‘Instinct’ – Alan Cumming Makes History As First Gay Lead In A U.S. Network Drama

The upcoming Alan Cumming-starrer Instinct is set to make television history by having a first-ever gay lead in a U.S. Network Drama. Instinct also stars Whoopie Goldberg, Sharon Leal, Naveen Andrews, and Bojana Novakovic. It’ll air on March 11, 2018, on CBS at 8/7 c. Micheal Rauch is the showrunner.

Instinct is based on a James Patterson novel. Alan Cumming will play the role of Dr. Dylan Reinhart, a former CIA operative. Now a university professor, Dr. Dylan finds himself lured back into law enforcement when a serial killer seems to be leaving clues connected to his best-selling book on abnormal behavior.

Furthermore, Dr. Dylan is also gay and married which goes on to make Instinct the first hourlong broadcast series in the U.S. with a gay lead character.

“It was one of the reasons I wanted to do the show,” said Cumming, who also serves as an executive producer on the upcoming series. “To be the first ever network drama [with a gay lead] on U.S. television, it’s an incredible thing and a terrible thing at the same time.”

“I’m married to a man so I brought that to the table,” added Cumming, who is bisexual. “Most times, when we see gay characters on American TV, their gayness is the prime thing. Their gayness is sometimes the problem. What’s refreshing about this is there’s a successful relationship and they’re supportive of each other. And [being gay] is also the fourth or fifth most interesting thing about this character.”

CBS has been criticized in the past for lacking in diversity. However, Glenn Geller, the network’s entertainment chief, came out publicly as gay last year. He also expressed his commitment to having more inclusion in CBS programming.

“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,” said Cumming at the Television Critics Association’s semi-annual press tour in Pasadena. “Socially and politically, especially at a time in America where gay people are being persecuted and our rights are being removed and the president is condoning the persecution against gay people by his silence, it was all the more important to have a character with a healthy same-sex marriage on TV.”

CBS All Access has queer representation in Star Trek: Discovery.

What are your thoughts about Instinct? Let us know.

(via The Backlot)

Author: Farid-ul-Haq

Farid has a Double Masters in Psychology and Biotechnology as well as an M.Phil in Molecular Genetics. He is the author of numerous books including Missing in Somerville, and The Game Master of Somerville. He gives us insight into comics, books, TV shows, anime/manga, video games, and movies.

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