Transgender Television

I remember the first time I was formally taught the word "transgender". I was sixteen years old and attending a summer writing workshop at the University of Virginia. One of the other students liked to borrow girls' clothing and wear it to class. I'm not sure if he* was the impetus for our session about "Sex and Gender" or if it was already on the schedule but one afternoon someone somewhere decided that it was time for us to learn the correct terminology. We learned what LGBT meant. We learned the difference between sex and gender. We learned about pronouns. Coming from a slightly conservative public high school in Virginia, and a liberal but very sheltered upbringing, all of this was news to me. Interestingly, I took it all in stride. My biggest concern was that someone should really teach him how to dress better, because the skirt and top combo didn't match at all.

Later, when I attended Smith College, these early lessons in terminology came in handy. That's not to say that Smith wasn't a culture shock, because it totally was. During a weekend for accepted students I was housed by Junior who a) had the shortest hair I had ever seen on a girl and b) was openly gay. Interestingly, all the students that she lived with seemed to veer largely toward the Lesbian side of the spectrum. This certainly isn't the case all over the Smith campus, but in that particular house my long hair-polo shirt wearing- one step away from having pearls-high school self stood out.

Three years later I would be leading a session for new students where I talked about LGBT terminology. Full circle from clueless fashion-conscious sixteen year old to more knowledgeable but still pretty clueless twenty-one year old.

Yesterday I was riding a bus through Dorchester, which is one of the poorest neighborhoods in Boston. Two Black teenagers, a guy and a girl, were talking about what drag was, which then turned into a discussion about a family friend's decision to transition. They knew the terminology. Was that because they'd read up on what to say and how to say it after learning of their friend's decision? Of course that's possible. But I also think it's possible that media is playing a role.

Rizzoli & Isles: the 2nd Season finale

"Burning Down the House" (S2Ep15) was the final episode of the second season of 'Rizzoli & Isles'. More often than not, 'R&I' is a light-hearted mystery romp. Sure, there have been occasional dark episodes, like this year's "Brown Eyed Girl", but those episodes have always been an oddity. Tonight's episode added one more to the collection.

The episode featured some regular guest starts; Jacqueline Bisset reprieved her role as Maura's mother, and Agent Dean (Billy Burke) returned as a love interest for Jane. 

"Burning Down the House" had an uneven tone. The episode tried to keep some of it's usual bantering humor, while dealing with extremely serious themes. This was problematic to say the least. The multiple storylines didn't help with the flow much either.

One side-story dealt with Jane and Agent Dean's romance and, I have to say, they really don't have great chemistry. Also, I'm sure there were plenty of moments that pleased Maura/Jane shippers (every time Jane and Dean had a second alone Jane cut it short to rush off and see Maura).

Another storyline briefly examined Maura's budding relationship with her mother. It seemed as though they were finally on their way to a true mother-daughter reconciliation (and just how true was brought to light at the end of the episode). Unfortunately, this was cut short because Maura's mother was seriously injured in a hit and run incident where Maura was the actual target.

And on to side-story number three: Maura was the target of said hit and run because of the arson fire/ mysterious firefighter death scenario that she was investigating. Because apparently Medical Examiners are really good at arson work, and know the inner workings of a space heater. Who knew?

Opps, I almost forgot side-story number four: Maura's biological father, Patty Doyle, who also happens to be a mobster, turned up in her mother's hospital room. He promised to protect Maura, and to tell her who her biological mother was, but instead they fought and he left.

Side-story number five: Except he didn't really leave, because when Maura gets back from seeing Jane she finds her biological father at her adoptive mother's bedside. Ostensibly because he is protecting her. But right after he leaves (for real this time) her mother wakes up and says that someone was telling her to hold on "for her daughter", and then asks Maura, "was it Patrick?". Which leads us to the first question that doesn't get answered (there have to be some, this is a finale!): is Maura's adoptive mother actually her biological mother? Did she have an affair with a mobster? And how will this impact the 'true' part of their mother-daughter reconciliation?

At the end of the episode, the detectives decide to set a trap to figure out which firefighter set the arson fire, and murdered his colleague. Maura makes a big fuss in front of the firefighters about collecting data at the burnt building. She's followed by the guilty firefighter, but luckily she is wire-tapped, and has numerous people backing her up...including Frost, Korsak, Jane, Agent Dean, and (unknown to everyone involved) her biological father. It's lucky that Patty Doyle is there, because the law enforcement would have been too late, the firefighter almost shots Maura, but Doyle takes him out just in time. Of course, this means that when the police do enter the room they're faced by a wanted mobster holding a gun. Someone fires at him, and he fires back. He refuses to put the gun down. He gets shot in the shoulder (definitely not a fatal wound), but then fires again and Jane steps up and shoots him in the chest. He falls backwards, potentially fatally wounded. Jane seems shocks at what she has done, but Maura responds instantly, rushing to her father's aid. Jane finally reacts and runs over, yelling Maura's name. She tries to bunch up a coat as a pillow for Patty's head, but Maura swats her away. The look that Maura and Jane exchange shows that Maura is deeply hurt by the fact that her best friend shot her father. And then the credits roll.

