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When NBC aired its cutting-edge sitcom Will and Grace in September of 1998 it became the first series to star openly gay lead characters on television. Of course, just the year before, Ellen Degeneres came out in the fourth year of her series amid much controversy. But it was Will and Grace that, at its inception, proudly opened the closet door depicting gay people fully realized and already comfortable in their own skins. The show had a remarkable impact on public perception. It was met with plenty of objection from the usual bastions of bigotry and even within the gay community for perceived stereotyping. However, the brilliant writing and superb cast rose above the criticism and the show was a huge success. I believe Joe Biden had it exactly right when he said the following during a 2012 Meet the Press interview with David Gregory.
I think 'Will & Grace' did more to educate the American public than almost anything anybody has ever done. People fear that which is different. Now they're beginning to understand.
The show owed its popularity in large part due to Sean Hayes's portrayal of Jack McFarland, the campy, self-involved bubble head with a serious Cher fetish. His relationship with Karen Walker played by the fabulous Megan Mullally was comedy gold. His was also the most controversial role within the gay community, with some detractors arguing that the character's swishy, decadent, and promiscuous nature was pulling us backwards instead of forwards. There is a case to be made I'm sure, but I thought Jack was hysterically funny and besides, I have known a few Jack McFarlands in my day.
Now Sean Hayes is back with a new venture on NBC. On October 3rd, Sean Saves the World will make its debut in what the show's creator Victor Fresco is describing as a "post gay show".
Sean Saves the World's creator, Victor Fresco, made it clear that things have changed since Hayes played Jack in the groundbreaking NBC sitcom Will & Grace.
“Without Will & Grace, we would not be here right now,” Fresco said, according to Deadline. “But I think of this as a post-gay show where there is a gay man at the center but it’s not about his being gay.”
Hayes plays the role of Sean, a divorced dad whose teenage daughter, Ellie (Samantha Isler), moves in with him so she can finish school after her mother takes a job out of state. He is determined to be an excellent father and provide a stable home for her while juggling a demanding job and dealing with his overbearing mother, Lorna. In that role, Linda Lavin of
Alice fame returns to the small screen and I personally can't wait to watch her again. The cast is rounded out by his longtime friend, Liz (Megan Hilty), and his demanding boss, Max (Thomas Lennon).
Oh, and Sean is gay.
This is perhaps the most interesting facet of this new show due to the fact that it is being portrayed as just that, a facet. According to Fresco, that the character is gay is incidental to the central premise.
One of the keys to Hayes’ character is that, like his Will & Grace alter ego, he’s gay. And Fresco believes that show’s impact was to help open up network primetime to embrace gay characters on shows like Modern Family and now Sean Saves the World. “Without Will & Grace, we would not be here right now,” Fresco stressed. “But I think of this as a post-gay show where there is a gay man at the center but it’s not about his being gay.”
Hayes
echos this sentiment during a panel discussion on the new program at the Television Critics Association press day held Saturday.
"I think, thankfully, [that] it's an afterthought, as it should be. It's even sad that that's a question." — Hayes, when asked how it felt having a gay character in a lead role on prime-time TV.
I agree with him that it is a sad question. Unfortunately, I also think that there is some optimism involved when declaring this a post gay show. Just as some people like to declare that we are in a post racial society, the right wing proves daily that is simply is not the case. The gaseous howls of outrage coming from those rectums of high moral rectitude are sure to be loudly tooted. Sure as I'm typing this, a serious case of fundamentalist flatulence is already brewing over there at One Million Moms. "
Portraying a gay man in a single parent household and calling it normal? Why, the very idea!" Perhaps it would be better promoted as a "
We don't give a shit that you can't handle a gay single parent being portrayed as normal show."
I am looking forward to this new offering. With the excellent casting, I think it has the potential to be a big hit. I also think it has the potential to bring us closer to that post gay goalpost. Never underestimate the the power of the sitcom as a vehicle for progress in this county. I wish the show every success.
TOP COMMENTS
July 28, 2013
Thanks to tonight's Top Comments contributors! Let us hear from YOU
when you find that proficient comment.
From me, Steveningen:
In Silly Rabbit's Sunday Talk: Color commentary diary last night, I made mention that zucchini was taking over my garden. MTmofo explains why one should never plant zucchini. Hint: they are the Duggars in the garden. I'm still laughing.
Egberto Willies did today's Midday open thread and included a must-see marriage proposal video. I would have missed it entirely if I hadn't been looking for comments to submit. Thankfully, a reduced-to-tears high uintas made a comment calling attention to it. I cried like a baby too. I recommend watching it if you want to experience some good lump in the throat happy tears.
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TOP PHOTOS
July 27, 2013
Enjoy jotter's wonderful PictureQuilt™ below. Just click on the picture and it will magically take you to the comment that features that photo. Have fun, Kossacks!
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