Slog

News & Arts

Line Out

Music & Nightlife

« Reading Tonight | 'If it makes a guy happy to chop hi… »

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Homo / History / Media The Long, Klutzy March Towards Gay Equality: Prime-Time Television Edition

Posted by David Schmader on Wed, Oct 28, 2009 at 10:17 AM

From child-nauseating depravity to Sally Field-pleasing wholesomeness, here's 25 years of male same-sex attraction as seen on American prime-time television.

As James St. James at World of Wonder notes, the shocked kid in the first clip is indeed a young River Phoenix.

Thank you for the compilation, LBColby.

Share via

Comments (16) RSS

Oldest First Unregistered On Registered On Add a comment

Good lord, there were a lot of butt chins in the 80s.

Posted by Andrew Cole

on October 28, 2009 at 10:29 AM

I guess I don't see what this video is getting at, unless it's trying to prove that fashion got better and men became more attractive over the years.

Posted by BombasticMO

on October 28, 2009 at 10:37 AM

Wait, HRG is gay? (as seen in clip #2)

Well that would have made Heroes a little more interesting...

Posted by UNPAID COMMENTER on October 28, 2009 at 10:42 AM

Apparently the evolution of gays in television didn't include any persons of color.

Posted by Scholar of violence on October 28, 2009 at 10:49 AM

#4 said it b4 I could post it, I guess TV has only white gay people that are very well off and no facial hair to speak of - WOW we have come so far.....

Posted by Stupid Crackers on October 28, 2009 at 11:06 AM

Ah, how well I remember when any gay attraction portrayed onscreen always had to have a "vampire moment." Funny how little I miss them.

Posted by Pope Buck I on October 28, 2009 at 11:18 AM

Those 80s guys were sure into makeup, weren't they?

Posted by Roscoe on October 28, 2009 at 11:29 AM

Those 80s guys were sure into makeup, weren't they?

Posted by Roscoe on October 28, 2009 at 11:29 AM

@3, thank you for identifying HRG in that clip. It's been bugging me all morning.

Posted by Luckier on October 28, 2009 at 11:53 AM

...was that Doug Savant (now "Desperate Housewives") in the fourth clip or so?

Posted by Rhett Oracle on October 28, 2009 at 12:12 PM

@10 yes

i thoroughly enjoyed this video! and thank you, @ 6 for introducing me to the phrase "vampire moment." if it means what i think it means, then it's perfect!

Posted by mr. herriman on October 28, 2009 at 12:16 PM

@10 yup- he was on Melrose Place. It cracks me up to see him and the actress who plays Brie together again. (I take special pleasure in the stark contrast of her character especially, now prudish housewife, then vamp psycho who tried to blow up Melrose Place in one of the season finales.

Posted by UNPAID COMMENTER on October 28, 2009 at 12:18 PM

It's like an extremely limited TV version of the Celluloid Closet. One off-camera kiss for the only gay moment in the 90s? Really?

Posted by Mattini on October 28, 2009 at 12:19 PM

I very shamefully watch Brothers and Sisters, and one of the only things about it that doesn't make me cringe is the way they portray Kevin and Scotty. They are real people, not caricatures, and they get snuggly moments and kissy moments just like all the other couples on the show. I think that's pretty cool.

Posted by Aislinn on October 28, 2009 at 1:55 PM

hahaha. HRG looks like Sting.

Posted by St.Davus on October 28, 2009 at 2:29 PM