So, the questions for next season:
1. Does Patty Doyle survive? this one could go either way
2. Does Maura's mother survive? i think probably yes
3. Is Maura's adoptive mother really her biological mother? i'm guessing yes
4. Will Agent Dean stick around? please no, if there has to be a guy I'd prefer the far-away one who's in Afghanistan, anyone closer ruins the chemistry that Maura and Jane have (regardless of how you choose to interpret that chemistry)
4. How long will it take Maura to forgive Jane? not too long (they won't want to alienate viewers)

Dean: Maybe I'll be gone in Season 3. Or at least I'll get a hair cut.

What do you think?

'Rizzoli and Isles', Lesbian Subtext, and TNT Ratings

 'Rizzoli and Isles' (airing Monday nights 10/9C on TNT) is full of lesbian subtext. There's no way around it, you watch an episode and it's just there. I watched a single episode with my mother, with no conversations about what the show entailed ahead of time, and by the time we were halfway through she had already asked me if Jane and Maura were together.

And the answer is no, no they're not. And they probably never will be. The characters are both straight women--Janet Tamaro (the creater) has said this, Sasha Alexander and Angie Harmon have said this, and Tess Gerritsen (who wrote the books upon which the characters are based) has said this. But, despite the fact that the characters are (apparently, definitively, 100%)  straight, the show is full of lesbian subtext. And some of it is so obvious it's maintext (if you don't believe me watch the most recent episode, "Seventeen Ain't So Sweet"-S2Ep14).

There is no way that all of that is accidental; everyone involved with the show knows about its large lesbian following. Janet Tamaro has commented on it in interviews, and Sasha Alexander acknowledged the Lesbian 'Rizzoli and Isles' Drinking Game on 'Jimmy Kimmel Live' (see the clip below).  I imagine that in the writers room they have fun throwing in situations where Maura and Jane could be construed as being a couple, and I imagine Sasha Alexander and Angie Harmon occasionally throw a few meaningful glances in amongst their acting for the same reason.

After all, lets be honest, if they show wasn't acquiring a lesbian following it wouldn't be doing half as well. It's just not that good. The writing isn't any more brilliant than half a dozen other crime shows on the air right now (and no where near as good as 'Castle' or 'Bones'), but it has something those shows don't have. Two incredibly attractive female leads. My guess is that at the very least the executives at TNT try to continue to appeal to their lesbian following--the infamous speed dating promo suggests that's the case.

And if TNT wasn't aware of the true importance of their lesbian viewers before this week's episode, maybe they will be now.  Neither #RizzoliandIsles nor #RandI trended during the most recent episode, but you know what did trend? #gayzzoli. Hopefully TNT, and 'Rizzoli and Isles', will take a hint and keep up the subtext.

Sasha Alexander talks about how gay her show is, plus the drinking game:
TNT's speed dating promo:

I found the great screen shot at RizzleGirls

Sasha Alexander, Jimmy Kimmel Live, and the Gayness of "Rizzoli & Isles"

Sasha Alexander was on Jimmy Kimmel this past week. Watch the clips below to hear her opinion of the lesbian view of 'Rizzoli & Isles' ("everyone's a little gay!") and her hilarious story about her mother's opinion of her acting career ("then she gets up to vacuum or cut meat"). Plus, a story about how Sophia Loren is not only her mother-in-law, but the reason she came to America in the first place.

Quips & Quotes, Rizzoli & Isles -- "Sailor Man"

'Rizzoli & Isles' Season 2, Episode 3---"Sailor Man"

Top Islesism
"You and Frost are site specific friends."-Isles
"Wait, would we be friends if we didn't work together?"-Rizzoli
"Well we'd never see each other. It's a false syllogism."-Isles
"Huh?"-Rizzoli
"You know, all rabbits have whiskers. These animals have whiskers ergo they're rabbits."-Isles

Top Gay Moment
"Well, you don't want to sleep with me..."-Rizzoli
looks at Isles, long pause
"...do you?!"-Rizzoli
"No!!"-Isles

----
Rizzoli stands behind Isles and slips her arms around her waist. They pose, facing Giovanni (Maura's 'boyfriend'):
"I really really enjoyed your company, but Jane and I we're..."-Isles
"BFFs"-Rizzoli
"More than BFFs"-Isles
"Yeah, we're LLBFFs"-Rizzoli
"Yeah, like life long BFFs"-Isles
"Get it?"-Rizzoli

Top "Wait a minute, is this 'Bones'?"
"Look at his shoulder to hip ratio...lengthy metatarsals...you know what that means!!"-Isles

Top Straight Moment
"I wanted to ask you out."-Giovanni
"It would be faster if we went to my apartment."-Isles
"Faster?"-Giovanni
"Um. Faster....(Isles pause to think of an excuse) Faster for me. Because I work long hours." -Isles

Top "You're like my girlfriend!"
Maura and Jane take Mama Rizzoli out for brunch. Together. On a Sunday.

