Bruce Vilanch was in top form last night at a panel discussion on behalf of the TV Academy - celebrating Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender contributions to the medium - both in front of and behind the camera.
As the President and CEO of the prestigious TV Academy noted, recognition "has been long overdue."
And, there were a number of treats in store for the rapt audience.
For example, there were guest appearances by Tracy Scoggins (Babylon 5), Ant (Last Comic Standing), Amanda Bearse (Married with Children), and David Alan Grant (30 Something).
Billy Crystal wowed the packed house when he sauntered out and fondly reminisced about - "SOAP" - a ground-breaking comedy show in the 70's in which he played one of the first major gay characters on the little boob tube when depictions of that sort were not in vogue.
The delightful star surprised fans when he noted for the record that - at first - he was reticent about taking on the colorful role about a fey young man who gets his jollies dressing up in his Mother's clothes
"Originally, there was just one scripted line, but by the third episode, the character had been fully-fleshed out on the show."
Believe it or not, the celebrated funnyman got more flack from his family, when the send-up first broadcast on Network TV.
"You're playing a fagala?"
In fact, when he signed on the dotted line, it never crossed his mind negative reactions might surface outside the studio, as well.
For instance, he laughingly recalled strolling down New York Streets, taken aback a bit when construction workers and cabbies pointed out the oddity.
"Heh, there's that "gay guy" from that wacky TV show, Soap.
And, during the weekly tapings before a live audience, nervous giggles often burst out from behind the footlights when the subject of intimacy with a male love interest was broached, he noted with some disdain.
But - within a couple of seasons (perhaps due to the charm and wit of the character and Crystal's ability to inhabit a role so convincingly) middle America had not only warmed up to the cross-dresser - but was rooting for him in a child custody battle in what amounted to a "controversial" first for the staid conservative medium.
In fact, that message tended to be the theme of the evening's dialogue.
Gosh, look how far "gay" characters have come since those pioneer moments of yesteryear when depictions of homosexuals were either awkward, stereotypical, or downright clueless!
For example, a clip from the "Golden Girls" threw the spotlight on Estelle Getty's character when she innocently conjectured that Danny Thomas was "gay".
The studio audience went into hysterics for a moment or two.
Tthen, her daughter (played by Bea Arthur) pointed out that Mr. Thomas was actually "Lebanese", not Lesbian.
Cheap shots?
David Alan Grant - who was a regular on "30 Something" in its heyday - joked about the mood around the set the day the first screen kiss between two male characters was going to be taped for broadcast on a mainstream Network TV Show.
"It was like the set was radioactive."
In anticipation of the stupendous moment - all the crew guys and staffers swaggered about the set acting nonchalant and "butch-like" with a kind-of "just doing my job" attitude about 'em - that thickly permeated one end of the stage to the other.
Who me, a fag? No way, Jose.
The soft-spoken likable Grant confessed that he was in the closet for years, and afraid to "come out", for fear he might lose work. Ironically, the first job he was offered was - you got it - to play a gay character.
In the hit Broadway production - "Bent" - Grant ended up playing opposite charismatic Richard Gere.
Bruce Vilanch - a top comedy writer known for his hilarious guest appearances on Hollywood Squares - recalled his early days in Hollywood, too.
Drawing from his own life experiences in New York - he conjured up what he thought was a "novel idea" at the time - a side-splitting sitcom about a straight woman and a gay male who become room-mates.
"I pictured Sandy Duncan and Tommy Tune in the roles."
The audience roared!
The network execs were more harsh in their assessment.
"Whatever were you thinking?"
Twenty years later "Will & Grace" (similarly-themed bill-of-fare) became a big hit with American audiences on prime-time television.
Perhaps, it was all about timing.
Or, maybe by a fluke of fate, there had just been a fortuitous turn in consciousness down a rainbow alley somewhere along the way.
Essentially, that was part of the message from the panel.
The TV Academy was giving a nod (and openly acknowledging) that because of the deliberate exemplary efforts of a handful of insightful pioneer gay writers and actors, characters of diverse sexuality have become part 'n parcel of the American landscape in recent years in high-profile projects.
In some cases, great strides had even been made in glaring controversial ways.
In respect to, "Queer as Folk", for example.
Curiously, with "Queer", there was a bit of a novel reversal.
A predominate number of the characters - not just a couple - were openly gay and screaming proud of it!
In that instant case, it was a bit of a tough row to hoe.
Undoubtedly, Hollywood's "gay mafia" - ever-focused on transmitting positive images of the gay community into the mainstream consciousness - would have preferred to have toned down the explosion of graphic images depicting a promiscuous lifestyle they found injurious to the cause.
But, the intimate tales that unfolded around those story lines, cried out to be told.
