Rocko’s Modern Life: Cartoons Coming out of the Closet

[@SnowpawShaw]

Closet Clown is a perfect term for me before I came out

[@pap64]

It's also a good term for those that wanna be all serious but act the fool so naturally. "You act the fool so well...you sure you are not a closet clown?"

[@toomuchawesomeness5886]

I was a closet clown now I'm an out and proud clown

[@mrcakeday1439]

We are all a proud rainbow clown mafia now!

[@tacocat1921]

I was a closet clown, and now I'm an out pan. I'm still a closet trans clown :(

[@solidseagull4062]

@@tacocat1921 I'm still a closet clown unfortunately, but don't worry. We all leave the closet eventually, sometimes we just stumble on all the junk before reaching the door.

[@scattysafari7742]

As an Aussie I always appreciated that they attempted to give Rocko an Australian accent.

[@isobel9195]

Yes mate

[@julesrules7297]

Fun fact, Rocko's voice actor is the same guy who voiced the Taco Bell Chihuahua in the 90s. Dude's also on Reno 911, Carlos Alzauraqi.

[@fe_fanby2278]

@@julesrules7297 He was also Spyro in Spyro the Dragon (1998 version only)!

[@firepuppies4086]

@@fe_fanby2278 which makes it funny when Tom Kenny voiced Spyro later.

[@ceulgai2817]

@@firepuppies4086 Funnily enough, Kenny was the voice of the little electro dudes from one of the PS1 games.

[@cidevant002]

"Nature's Error Forced Girl to Live as Boy" To be fair that is one hell of a coming out announcement for a trans woman.

[@CharlieQuartz]

I want it to be my autobiography title

[@k.morningstar7983]

Nature's Error has got to be my drag name

[@KyrstOak]

@@k.morningstar7983 That sounds like a fun drag name. 😆

[@dariusivey543]

@@k.morningstar7983 that drag name is just *chef’s kiss*

[@dragonit6836]

@@dariusivey543 😂

[@helenemelon]

All the jerks commenting 'this isn't english lit class' as if media studies isn't its own field

[@kenhollis6197]

It scares me how many people think learning and thinking should never be done outside of a classroom. Idiots.

[@dorothyallspice1862]

As someone who took a media literacy class and a film studies class in high school, I can conclude that nothing does not mean nothing. 💕

[@heath6802]

People that say that probably didn’t pay attention in English class, this is what it teaches you, to look for messages and themes in art

[@kenhollis6197]

@@outlawscar3328 Precisely.

[@likira111]

Yeah but those people look down on media studies

[@Hakumeiun]

Baume: This TV show has gay subtext The writers: Yes, definitely gay subtext The producers: Oh, so very much gay subtext The actors: And don't forget the trans subtext! That's there, too Random people of youtube: You're stretching! No gay here! None at all!

[@DrTssha]

...and video games aren't political! * goes back to playing military-themed shooter #24 * Sidenote: "You're stretching!" That's what he said. 😏

[@napdaw]

I've always hated when people do that! Why are they so offended? EVERYTHING is subtext.

[@gwenc1371]

I honestly don't even know how you miss the subtext in Clown in the Closet. From the title card to the rainbow ending, it is *so clearly* a gay metaphor.

[@mjfromjersey]

Nah, the show with an ultra muscular superhero who had magic nipples that enabled people to see the future? No gay subtext here.

[@NovaSaber]

And someone threatened to turn him into a mushroom.

[@twist58]

The one thing I hated about Closet Clown those years ago of Rocko's Modern Life was the fact that his own friends and neighbors attacked him for "liking rainbows." I never understood what was wrong with that when I was a kid in the 90s. Now it makes sense these days, so they're gay bashing him for admitting that.

[@李재성]

Although he is shown to be straight in other episodes since he has a crush on a female neighbor named Melba.

[@gazzamuso]

​@@李재성that is so far from the point

[@Tornado1994]

@@李재성 And he has a crush on his Mail Carrier, Alicia.

[@SparkLizard99]

Let's hope hope rocko's friends won't get sent to a "Tolerance Camp"

[@TimeBomb014X]

​@@SparkLizard99hey we don't tolerate that type of language here, takez him to ze fingerpaint station

[@stoodmuffinpersonal3144]

"Are you down to Clown?" Has a whole new meaning 😏

[@technopoptart]

*honks*

[@nunyabiznes33]

*throws confetti on face*

[@technopoptart]

@@nunyabiznes33 confetti necklace?

