhood they were born into has an anger against homosexuality.

I love this show. Kudos to ABC Family for dealing w/ such socially sensitive issues such as gay marriage, interracial relationships, child abuse, cross dressing, and same race discrimination due to the shade of your skin. It’s beautifully done with such a positive tone—-something we don’t see much on tv. I am very impressed.

I love fosters! I like how the parents aren’t stupid, very smart, and nice. I like the gay interracial couple and I believe people need to give them a chance! What’s so bad about them? They’re gay, so what? Who gives a damn?! The show is realistic and heartwarming and will definitely be watching!

Isn’t it funny that the ones who comment on this site that are in favor of this show only have one comment or maybe to on their history. Some have there profile hidden so you can’t see their info. Also, those same people posting have very same writing and language styles. Could it possibly be the same person? Some recent social media sites are saying the liberals are doing these types of strategies to make it look like a lot of people are in favor of the liberal agenda. Recently, it came out that some protestors on the liberal side are being paid by liberal grassroot organizations that are linked all the way to Obama. Seeing how corrupt the Obama administration is wouldn’t surprise me one bit. Majority of people are not in favor of this program. Don’t see it being around much longer.

Funny, because on the other side could be saying the same thing about you! @shanicejackson:disqus Maybe all you hear when this side is presenting their arguments is “accept gays, accept gays!” but it all sounds the same to me when the other side is talking. All they’re saying is “gay is a horrible lifestyle! gay is a horrible lifestyle”

Educate yourself a little more before believing in conspiracies….

I think it is horrible that gays are still being discriminated against.

Especially by those who have gone through a similar fight that we’re currently going through. And you know what? Usually I don’t care if people agree with who I am, but when the idiots who believe that who I am is a choice… And then those non educated people get to make a decision and vote if I get to marry the person I love, it just pisses me off. You have no right.

Isn’t it sad that the posts by Sean has nothing to do with the show but is only attacking all the ones who have watched and given their honest opinions about it. People who choose to have sex with the same gender want those that do not agree with that choice do not understand the first amendment rights of others. This is how they deal with controversy. It really is starting to work against them. People are realizing how those with homosexual behavior only want their way. People are standing up and are going to have their say in the next elections. If homosexual behavior were so popular as they say then they would put it to the ballot and let people vote.

Are you kidding me Shanice? The first amendment could help my case as well. I find it sad that you don’t care to comment on the show you just want a reason to bash homosexuality.

And I find it even sadder that you’re black & you feel this way.

I’ve never discriminated against blacks because I was raised right. They’re human just like everyone else. And it’s horrible as not only a black person, but a black woman you feel this way about homosexuality. That it’s a “behavior”. I was born gay like you were born black. Nothing we could do about it, but you know something we could do? Support eachother. I think it’s sad how you’ve been discriminated against and you still think you have the right to do the same to someone else.

Because everything you’re saying about me, is still being said about you.

I applaud this show and ABC Family for airing it. It is a wonderful mix of diversity. I watch it with my daughter so she can see that families can be different than the ones in our small town in the south. It has been a great catalyst for conversations about homosexual relationships, drugs, teen sex and other topics. Finally, a show that embraces differences! I love it!!!

Good for you! I applaud you for trying to open your kids up to new worlds they’re not usually exposed to

The Foster’s is a show that is really struggling to take off. A lot of ABC family shows are tanking. No one is interested in watching such poorly done shows. Sad people let their little kids to watch shows with adult content should have DCFS all over their door. People who have homosexual behavior is not recognized and illegal in the majority of our states. Also, supreme court did not strike down the one man one woman part of DOMA. So, our country still states that one man one woman is a marriage. I did hear on other sites that they are going to cancel this show because a lack of interest. I am black and cannot change my skin color no matter what I do. It is also a part of my DNA. Homosexuality is a behavior and people change from it all the time. There is no DNA gene for it either. In twins, one has the homosexual behavior and one does not. Majority of black do not agree with this and have fought against it. This only hurts the progress we have made for our black brothers and sisters. I have neighbors who are now being harrassed by the white supremists. We haven’t had this in a long time. Now, it starts up again. There is a lot of political talk that the federal constitution is goin to be amended to one man one woman in marriage. It has a lot of political support as well as the majority of U.S. citizens are backing it too. This will soon go as the way Russia went.

And I think you should feel horrible about yourself. Judging others who are STILL judging who you are.

You would never fully comprehend that people are born gay. In your mind you just think you’re right. And granted you say the same thing about me, but I was raised right. To not see people’s skin color and just see the beauty in people’s soul. And you Shanice have an unaccepting soul, which is horrible considering what Blacks still go through.

A man in Russia told his friends that he was homosexual. He was beaten and sexually abused before dying. His “friends” were violating him with beer bottles before killing him. You think that’s right? You think if it was a behavior, he would change it to avoid getting harassed and killed? THINK ABOUT IT SHANICE. You actually CAN change the color of your skin. Beyonce has… Skin bleaching… But you won’t.. Why? Because you were born black & you should embrace it because there’s nothing wrong with it.

