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Hi Honey, I'm Homo!
Hi Honey, I'm Homo!: Sitcoms, Specials, and the Queering of American Culture | Matt Baume
7 posts | 6 read | 9 to read
"This book is a triumph and everyone should read it." Dan Savage, journalist and author, on the "Savage Lovecast" "Hi Honey, Im Homo is a heartbreaking historical document, but ultimately one that will leave the reader feeling proud of how something as maligned and disposable as the network sitcom used comedy to bring about such profound and important social progress." Vulture "[A] well-curated compendium of prime time broadcasting . . . Baume is a companionable guide." Shelf Awareness Behind the scenes of the most popular sitcoms of the 20th century, a revolution was brewing. For decades, amidst the bright lights, studio-audience laughs, and absurdly large apartment sets, the real-life story of American LGBTQ+ liberation unfolded in plain sight in front of millions of viewers, most of whom were laughing too hard to mind. From flamboyant relatives on Bewitched to closely-guarded secrets on All in the Family, from network-censor fights over Soap to behind-the-scenes activism on the set of The Golden Girls, from Ellens culture clash and Will & Graces mixed reception to Modern Familys primetime power-couple, Hi Honey, Im Homo! is the story not only of how subversive queer comedy transformed the American sitcom, from its inception through today, but how our favorite sitcoms transformed, and continue to transform, America. Accessible, entertaining, and informative, Hi Honey, Im Homo! features commentary and interviews from celebrities, behind-the-scenes creators, and more.
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BkClubCare
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Five slices of pie. 🌈 📺 🌟

#Sep2024 Book75

26 likes1 stack add
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BkClubCare
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I was never a fan of All in the Family (I thought Archie was just mean); this footnote made me laugh out loud. (I‘m sorry 😞)

BkClubCare Sorry Not sorry?! Ack 😕 3mo
Sparklemn @BkClubCare Funny! And often true! 😂 (edited) 3mo
lil1inblue 🤣🤣🤣 I mean, we really can be. 3mo
35 likes3 comments
blurb
BkClubCare
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My first introduction to the concept of homosexuality was when my father forbade me from watching Three‘s Company. I was 12. I didn‘t understand! 😳😱 I expect this book to be a fascinating revisit and re-education of some pieces of my childhood.

For #AsheCoNCReadingChallenge2024 category Lambda Award winner 🏳️‍🌈

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review
psalva
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Pickpick

Just finished this excellent work of nonfiction. Baume writes about the history of queer rep in American sitcoms, using them as a framework on which to hang discussions of important milestones in queer history. Baume‘s voice, as heard in his excellent video essays, shines through. I would recommend this even if you have never seen any of the TV shows Baume writes about. One caveat- most of the queer rep discussed is gay or lesbian. See comments ⬇️

psalva In my view, this is happenstance as queer rep on sitcoms has often been focused on gays or lesbians. Baume has an excellent conclusion where he discusses the real-life value of media rep, and he does not ignore the potential for negative impact if queer rep is erased without progressing further. He mentions trans and queer book bans, anti-trans policies, and the importance of fighting for expansion of civil rights. I appreciated this nod. 5mo
rwmg I didn't know he'd written a book. I've watched some of his YouTube videos where I've actually heard of the programmes he discusses. 5mo
psalva @rwmg His videos are some of my favorites. I enjoy the ones about film as well. He did an excellent video essay on Hitchcock‘s Rope which I found insightful. 5mo
20 likes1 stack add3 comments
blurb
psalva
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I‘m really enjoying this so far- it‘s the July pick for my LGBTQIA+ book club. The chapters seem to be adapted from Baume‘s excellent video essays, but the book format gives them a different feel. It makes me realize how good Baume is at condensing historic moments, using them as a context for what was happening on TV while also using the TV moments to show how media representation can have a quantifiable effect on real life. #catsoflitsy

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Coueriamb
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Pickpick

An extremely fascinating read! I learned quite a bit and just how far back the representation stretches. I for one would have never thought of All In The Family as being groundbreaking for any minority group- but I‘ll be damned.

Be aware there are era appropriate slurs, so if you‘re sensitive to that don‘t get caught off guard. It‘s a very respectful and nuanced look at the past both distant and near.

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Megabooks
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Pickpick

This was fun and informative! Baume takes a look at queer representation in sitcoms from Bewitched to Modern Family. I did appreciate that he went back to the 60s and 70s because similar pop culture books have started with Ellen and Will & Grace (those are covered here, too). He writes about Samatha on Bewitched as a metaphor for closeted queer culture, a recurring drag queen character on All in the Family, and queer characters on Barney Miller.

Cinfhen This sounds like a really fun read 😁 1y
willaful Sounds like a good pairing with The Celluloid Closet. 1y
Megabooks @willaful yes, definitely! I hadn‘t heard of that book before. Thanks! 1y
SkateGuard This sounds super interesting! I will have to check it out! :)
1y
75 likes6 stack adds4 comments