(MATT BAUME) How Sitcoms Handled Homos in the 70s and 80s!

When did TV first permit joking while gay? I've been combing through sitcoms of the 70s and 80s to figure out when queers stopped being a scary threat, and were allowed to be real people with love lives and funny punch lines. Here are just a few of my favorite early gay characters on sitcoms.

(92nd Street Y) Aziz Ansari with Brian Stelter!

Funnyman and "Parks and Recreation" star Aziz Ansari opens up about his meteoric rise from New York University stand-up comedian to Hollywood A-lister. 

(92nd Street Y) Melissa Rivers with Hoda Kotb on remembering Joan Rivers!

Joan and Melissa Rivers had one of the most celebrated mother-daughter relationships of all time.

An Ivy League graduate, single mother of a teenage son, author, television producer and philanthropist, what was it really like to grow up with comedy legend Joan Rivers as your mother? If you think Joan said some outrageous things to her audiences as a comedian, you won’t believe what she said and did in private. Her love for her daughter knew no bounds—or boundaries. Melissa Rivers joins us to discuss her mother and her new book, The Book of Joan: Tales of Mirth, Mischief, and Manipulation. She shares funny, and poignant observations and stories about the blonde force of nature who raised her and who she called Mom. Joan would have been 82 this week.

DEBUT! (92nd Street Y) The Wonder Years Reunion!

Before there was “Modern Family,” “That ‘70s Show” or “Freaks and Geeks,” there was “The Wonder Years”—a nostalgia-inducing take on the traditional family sitcom—and one of the most beloved sitcoms of the past thirty years. For six years America tuned in to follow the exploits of Kevin Arnold (Fred Savage), as he navigated adolescence in the most memorable of ways.

Moderated by acclaimed columnist and NPR “Fresh Air” critic David Bianculli, Fred Savage, Danica McKellar (girl-next-door Winnie Cooper) and Josh Saviano (Kevin’s BFF Paul Pfeiffer) discuss growing up on camera—crushes, first kisses, and all the other indignities that come from going from tween to teen in front of America.

(SOAP BOX) Daytime Emmy Post-Show!

 

Thursday afternoon on TradioV,On-Air On-Soaps Michael Fairman joined hosts Martha Madison and Lilly Melgar for their post Daytime Emmy show on their weekly online talk show series, Soap Box!

During the hour, Martha ran clips for her red carpet interviews where she chatted with many daytime soap opera notables and posed to them some very tough questions that left them pondering, or just plain speechless! The actresses/hosts also named their top choices for Best Dressed Women at the Daytime Emmys.

In another segment, Martha and Lily welcomed Michael Fairman to the broadcast where he discussed his role as consulting producer on the 42nd Annual Daytime Emmys Telecast, and the gals weighed-in on their favorite parts of the Emmy telecast. Fairman discussed the DAYS 5oth tribute package, the fan surprise for school teacher Sharon Hofreiter and her segment with Y&R’s Daniel Goddard, and more.

The trio was joined by Soaps In Depth journalist and Soap Box regular, Michael Maloney for the remainder of the Emmy post-show discussing this year’s tie in the Outstanding Drama Series and Outstanding Guest Performer in a Drama Series and more.

Watch the episode after the jump and then let us know your thoughts on Emmy night 2015!

(UNDER the WIG) with Shangela!

A great sit down chat with the fun loving Shangela at NU nightclub.

CAUGHT: An adorable selfie of Darren Criss and Chord Overstreet!

Let’s say that Sam (Chord Overstreet) WANTS to experiment with  BFF Blaine (Darren Criss)?

Anyway, Darren has posted this selfie of he and Chord earlier today and I’m just thrilled that Chord has cut his hair!

(Under the Wig) with Ivy Winterssss!

Eric sits down with the talented and amazing Ivy Winters at NU night Club!

('Looking' Back): Episode 5, 'Looking For the Future'!

