When Norm on Cheers Tried Going Gay

Last month I showed you a 1983 episode of Cheers where everybody panicked because they were afraid the bar was turning gay. Well, this month, I want to show you what happened next - basically a decade of the gang more or less refusing to believe that gays exist, until a queer icon finally showed up to more or less set them straight. Well, not straight, but … you know.
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[@thegayghost872]

"They met in drama club, which is where gay people come from"

[@tidyanarchy1584]

john mulaney voice: we KNOW but HEYYY

[@madisonwaycaster9832]

As a queer advanced drama class alumni I feel attacked. X'D It's so accurate

[@PDComicBookNetwork]

I'm taking this as Matt endorsing my upcoming, self-published comic, The Drama Club, and putting it on the cover.

[@gennybaratta2460]

As a queer musical theatre minor I’d just like say that I came out to have a good time and am honestly feeling very attacked right now

[@michaylalovitt2796]

I feel exposed

[@ozlekosusturu]

"to be fair they're just humble psychiatrists, they can't afford to live as lavishly as a mid-tier radio host" MATT YOU ABSOLUTE GENIUS

[@javis88h]

I'm straight but.... Harvey's voice just melts my butter. Especially that exacerbated sigh from that Barbra Walters clip. It's like he ate a lawnmower and it's pretty unique

[@MattBaume]

I know what you mean, him and Kathleen Turner I could just listen to forever.

[@andrewboyko8304]

My initial reaction to this episode was “Karl is that you?” Harvey was similarly great on the Simpson’s as Homer’s personal assistant. I could listen to him read the phone book.

[@Sam_on_YouTube]

@@MattBaume I saw both Harvey and Kathleen live on broadway. Harvey was in Fidler on the Roof and Kathleen was in The Graduate. Both fantastic.

[@NightmareLoveForever]

"like he ate a lawnmower" has me on the floor. bless you.

[@AKilahVamp]

YAS! I thought I was the only one who loved his voice.

[@ginginami]

Harvey: I haven't met a single family without a gay person in it. Me: ....I can't think of anyone not straight in my family... 2 min later OH WAIT IT'S ME!!

[@lilithhedwig5408]

Same lol (even though I'm bi but yeah that counts)

[@sybariticcupboardrat3763]

This this like walking around the house to find your glasses and then realizing you're already wearing them.

[@figglebop]

For the naysayers: Harvey's full interview includes cousins, etc...

[@johnjohnson3709]

Yep, it runs in my family.

[@A90210_]

The montage of “I am what I am” made me instantly cry. Such a powerful song.

[@ChristopherDraws]

I totally appreciated the working in cutting those all together - thank you Matt and Culture Cruise!

[@dkingsbury]

When they showed Harvey crying and applauding I lost it 😭😭😭❤️

[@TheSongwritingCat]

If this episode was just an excuse to show clips of John Barrowman, Shirley Bassey, George Hearn, etc. on a series that's primarily about sitcoms, I would absolutely be okay with that.

[@philzeo]

Good to know I'm not alone on this one 😭

[@bartgreenberg9001]

But Jerry Herman’s name must be mentioned.

[@thedukeofweasels6870]

That part where the guy had to come out as straight might seem tacky in modern standards but I can see how it could be used as a way to help straight people imagine themselves in a gay scenario and learn compassion for what it would be like to have to pretend you're something you're not and to be judged for who you love.

[@MattBaume]

Yeah it's hard to judge by today's standards. I do think the show's heart is in the right place, it just really wouldn't fly now like it did then.

[@sonofagun4125]

Hell, there's still people out there like that now who just can't put themselves in someone else's shoes without a paint-by-numbers role reversal to help them understand.

[@morley364]

I feel like bits with the reversal of someone in power having to act out the experiences/tropes of someone who is marginalized is hit or miss. Sometimes it does help foster empathy, or can point out how illogical our unjust and outdated beliefs are. On the other hand, it can sometimes feel like the joke isn't 'haha yeah, actually it's dumb that we're prejudiced about this stuff for ANYONE' and instead feels like 'haha can you imagine if people ever treated US like THEM? Impossible!'

[@ruliak]

I had the privilege of seeing Harvey on broadway as Tevye in Fiddler On The Roof when I was about 8 years old. I was instantly homosexual and haven't been the same since.

[@MattBaume]

Oh wowwwww what an amazing role for him! I'm super jealous.

[@brainlock72]

My cousin got to work with Harvey on a small theatre project in 80s, but he was already with his husband, so no stories to tell...afaik? (I think they're still FB friends, but HF has worked with so many by this point, Mac is probably just another fan/follower to him.)