And, when the demographics were plumbed, a number of eyebrows were raised.
The research revealed that the longevity of the titillating pot-boiler was due - in large part - to a straight female viewership around the country.
When the question was posed as to why that sector tuned in, the responses were not only surprising, but downright insightful.
Bruce Vilanch chortled, "Straight women love to watch gay porn."
Another female panelist offered up her opinion based on conversations she'd engaged in with a cross-section of fans of the cable offering in the recent past.
"I talked to some straight women. And, they said they watched "Queer" because it gave them a glimpse into the male psyche and a rare opportunity to fathom an emotional side of men not found elsewhere on television."
That revelation elicited quite a reaction from audience members who chatted for a moment or two amongst themselves excitedly.
When there was a lull, the guest concluded,
"After all, society dictates that men are supposed to be real macho and conceal their feelings."
"DL Chronicles" - another gay-themed showed represented at the forum - figured differently into the scenarios discussed.
The drama focuses on a handful of Afro-American gay men exploring their sexuality on the "down low", for fear of retribution from an unrelenting anti-gay black community.
While the white actors, writers, and execs proudly asserted TV was definitely "out"- and that there had been a lot of progress in gaining favor with the American public in recent years - the two creators of the "Chronicles" (male lovers) were conflicted.
In essence, they were being forced to tip-toe around a "mine field", because of a double-whammy.
"There a lot of negative images of blacks right now in America, in addition to the negative ones associated with gays. So, it's tough for us because we have to try to responsibly deal with the two issues in a way that the black community will warm up to."
The African American community - unlike their Caucasian counterpart - still grapples with the homosexual "thing" apparently and has trouble accepting it.
Subsequently, the creators complained they continually feel the heat.
For them, there has been a lot of pressure because of an all-encompassing need to satisfy a demanding community, who defiantly want it "their way".
"At times, I just want to say "fu** it."
In fact, initially, they hid their sexual preferences from even close friends and relatives; indeed, they never intimated the nature of their close "relationship".
Whenever relatives came to visit, for example, a half of the two-some would move into the guest room and take on the role of "room-mate" temporarily during the stay.
Yes, a real charade was going down for the sake of appearances.
"Black gays take on a lot of flack, too. Because of being on the down-low, we are accused of spreading A.I.D.S. and that sort-of-thing."
In spite of the dilemmas faced, each tried to come out; in baby steps, mind you.
The one actor who hails from Chicago - jokingly noted that he finally broke down and informed his Mother about his deep dark secret - thinking that it would be safe.
Later, however, he learned she told everyone in Chicago about his sexual preference.
Imagine that, being outed by your own Mother!
Now, there's a tale for Oprah.
Near the tail end of the insightful forum there was a bit of focus on transgender issues, as well.
A couple of well-known personalities (Candis Cayne, for one ) who are actively being cast in roles - as extensions of themselves - poignantly recalled that when they were growing up and stumbling about in search of their sexual identities, there were few role models available to mold themselves after.
In fact - whenever they channel-surfed - the images society projected didn't jive or fit at all. So, they were forced to blaze their own trails, be their own role models, and fend for themselves.
Although "transgenders" per se are garnering respect in the industry, and landing plum gay-related roles in the duration, things could be better.
"Why not cast a gay man for a straight role. And a transgender woman a female role?" one panelist wondered aloud.
As the retrospective musings panned out near the end of the thought-provoking two-hour discussion, it was evident that far-reaching in-roads have been made in recent years.
In spite of the fact the big four networks (ABC, CBS, NBC, and Fox) dominate - I expect the fledgling efforts of Logo TV (gay cable) - may give rise to another prominent force on the airwaves.
The emergence of the LGBT Network!
Who knows, maybe Ted Turner will flick on the switch!
Actually - producers like Norman Lear, Aaron Spelling, and Witt-Thomas - were applauded by the panelists for introducing gay characters into major story lines over the past couple of decades which have impacted the terrain greatly.
One exec noted:
"You don't have to be a visionary. Just know there is a need or an interest."
In spite of the fact - Lear, Spelling and Witt-Thomas maneuvered from a straight perspective - they endeavoured to enlighten the masses about gay issues and succeeded.
One of the first sponsors on Logo TV, funnily enough, was a vaginal infection cream.
Today, the gay-themed cable network boasts prestigious sponsors in the big advertising arena who are unflinching in their support, in spite of high-pressure tactics from anti-gay organizations and religious fundamentalists.
Although a handful of gay-themed shows are wrapping up this season - and likewise being bundled up for syndication heaven ("The L Shaped Room" and "Queer as Folk") - industry professionals noted there is no cause for alarm because the mainstream is now populated with a host of gay characters woven into the natural fabric of society.
And, what a rich tapestry that has become.
