I try to catch Jerry Springer whenever possible. It’s always a great laugh to watch America’s finest make spectacles of themselves in front of millions of viewers. Anyway, viewing habits aside, I tuned in today to find the topic of
“Gay for a Day”
Knowing Jerry Springer, my expectations of the show aren’t high to begin with. I figured it’d be a few cheap shots at America’s gay population through a few queers* (aside: I was right). Now that we’ve established the situation, on to my rant.
I’ve seen heterosexual couples engage in semi-passionate kissing on Jerry Springer before. I’ve seen lesbian couples engage in semi-passionate kissing on Jerry Springer before. Yet, for some reason, when showing the video of this gay dude and his lover, they managed to show everything else (including a couple hot tub scenes) except two kissing sequences. And they were HORRIBLY edited. The 2 guys would move in close for a kiss, a “whoosh” sound would be heard, and we would cut to right AFTER the kiss. I figured it could be a simple jump to another scene, but then it happened again. Right before the kiss, camera goes out and we rejoin them pulling away from it.
My question: WHAT THE FUCK IS UP WITH THAT? Granted, these guys weren’t the most attractive folks in the world, but I’ve seen worse. Is there some sort of network standard I’ve never heard of that disallows 2 males to kiss on television? If so, why are females allowed to do so? Or is this just a couple of homophobic jackasses in the editing room taking out a few “disgusting” sequences?
It was obvious from the audience response that they had seen the kisses on the set, at least.
Because the idea of two guys kissing, even two attractive guys, isn’t considered sexy by the majority of male viewers ages 18 - 35 who, it should be mentioned, Control Everything That You See And Hear. Kinda like the mystery voice from the outer limits.
Well, yes, JDeMobray, but the OP indicated that there were some hot tub scenes as well. So why delete the small stuff? I think this is what the OP is asking.
My personal opinion: it’s just trivializing the daily life of gay men.
I’m not offended (that would be a neat trick, since I’m straight), but I am curious (and feeling a little dense)—what’s your distinction? Besides some people’s preference to reserve “gay” for men and, depending on the user, the connotation of “queer” as either a slur or a way of saying “I’m queer and proud,” I haven’t seen a distinction like the way you used it here.
Please 'splain me!
Scarlett, who was surprised that her small-town theater even showed the movie In & Out, but not surprised to hear some chick say “oooh, icky!!” during the kiss scene
It’s a difficult distinction to make, admittedly. Unfortunately, it’s difficult to explain in that… you’d have to see it to understand. Behaviorisms, the way people act… for example, someone who’s gay doesn’t act any differently than someone who’s straight. Someone I consider “queer” is someone who takes homosexuality to the extreme. You know, the typical Hollywood portrayal of gay men.
No, I’m not referring to someone being “flaming,” either. That’s completely different… you can be gay and flame, too.
Sorry if I haven’t made any sense to you, it’s just a really difficult thing to explain. You had to be there. In my head.
He didn’t mention what exactly was going on in the “hot tub scenes.” I’ve seen episodes of MTV’s crap-tacular series Undressed that manages to imply quite a bit while still staying within the “odd but not overtly icky to straight guys” borders.
Until corrected, I’m going to assume that there was no kissing, nor any mouth to body contact of any kind in the hot tub sequences. Assuming it follows convention, you might get one guy rubbing the others shoulders or, in the more :rolleyes: risque :rolleyes: shows, possibly some actual touching of chests and asssumed hand to thigh contact (under the water of course, wouldn’t want to shock anyone).
AHA! That explains what I’m seeing on my television, and why it leaves me cold and wondering who exactly they’re aiming stuff at, cause it sure as heck ain’t me.
You think that’s bad, at least you have an excuse. I’m right smack dab in the middle of that group and most everything that I see on television leaves me frightened and confused.
Hey cool. I’m happy to be wrong on this one. I know that my local affiliate also edits things like that, not that I ever watch Jerry Springer. Sometimes I just hold the tapes for a friend. . .
