The study shows that, despite improved quality, LGBT representations will represent only 1.1% (7) of all series regular characters in the 2007-08 broadcast television schedule, down from 1.3% (9) in 2006, and 1.4% (10) in 2005.
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The seven LGBT regular characters appear on five scripted programs: Brothers & Sisters, Desperate Housewives, Ugly Betty, The Office and the midseason series Cashmere Mafia. Six of these seven characters are on ABC, with no lead or supporting LGBT characters scheduled to appear on CBS, FOX or The CW.

On the new prime-time schedules, LGBT characters represent just 1.1 percent of those 650 characters. In real life, based on U.S. Census projections, LGBT marketing companies estimate 15.3 million adults identify themselves as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender, which would be about 6.8 percent of the population.

In contrast, non-human-race (NHR) regular characters are enjoying something of a renaissance on broadcast TV.

Six have prominent roles in prime time, including a talking fish, a talking dog and an alien of the outer-space sort, all on Fox, and three cavemen on ABC. All told, they represent 1 percent of those 650 characters (compared with LGBT characters' 1.1 percent). In real life, based on Census projections, talking fish, talking dogs, aliens and cavemen make up 0 percent of the population. It appears they are the only group besides white men who are overrepresented on broadcast prime-time TV.

We think this might be the highest count of NHR characters on the broadcast landscape since the Golden Age of Non-Human-Race TV, when shows such as "Lassie," "Mr. Ed," "My Favorite Martian" and "Bewitched" graced the airwaves.