[@pepearown4968]

Want to play with my balloon snake?

[@widowkeeper4739]

My dad was born and raised in Copenhagen, Denmark so I DEFINITELY caught the "Scandinavia" remark. My head immediately popped up when I heard it. I had a secret girlfriend at the time and it was...incredible to see. It was a rough, rough time to be LGBT+ in the '90's. The world did not hesitate to let us all know how much they wanted us dead and made the point. We lost so many people to murder and vicious hate crimes back then. Matthew Shepard was our peer, only 6 months older than I was when he was murdered in '98. I thank humanity and empathy for change and I'm grateful there has been change. I don't EVER want to go back to the '90's.

[@widowkeeper4739]

​@cyotee doge I don't know what to tell you. It's in the history books and the 2000-2010 was even worse as the world rebelled harshly to the efforts of the '90's to make people realize homophobia is stupid. I still have old injuries from back then from simply being PERCIEVED as gay. How old were you in the '90's?

[@TheAyanamiRei]

@cyotee doge In the 19990s my school had a kid LITERALLY say he would rather be caught DEAD, than be seen at the Gay Straight Alliance. Back then Gay Marriage was seen as EXTRA bad. Gays didn't truly start to become humanized until shows like Will & Grace and Queer Eye started showing Mainstream America "Hey! These people are really just like you and me! They're not these total monsters. They're no better or worse than heterosexuals!" an such. To say NOTHING of how in the 1980s and even 1990s you could get beaten up for being a "Sissy"

[@kaiyotee2475]

@cyotee doge depends on where you were I suppose.

[@kaiyotee2475]

@cyotee doge also sup possible fellow coyote

[@widowkeeper4739]

@cyotee doge OK, so you don't read and you have never met me, but that isn't going to stop you from sharing your opinion. You're simple. Cool story bro, have a nice day.

[@BenPanced]

"The Buffalo Gals" episode of "Cow & Chicken" never officially made it to air. It exists mainly through bootlegs caught during the satellite transmission for broadcast.

[@ExtremeWreck]

Excuse me WHAT!? Woah, bootleggers really managed to get that episode slipping through the cracks.

[@andieallison6792]

Bootleggers rock

[@gooeydude574]

Didn’t it air only once?

[@ruthielalastor2209]

Watching Rocko as a kid, I felt like there were references and jokes and codes I weren't getting but it was always a good time.

[@chazhargrove4032]

@@jg9444 so butch of you.

[@dustywaynemusic6297]

@@jg9444 why are you even here dork?

[@ΠαναγιώτηςΓεωργίου-ε3π]

Who can forget when 3 cougarsraped rocko

[@TrickyNick79]

I work with kids entertainment (live entertainment and books) and I'm constantly being asked whether kids will "get it". Kids spend most of their time not getting stuff!

[@datsquisheeboi]

i love that the movie uses her transition as a reason to convince rocco to accept the change of his fave tv show instead of using the tv show to convince Rachel's dad to accept her transition. In turn, it's not really about her. it's about accepting that art changes with the times.

[@MaxEverywhereSystem]

im queer and consider rocko's oufit the height of fashion. coincidence? i think not.

[@dorothyallspice1862]

I concur! 10 year old me would've died for a blue polo shirt with purple triangles on it. 💕

[@stoodmuffinpersonal3144]

Omg. I just put it together. I see it.

[@smcphee8499]

Needs more floral. But it’s pretty

[@SieMiezekatze]

Hahahahahha

[@ixiahj]

I loved Rocko. There was one episode where he went to, I think it was a movie theater, and the ushers there wore uniforms identical to his shirt and everyone kept mistaking him for someone who works there. Lol. That happened to a friend of mine irl. Customers kept mistaking him for a waiter. Lol.

[@ericveneto1593]

I'm straight but you're NOT reading too much into this! It's not even that subtle!

[@azazelgrigori9244]

Subtle? Rocko?

[@Acanofalconpunch]

For kids yes. Clearly this one was for the adults.

[@KitKatLMFAO]

it aired on a network made for kids. it was for kids, duh

[@azazelgrigori9244]

@@KitKatLMFAO Though, in fairness, I didn't get it as a kid.