So if you’re telling me I can change being gay, you could change being black too!

Twisted is ehh not really the best. But Fosters is a must watch

Isn’t it amazing that whenever Sean posts someone else supposedly posts almost exactly the same time he does. And saying how they just love the Fosters. On a site that is outdated. Just saying. I do agree with Sean oops I mean Jad that Twisted isn’t good either. How ignorant to think blacks can change their skin color permanently by bleaching it. Bleaching doesn’t work well either. Especially on really dark blacks like me. Eventually, your blackness comes back. No different than whites changing to black by tanning or coloring. Or brunettes changing hair color too blond. Your traits will always be. Unlike behavior. Sean believing people who are in the homosexual lifestyle can’t change is saying drunks, drug users, those in porn can never change. How ludicrous!! There is an uprising of a number of individuals who used to be in the homosexual lifestyle that are coming out saying that it is possible to change. Those in the homosexual lifestyle are trying to bully them to keep quiet cause they don’t want people to believe it. I have a friend in that group. It is terrible. It would be like telling those in AA to keep quiet cause we don’t want it out that you can change and no longer be an alcoholic or drug user. You Can change behavior. It is possible. Sean should be ashamed of himself for sending the wrong message to people who are bettering themselves!!!

Shanice I do not have time to be making fake profiles. Maybe you’re creating them to make me look bad. Go ahead. Bleach your skin honey!

Michael Jackson was dark and he looked like Pamela Anderson afterwards. You know why you shouldn’t bleach your skin CAUSE ITS WRONG!! Just like thinking you could change your sexuality.

It’s no behavior, it’s been proven that chemicals happen in the womb that could cause your child to be attracted to the same sex.

You need to stop spreading the word that it’s wrong to be gay. What if one of your children were gay? And they had a horrible mother like you telling them they NEED to be straight?

If people could change it, I’m sure they would. Just like people bleach their skin and use hair relaxer to “enhance” who they are. You’re a sad person and probably a horrible mother to still be stuck in the 1950s

Wow. This Sean guy is really messed up. I wish he would get counseling. He continues to bully people who do not accept his opinions. He is a real cyberbully that needs to be more tolerant of other peoples beliefs. He also is very disturbing too. He obsesses over black people bleaching themselves. He is one racist individual too.

No I think you need the help… You’re claiming homosexuality can be changed when it can’t. Just like being black, you CAN change it but you shouldn’t. Stop trying to make it seem like I’m some racist because I’m not. I was raised with morals. But if you’re telling me who I am can be changed, who you are can be changed too!

Since you’re telling my people to change who they are.

I’ve watched a few episodes now and have decided I can’t watch anymore. It’s well produced, and I think the acting is not bad, but the story lines and the message they send, in my opinion is not good at all. I find it’s full of lazy stereotypes about parents who have had their children placed in care (portrayed as selfish drug addicts and ‘bad’ people in general) so that we can feel good about hating them and loving the foster parents. I work as a social worker and see that the majority of our clients are poor, working class, oppressed women who have had a lack of access to education and opportunities that would enable them better parenting and life-coping skills. Storytelling that portrays such women as immoral and inherently ‘bad’ instead of oppressed, perpetuates the oppression of such women and increases the chances of children remaining in care (often in poorly managed group homes). I would have preferred to see storytelling challenging such stereotypes; thereby increasing the chances to help such women experience less oppression, access more opportunities that enable them to cope and parent better and subsequently increase the chances of their children getting back into their care with unconditional love and a safe home environment.

I really wish this Sean guy would leave me alone and quit bullying me. I stated my opinions and all he does is harrass me about how I believe on line. This is what they call cyber bullying. He will not leave me alone about it. He even follows me on other sites where I have posted. It is very disturbing. Others have stated that this isn’t right. I am black and it isn’t a behavior. The gay lifestyle is a behavior. People smoke and then don’t smoke. same thing. Being black is not. Sad some people will never see that, but majority of people know that. Small minority want to dictate, but that soon will be over as people are standing up to this crazy thinking that Sean and the LGBT people want to try to bully people to think and will not leave people with differing opinions alone. Just look at all these posts Sean has done trying to bully my, even go so far as spewing racist comments. I showed his comments to thousands of blacks in a black rally I attended recently. This didn’t sit well with anyone. Surprisingly, I find very few with the same viewpoint as Sean’s! This is the last time I am responding on this outdated site. Again, rumor has it that this pilot show is hitting rock bottom and will be canceled.

This is my last and final post. I just found out by having some people do some investigating at the different posts by people on this site and the sites I posted on HRC and have some interesting findings. Looks like Sean posts a lot on both sites under many different names. Turns out not very many people have responded to me. Just one person under many different false names. I had been told there wasn’t much activity on the HRC webpage. People had been suspecting this so I thought I would just see for myself. Looks like those people are right. LGBt is a political money pit –nothing more. Lots of people are becoming aware of this and that there truly is a small minority that are LGBT. My findings support this as well. I will be making this know in the different rallies I attend.

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