Top "Huh, this show's basically 'Bones'...lets have a cute convo between our two lead actors"
"Is he gone?"-Isles
"Not really."-Rizzoli
sighs-Isles
"He's kind of like a bedbug."-Rizzoli
(nods) "Hard to eradicate."-Isles

Seriously, you should watch this.

Fox always cancels the good shows. Here's a clip from 'Greg the Bunny', a super short-lived show on Fox (what else is new, right 'Arrested Development', 'Better Off Ted', etc.?). Sasha Alexander guest stars.

Wednesday Blast from the Past

It's summer which means that I can't watch the first 5 minutes of the 'Ellen Degeneres Show' as I get ready for work.

(Yes, I start work at 10 am. Yes, you can judge me. Or just be jealous. Very, very jealous)

But it's all good, because I just found out that Ellen used to do vlogs from her house. And while it sort of feels like an intrusion into her life (I thought she lived on the studio lot!) at least it's a welcome one (assuming no one forced her to film them). Besides, the fact that they take place in her house make them even funnier.

Since Wednesday is traditionally Hump Day, I like to use it to reflect on the past...because who said going over the hump means going forward? So, lets go back to 2008.






p.s. there are even more vlogs on YouTube...

Rizzoli & Isles Season 2 Premiere "We Need Another Hero"

'Rizzoli & Isles' finally premiered tonight at 10 pm on TNT.

I don't want to ruin too much for you, so please stop reading now to avoid spoilers.

'Rizzoli & Isles' opened with Rizzoli still recovering from her injury that happened at the end of last season (where she saved her brother by shooting herself. It's complicated. Watch Season 1 and maybe it will be clarified). And by recovering we really mean whining. Of course Isles is there trying to help her recover. And pointing out, in what can only be compared to typical Brennan ('Bones') fashion, that her pain isn't real anymore because it's not medically possible.

Now, lets talk about the men. Once again the show managed to introduce romantic possiblities for our main characters. Rizzoli was approached by Charles (her ex-boyfriend from high school) about 15 minutes into the episode, and two seconds later we learned that Isles was dating Rizzoli's surgeon. But don't worry, the writers aren't going to ruin the possibility for future romance (I'm talking heteronormative romance here, even though I love the insinuations of less heteronormative assignations). Charles was gone (I'm guessing temporarily) by the end of the episode because his leave time was over. And Isles realized that her surgeon boyfriend was as pompous as Rizzoli had said he was.

The thriller/mystery plots are all right, but nowhere near as detailed or intelligent as many of the other criminal justice shows out there ('NCIS', 'Law and Order: SVU, etc.). Still, Alexander and Harmon's ability to act so seamlessly together, and to have what appears to be a realistic friendship on-screen, is the true reason that the show is successful. Their chemistry makes the show's writing seem stronger than it is...in this episode the buddy cop conversations continued (see my prior post with quotes) and that really helped the episode move along.

I'm not going to tell you what the solution to the mystery was, but if you haven't figured it out before the detectives do you've missed some major hints. Or you've just been distracted by Rizzoli & Isles brilliant quips.

If you missed the episode tonight you can catch it tomorrow (July 12) at 12 am on TNT.

Top Quotes from Rizzoli & Isles Season 2 Premiere

Top Quotes/Quips from "Rizzoli and Isles" Season 2 Episode 1

'We Need Another Hero'

Top Islesism
sarcastic I need to learn how men compartmentalize!--Rizzoli
serious They simply separate things into different compartments.--Isles

Top Gay Moment
sarcastic "Why don't you mind your own buisness?"--Rizzoli
serious "You are my buisness."--Isles

Top "What a minute, is this 'Bones'?"
asking for advice "What do you do when fear is killing you?"--Rizzoli
serious "Well, it's very hard to die from fear unless you have a congenital heart condition".--Isles

Top Straight Moment
Rizzoli's mother opens her daughter's bedroom door only to see Rizzoli in bed with her ex-boyfriend from high school (Charles). She stares.
"Hey, Mrs. Rizzoli"--Charles
disparaging "Hello. Charles."--Mama Rizzoli
cut to...
"So, too sick to wash the dishes, but not too sick to have intercourse."--Mama Rizzoli