[@goldilox369]

I really always wanted to see that version!!! I'm jealous too.

[@g.alvarez3140]

He hit you with a rainbow beam and gayified you! Thats how they corrupt the youth! Says the theatre kid

[@patrickmurphy909]

"Seen here sending Trixie Mattel home" is such a perfect one-liner. Thank you.

[@traegermiles]

the ending montage was so beautiful- and god Harvey's graceful answer to Barbara's insipid question... wish I could be half as articulate under pressure

[@MightyMurloc]

Harvey Fierstein when he's neutral sounds exactly like Vin Diesel when he's acting tough.

[@euansmith3699]

I'm not the only one to pick up on that then? I'd love to see Havery turn up as Dom's Dad in a film called, "Fast & Curious".

[@johnindigo5477]

Real NYC

[@johnindigo5477]

10:53 Family 😅

[@OsirisMalkovich]

John Barrowman's version of I Am What I Am gets me every time

[@EvilSandwich]

Harvey Fierstein's expertly suppressed internal screaming at Barbara Walters' question just makes me respect him a million times more. You can tell that this is his equivalent of a cashier failing to ring up an item and having a customer joke, "That means it's free, right?", but million times more cringe. That brief look on his face just says, "I know she's had almost no exposure to openly LGBTQ people, so its just innocent curiosity, but ughhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh."

[@sakuram69]

Totally agree! I think what made me respect the hell out of him even more was how he handled the question in his reply. I'm not so patient and would have gone off on a sarcastic tirade. You could just see in his eyes the inner bowels of hell about to erupt, but he handled that like a real gentleman. I have actually had people ask me almost identical questions to that one, and it always ends up with me being the queen bitch. It gets old exceptionally fast. Like, I can almost sense the question coming and have to grapple every nerve in my body to endure the inevitable bombardment of stupidity. He's truly an icon of respect for me

[@gjford1951]

I am pretty sure that Ms Walters had plenty of exposure to gay folks. Barbara was known for posing questions that are supposed to embody "mainstream"-audience-in-Iowa "concerns" about hot button subjects with sincerity, when in fact they were really just pandering. This interview was national advertizing for Fierstein's show. It was a prized spot that he did not have to be given. (It was probably the highest profile moment in his career at that point. And it was live.) He wasn't educating Barbara, he was being intentionally prodded for the ratings. So, Fierstein had to be a model representative, a Jackie Robinson, Sidney Poitier of gay folk. (Or, in today's terms Pete Buttigieg) Ms. Walters knew that. She knew that he knew that she knew. As did his agent and the cast and crew of La Cage. Hence, Fierstein's frustration-propelled teeth-gritting performance of a response that was worthy of a Tony.

[@chavesa5]

Those clips of Firestein from the 80s are still so sharp. Growling at Walters and accurately calling out the gay anthem he built... that is some big gay energy right there in the best way.

[@scaredbi]

Dad, I’m •holds up purple drapes and flowered underwear•

[@edwardmiessner6502]

Harvey Fierstein is an icon in the gay community - and that voice! I could listen to him for-EVAH.

[@RBelmont007]

He is definitely up at the top with Vincent Price and Eartha Kitt as one of my favorite voices to just listen to say anything, really.

[@tylerkochman1007]

The importance Torch Song Trilogy had in opening some people's eyes to the lives of gays CANNOT be overstated.

[@reizak8966]

"I've never heard of a family without a gay member in it." Me: I dunno, neither my mother's side nor my father's side has a gay... oh wait... I'M the gay member. XD

[@lillyrose1873]

The gays in my family is me and a and a cousin on my mom's side

[@erinmefford8041]

@@lillyrose1873 the gay family member in my family is my neice

[@johnindigo5477]

Ha gaaayyy

[@RoadkillbunnyUK]

I love this show so much! As I was growing up in the late 80s, early 90s as a Catholic in Liverpool being gay just wasn’t an option, it was a concept that just didn’t fit anywhere. When I was young I knew I was different but simply couldn’t say I was gay as I had no reference, no influence or saw anything in the media that opened up that do for me. In my mid 20s I found it in myself to think of myself as bi but it was never something I thought I had an option of pursuing and It took me until I was in my late 30s to fully reconcile with myself that I am gay and say that out loud with conviction and lack of shame. By that time I was married to a man and had two kids. I’m now out, a part of my local LGBT+ community and finally living a life that makes me feel free, whole and relaxed. I hope that my generation will be the last to grow up feeling that being anything but straight is outside their grasp.

