Hi Honey, I'm Homo!: Sitcoms, Specials, and the Queering of American Culture – Matt Baume
An interesting retrospective on how sitcoms helped pave the way for broader queer acceptance, with “Hi Honey, I’m Homo!” Matt Baume offers a mostly lighthearted read for fans of pop culture and LGBTQIA+ history.
Through original and sourced research, the author traced the often fraught path to introduce positive portrayals of queer people to the masses, but this isn’t the kind of behind-the-scenes tell-all that will help elevate the book beyond its niche target audiences.
Narrowing the focus to 12 series that aired between the 1960s and 2010s, Baume used major political movements from each decade (heavily focused on the 70s-90s) to anchor readers into why many “special” episodes, or characters, that seem tame by today’s standards were downright groundbreaking for the time period.
This added a level of depth to something that could’ve been mostly fluff, but some of the analysis of the shows themselves felt a little weak or forced. Because many of the series aired within years of one another, it also felt like Baume was sometimes reaching to make a connection between politics and plot that wasn’t there to give each series its own unique spin.
Like a classic sitcom, Baume’s writing adopted a formulaic approach. He summarized the central theme of an episode, threw in a few lines of dialogue, and then explained why the show's message of acceptance would have been radical for audiences of that era.
“Honey” suffered a bit by neglecting to explore the negative portrayals that were more pervasive. There are passing references to a few series (it seems like “Marcus Welby, M.D.” was absolute trash), but this one-sided approach relied a lot on “take my word for it” for readers who weren’t around for the original run. I would’ve loved to see him tackle a positive and negative show within each chapter.
Still, these are minor nitpicks for a book that proved to be an enjoyable vacation read. It gave me a new appreciation for shows I’ve never really watched and provided the opportunity to revisit moments from sitcoms I’ve adored.
In a nutshell, here’s what you can expect:
Early Efforts (1960s-1970s): "Bewitched'' featured several gay actors (all closeted) and subtly explored themes of acceptance through storylines about witches' rights. "All in the Family" had a recurring transgender character, and "Alice" tackled homophobia surrounding a gay man being around children. "Barney Miller" broke ground with a nuanced portrayal of an M/M relationship and a positive police/queer alliance in the era of bar raids. While "Soap" sounded downright bonkers, it's notable for Billy Crystal's role as a gay father.
Landmark Moments (1980s-1990s): "Cheers'' featured stereotypical gay fear masked as progress. "The Golden Girls,” unsurprisingly, became a beloved show with its positive portrayal of LGBTQ+ characters and their allies – driven in large part by its core cast that were diehard supporters of the queer community. The inclusion of "Dinosaurs'' was a stretch, but it reflected the evolving landscape of representation and politics mixed with parody.
Must See TV (Late 1990s-2010s): "Friends" explored the idea of a gay Chandler, and often used the “is he?” for jokes – a missed opportunity for the era. "Ellen" documented a pivotal moment in television history with DeGeneres' coming out. Baume helps illustrate how pioneering “The Puppy Episode” was but, rightfully, explains the show didn’t really have a focus. "Will & Grace" became a cultural phenomenon, influencing social attitudes, but still dabbled in stereotypes. "Modern Family" offered a realistic take on a same-sex couple and their extended family dynamics at a time when marriage equality was at its turning point.
Based on the title, you’ll know if this is the right book for you. But, if you're a casual fan of any of the aforementioned series, there are worse ways to spend your time.
Rating (story): 4/5 stars
Rating (narration): N/A
Format: Paperback (personal library)
Dates read: July 8 – July 14, 2024
Multi-tasking: N/A