Top "You're like my girlfriend!"
"Dr. Isles offered me her guest house"--Rizzoli's mom
cut to...Rizzoli talking to Isles
"Are you crazy? You bought this guest house for your mother, not mine! ...Why are you doing this?"--Rizzoli
"Because she's your mother."--Isles

Top "Huh, this show's basically 'Bones'...lets end it with a cute convo between our two lead actors"
"You guessed!"--Rizzoli
"I did not guess."--Isles
"Dr. Isles gueesssed. Dr. Isles guessseed"--Rizzoli
pause
"I did not!"--Isles
"Did too!"--Rizzoli
"Did not"--Isles
cut to credits

read my analysis of the season 2 premiere episode HERE.

'rizzoli & isles' & the lesbian subtext

Just A Little Gayity Gaiety

The LA Times Article

Recall how I talked about the quite obvious lesbian subtext in 'Rizzoli & Isles'? here!

Here's an article from the LA Times that agrees with me: "'Rizzoli & Isles'--are they or aren't they".


(We can always hope, right? I mean look at Booth & Bones...)

Check out Season 2 on July 11th!

Tracy Morgan ("30 Rock") consequences of homophobic rants

But Why Would You Say That?

Washington ("Grey's") & Morgan ("30 Rock")

Do any of you remember Isaiah Washington? I barely do. But just a few years ago he was the hot doctor boyfriend of Cristina (Sandra Oh) on “Grey’s Anatomy”. All of that changed when Washington left the show in 2007. He left amid controversy…controversy which he had caused. After news of homophobic slurs against openly gay co-star TR Knight began to surface ABC had little choice but to refuse to renew his contract at the end of the year. If they had actually fired him he would have left shortly after the incident, in the middle of production. The fact that this did not occur made many think badly of showrunner Shonda Rimes (perhaps somewhat unfairly, since it would have been almost impossible to rewrite storylines to explain Washington suddenly disappearing). Regardless, as the NY Daily News stated in an article that they wrote 3 years after Washington left “Grey’s”: “Homophobic comments make bad career moves”.

Because of this, Tracy Morgan’s homophobic ‘joke’ during a recent stand-up routine (which included graphic descriptions of violent actions again gays, and described how he would harm his son were he to state he was gay) seems not only offensive and politically incorrect, but downright stupid. Have actors not learned anything from Washington?

As news of Morgan’s ‘joke’ has spread many have called for him to be reprimanded by NBC. However, some differences do exist between the circumstances of Washington’s rant and Morgan’s graphic comment. Washington’s insult directly related to a fellow cast member (TR Knight) and consequently not only put him in a bad light, but also cast a shadow over the production of the show. Other people involved in “Grey’s” (most notably Katherine Heigel) began taking open stands, essentially dividing the cast and crew. This meant that Washington’s comment harmed both the public’s image of the show, and the continued successful production of the show.

Could Morgan’s slur do the same thing? Yes and no. He did not attack a member of the cast or crew directly, although I am sure that there are plenty of openly gay people who work at NBC. Many of these people were probably upset by Morgan’s comments, particularly if they work with him daily. Still, there was no direct attack.

Morgan also made the comment during his stand-up act, which was in no way related to “30 Rock”, Washington, in contrast, ranted while on the set of “Grey’s”, and is said to have actually grabbed Patrick Dempsey by the neck.

While Morgan did not act violently, he did seemingly recommend violent actions against gays. In a year that has had a number of high profile gay suicides, this could not come at a worse time (of course, there’s really no better time for it either).

Those involved in the production of “30 Rock” have all made official statements.:

As quoted by the Huffington Post, Greenblatt (NBC Entertainment Chairman) said the following:

“I speak for NBC and myself personally when I say we do not condone hate or violence of any kind and I am pleased to see Tracy Morgan apologizing for recent homophobic remarks in his standup appearance. We will always recognize an artist's freedom to express him or herself, but not when reckless things are said no matter what the context. Unfortunately, Tracy's comments reflect negatively on both 30 Rock and NBC -- two very all-inclusive and diverse organizations -- and we have made it clear to him that this kind of behavior will not be tolerated”.

Tina Fey, showrunner and star of “30 Rock”, also spoke up (again, this is from The Huffington Post):

“I'm glad to hear that Tracy apologized for his comments. Stand-up comics may have the right to "work out" their material in its ugliest and rawest form in front of an audience, but the violent imagery of Tracy's rant was disturbing to me at a time when homophobic hate crimes continue to be a life-threatening issue for the GLBT Community.

