From: sasse@netcom.com (Ellen Sasse)
Subject: Re: Doug
Date: Fri, 11 Sep 92 11:58:38 GMT
Organization: Not

jerryg@apple.com (Jerry Godes) writes: 

> Well, I'm torn.  I think they should be showing more of him (isn't his
> name Matt, by  the way?),

The actor's name is Doug Savant. Maybe they were talking about interviews
he did and were quoting the actor (?)

> but I think the subtleness is good - for a
> while.  When the character does finally come out officially, all of the
> clues will have been building through however many shows it takes to get
> at that point.  It's kind of like real life - people will hint at it, and
> you won't really comprehend what they're saying until after you know. 

Good point. I think Melrose Place could use more of this reality-based
approach and less Immoral Minority whining, e.g. the revisionist history 
of the 9/9 episode where all of a sudden Jake and Sandy Really Just
Wanted Committed Relationships all along but were too afraid to, the
intern giving the big hypocritical lecture on Friendship First, Josie Bissett
talking about how much pregnancy changes you as if that is all anyone needs
to be a good parent, the annoying aerobics chick chiming in that "everyone"
has doubts about parenthood but really turn out to be fine, and Allison
having a sudden life crisis about whether she too has the ability
to be a good mother because she wanted more out of life, and (presented
as the REAL reason) she didn't know if she COULD, and the way the whole
cast is always so overjoyed about Josie Bissett's bringing a child into
what would in reality be poverty with a father who's never there and a
mother who lives through her husband. I'm as much for committed 
relationships (been in one for going on eight years) and families (am in
one of those too ;-) as anyone but I am getting fed up with the
growing hypocrisy of the show, ESPECIALLY when they destroy character
continuity to do it.

> The only complaint I have, is that they don't give him enough air time. 
> I'm afraid once he does come out, that's going to be the be-all and
> end-all of his character.  They need to develop him as they're developing
> the other characters - He's just a normal guy doing normal things, who
> happens to be gay.  Then occassionally, they can throw in "Gay themed"
> situations for him to be in, just like they have "Straight themed"
> situations for the rest of the cast (i.e. Sandy getting stalked, Allison
> being harrassed by the ad guy)
> 
> - Jerry


Very well said.

I also hope they avoid the one-episode-minicrisis, where he "tries to
get his friends to 'accept' him after knowing he's gay[sic]" or some such BS,
and then dump him. They should make "his issues" (since that's how
they seem to divide the show) something positive and non-heterocentric
and fun, like hinm falling in love with this great guy, or going out with
this great group of friends and partying or something. It seems to be a
favorite stereotype in television to have the only gay issue be from a
perspective as if the person was somehow "lower" than other people and
all of a sudden had to "ask" for the same friendships and relationships
and opinion people had about him "before", as if that changed him,
as if he were getting a favor from them (he,she). Shows also tend to seem to
think that the most important issue is "regaining" [sic] those relationships.
Well, obviously your relationships with your co-workers, friends and family
are important, but being in love with someone and your self identity I would
think are at LEAST as important! ;-)

Here's hoping they don't do a Michael-and-?Jean?* on him.

*(Was that "Jean"? "Jan"? nobody EVER says her name)