Regald VelJohnson's Life after 'Fay Matters' — Gay Rumors, Death Hoax, and His Dream of Seri Revival

THE GAY MAGIC OF THE NANNY
REGALD VELJOHNSON'S LIFE AFTER 'FAY MATTERS' — GAY RUMORS, DEATH HOAX, AND HIS DREAM OF SERI REVIVAL
CAN WE TALK ABOUT...? HOW "AMERIN GLADIATORS" MA ME GAY WHEN IT DEBUTED 30 YEARS AGOIN THIS HYPER-MCULAR, SPANXED WORLD, YOU EHER BREAK THROUGH AND NQUER, OR ARE BROKEN THROUGH AND {FONT:NORMAL 800 1.2REM/1.2 "D BOLD",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NORMAL;LOR:HER;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;PADDG-BOTTOM:6PX;POSN:RELATIVE;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;}{BACKGROUND:#89308A;BOTTOM:0;NTENT:'';DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:2PX;LEFT:0;POSN:ABSOLUTE;RIGHT:0;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;WIDTH:100%;}{LEFT:51%;RIGHT:51%;WIDTH:0;}{FONT:NORMAL 800 1.2REM/1.2 "D BOLD",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NORMAL;LOR:HER;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;PADDG-BOTTOM:6PX;POSN:RELATIVE;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;}{BACKGROUND:#89308A;BOTTOM:0;NTENT:'';DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:2PX;LEFT:0;POSN:ABSOLUTE;RIGHT:0;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;WIDTH:100%;}{LEFT:51%;RIGHT:51%;WIDTH:0;}TVBY LTER FABIAN BRATHWAESEPTEMBER 6, 2019/12:02 {HEIGHT:HER;DISPLAY:-WEBK-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-FLEX;DISPLAY:-MS-FLEXBOX;DISPLAY:FLEX;POSN:RELATIVE;-WEBK-FLEX-WRAP:WRAP;-MS-FLEX-WRAP:WRAP;FLEX-WRAP:WRAP;-WEBK-ALIGN-EMS:CENTER;-WEBK-BOX-ALIGN:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-ALIGN:CENTER;ALIGN-EMS:CENTER;-WEBK-BOX-PACK:CENTER;-WEBK-JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-PACK:CENTER;JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;-WEBK-TRANSFORM-ORIG:CENTER;-MS-TRANSFORM-ORIG:CENTER;TRANSFORM-ORIG:CENTER;} IMG{HEIGHT:100%;WIDTH:100%;OBJECT-F:VER;}{HEIGHT:2400PX;WIDTH:3387PX;}CATHERE MCGANN/GETTY IMAGNEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 1991: AMERIN GLADIATORS, NRO (L) AND THUNR (R) POSE FOR A PHOTO SEPTEMBER 1991 NEW YORK CY, NEW YORK. (PHOTO BY CATHERE MCGANN/GETTY IMAG)BY LTER FABIAN BRATHWAESEPTEMBER 6, 2019 / 12:02 PM{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"NEWSARTICLE","HEADLE":"CAN WE TALK ABOUT...? HOW \"AMERIN GLADIATORS\" MA ME GAY WHEN IT DEBUTED 30 YEARS AGO","THUMBNAILURL":","DATEPUBLISHED":"2019-09-06T16:02:11.000+0000","DATEMODIFIED":"2019-09-06T16:02:11.000+0000","IMAGE":{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT","URL":","WIDTH":1920,"HEIGHT":1080},"URL":","THOR":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","NAME":"LOGO TV"},"MAENTYOFPAGE":{"@TYPE":"WEBPAGE","@ID":"},"PUBLISHER":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","@ID":","NAME":"LOGO