It also doesn't line up with the Tracy Morgan I know, who is not a hateful man and is generally much too sleepy and self-centered to ever hurt another person.

I hope for his sake that Tracy's apology will be accepted as sincere by his gay and lesbian coworkers at "30 Rock," without whom Tracy would not have lines to say, clothes to wear, sets to stand on, scene partners to act with, or a printed-out paycheck from accounting to put in his pocket.

The other producers and I pride ourselves on 30 Rock being a diverse, safe, and fair workplace.”

I truly adore Tina Fey, but I was a little upset by her statement that Morgan is “much too sleepy and self-centered to ever hurt another person”. That sounds very much like an excuse…as though she is saying that his words don’t matter…and trying to joke away what he said. While I appreciate that Fey made an effort to quickly release a statement, I wish it had not contained that joking line (perhaps she didn’t even mean it that way, but that is how it comes across). It cheapens her to come to his defense. Also, just because she thinks he isn’t ‘active’ enough to commit a crime like the one he suggested, doesn’t mean that somehow who hears him is too inactive.

Regardless, it seems to me unlikely that Morgan will leave the show for good. He is a central character, and would be very hard to replace. His statement was also not made in a setting tied to NBC, and consequently it would be hard for them to directly reprimand him about it anyway.

They are probably incredibly pleased that “30 Rock’ will not be returning again until midseason (due to Fey’s maternity leave). My guess is that everyone at the network is quite happy about her pregnancy right now. Eight months gives the viewers a long time to forget.

*Morgan recently released an apology to the LGBT community: read it here.

fondue for two: brittany, santana & gay glee

dear ryan murphy, brad falchuck, ian brennan, and anyone else minimally/majorly involved in the creation of 'glee',

'fondue for two' should be its own show. at the very least i'd like some quality webisodes. seriously. it may have actually been the highlight of this week's episode. and it almost made me forget that santana is still completely in the closet, and that she and brittany are no closer to dating. which i really, really want to happen, fyi. they are one of the only reasons i put up with your whiny characters. you know who i'm talking about.

much love, -em


p.s. thanks for giving us gay people who aren't completely stereotypical. i love kurt as much as the next person, but i love it even more that brittany and santana are popular/cheerleaders/etc. and i know many people will claim they're not representative of the true queer community/that they're just another pair of t.v. lipstick lesbians, but it's nice to show that there are completely typical, mainstream high schools kids who just happen to be gay/bi.oh, and bravo for being a little less dramatic about it (not that that's hard) than 'pretty little liars'. also, brittany's rainbow belt in her 'fondue for two' clip is hopefully foreshadowing of things to come. right?

"Bones" vs. "Grey's"...all new episodes & sweeps

Do you watch "Grey's Anatomy" or "Bones"?
Here's when the new episodes are airing!
When they're both new, which one will you watch (take the poll)?

So, "Bones" is an all new episode tonight (the first of 7 new episodes!) and I couldn't be happier. In fact, I'm super relieved that I don't have to pick between "Bones" and "Grey's" (which is a rerun tonight). I've really liked the last couple of weeks where they've been alternating new episodes. It has almost lulled me into a 'awww, how sweet, Fox and ABC are taking turns' sense of calm. But, it's almost time for May sweeps, so pretty soon everyone's going to fight to the death cancellation.

I miss the good old days (of last season) when "Bones" was on at 8 and "Grey's" was on at 9. It was sooo perfect. "Grey's" had finally won me back (I originally quit watching around the 3rd season when Meredith was in her whiny look-at-me-suicide-who cares phase). And despite the disappointment of the musical episode I do care enough about Arizona, Callie, Mark, Lexi, and that baby that I'm willing to keep watching.


But just because I'm going to be watching "Grey's" doesn't mean I'll be watching it live. In fact, I'm really torn about which of the two shows I'll be tuning in during sweeps. I'm going to be watching the next two episodes of "Bones" (both new, while "Grey's" is still reruns) to see if there are hints of a Bones/Booth romance (and I mean a real one, not this game we've been playing for the last 3 years).
If Bones and Booth get together in any sense of the word, no way am I finding out about it online after the fact.

This happened once, will it happen again?

But then again, I don't want to miss the drama of Callie and Arizona's wedding either. And, lets be honest, "Grey's" is a little better at keeping it's promises than "Bones". At least Meredith and Derek ended up together, even if it took forever!

All I can say is, thank god "Bones" and "Grey's" aren't going to be competing again until they both have new episodes on April 28th. At least I'll have Hulu. Although I still think there's something special about the anticipation of watching a show when it first airs on television.

And not that it is in any sense a cancellation issue ("Bones" and "Grey's" are both way too successful), when April 28th comes I don't know what decision I'm going to make, do you?

