The New Normal Gets New Home in Utah
Andrew Rannells and Justin Bartha
The New Normal has a new home. A week after an NBC affiliate in Salt Lake City said it would not air the family comedy, KUCW-TV has picked up the show, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
The station, which has ties to the CW, ABC and NBC, will air The New Normal Saturdays at 10/9c, ahead of Saturday Night Live. KUCW-TV also aired The Playboy Club last year after the same Mormon-owned NBC affiliate, KSL-TV, declined to the air that show.
Ellen Barkin responds to The New Normal controversy
KSL met with Utah-based advocates representing the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community this past week but stuck by its decision not to broadcast The New Normal. The show, created by Glee's Ryan Murphy, features a gay couple (Justin Bartha and Andrew Rannells) who try to have a baby via surrogate (Georgia King).
"As a communications company we make decisions every day regarding our programming, and we made a decision to not broadcast this program because we feel it had a number of issues including sexually explicit content, demeaning dialogue and inciting stereotypes," KSL said in a statement. "We care about and value all members of our community, including LGBT people and their families, and are grateful when there can be the type of cordial and respectful dialogue."
Series star Ellen Barkin spoke out about KSL's decision earlier this week in a conference call with reporters. "Yes, it is their right to ban something, but I do think it's a form of censorship," she said.
The New Normal, which is available online now, premieres on Tuesday, Sept. 11 at 9:30/8:30c on NBC.