[@thewittyusername]

@@KitKatLMFAO that often was watched by the parents with their kids. My dad told me once he was glad it was my favourite cartoon growing up because it had so many hidden jokes for the adults watching.

[@alejandrovalenzuela7994]

I remember having an epiphany about this episode on a color theory class, the teacher made a comment like "this is the chromatic circle (proceeded to explain)..." then had a joke like "it is very similar to that flag San Francisco folks lean on" or something like that and then it hits me, this episode "I like rainbows"

[@imaroughgempdx]

Rocko's take on being reintroduced to the modern world was SOOO much better than the Animaniac's take.

[@teadrinkerthe8th25]

Rocko did always have a bi fit, tbh

[@cheese_stick4342]

Lol

[@i_used_adblock_to_watch_this]

TF 👀

[@smcphee8499]

Nah. Pan, don’t lie

[@urlocalsoftfuzzyman5209]

all hes missing are the cuffed pants

[@GoneFishingAway]

@@smcphee8499 Pan doesn't exist

[@natsmith303]

"Patty came out on The Simpsons" accompanied by a whole plot built around transphobia...

[@kenhollis6197]

Yeah, well, Rome wasn't built in a day.

[@bigpulgalokes]

It was fucked up, I didn’t understand anything about transphobia, or noticed it. Hell I used to watch Jerry Springer and see it’s transphobic until I got older, and even then I didn’t see what wrong was it for someone to change their gender to another to be happier.

[@napdaw]

@@bigpulgalokes Trixie Mattel spoke of Springer being her first exposure to trans and cross dressing. She used to think it was fierce... :/

[@KyleRayner12]

It's a weird episode. On the one hand, as a trans man, I *hate* the ending. On the other, I kind of appreciate the way Marge is depicted. She reminds me of my parents: ostensibly liberal and all for "those people's" rights, but deeply uncomfortable with the idea of being related to someone LGBTQIA+. Bizarrely, that kind of nuance doesn't make it into these stories often.

[@fusetunes]

the simpsons has handled lgbt issues very differently throughout the years... i know the writers change every so often, but it’s still pretty strange. homer’s phobia was overall good despite being built more around homer than john, but then you have later episodes where it’s like they *know* they can be more accepting than they were in the 90s, but at the same time still dance around the fact that characters like smithers are gay even though they keep making episodes trying to address it. and they’ve even made trans ‘jokes’ about him too :/

[@matthewmcneany]

That was a super cute story about Matt's parents at the conference.

[@lmoore3rd]

The writers on Rocko knew exactly what they were doing and how to dance around the 90's censors at Viacom. That's why we loved Rocko's Modern Life. It worked well on multiple levels for different audiences. Even as a teenager in the 90's, I understood exactly what they were digging at.

[@lukelee7967]

Rocko was a gay show? I never knew. But no wonder I grew up to think "Why are so many people crappy to gay people, don't be crappy to people. " I can't say Rocko is why, but if so, thank you Rocko

[@mrnobody2018]

Not entirely gay, consider the content was made to be for children

[@arcticfoxinsox]

@@mrnobody2018 i mean, gay stuff can still be for children. just saying, gay things aren’t inherently adult

[@starrynight669]

@@arcticfoxinsox Of course you're completely right. But back then gay stuff wasn't really allowed in cartoons. It was banned or heavily censored.

[@ExtremeWreck]

@@starrynight669 Yeah. Well, either those or banished into deep obscurity.

[@Tornado1994]

There was a 1994 Episode that got banned, which had Rocko and Filbert pretending to be a Gay couple.

[@saccharinesilk]

if there's one thing i didn't go into this expecting, it's an "*inflates you making you big and round*" reference

[@hugothepinkcat]

I know! I made the goofiest grin when I heard it!

[@trouty606]

If you know, then you know, and are pretty surprised how many others do too!

[@Exarian]

That was the equivalent of a suckerpunch.

[@HatsuneJavi]

My jaw dropped when I heard it, i totally didn’t see that one coming

[@anyankafan]

Checked the comments for this remark. Good god I was laughing

[@TheSrawsome]

Explains why I had such a fascination with the show as a kid.