Will You Watch "Grey's" or "Bones" on April 28th?

The Biggest Loser's "Gay Controversy"

The Biggest Loser, Gay and Lesbian Culture, and Controversy

I was just watching "The Biggest Loser" (I know, it's horrible, but sometimes the lack of new episodes drives me to reality t.v.) and suddenly wondered if Jillian Michaels was gay. So, of course, I decided to Google search and see what everyone on the web had to say. Turns out people have googled this a lot. And she very clearly stated that she was bi back in a 2010 issue of 'Ladies Home Journal'.


But apparently that's not all I've missed. According to Google there was some sort of "Biggest Loser Gay Controversy" back in February. Now, I'm not sure how much of a 'controversy' something can be when it didn't hit any of the major entertainment websites. But, you know, guess I just missed the (obviously) incredibly important controversy.


Regardless, I wanted to know what this whole 'controversy' was so I obviously read a couple of articles. Apparently Cara Castronuova (the new trainer) is a lesbian, and is the ex-girlfriend of God-Des of the lesbian band 'God-Des and She' (note: I heard this band last year at Pride and they have a very catchy/don't play it in front of your parents' song). But she refuses to be interviewed by any of the major gay magazines/blogs. Many magazines have blamed NBC for not allowing their trainers to speak to the press, but in actuality it is the trainers' publicists who have control over any/all press requests. Which leads me to ask, if this was her personal decision, why is this even an issue? If she is gay, but she doesn't want people poking around in her private life that should be her business. Just because she is gay that shouldn't make her obligated to speak to gay magazines, right?

Grey's Anatomy Wedding Controversy

SERIOUSLY DON'T READ THIS IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHO IS GETTING MARRIED ON "GREY'S" (also, there are spoilers about future episodes)

Well, all right, now that I've warned you...

The Grey's Anatomy Wedding

So, I was super concerned about the lesbian wedding that's coming up on "Grey's Anatomy". For one thing, is it even going to happen? We know how "Grey's" is at promising us things (Cristina and Burke?) and then taking them away. Luckily, there is now an 'official' date set for the wedding: May 5th. Of course, things are bound to go wrong. It wouldn't be "Grey's Anatomy" if they didn't.

There's been buzz on the internet that Callie's family won't be very accepting of her impending nuptials. In fact, there's some suggestion that her father won't walk her down the aisle, and that her mother's going to break the news. Well, at least that answers my one question about how shockingly accepting everyone seems to be on the show. This was also why I was pleased last week to see Mark Sloane's brief yelling match with Arizona, "You're not a family. Callie and I and this baby are a family! You're nothing!". Of course, Mark apologized before the end of the episode, and reassured Arizona that she was just as important as he was. There's now word that he'll be the one to walk Callie down the aisle, and that wouldn't surprise me at all.

Reviewing the Grey's Anatomy Muscial Episode & Looking Forward to a Grey's Anatomy Wedding

Was the Grey's Anatomy Musical Episode Bad?
(warning: spoilers!)

Unfortunately, I have to say "yes". Normally I watch "Grey's" sitting on the edge of my seat. Sure, I know that a lot of the drama is completely unrealistic and melodramatic, but I still find myself wanting to know what is going to happen next. Are they really going to take it so far that Meredith Grey is alone in an operating room with her hand on a bomb? Oh, they are? Well, then...
It's things like that which I have come to expect from "Grey's". And I didn't get any of that last night.

The drama surrounding Callie being hit (almost literally) by a truck and going into pre-term labor could have been shocking. I could have been sitting on the edge of my seat. But I wasn't, because every two minutes someone was singing. Singing next to Callie as she lay bleeding halfway through a windscreen, singing as they were in the operating room, singing and 'dancing' about sex (?) while life-threatening decisions were being made. Honestly people, do you want to distract me from the drama? How am I supposed to get sucked into such a melodramatic/improbable moment if you are making it even harder to believe? And, lets be honest, your singing isn't that great either. I wasn't even very impressed with Sara Ramirez (Callie) and she is a brilliant singer!

Shonda Rhimes, the show's creator, suggested that she'd like to do another musical episode. No thank you! I know that you drew a huge audience to this episode (13 million viewers!) but if last night's episode was anything to go by, those viewers won't be coming back.

Now, on to more important things. Is a "Grey's" wedding in our future?



Will Callie and Arizona really get married? I think we could use a wedding. Everyone knows you need at least one a season, and who else could possibly follow Cristina and Owen? I wonder how "Grey's" would handle a lesbian wedding, since gay marriage is illegal in Seattle (where the show takes place). The show has barely touched on political issues (probably for fear of alienating viewers). Sure, Callie's dad was not excited about Arizona, but other than that everyone has been fine with it. Is it really possible that none of the doctors at Seattle Grace Hospital are republicans or religious conservatives? I know Seattle is liberal, but none?? I'm not suggesting that "Grey's" should become a political battlefield (in fact, if it did I would probably stop watching the show out of pure frustration), but I am curious to see how they would deal with a lesbian wedding. For that reason alone I'm hoping the Callie and Arizona will really get married.