TV","URL":","LOGO":{"@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT"}},"CREATOR":"LTER FABIAN BRATHWAE","KEYWORDS":"CAN WE TALK ABOUT...?","ARTICLESECTN":"TV"}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}CAN WE TALK ABOUT...? IS A WEEKLY SERI THAT JT TOOK A DNA TT AND TURNS OUT...DON'T WANT TO GET {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}SEPTEMBER 9, 1989. A DAY THAT WILL LIVE SPANXED HISTORY. THENCEFORTH, FOR SEVEN HALCYON SEASONS, AMERIN GLADIATORS JOTED, CLIMBED, BROKE THROUGH, AND NQUERED S WAY TO HOM ACROSS THIS ONCE "MEH" {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}ROID-OUT-LOOKG WONR BOYS WH NAM LIKE MALIBU, LASER, NRO, TOWER, TURBO, AND THUNR PTURED MY YOUNG (BUT STILL CREDIBLY GAY) GAZE. MEANWHILE, THE AMAZON BETI KNOWN AS LACE, JAZZ, ZAP, BLAZE, AND GOLD NFED ME A DIFFERENT WAY: DID I WANT THEM OR WANT TO BE THEM? THEY WERE POWERFUL, GLAMORO, AND WEARG, LET'S FACE , VERY WELL-SIGNED BODY-N {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}ON THE SHOW, MEN AND WOMEN OM ALL WALKS OF LIFE WOULD TAKE ON THE MORN-DAY GLADIATORS VAR RIDICULO OBSTACLE URS, OM THE JOT AND S LARGE Q-TIP MALLETS TO THE WALL, BREAK THROUGH AND CONQUER (MY PERSONAL FAVORE FOR THE NAME ALONE), AND THE FAMO {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}ALL THOSE BULGG MCL TIGHT LYCRA ENTRANCED NOT ONLY ME BUT THE NATN. AMERIN GLADIATORS BEME A PHENOMENON, AND THE SPIR OF THE EARLY-'90S, CROSSED OVER WH OTHER CULTURAL PHENOMENA WH A LIMED SHELF LIFE. REMEMBER WHEN STEVE URKEL (JALEEL WHE) AND CARL WSLOW (NOTED HOMOSEXUAL REGALD VELJOHNSON) PETED ON THE SHOW AN EPISO OF FAY MATTERS? OR WHEN THE GLADIATORS APPEARED ON FAY FD? THEN THERE'S THAT TIME ELLEN DATED NRO (DAN CLARK) ON HER S WHEN SHE WAS STILL "STRAIGHT" ELLEN MAN, AND WENT TOE-TO-TOE WH THE GLADIATORS {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-FLEX;DISPLAY:-MS-FLEXBOX;DISPLAY:FLEX;-WEBK-BOX-PACK:CENTER;-WEBK-JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-PACK:CENTER;JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;} .TWTER-TWEET-RENRED, {M-WIDTH:65%;WIDTH:TO !IMPORTANT;} {WIDTH:100%;} {MARG-LEFT:TO !IMPORTANT;MARG-RIGHT:TO !IMPORTANT;} IMG{MAX-WIDTH:100%;WIDTH:100%;} > IAME{BORR:NONE;MAX-WIDTH:100%;} > *{MAX-WIDTH:NONE !IMPORTANT;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THE AMERIN GLADIATORS WERE LIKE SUPERHERO E TO LIFE. EXCEPT SOMETIM THE CHALLENGERS REALLY HAND TO THEM. THE LSON BEG: IN THIS WORLD, YOU EHER BREAK THROUGH AND NQUER OR ARE BROKEN THROUGH AND {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}IN ALL FAIRNS, THOUGH, SOME OF THOSE NTTANTS WERE SERVG 10S, 10S, 10S ACROSS THE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}WH THE SUCCS OF AMERIN GLADIATORS, IMATORS EVABLY FOLLOWED. THE MOST OBV RIP-OFF WAS THE RNCHIER AND MORE OVERTLY SEXY BATTLE DOME, WHICH TOOK THE AMERIN GLADIATORS MOL AND ADD THE WRTLG DRAMA OF THE