[@razerow3391]

Really? I didn't realise us LGBTQ+ were like Ripley's believe it or not. Don't forget to leave a penny, miss, whilst you gawk at us through the bars... I liked the show because of the animation being like Ren and Stimpy, the voice acting of Tom Kenny, the stories that were leftfield and odd. I mean ... That's weird. That means you probably wouldn't like Ren and Stimpy, Invader Zim or any oddball comedy that isn't exclusively about LGBTQ+ because that is the part you think made you fascinated. A lot of people on here are shockingly homophobic without even realising it. So far Ive seen people compare us to kids that need protecting, disabled people that need help with life, compared to a lifestyle choice and now compared to a circus act to be fascinated by.... Like we are some Cirque Du Sole act. HA! Man I am screening all this for Discord. This is all gold. As a proud member of the community you find fascinating I salute you for showing exactly what I said to someone earlier about the left being just as phobic but from a different angle. Right want us gone and left think we are special and fragile and need big strong straight people to protect us. LOLOLOLOL. Both the same. Will we ever be treated normal?

[@deadaccount7303]

R4z0r Gr1nd3r weren’t you in another thread calling LGBTQ “vapid and shallow” and that you specifically didn’t like associating yourself with them?

[@TheSrawsome]

I've tried to reply multiple times but they disappear. My comment was literally about me being an LGBTQ+ youth living in the middle of nowhere midwest starving for LGBTQ+ representation.

[@dylansporrer1198]

"And some of them were for no one, like Duckman" is absolutely brutal.

[@AlkisenSuper]

Brutal... yet false?

[@tuschman168]

I've never seen Duckman but I've heard people praise it before. Now I'm confused.

[@BennSimonn]

@@tuschman168 Everyone I know who's seen Duckman is a fan. Maybe Matt just dislikes it because Duckman occasionally makes vaguely homophobic comments like "Where's Barney the Dinosaur? Check the local bathhouse" but that's just Duckman being an asshole which is the main part of his character

[@nefwaenre]

OH MY ZOD. FINALLY. Like finally, someone talks about Rocko's queerness. Like as a kid, i may not have understood some of the 'adult' jokes, but i could clearly understand queer vibes, especially from Rocko. i'm queer and it was good to see that, but at the same time, i knew none of my friends could relate cuz they never watched these shows.

[@deniseb.4656]

It always gave me nerdy vibes. I never thought Rocko and his friends were gay. I just thought they were very nerdy and not uber masculine and they might have been unlucky considering dating/girls. Same with Chandler from Friends. I just thought he was nerdy.

[@crabsbelikesnap6196]

I’m crying-I’m so glad that they were finally able to tell the stories they wanted to tell without having to hide it in metaphores

[@nonamej1591]

Rocko's modern life was a kids show with many adult elements in it.

[@nonamej1591]

@@nicholasrodinos4701 Femboy flag but im now trans so a bit outdated. lol, but yes its the femboy flag.

[@nonamej1591]

@@nicholasrodinos4701 Its fine, I dont know many also :3

[@r3n837]

Oh shoot there's a femboy flag??? that's kinda surprising, cool!

[@nonamej1591]

@@r3n837 Thx

[@robertmckinnon7003]

Yes. I just posted about that myself. The story is about a young being starting their adult life. And I think it captured it better than a lot of others.

[@Narutocoolcat]

Mr Simons being gay was something every fan of hey Arnold knew. Especially when it was directly hinted at during the thanksgiving episode

[@chriscoleman5242]

I love Rocco when I was a kid it is good that they put gay characters on cartoons. Kids know more about that stuff today then in the 90s I did. I love King of the Hill when Dale's dad is gay I just love King of the Hill.

[@kumachan9311]

"My Hair lady" is my fave KOTH ep, Bill acts gay to get hairdressing customers

[@RicardoAlmeidatm]

"He's having the time of his life". You could say he was having a GAY OLD TIME

[@isobel9195]

Nice to see the dad jokes are still around

[@NINI-xc6my]

6:29 ah, yes... when you first met a more experienced ,out of the closed ,"clown" and get creme pied in his office later that day...we have all been there

[@brieoshiro]

This show was always so weird to me as a kid. I was like 9 when it came out. I had forgotten about that Static Cling reunion even though I watched it haha. I'm trans and it was so sweet how accepting they all were towards her. I'm still not totally "out" and it's complicated so to see positive trans things on shows I enjoyed once is so nice.

[@availanila]

I don't understand how this video is playing but not quite. I'll wait.