"Bones" and "Rizzoli & Isles" are the Same Show

"Rizzoli & Isles" and "Bones"

(Again with the spoilers)

...I got a little confused earlier this week when I finished reading several of Tess Gerritsen's novels. Gerritsen is the author of the Rizzoli and Isles thrillers, and last summer TNT premiered a show of the same name that was loosely based on her books. I watched the show when it was on the air, and when I stumbled across Gerritsen's books in the library I decided to try them. There was only one problem...as I read I continually tried to compare the books to the television version of "Rizzoli and Isles", and I kept on getting images from "Bones" stuck in my head.

Obviously, I'd expect "Rizzoli and Isles" to be very different from the thrillers that it's based on. When I first started watching "Bones", based on the novels by Kathy Reichs, I had already read all of her books. There were very few similiarities, but I wasn't bothered. Books are books, and television is television.

But what bothers me about "Rizzoli and Isles" and "Bones" is that the two shows are shockingly similar.

Lets list the ways:

*Rizzoli is a hot-headed detective. She's knowledgeable about guns/bad guys. So is Booth.












*Isles is an attractive woman who is awkward in social situations. She works with dead bodies. Brennan does both of these things.







*They all go by their last names most of the time.

*Their relationships with each other are the heart of the show. Audiences want Booth and Brennan to end up together. And many viewers see an attraction between Rizzoli and Isles as well. In fact in the episode "I Kissed a Girl" the producers played with this idea, pleasing many fans by having Rizzoli and Isles mimic a lesbian relationship. In fact, if you search "Rizzoli and Isles" on Youtube all you'll find is videos that are edited to show a lesbian "relationship".

*Oh, and let's not get distracted by the fact that the cases are a bit too similar. Charles Hoyt is the serial killer in "Rizzoli and Isles", and he keeps going after single women. Howard Epps is the serial killer in "Bones" and he, you guessed it, also goes after single women (in his case teenage girls). Both of these men are sexually perverse. And both have bizarre relationships with the women trying to hunt them. Hoyt attacks Rizzoli and becomes obsessed with her, while Epps becomes immersed in the idea of beating Bones at a mind game.

Many of my friends who love "Bones" also thought that "Rizzoli and Isles" was a great show. I can understand why they watch both. It's like getting two doses of the same (pretty good) thing in the same week.

Want to know when 'Bones' Season 7 is premiering? Click HERE. 
And click HERE to find out when the second half of 'Rizzoli & Isles' Season 2 will air.

"Coming Out"

Coming out to America?

Have any of you been watching "Sister Wives" on TLC? In case you've missed it, it's a reality/documentary t.v. show that lets you glimpse into the lives of a polygamist family. There's a husband, Kody, and his three four wives (Meri, Christine, Janelle, and Robyn). In last week's episode ('Browns Out of Hiding') the cameras followed the family as they made their first appearance on national television ("The Today Show") as a polygamist family.

What I found humorous about the episode was the constant reference to "coming out". I immediately thought about how that term is almost exclusively used for gay people, and how bizarre it sounds when it is used in any other context.

But what makes the use of the term "coming out" in reference to a polygamist family so jarring? I think the largest issue is the relationship between gays coming out and religion. Typical understanding of this situation would suggest that once you come out your place in your religion is threatened (and more often than not this is true, especially considering certain denominations condemnation of the "gay lifestyle"). However, the Browns use religion to justify their standing as polygamists (as Kody Brown essentially says, "I made the decision of this lifestyle because of faith").

The sister wives* discuss the pros and cons of coming out (in the polygamist sense, not the gay sense...see how confusing this is?) throughout the episode. They frame it in many different ways. They talk about how they don't want to be ashamed of 'who they are' anymore, that they want to come out of hiding, that they believe that America has civil rights for a reason, and that they want those rights to be applicable to them. All of these statements could just as easily be said by someone who is gay and deciding to come out to their friends and family.

However, the sister wives are not gay (that we know of) nor are they necessarily accepting of the gay lifestyle. Just because they want their own freedom and safety to 'be themselves' does not mean that they recognize this right in everyone else. Sure, the "Today Show" did touch upon the relationship between their situation and that of gay people (Viera opened the segment by stating that America is full of different family configurations--"What defines a family has certainly changed throughout the years. These days family includes single parents, step-parents, even two dads or two moms"). Okay, so the "Today Show" loosely made the comparison, but why are news outlets jumping on the idea that Kody Brown and his wives are pro-gay marriage?




