#1
Posted: 5/26/04 at 10:18am
Mario Cantone did a funny recap of the daytime Emmys on The View, and told the gals the only way to win is to start sleeping with one another,i.e.look at the ratings and Emmy success of Rosie and Ellen. He was being glib, but inadvertently scored a point about our hypocritical society. We invite lesbians into our home daily, to entertain, honor our comfort zones, and raise a bit of domestic consciousness (Rosie was a combo b'way show queen, Martha Stewart manque, and kids rights advocate.) But polls show "most" Americans prefer that she not be given the same rights as others, particularly re marriage. (To those who say Rosie was in the closet during most of her show, remember, tho her numbers had fallen, her demos -- which determine advertising rates -- held after she came out on Dateline. A pal has the stats.)
Historically, this perhaps mirrors the civil rights movement, when white people loved to see black folks sing, dance, sometimes act, but really didn't want 'em in their nabe or going to school with their kids. One might argue that Ellen makes no "point" of her being gay. But she mines it for a lot of deadpan humor, particularly when interviewing hunks with a calculated indifference. The audience "knowing" is part of the fun. There is clearly major progress in out gay entertainers being beloved by a wider audience than ever before. Is it because lesbians are basically less threatening than gay men?(Forget the straight male porn fantasy -- I doubt Rosie and Ellen figure prominently in girl on girl action...) Would an out gay man hosting a talk show pull such numbers, or is it the nature of female daytime audience, i.e. they simply enjoy cozy female energy coming across. It is an interesting question, at a time when the country is so angrily polarized on gay politics.
Historically, this perhaps mirrors the civil rights movement, when white people loved to see black folks sing, dance, sometimes act, but really didn't want 'em in their nabe or going to school with their kids. One might argue that Ellen makes no "point" of her being gay. But she mines it for a lot of deadpan humor, particularly when interviewing hunks with a calculated indifference. The audience "knowing" is part of the fun. There is clearly major progress in out gay entertainers being beloved by a wider audience than ever before. Is it because lesbians are basically less threatening than gay men?(Forget the straight male porn fantasy -- I doubt Rosie and Ellen figure prominently in girl on girl action...) Would an out gay man hosting a talk show pull such numbers, or is it the nature of female daytime audience, i.e. they simply enjoy cozy female energy coming across. It is an interesting question, at a time when the country is so angrily polarized on gay politics.
"I'm a comedian, but in my spare time, things bother me." Garry Shandling
Updated On: 5/26/04 at 10:18 AM
