Full disclosure: None of this is to say that I've reversed my verdict on Adam Lambert's boring miserable mess of a debut. However, It's easy to sympathize when airtime is being given to the boringest of miserable messes like Chris Brown because Lambert's unfocused, reactionary brand of gay showmanship annoyed the four North Dakotans who man the PTC control center enough to make ABC backpedal. So, ABC, please listen closely. You're being foolish. Adam Lambert may be stupid too, but he's smart-stupid.

Bear in mind, ABC is the network that just a couple years ago was touting itself as primetime's progressive bastion of gay programming. That's when Ugly Betty, Cashmere Mafia, and Dirty Sexy Money, among a litany of other shows, boasted some of the most daring steps forward with lesbian, gay, and transgendered characters. Even now, with the Rebecca Romijn-starring Eastwick and Modern Family, ABC isn't willing to sacrifice its gay viewership. So what's the message they're trying to send by axing Adam Lambert's Jimmy Kimmel appearance days after replacing him with America's Least Wanted on Good Morning America? They've also cut him from their New Year's Eve special. As much of a reprieve this is to people who don't like pitchy performers, that's never been a reason for pulling the plug on a performer. If Miley Cyrus can slut it up while sneezing her way through some pop song, why can't Adam Lambert do the same?

There are essentially two messages ABC's sending by axing Lambert.

The first makes sense given their preference for Modern Family. It's a series which features a practically married gay couple raising a child. The network is trying to sell an image of appropriated gay men to America. They're tapping the status quo on the shoulder and whispering, "It's okay to be gay as long as you are settling heteronormatively. It's okay to be gay as long as you don't do gay things in public." That kind of throws guy-liner, glitter, Frenching the keyboardist, and mock fellatio out of Lambert's grab-bag of stage props. Not that there's anything wrong with this, per se. It's still "a step in the right direction," albeit a small one.

Another message is this: ABC's America is a-OK with woman-slappers. They'd rather see deplorable scum like Chris Brown clasp their hands, plea their case, and beg for forgiveness. They secretly want to forgive Brown. They understand the RiBro scandal. Somehow, somehow, that audience is more readily able to accept a man whose actions still leave a vividly unnerving picture of Rihanna in our minds, than another man whose offense is loving men.

So here we are, perched on the precipice of a new year, trying to make sense out of the culture of hate you're either shilling or pandering to. All the while trying to retain the misplaced faith of those who don't count LOGO among their nightly viewing habits. Also, ABC: Your ace in the hole is about to is about to wrap up an abbreviated fourth season in January and currently has no promise of a fifth season. Combine that with American Idol starting up in January and further pontificate if denying Lambert a chance to do what pop stars like him are supposed to do is really the best thing for a network that has seen much of its newest primetime fare get axed, while slipping dangerously close to NBC in the ratings abyss.