Their statements can certainly be construed to mean that:

"I really believe that something that works for somebody should work for somebody and it's nobody else's buisness."-Ellen Degeneres
"So do we."-The Brown Family

"I actually believe the state should never be involved in marriage. That is a religious choice, or it is a personal choice. It should not be something that the state is dictating."-Kody Brown (said in 'In Touch' magazine).**


I'm really not sure how I feel about this. In many ways I couldn't care less. If Kody Brown and his wives are okay being in a polygamist relationship then let them be in a polygamist relationship. Legally he is only married to the first wife, so really it is just a lifestyle choice to introduce three other women into the relationship. It's not bigamy since he is not claiming to be legally married to his second, third, or fourth wife. He is "married in faith" by their church. But that's not breaking any laws. If they ever argue that polygamist marriage should be legal I'm sure I'd be forced to take a real standpoint on the issue, but right now I'm okay with what they're doing. It's their life.

I do care slightly because I do believe that the polygamist faith can be built in such a way that it is demeaning to women, and although they could "just leave it" in many ways they can't. They don't have the resources, they aren't educated enough, etc. The fact that the Brown's dress in modern day clothes (unlike these polygamists) and are allowing their children to go to public school makes me feel better. But I'm not sure if any of those feelings are justified, or if I can really even hold such a oxymoronic opinion.

I also care slightly because I think it undermines gay marriage. Many Americans are definitely bewildered by polygamy, and I think a large majority would outwardly condemn it. Sure, we are willing to open our homes to it for an hour on Sunday nights, but it's highly unlikely we're willing to offer it legal protection. Aligning gay marriage with polygamy is problematic for this reason. Do we really want gay marriage to be lumped in with something that is (potentially) even more controversial. We've been arguing for so long that gay marriage should be legal because gay couples are in many ways just like straight couples. Everything in gay marriage (the depth of the relationship and the way that it functions) is similar to its heteronormative counterpart. The only difference is that in gay marriage there are two men or two women. Isn't it slightly problematic to link this argument with one that says that the number of wives/husbands can be endless? What I do know is that legal support of gay marriage is happening, but legal support for polygamy? I think that's a long way off.



*opps, if you don't watch this show/"Big Love" you may not know that all the wives married to the same husband are called 'sister wives'.
**I should point out that even if the Browns do support gay marriage, their church as a whole does not.

Here's another article that sort of agrees with me.

heteronormative

Well, I started off writing about "Sister Wives", but right now I'm too tired to write an eloquent (or even vaguely comprehensible) post on the subject, so you're just going to have to wait until tomorrow. I do, however, promise that it will contain the word "heteronormative".

Speaking of which, I'll leave you with this fascinating website I just came across: 'I Want My Gay TV!'. Check it out, it's pretty awesome*.

Cause we maybe, kinda, sorta said we support gay marriage! Wait, did we?

*I just had a really strong compulsion to write awesome-sauce. If you don't watch "Parks & Rec" you won't get that reference, so I'm clearly choosing to be a tad less crazy and am mentioning it in the footnotes instead.

why didn't you watch it? see what you did? now it's off the air...

"Arrested Development"
aka: why didn't you watch it? see what you did? now it's off the air...

"Arrested Development" is one of the smartest shows of all time, and if these guys ever get their documentary released I will definitely watch it. Let me just point out that it would be a GENIUS move on their part to release it right around the time that the "Arrested Development" movie comes out. You know, if that ever happens.

Now, let me just point out another lovely connection: In Season 2 of "Arrested Development" (which began in 2003) they mention "Nip/Tuck" ('Hand to God').

George Michael: "And Anne's off with her religious group trying to get 'Nip/Tuck' taken off the air"
Michael: "They don't like 'Nip/Tuck'?"
George Michael: "Well, they don't like anything..."

And who was in "Nip/Tuck" in 2007 as a guest actor (come on, you know this, I've mentioned it before...)? One of the leading actors in "Arrested Development", Portia de Rossi. She discusses her first ever role as a lesbian HERE.

Portia de Rossi & Joely Richardson

is it just me, or do they look a little too similar?

Phyllis Smith
Please note: this image is perfectly related to the next post's discussion/rant about "Toddlers & Tiaras"

Phyllis Smith is now very well-known for "The Office". But her first ever part was actually on "Arrested Development". She didn't even have any lines, but she did get to sit in on a Bluth board meeting. And that's something.

all of these images were found on a basic Google search using the keywords "Arrested Development cast", "de Rossi Nip/Tuck" & "Phyllis Smith". I do not own copyright for any of these images.