[@zetametallic]

I too grew up in Liverpool around that time and although I'm not Gay I get what you mean; I only knew of one couple who were Gay as a child and they were viewed as being "nice people but different to normal blokes". There was an awful lot of marginalisation and it just wasn't talked about. I'm not from a religious background so that wouldn't be an issue but thank goodness things have moved on as people should be free to be themselves. X

[@RoadkillbunnyUK]

Zetametallic thanks. Yeah, I was born in 1978 and didn’t meet my first gay person (who was out and I knew was gay, reality is I will have known many, in fact an old school friend of mine is also gay he had a different experience than I after being semi outed while still in school, I only found out about this when we talked of our experiences later in life as the routers and the bullying seemed to have stayed largely amount the boys and I being a girl and an outsider was unaware of what he was going through sadly) until I was at collage aged 19, she was like a god to me, older, out and proud. A lady who gave me advice I still fall back on today and I look back and wish I had to tools to understand my own feelings and be able to talk to her about it. I had a huge crush on her but had no reference in which to label my feelings. I’m lucky, I didn’t come from a household of hate and homophobia but still, even with the supportive and loving family I had the times and pressures of the world I grew up in had me doubting, thinking I was weirded (I remember telling myself aged about 13 that I better start fancying boys of people would think I was even more weirded), not having the framework to understand why finding my brothers playboy stash was such an eye opening experience for me (😂). I felt like I didn’t belong anywhere, in the straight world and then as I got older, in the gay world, I felt like all the ‘real’ lesbians would laugh at me as by the time I started to understand my sexuality I had pushed myself so far down the heterosexual path. Now talking to other gay woman around my age and up to 10 years or so younger my experience was so common, we often end up telling each other our own stories. It’s still not over, there are still boys and girls, men and woman living those same stories over again but the numbers are going down, going down at a faster and faster rate but there is still a great deal of work to go.

[@brain_apostrophe_t]

SEEN HERE SENDING TRIXIE MATTEL HOME!!!

[@tylerrshaw88]

Cackling

[@tommycampbell97]

I had to pause and gather my bearings after that

[@aeonjoey3d]

Bhhahahaha i almost fell out of my chair

[@camomiletea7357]

UNPROVOKED!!

[@brain_apostrophe_t]

@@camomiletea7357 UN. PROooo.VOKED!

[@NightmareLoveForever]

"I Am What I Am" literally NEVER fails to cover me in chills, and quite often, to tears. In every performance, you can feel the weight behind those lyrics and the singer's embodiment of it. Thanks for reminding me how much I love Harvey Fierstein, and for this super awesome and educational show. Sidenote: also Norm taking over for as Edna in Hairspray was the WILDEST twist, lol, I gasped

[@gretchenbaker7435]

Seeing Harvey so proud and moved When Ginger finishes the song filled my heart bucket A world treasure he is Plus anyone with a voice that unique makes me feel like my weird husky tones are ok

[@adam-l74]

As a life long fan I have to mention that episode of Facts of Life from 1979 features Cindy. Jo didn’t come along until the show was retooled in the second season.

[@murasakiahiru]

His Simpsons appearance as Karl is classic and that's where I first hear of him.

[@CJJC]

MY MOTHER TAUGHT ME NEVER TO KISS A FOOL

[@GG1Productions]

I remember an episode of Wings where one characters son comes out as gay and he actually does disown him for several seasons

[@RLucas3000]

Colin George-Babb Wow! That needs to be here. Definitely not the usual trope!

[@leaalajbeg6349]

Didn't Bree on desperate housewives literally kick her son out the house and the car in the middle of the night

[@dannycarrington1601]

@@leaalajbeg6349 There was friction between the two of them because she didn't approve of him being gay at first but she eventually became supportive. Bree dropped Andrew off (during the day) after he seduced her boyfriend, she probably would have done the same thing if it had been her daughter.

[@leaalajbeg6349]

@@dannycarrington1601 That's honestly not much better like at all. I'm always surprised at choice of choosing a current partner over your own child. I was a very young child when I watched this show and even then her whole parenting was outrageously weird and decidedly not good.

[@rosemaryshultz8097]

"SEEN HERE SENDING TRIXIE MATTEL HOME" i died

[@currentresident3775]

Billy Crystal's character, Jody, was (I think) a pretty significant gay character in a major 80's TV show. And Jody was a cast character, not a guest spot for a one-off episode featuring a gay character. "Soap" was a strange, funny show and it was a hit.

[@hennpaul]

“Coach doesn’t bat an eye...” as he’s wearing an eyepatch! Clever.

