One thing that frustrates me as a huge fan of sitcoms is the obligatory gay plot. I don't dispute that there have been many plots involving gays that have turned out to be classics such as 'The Matchmaker' and 'The Ski Lodge' in Frasier and 'The Outing' in Seinfeld, but it seems that every show that keeps going at some time or other has to do one, particularly the American ones. It smacks of lazy writing IMO.
I can't say it's something I've ever noticed. However, American shows have 22 episodes to fill each season, so it's hardly surprising that you'll get a gay plot thrown in. Just like you'll get plots about thanksgiving, Christmas, problems at work, annoying neighbours... There's only so many subjects to write about, so they're going to come up again and again.
What a strange thing to be concerned about.
Don't watch Will & Grace then, not just for that reason!
Not got a problem with a show being about gays, a character being gay etc, it's just the fact that a show with straight characters will eventually have a gay plotline. It's like having a 'mother-in-law from hell' episode. Wave the white flag, you're stuck for ideas.
Again, what a strange thing to be concerned about.
I don't buy your position, I'm afraid.
I think we've discussed this before somewhere.
My view still is if you're having gays in a sitcom you've got to maake fun of them as well as everyone else. That's equality!!!
Quote: David H @ June 8, 2007, 9:58 AMOne thing that frustrates me as a huge fan of sitcoms is the obligatory gay plot. I don't dispute that there have been many plots involving gays that have turned out to be classics such as 'The Matchmaker' and 'The Ski Lodge' in Frasier and 'The Outing' in Seinfeld, but it seems that every show that keeps going at some time or other has to do one, particularly the American ones. It smacks of lazy writing IMO.
Not that there's anything wrong with that.
Sorry, couldn't resist.
Themes are based around social concerns and issues. There will naturally be reoccuring themes due to the fact that human nature (despite the changing world) never changes. The Frasier episodes (Gay station manager) and the Ski Lodge altho almost exactly the same (Frasier was the desired object in one / Niles in the other) were stand-out episodes that I love to rewatch.
There are only so many basic plots and so many variations. The skill comes in how the writer deals with the mundane and makes it something different.
Me? I'm concerned with the number of 'straight' plots.
It happens with the greatest sitcoms (even Larry Sanders). However a sitcom today would never do an episode based on someone's race so I see what you are saying. I agree that its lazy writing but you have to consider the boundaries that the writers are given either by the network or the FFC/Offcom so they can't tackle certain issues.
All sitcoms have shared plots e.g. dating, weddings, embarassing family members etc. What annoys me is the moral messages every sitcom has which I think gets in the way of the comedy.
Whats more of an issue is the apparent unoriginality of plotlines in sitcoms but in such a crowded market sitcoms are should be judged on the quality of their production and script rather than originality.
I'm trying to think though if Bilko/Taxi/Cheers/Fawlty Towers/OFAH/OFITG managed to get through their run without having to resort to a gay plotline, or did they find ideas elsewhere? How long did The Simpsons churn out episodes before they resorted to it? Don't get me wrong, when somebody first came up with, "I know, let's have him being pursued by a gay man' it was original and incredibly funny and if you provide a fresh spin of it it still can be, but for me, the gay plotline is just another box ticker for people without any original thought. And I think it is different from weddings, funerals, dating plots because everyone will experience these things. Not so with the gay plot.
Human experience - hope, fear, sadness, joy - is pretty universal, whether you are gay or straight.
Your point is lost on me (I am resisting the temptation to read it as outright homophobia).
I am amused by your idea that people "resort" to gay plotlines.
I have to agree with Alan Alexander here, I'm finding it hard to see what your problem is with the 'gay plot'. You say it's lazy writing, but not lazy in the same way as other repeated plots which are OK because everyone will experience them. Why does the fact that people will experience something make it more acceptable? Maybe the shows you mention above resorted a woman trying to seduce an unwilling male character. Earlier you said if gays are in a sitcom they should be made fun of like the other characters but surely that's what they're doing in these gay plots. I don't currently watch any US sitcoms so can't comment on how they're handling any sort of plot, but with the sitcoms you've mentioned I think it's likely that they wouldn't have had overtly gay characters in them because it wouldn't have been seen as acceptable when they were made, any more than having a black lead character would have been the 'done thing'. That's why Soap caused such a storm with the characters of Jodie and Benson. These days it would be difficult to have a Latka or Manuel type character who is abused by his boss. As others have said, it's the writers working within certain constraints.
Those gays get everywhere
I didn't say gays should be made fun of. That was another post. And I'm not homophobic. Maybe I've just seen a number of different shows in a row that have the gay person chasing the straight person and I'm just rolling my eyes thinking, "Again?"
Ricky Gervais was saying on his interview with Larry David that he went to some comedy stores and all the comedians were saying were "What the f**k!" And he was thinking, you know, try something else. That's all I'm saying.
The obligatory wedding, the obligatory funeral do frustrate me. But, as I say, I came across the gay plot several times recently and it's a device used for cheaper laughs than a wedding/funeral etc.