In an era where Will & Grace and Modern Family have made gay characters commonplace among the leads in television sitcoms, it is often hard to remember when television was apprehensive about including them. One of the first was Billy Crystal’s portrayal of Jodie Campbell on Soap. Though this was groundbreaking at the time, Jodie was often a stereotype, playing into the homophobia humor of the time. It was until April 30, 1997 when Ellen Degeneres, four seasons into her five-season sitcom Ellen decided to have her character come out of the closet.
Lesli Margherita Set to Dazzle with New Album
We all love Lesli Margerita. Truly, who in the theatre world does not adore this lady of the stage for her talent, her humor, and something extra that draws people to her wacky and whimsical diva personality? Well, we have received some good…no, great, news! Ms. Margerita will be releasing a new album courtesy of Broadway Records. Lesli Margherita: Rule Your Kingdom – Live at Feinstein’s/54 Below. The album will be released digitally and in stores on Friday, May 11, 2018. The album is currently available for pre-order at BroadwayRecords.com, and Broadway Records seldom (if ever) disappoints in delivering quality sound and exciting artists.
TV Tidbit: The Bloodhound Gang
The PBS series 3-2-1 Contact debuted on PBS in 1980, introducing young viewers to the multitude of fun facts surrounding the growing world of science. Within the series (which was a bit like Mr. Wizard meets Nova), was a series of shorts called The Bloodhound Gang. A bit like Scooby-Doo, this live-action mystery program featured three kids who solved mysteries, usually turning to science to get the bottom of each case.
Movie Morsel: Throw Momma From the Train
People always ask me what my favorite film comedy is. I always reply, “Do you mean classic comedy or contemporary comedy?” If they answer, “classic”, I always reply with My Man Godfrey, one of the most sparkling, intellectual, and downright downright wacky film comedies of early Hollywood (it was made in 1936). If their answer is “contemporary”, I immediately announce Throw Momma From the Train as my choice. For the same reasons that I love My Man Godfrey, I marvel at the humor, timing, and insanity that just makes Throw Momma From the Train special. It allows itself to be entirely human and entirely wacko at the same time. It gets at the heart of who we are as people and how we let our egos control who we are. That’s funny stuff. We need to laugh at ourselves.