A character on “Heroes,” Zach, has been de-gayed. There were several hints that Zach, best friend of fellow high-schooler Claire, was gay – hints that most gay people would have picked up on. (And I did.) Now it turns out that NBC, or someone in control, has had a change of mind.
This is dumb and disappointing.
It’s a shame, but I would be more disappointed if it was a major character. And let’s be honest – it’s not going to wreck the show.
These changes are, more often than not, the result of feedback from focus-groups.
I’ve actually read on the net (so take that for all it’s worth) that it was the actor’s management that balked at the character being gay. Apparently, this aspect of the character was not discussed ahead of time and this actor’s management threatened to pull him from the show.
Frankly, if this is true, I’d say “good riddance” and recast the role. Which is why I don’t necessarily believe this rumor. But I do think it was notable that, in the story I read, it was the NETWORK passing the buck to the actor and/or his representatives.