[@robertmckinnon7003]

Rocko was so great. I was in my late teens and early twenties during its original run. And more so than some live action shows; it captured that aspect of life; and really spoke to me. I had just moved to a new town; I was trying to get my first "adult" job; and ended taking a minimum wage job. I also had friends very much like Phil and Heifer.

[@mrnobody2018]

I don't believe Rocko's modern life was a cartoon for adults

[@mrnobody2018]

Adult humor is acceptable but not over used compared to Ren and Stimpy

[@robertmckinnon7003]

@@mrnobody2018 never said that. But, Rocko is fresh outa school; he's trying to start his life; his best friend still mooches off his parents; his other friend has a friends a "real" job he hates; and they grow together. Phil gets married and has kids. Story wise there's a lot here for a young adult.

[@wtfaiwpodcast]

5:00 ... Goatse?

[@nevaeh9125]

Perhaps

[@sobek6735]

Oh god....

[@lazybacon7520]

I can't believe you've done this...

[@nevaeh9125]

@@lazybacon7520 "aw fuck..."

[@scaper8]

That is the first thing I thought seeing that now. Honestly, it wouldn't surprise me if it was an intentional goatse reference. The show had metric tons of sexual innuendo, more than a bit of which would be difficult to get away with even today. I'm fairly secure in feeling that it only got away with what it did due to the massively high absurdity of the show. It was so absurdist that most of the sex jokes could be read as just part of the insanity.

[@tinymxnticore]

Coincidentally, “Closet Clown” is the title of my memoir 🤡

[@DomIstKrieg]

That 5 second clip of Macho Man randomly dropped in there is amazing. Thank you.

[@garfieldbrooks6126]

It's awesome that your parents so supportive and understanding

[@ionceateapinecone]

In reality Rocko’s Modern Life was actually a post modern one.

[@AngryNerdBird]

*"I have no son!* *-Ed Bighead in 1994* That aged unexpectedly well.

[@hugothepinkcat]

You did NOT just make a reference to "inflate big and round" OMG HAHAHA

[@hyderabbitjuega5962]

Yes he did!!! XD

[@pap64]

I legit cackled when he casually made that reference along with the OWO on screen. XD

[@overzen69]

My jaw dropped.

[@Ark15964]

Watching this as a kid gave me so much comfort. I didn’t even know I was gay then. Thank you so much for this show. It means the world to me.

[@sarahanley7142]

And then there’s cartoons for no one like Duckman ... sadness

[@BradsGonnaPlay]

Matt Baume is only human, he’s allowed to be wrong sometimes

[@cameronkoontz6393]

Yeah what was with that shade?

[@mrnobody2018]

Duckman is part of the children's TV series list

[@gabyflores9412]

"The clown comes back to bite" omg XD

[@DARRINandstuff]

Not the "when you do clownery" clip 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭

[@kurumiwendy]

lets not forget rocko marrying filbert in an episode. it wasnt the best or anything but it's out there.

[@dorothyallspice1862]

THAT WAS MY FAVORITE EPISODE OMG Filburt: "Call me....Ophelia."

[@kurumiwendy]

@@dorothyallspice1862 late reply oops, but i just rewatched the episode and goodness i can definitely see why you'd love it its actually cute how filbert gets super into the role. if only rocko hadnt treated him like that. i was actually pleasantly surprised on a rewatch rocko wasnt weirded out by the whole concept of being married to a man or anything (then again rocko has always been the type to go with the flow which is why hes my favorite of the show) just filbert's behavior. maybe me headcanoning both of them as bi wasnt too of the mark! sorry for the silly ramble haha

[@ΠαναγιώτηςΓεωργίου-ε3π]

Or when 3 cougara banged rocko

[@pepearown4968]

@@kurumiwendy He wanted to stay in the country. Of course he’d put up with pretending to be married to Filbert.

[@plawson8577]

@@dorothyallspice1862”Kiss Me, I’m Foreign” it was Banned on Nickelodeon in 1994.

[@jonathanyinon1317]

I always loved Rocco's modern life as a kid in the 90's! What a wonderful happy and positive message! That we're all human beings ,and it's ok to be different ,no matter gay,straight, bi,lesbian or transgender, whatever!

