How to decide what's realistic? I remember quite a few people in SV fandom who didn't feel that Pete Ross was 'realistic,' because he was decidedly middle-class and well-educated. That was -- special. Very, very special. That said, I gave up on Heroes very, very quickly because of the skanky race issues.

The thing about artistic responsibility... well, you know, I don't think I expressed myself well enough. If TPTB over on SPN really want to put out a show with a character who reads as misogynistic in a world that pisses all over female-ness in general... well, they're doing a great job and should keep up the good work. If they want to do a show about heroism in a realistic -- heh, there's that word again -- America that allows a wide range of characters across race, ethnicity, gender, and sexuality lines... well, they're frankly fucking up.

In the end, I think the primary responsibility any artist has is to do their absolute best to get their message across, whatever that message might be, and to *own* that message, be clear and upfront about it, and not try to have it both ways. The show is marketing itself as something it's -- currently -- not, and that's a problem.