Big congratulations are in order for actor Alan Cumming, who is returning to television this season in a new drama called Instinct (we love the name) and is breaking ground for the LGBTQ community in doing so.
The CBS drama, which is based on a James Patterson novel, stars Alan as Dr. Dylan Reinhart, a former CIA operative brought back into law enforcement after becoming a professor and authoring a best-selling book on abnormal behavior.
Here's the twist: Dr. Reinhart is gay and married, which makes Instinct the first ever hour-long broadcast series in the United States with a gay character!
He discussed his characters sexuality over the weekend while at the Television Critics Association’s semi-annual press tour in Pasadena, California, where he praised the network for "having the courage" to make his character gay on a procedural drama.
“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." He included President Trump in his talks, describing today's climate in which "the President is actively condoning, by his silence, violence and persecution against the LGBT community.”
“I think it’s the perfect time and needs to be done,” said Alan. "It’s “all that more important we should have a character with a healthy same-sex marriage,” he added.
He described it as “refreshing” that on Instinct, his role being gay is “the fourth or fifth most interesting thing about the character.”
Asked what he brings to the character, Alan replied “I brought my genius,” and made a big smile.
When the panel got asked to explain the backwards “N” in the Instinct title graphic, Cumming jumped in: “It’s secret code to say ‘No’ to Trump.”
Check out the trailer below.