[@deeplyblue7299]

0:11 Let's please acknowledge the beautiful face on that man

[@kumachan9311]

Ever seen "Shark tale" Lenny the shark being "Different" because hes "Vegetarian" .... [Obv, Gay]

[@flipflop5189]

Just wanted to comment why the heck anyone with no intention of critically analyzing shows and film like this channel does...even watches this channel? That is literally the intent and your videos often provide the research or references to prove what you are showcasing on these videos. That segment at 6:13 just made me irrationally annoyed at people who complain when they can choose to remain ignorant and void of critical thought.

[@someonerandom8552]

Uhh, in geeky circles I run in, those people are called “chuds.” And they are without doubt the smoothest of brains.

[@kenhollis6197]

@@someonerandom8552 Chuds, I like that. It sucks being even reasonably bright in a world with mostly idiots.

[@meepmoop2308]

@@AnonymousGentooman Hey, you're not one of those people completely opposed to critical analysis. You're a good cookie

[@matti.8465]

Imaginr watching videos on a channel centered about analyzing LGBT elements in media and then getting upset when you find an analysis about LGBT elements in media.

[@trouty606]

A super fun episode about one of my favorite shows as a kid too! Also a surprising amount of furry stuff going on here, but then again the venn diagram of kids from the 90's who had media speak to them as gay or realize they were furries has a fair amount of crossover in the middle.

[@kenhollis6197]

You are so right. I was a 90s kid and I'm not even a furry, but before I even knew what gay was, I had crushes on quite a few male anthropomorphic characters. Hell, I had a crush on Lumiere from Beauty and the Beast at one point.

[@stipegal]

I love how often you have Kids in the Hall clips.

[@razminfox1787]

3:15 “ inflates duck and makes him big and round “ you closet furry you

[@thehoodybadger3402]

Ahahahahaha.

[@LearnAboutFlow]

I was so excited when I was finally able to get a Rocko's Modern Life t-shirt. Always loved that show.

[@mysticblue0222]

I love that you brought up Greg Weisman and Gargoyles not to mention the comic! What dork cred! Hey he also helped create Young Justice’s version of Aqualad I love Kaldur and he’s in a relationship with a man. Also that shirt how perfect for Rocko!

[@lucian2701]

Back in the 90's when Rocko's modern life was still being made I remember reading in the back on some magazine (or comic) an 'interview' with Rocko, where he said his favourite band was The B-52's (My favourite band too at the time). Aside from him having impeccable taste in music (and Kate and Fred rocking the theme tune in later seasons (kudos to the original theme btw; awesome bass), I realised then as a teen that this was a cartoon that was just fun to be embraced, as life and it's ways should be. And if it's not already been mentioned (I've not scrolled through all the comments), the episode where Heffer falls in love with a milking machine... Yeah, adult humour.

[@gabrielgonzalez4989]

I remember Rocko's Modern Life was one of my favorite shows when I was a kid in 1996, and I saw the clown episode I knew for sure it was a gay innuendo. It was so evident

[@sharkofjoy]

If you ever want to make more videos breaking down Rocko's Modern Life episodes .... I wouldn't be mad. This made a lot of sense out of my childhood.

[@starpasta]

Omg, the timing of this video is impeccable! I bought the complete set of Rocko's Modern Life awhile ago and have finally started watching it. I'm about halfway through season three. I had seen bits and pieces of the show as a child, but I was more into Hey Arnold and Rugrats because I was a little older by then. I'm really enjoying it as an adult. So many innuendos! I'm looking forward to the Closet Clown episode now and Static Cling!

[@dalkri5546]

This was my favorite show as a kid!

[@dorothyallspice1862]

Same! That and The Powerpuff Girls!

[@Resilient_Sage88]

An episode that stands out for me is when Rocko gets a crush on his Mail-lady and writes her a letter but her brother shows up and Heffer reads the letter out loud and then goes "I love you too Rock." And Wallace thinks they're a couple haha

[@wherefancytakesme]

There have actually been a good few episodes where people think Rocko and Heffer are a couple. Filbert sometimes too. I mostly remember how one of Heffer's siblings liked crossdressing and their mom was totally cool with it.

[@Resilient_Sage88]

@@wherefancytakesme His brother.

[@wherefancytakesme]

The one episode... The ONE episode I haven't seen of Rocko yet and it's something like this. God I missed out.

[@crys383]

So happy to be such a small part of this video and your research. Love your work and the time you take to do it.

[@MissAshley42]

Thank you for reminding me that despite how awful things have been lately, progress has still definitely been made.