WWE (THEN-WWF)—TO EVEN CHEIER EFFECT. BUT, TO S CRED, BATTLE DOME ALSO FIRST TRODUCED TO NATNAL TREASURE TERRY {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THEN THERE WAS THE ATTEMPTED AMERIN GLADIATORS REBOOT 2008, HOSTED BY BEYOND-PROBLEMATIC FORMER WRTLER HULK HOGAN, WHICH FAILED TO NJURE THE MAGIC OF THE ORIGAL. NEWS SURFACED LAST YEAR THAT MGM WAS SHOPPG AROUND YET ANOTHER REVIVAL OF THE SHOW, WH SETH ROGEN AND EVAN GOLDBERG EXPECTED TO EXECUTIVE PRODUCE, BUT NOTHG HAS E ZIP-LG DOWN THE PIKE JT {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}STILL, AMERIN GLADIATORS LIV ON SHOWS LIKE AMERIN NJA WARRR AND DWAYNE "THE ROCK" JOHNSON'S TAN GAM, FEATURG ORDARY-ISH PEOPLE (SERLY, HAVE YOU SEEN ANY OF THOSE NJA WARRRS?) DOG EXTRAORDARY THGS, BUT WHOUT THE PRENCE OF HYPER-MCULAR ADVERSARI. THAT IA SOMEHOW SEEMS AS DATED AS MALIBU'S GOLN {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}AND PERHAPS TOO KNOWGLY GAY. THERE WAS AN NOCENCE TO AMERIN GLADIATORS THAT BELIED S SEXUAL UNRTON. DPE WHO GOT BROKEN THROUGH AND WHO GOT NQUERED, THERE WAS ALWAYS A SENSE OF MARARIE AND EVERYONE WAS A PARAGON OF GOOD SPORTSMANSHIP. AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE WERE ALL JT HAVG GOOD SILLY FUN AND THE STAK WERE NEVER THAT {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}FOR A B OF NRO NOSTALGIA, CHECK OUT THE PILOT EPISO OF AMERIN GLADIATORS BELOW, URTY OF THE OFFICIAL AMERIN GLADIATORS YOUTUBE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-FLEX;DISPLAY:-MS-FLEXBOX;DISPLAY:FLEX;-WEBK-BOX-PACK:CENTER;-WEBK-JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-PACK:CENTER;JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;POSN:RELATIVE;PADDG-BOTTOM:56.49999999999999%;} .TWTER-TWEET-RENRED, {M-WIDTH:65%;WIDTH:TO !IMPORTANT;} {WIDTH:100%;} {MARG-LEFT:TO !IMPORTANT;MARG-RIGHT:TO !IMPORTANT;} IMG{MAX-WIDTH:100%;WIDTH:100%;} > IAME{BORR:NONE;MAX-WIDTH:100%;} > *{MAX-WIDTH:NONE !IMPORTANT;POSN:ABSOLUTE;HEIGHT:100% !IMPORTANT;WIDTH:100% !IMPORTANT;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;CLEAR:BOTH;}CAN WE TALK ABOUT...?{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;MARG:0 TO;WIDTH:90%;M-WIDTH:288PX;MAX-WIDTH:1440PX;M-HEIGHT:194PX;}LATT NEWS

THE GAY MAGIC OF THE NANNY

Long, long ago, when The Nanny was origally on the air, I nsired myself more of a Frasier gay than a Nanny gay; I assumed that Fran Drcher’s show was all crass sex jok, annoyg child actors, and wall-to-wall heterosexualy. Terribly, horribly, homosexually wrong.

It also has a startlg approach to gay characters that really ught my eye.

The ‘90s — particularly the early-to-mid sectn — was a time for gay characters on ss to be a crisis or awkward or a challenge. Don’t get me wrong, the are some great episos of televisn (ually), but they always prent the gay gut as the problem of the week, a difficulty that needs to be rolved.