It's a shame so many viewers have seemingly abandoned Looking just when the series is finding its footing. Tonight's episode, "Looking For the Future," was easily the show's strongest yet, and an excellent showcase of Looking's potential.

Perhaps related, it's also the episode closest in style to Andrew Haigh's Weekend. "Looking For the Future" may draw similar comparisons to Before Sunrise, as it followed Patrick (Jonathan Groff) and Richie (Raúl Castillo) on a daylong, romantic get-to-know-you throughout the city. The result was 30 incredibly intimate minutes that invited viewers to get to know these characters a lot deeper.

('Looking' Back): Episode 4, 'Looking For $220/Hour'!

We're now halfway through the first season of HBO's Looking. Sunday's episode "Looking For $220/Hour" introduced some soapier elements and (finally) some real conflict for our leads. It's the best writing we've seen on the show yet, and, if the back half of the season continues the momentum, it could salvage the show and keep me interested in a second season.

Four episodes deep may not be the best time to start getting interesting, but I'm glad to see the show's principle stories finally picking up some steam.

For many viewers, it may just be too little, too late. That's a shame, because I think tonight's episode finally struck the right balance between the show's much-touted realism (some might call it "overly-touted") and some really nice storytelling. (Plus Groff finally went Shirtless)!

('Looking' Back): Episode 3, 'Looking At Your Browser History'!

The third episode of a series is often a make-or-break point. While most viewers can forgive an uneven pilot, folks expect a show to find its footing by episode three.

Many folks have been saying the show could have benefited by having one-hour episodes, instead of thirty-minute installments. Would a longer episode necessarily mean better episodes?
Now that you've had a chance to see episode three, are you committed to finishing the season, or have you seen the last of Looking? See what we thought of the third episode, and share your thoughts.

(AFTER BUZZ) LOOKING Ep 1.2-Looking for Un-cut!

AFTERBUZZ TV -- Looking edition, is a weekly "after show" for fans of HBO's Looking. In this episode host Scott Moore breaks down the episode in which Dom helps Agustín move into Frank's house in Oakland while discussing Patrick's love life. Back in San Francisco, Patrick goes on a date with Richie; and Dom has an encouraging reunion with Ethan. There to help Scott are co-hosts Kylie Hodges and Pat Lambert. Also joining the conversation is special guest O-T Fagbenle. It's Looking's "Looking for Uncut" podcast!

(OUTscene AMERICA) The Homoerotic Undertones Of The PBS “Sherlock”!

by Matt Baume

Did you watch Last weekend’s premiere of Sherlock, featuring Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman? We don’t want to spoil it for you if you haven’t seen it yet, but let’s just say Sherlock and Watson share a pretty steamy kiss. (LOL, JK, no, they don’t.)

Of course, Sherlock’s sexual orientation has been much discussed long before the latest BBC series arrived. But the show certainly isn’t reluctant about showing two men show share a close emotional bond, if Sherlock’s mechanisms can be described as “emotion.”

Is this show homoerotic? Well, it’s certainly pretty homo-ish, what with Cumberbatch and Freeman playing a pretty intense bromance. Show creator Steven Moffat once said of the pair, “They are just incredibly good friends. If Sherlock is gay, and who knows if he is, then I don’t think he fancies John,” although he’s certainly capable of jealous when his pal’s attention strays toward the opposite sex.

In other words, the “erotic” aspect may be in the eye of the beholder. So let’s behold!

(TV Talk) FIVE NEW SHOWS TO SEE (AND FIVE TO SKIP) THIS FALL!

BY BOBBY HANKINSON

With the fall TV season just around the corner, it’s time to clear the Law and Order: SVU reruns you amassed over the summer off your DVR and get ready to program some new series.

If you haven’t been keeping up with the trailers and early reviews, we’ve rounded up some picks for the strongest contenders to earn your TiVo’s coveted season pass, as well as a few that aren’t worth the time.