[@barneyjuniorYT]

No matter how much we try to grow and change as a society, theres always gonna be a group of blockheads stuck in the past who will step on others to feel better about themselves. Its a sad reality but its reality. I will forever love Rocko's Modern Life, and Static Cling was an amazing film 💙💙💙

[@Froggy711]

Honestly, if you didn't already know what Closet Clown was really about... you weren't paying attention.

[@Tornado1994]

It's about Linda Wallem. Voice of Dr. Hunchinson. It was written for her. She had come out to the Cast and crew of the Cartoon in 1994.

[@Taijifufu]

One of my favorite shows ever. I just assumed it was a general metaphor for hobbies or maybe racism (I _did_ think it was a metaphor though). Upon reflection there were certain gags that were more suggestive than others. "I'm a wiiiild piiiiiiig.🐖" But perhaps I'm just reaching.

[@thebeebz9511]

PLEASE cover Marceline and Bubblegum from Adventure time. It took 10 years for their relationship to be confirmed in the finale

[@MakiPcr]

That show was so good, and I now understand why my mom wasn't comfortable with me and my brother watching it

[@Geospasmic]

I think Rocko was my favorite of the nicktoons and I loved the Netflix special. So great to hear all those voices again!

[@jbgra2566]

The meaning of this episode definitely flew over my head as a kid, but it makes so much sense now. Rocko was a great show, still my childhood favorite.

[@gigabowserpwns]

Children from the shadows sounds freaking awesome!

[@Mistress0fyaoi]

Suddenly it makes so much sense why this was my favourite nicktoon as a kid. I always loved this show but could never put into words why I loved it so much

[@roadtonowherefilms]

One of the greatest animated shows of the 90s, up there with Daria.

[@roadtonowherefilms]

@John Elway in the words of Madonna, "look it up". 😜

[@offbalanceg]

Thank you for bringing this episode to my attention. Another great episode!

[@Neku628]

14:35 Oh, there's a theory that Power Puff Girls' villain is actually the girls' gay uncle that Professor Utonium is a complete homophobe and disassociates from.

[@matti.8465]

Him? That's just Utonium's ex.

[@Neku628]

@@matti.8465 lmao Professor would be great if he came out as bi or pan.

[@Arrowdodger]

I loved the show, and Static Cling was really nice. Rachel was wonderful, and I am really glad they went the route they did on a revival.

[@jamescox3470]

Just want to say thank you for creating and sharing such well-made content! I really appreciate it and am grateful for your work

[@peterkropotkin6806]

Matt has a crush on Staghart confirmed.

[@X.tlal.]

I’ve been watching for years and I can’t believe I haven’t seen this one yet

[@haywardgarner4850]

I remember this episode vividly because of the way it mimicked the process of coming out at a time when I was just opening my own clown closet.

[@haileybalmer9722]

It's weird that even though I was seven and I didn't know what gay meant, I knew that Rocko's Modern Life was a gay show. I also absolutely understood that Lexington was gay on Gargoyles. This makes me want to go find the directors and writers of the 90's X-Men cartoon and see if they were trying to write all the gay subtext between Magneto and Professor X. I was 9, I knew was gay was, and I knew that Professor X and Magneto were gay. I was honestly sort of surprised to learn that wasn't canon. I'm 35, I know what gay is, and I still don't think I'm wrong about X-Men.

[@someonerandom8552]

Honestly in hindsight I’m kind of surprised it wasn’t Broadway who was gay 🤷🏼‍♀️ Oh and I definitely agree about Xavier and Magneto being gay

[@antoniomromo]

Sooooo much gay subtext between them in the animated series. Like the entire thing was everyone else having to deal with the confidences of their break-up.

[@sniperfreak223]

I'm pretty sure it's been confirmed that, at least in the cinematic universe, X-Men is an analogy for the struggles of the LGBTQIA+ community

[@ExtremeWreck]

@@sniperfreak223 I thought it was an analogy for surreal & bizarre fever dreams as a kid honestly. I myself have had constant bizarre fever dreams back then & I still do to this day. Though I am gay, so it's kind of funny knowing that it's, in actuality, an analogy on the strughles of the LGBTQIA+ community. Though I guess Kidd Video would be considered the analogy for surreal & bizarre fever dreams in that case.

[@Tornado1994]

Except Professor X and Magneto AREN'T gay. I'm not sure where you read that, because that's patently false. If your looking for a Gay X-Men, Iceman is Gay.

