John Barrowman on the Friday Night Project...

[fajrdrako]

I just watched two amazing things today. (Aaah, the joy of being off work for a while. You get to do whatever you like in the daytime.)

The first was last week's Friday Night Project, which is a British comedy/variety show that has weekly guest hosts. Last week's guest host was John Barrowman.

I've never heard so many filthy gay jokes on TV. Is it always like that, or were they going all out for John Barrowman's sake?

It was silly, it was fun, and I wished I could have been there in the audience. I usually don't like, and don't watch, comedy, especially this kind of comedy. But I always like watching John Barrowman, and I always find him amusing - yes, he's outrageous, but always seems to good-natured that his tendency to not just innuendo but outspoken filthiness - is simply fun. I'm not sure how he does that. The disarming smile? The total lack of unselfconsciousness? The occasional giggle? The beautiful teeth?

However he does it, I hope he doesn't stop.

Comments

[slartibartfast.livejournal.com]

I've never heard so many filthy gay jokes on TV. Is it always like that, or were they going all out for John Barrowman's sake?

Oh no, they do that all the time. You should see the appearance of David Tennant (http://youtube.com/watch?v=r4dUQgIaXGg) for example. XD ♥

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Okay, the episode with David Tennant will be my next project for this interesting study in intercultural television!

[msilverstar]

*points at icon* Doesn't he have a great smile?

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

The greatest! His smile is just amazing.

[toraks.livejournal.com]

Um, yeah, sorry. Should have kept reading before commenting. So, consider that other comment over here rather than there? ;-)

To repeat, pretty awesome guy!

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

He's definitely fun to keep an eye on.

[walkingowl.livejournal.com]

Well, I'm of course jealous that you're off work while I'm not... apart from that, wanted to tell you to pick up this month's Out magazine, which talks about BBC shows. According to them, Torchwood will start running this fall for North American audiences. I'm sorry I can't now remember the article better. I'll copy it for you. Dunno if it'd be at their website, but you can look, no?

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I'm delighted to hear Out had an article on Torchwood, and so it should! Yay!

[walkingowl.livejournal.com]

I looked at the article again. The mention of Torchwood, and of "openly gay Scottish-American actor John Barrowman," involved a few lines about the same-sex "snogging" that happens quite frequently. The mention came in the first few paragraphs of an article that concentrated on the current trend of the good-quality television networks to have more gay-friendly content these days.

I'd hope Out will do an article on Torchwood after BBC America has started showing episodes. Then again, Out is the magazine that had Jamie Bamber on the cover with an article entitled (something like) why SF is no longer gay. I found it, er, laughable. SF has always been where alternatives have been possible, embraced, celebrated, flaunted -- name it. To have someone do a story on one of the most slashable SF characters and not actually have a clue... gee whiz! So, if Out does do something on Torchwood, I just hope they get it right. A person is tempted to try to freelance it to them....

But I shall indeed copy that article for you, and if I forget, please remind me.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

The mention of Torchwood, and of "openly gay Scottish-American actor John Barrowman," involved a few lines about the same-sex "snogging" that happens quite frequently.

That pretty much sums it up!

the current trend of the good-quality television networks to have more gay-friendly content these days.

really? Like what? I am still smarting from the non-gay-friendliness of "Heroes" - which I nevertheless love, but it so far been of the school that 'men can't be cuddly and touchy with each other unless they are brothers', which bugs me on several counts. For one thing, I don't know any brothers who are all over each other the way Nathan and Peter are!

But I can't think of any openly gay characters on the shows I was watching last year, unless they were British.

I know "Six Feet Under" had some great gay characters, but I believe it's over now. What else? Is "The L Word" still going on?

To have someone do a story on one of the most slashable SF characters and not actually have a clue...

Lee Adama? I've been at a loss as to who to slash him with. Have you seen BSG slash? The only BSG slash I've read was femslash, and I was busy dodging the Kara/Roslin stuff because I dislike Roslin and the idea of her with Starbuck squicks me badly.

I certainly associate Jamie Bamber with Horatio Hornblower slash, that goes without saying, but not Battlestar Galactica.

if Out does do something on Torchwood, I just hope they get it right. A person is tempted to try to freelance it to them....

Go for it!

[walkingowl.livejournal.com]

That pretty much sums it up!

They also pointed out that it was from Russell T. Davies, of Queer as Folk fame, and that it was a "crime drama spun off Doctor Who" but that's about it.

the current trend of the good-quality television networks to have more gay-friendly content these days.

really? Like what?

gotta send you that article! lots in it

And that's a shame about Heroes. Why don't they just go with reality, already? Gay people exist the same as left-handed people exist. I was upset with the heterosexual assumptions seated within Harry Potter, too. Why does fiction so easily get slanted against the natural diversity of human existence? Especially hard to take when it's sci fi we're discussing!

As for Lee Adama being slashable -- not -- um, oops. I was indeed still thinking of Horatio Hornblower. You're right, hardly anyone in the BSG universe... hm. (and I'm with you re Starbuck/Roslin, uck)

if Out does do something on Torchwood, I just hope they get it right. A person is tempted to try to freelance it to them....

Go for it!

No, no, no, I was dropping a broad hint for you to do it! hee

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

gotta send you that article! lots in it

How wonderful!

Why don't they just go with reality, already?

They might. The actors and writers seem to be very gay-friendly, but the producers (or sponsors>?) are scared out of their minds. Kevin Smith said in outspoken terms that he wanted to write a gay-themed episode: "If they can show a cheerleader being autopsied," he said, "They can show two men making out." Right, says I! So I live in hope of something better next season, and I don't me Petrellicest (if you know what that is). I'd like to see Peter making out with Claude, myself. Or Mohinder.

I was upset with the heterosexual assumptions seated within Harry Potter, too.

Me too. Not a hint that anyone, ever, in either the Wizard world or the Muggle world, might be gay. What's with that?

You're right, hardly anyone in the BSG universe... hm.

It's hard to say this is disappointing when I love the show with such a passion, but I am frustrated that everyone in the show is so unrelentingly het even though they other kinds of alternate sexuality, like threesomes and adultery. With so many opportunities to show, too. Ah well.

[walkingowl.livejournal.com]

Holding out hope for Heroies, yup.

(As for Peter and Claude... well, heck, sure they could do that. Just do it with Claude invisible, and none of the bigots will even notice.)

(Heh. That's just me coming at things in my usual nonlinear, non-primarily-visual way!)

Was going to copy some of the article here for you, but the library is closing in 30 min. & I'm running behind, yikes!

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Invisible Claude - hee!

Libraries all close too early. Everywhere.

[walkingowl.livejournal.com]

Yes, I am proud of the invisible Claude idea. Heh.

The Indiana University of Pennsylvania library now closes at 2 AM, Sunday to Thursday, during regular sessions. I was in heaven when they started that.

Wouldn't it be great to live in... no, wait: live in an old church building that had been converted to a library, yes, that would do it.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

How about an old church building next door to a library?

I want those gothic arches.