The Brish s Vic, which will soon air the U.S., foc on the nearly 50-year relatnship between two gay men and stars out actors Ian McKellen and Derek Jabi.
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GAY COMEDY SERI STARRG IAN MCKELLEN TO AIR ON PBS
Followg this creria, programm as diverse as Brishead Revised (1981), Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997-2003), Six Feet Unr (2001-05), The Wire (2002-08), Glee (2009-) and Morn Fay (2009-) don’t make the cut, spe their strong sendary queer characters (the ternatnal succs of Morn Fay particular, broadst untri where homosexualy is still illegal, uld help liberalise attus, followg the marriage of Cameron and Mchell, two of the most popular characters). Will & Grace (1998-2006) was a huge h, but s portrayal of gay men was clichéd and too few of the jok land (although try tellg that to the often hysteril stud dience).
Homoeroticism throbs subtly throughout, but only the remarkable two-hour epilogue do e to the fore, through a fantastic and nightmarish journey through the md of Biberkopf. Dpe bomb threats to the stud and protts om relig groups, the episo was broadst 1997, wh Ellen fally utterg the words “I’m gay”, accintally speakg the words to the microphone at an airport check- sk.
Queer as Folk (1999-2000)This one me out of nowhere, a shamels and often outrageo seri that gave a kickg to the perceptn of gay men as sexls bt iends to female protagonists and stead put them centre stage, showg them to be as flawed, selfish and sex-hungry as everyone else – more so, fact. Its first episo, featurg 29-year-old Stuart rimmg a horny 15-year old, was unapologetilly provotive, and upset both the tabloids and many gay viewers, who were alarmed by s subversive characters.