[@meghan______669]

The algorithm’s on your side, bro. I’ve never watched your channel and my suggestion page had four of your videos. You deserve it though, good luck out there

[@fleo479]

Nickelodeon didn't care in the 90s. Just all the crap Ren and Stimpy and Rocko got away with would not happen today. Also Cartoon Network didn't care either.

[@everythingiseconomics9742]

Maybe the 90s just didn't care. Maybe the parents all thought cartoons were for kids and they never watched it.

[@technopoptart]

oh man, it isnt that noone cared but that a few people had a lot of fun fighting the censory board. there was a habit with a lot of shows(notably cartoons) of throwing in lots of super terrible decoy stuff so that the censors could cut it and be less critical of other things that were just on the edge. it was brilliant

[@miguelmejia4656]

ren and stimpy? didn't those guys like tongue fuck each other?

[@joe41040]

Don't pick on duck man 😜 😍and was luckily to meet their storyboard artist😁

[@dorothyallspice1862]

Duckman is such an underrated show, and I cannot stress this enough!

[@pap64]

"Inflates you making you big and round OwO". I cackled when this came out! I adore this show and even as an adult when I saw the jokes it made me love it even more because they are often too on the nose and I love it for it!

[@Kenj1090]

Even when I was a kid and didn't know any better, whenever I saw the "I like rainbows" scene even then I was like "...wait a minute. There's something else going on here."

[@tinnagigja3723]

I might as well tell you...it was me. Duckman was for me.

[@technopoptart]

damnit, tinna!

[@sottoletna]

He-Man and Transformers (yes) put me in the company of men every weekday. Rocko's Modern Life got me out of the closet. And the new Voltron had a gay flashback, a wedding, and a kiss for it's gay character Shiro.

[@RyokoAsakuraLastFan]

"Make him big and round. owo" lol

[@AthyDuGard]

"A conference for young vampires"... Had me cackling 💀 So glad your parents were supportive! 🖤 🐨

[@rolandbaldwin]

Well that was just wonderful! I loved Rocko growing up in the 90s. I've yet to watch the special but will give it a go.

[@indigothecat]

Just discovered your channel awhile ago, and I'm glad I did! As a 90's gay myself, it's kind of cool to look back and see even glimpses of support in cartoons and media I consumed.

[@matthewlane518]

Never thought a story about an old cartoon could be so touching👨‍❤️‍👨

[@Feelthefelt]

This video meant a lot to me. Thank you.

[@justwannaname]

Whoa whoa whoa!! Duck man was amazing! I loved that show as kid.

[@wiesejay]

For a more pleasant depiction of a ladies’ sports team, consult your local roller derby league

[@thatbigbear6438]

After re-watching the entire series as an adult, I can tell this episode is definitely related to coming out of the closet in general, be it gender/sexuality or personality wise, it is heavily implied, specially because of the ending..

[@allanjmcpherson]

I didn't expect that shirt, but I love it and hope to see it a lot more.

[@benw9949]

The satire in the show, that to be an animator (or an actor, as some other shows have done) is rejected or even disowned by family as beyond scandalous, depraved, etc. -- is sometimes not too far removed from real life responses, unfortunately. -- The bit about criticizing fans who do't want change, or who complain there's been too much of one thing or another, is both valid and not valid. At least some fans may really not like a certain set of things a show does, while another fan section thinks it's great. The creators can do what they want, but they may risk alienating some sections of their audience (and fan base) by changing things up in a given direction, character changes, and so on. But there is also a valid point that change is needed to keep the stories and characters from getting stale and retread copies.

[@QueenMegaera]

Wait ... People say you're seeing things that aren't there? Please. You always show your work. I watch a lot of fandom content and I've seen plenty of LGBTQ-content-starved fans seeing LGBTQ themes where there's not even queerbaiting. This is not one of those channels.

[@tompadfoot3065]

I feel like the Venn Diagram of conservative Star Trek fans and those that go "tHeRe'S nO sUbtExT!11!" for shows with obviously queer subtext is a perfect circle

[@QueenMegaera]

@@tompadfoot3065 that might be true 😂 though, having heard a few interviews with Gene Roddenberry, while there's some "this is very suggestive today but probably not at the time" I'm sure there's also some entirely intentional subtext. ^^