Different Families on ABC Family

I was not surprised when Amazon took a chance on the series Transparent since this was a controversial yet evolving issue for American television audiences.  Amazon brought television to the edge of reality and was rewarded for its efforts by the public and critics.  But I did not expect Disney's ABC Family network to be quite as bold. 

First, a few years back it premiered The Fosters, a show about two lesbian moms raising a mixed family involving the son of one of the moms as well as a number of adopted children.  The Fosters returns this Monday (June 8) with its third season, which indicates ABC Family has found an audience even with the initial controversy surrounding the program.  Not only is it a good show on its own, but it's been a great way to expand the definition of family to all viewers.

Now the network is tackling a new type of family also premiering on Monday in Becoming Us - an unscripted drama where the dad is going through his own transformation.  Here are the basics:

Ben is an ordinary Midwestern teenager, going through a unique situation. After his parents’ recent divorce, Ben learned that his dad is transitioning into a woman, Carly. In the series’ opener, “#WelcomeToMyWorld,” Ben is struggling in school, and his parents, Suzy and Carly, are not happy about it. Ben’s girlfriend, Danielle, would like to introduce Carly to her father, who is also transgender, leading to an awkward shopping trip for the four of them. And Ben’s sister, Sutton, returns home to Evanston to plan her upcoming wedding.

With the recent attention regarding Bruce/Caitly Jenner, this is another timely show, though I did not expect it would come from Disney.  Maybe I should start to expect it since the network has done well tackling tough issues and trying to integrate it into family viewing.  This is not your grandfather's Disney anymore.

Bloomberg discussed the new show with Tom Ascheim, president of ABC Family, who noted the advertisers have not bailed on the show:

The potential viewer response to “Becoming Us,” as judged by online polling, is positive, he said. And while there are some advertisers who take a wait-and-see approach to edgier programming, the network’s June commercial inventory is sold out, he said.
 
You can also learn more about Ben and his father from this ABC Nightline story.