[@Sam_on_YouTube]

I've always loved Harvey Fierstein, but didn't know his history. Was not expecting to see a picture of him with Matthew Broderick and Estelle Getty acting together. That would help with 6 degrees of Kevin Bacon.

[@leenut91]

The fact that George Wendt played Edna on Broadway makes my heart smile.

[@CatLives9]

That's amazing! I had no idea.

[@vahi37]

@@CatLives9 Neither did I. I don't know if that's irony or coincidence.

[@e.wintertashlin2903]

When I came out as a young teen (with a significant and highly visible disability) in the early 90s, my mom played me I Am What I Am and encouraged me I to embrace it as a personal anthem, because it was written by/for my people, even if I didn't know many of us yet.

[@MattBaume]

Oh that's so wonderful -- what a great mom.

[@gennybaratta2460]

E. Winter Tashlin omg I had a similar experience when I came out in 2018. That Christmas my mom bought me the Fun Home obc

[@bookbook9495]

The fact John Barrowman shows up twice is beautiful....

[@christopherramon-reid9841]

Jo was not a character on the pilot of “Facts Of Life”. I believe the character was “Cindy” played by Julie Ann Haddock

[@basementdwellercosplay]

As a member in the International Thespian Society, yes gay people come from drama club!

[@MattBaume]

Also to a lesser extent Debate Club

[@Lupin788]

@@MattBaume Don't forget Geography Club. ;1

[@gennybaratta2460]

Basement Dweller Cosplay omg same. I remember one of the first people I came out to was a drama club friend.

[@lillyrose1873]

Yes I'm really into acting but I've never been in a drama club 😥

[@BonJoviBeatlesLedZep]

"Yes he was, coach." "Really? ....You think he'd want to meet Cliffy?" God, Cheers is hilarious. I've always been more of a Frasier guy but Cheers was really good.

[@ninjabluefyre3815]

@句丹句句と 尺ヨ尸卞丹尺 What? Diane was the only sane character on the show!

[@ninjabluefyre3815]

As I watched more and more of Cheers, the more I realized why Frasier was given his own show. I'm just about ready to start watching Frasier soon.

[@BonJoviBeatlesLedZep]

@@ninjabluefyre3815 enjoy it, it's excellent!

[@RetroGirl1967]

@@ninjabluefyre3815 Do it. It's a fantastic, funny, witty show that I adore.

[@MJShochat723]

I Am What I Am is amazing! Also, great to see John Barrownan in those clips.

[@cosmicorder2]

Is this going to be how they would make a Cheers remake as the bar being a gay bar.

[@chavesa5]

Fuck get the Brooklyn 99 people behind it, I'd watch.

[@noahgoyette467]

here for it

[@killerfoxraspberryplays8903]

cosmicorder2 it be better then the original show the main cast are almost all assholes

[@tracyroweauthor]

I met Harvey in the 90s. I was working at Witt Thomas as the corporate receptionist and he had come in with some people for a pitch meeting. I told him that I didn't usually tell actors that I was a huge fan, but that I adored him. He was like "aww you're so sweet". He sat down with his friends and started reading a fan letter out loud when my phone rang so he stopped. After I hung up I was like you didn't have to stop reading and he said "oh, we were waiting for you" and he continued reading. Then he jumped up and handed me his camera and said excitedly "take our picture, take our picture!" He was adorable. I went to a book launch for his latest book last year and he was still just as charming. I still adore him.

[@rolandbaldwin]

Thanks Matt for that montage of I Am What I Am. Reminded me how much I love John Barrowman and Ginger Minj. Such great talent.

[@MattBaume]

I want to see them do a duet!!!

[@pilgrim1952]

I did think that "I am what I am" WAS the gay national anthem when I came out in 1984.

[@lynnevetter]

Bah! You had to show Harvey crying at the end. Now my makeup is smudged! lol

[@MattBaume]

I can't even imagine how moving that tribute must have been for him to see.

[@lynnevetter]

@@MattBaume right?! I was getting chills the whole time then, bam.. Tears. He must have just been drained that night.

[@lizardkingsliwinski4031]

Great video! Given me a lot of info about Harvey Fierstein I wasn't fully aware of. I always remembered his voice in The Simpsons as Karl and boy do I really wish that we got more of Karl

[@MarkLatimerRussell]

Okay. That episode of fraiser where their mother’s college comes out to Martin always makes me teary eyed. It’s not played for laughs it’s just two people who truly love someone talking candidly. I really really love that episode especially w John M being gay. I just love fraiser more than life that’s all I’m saying.

[@goober69er]

Frasier is my favorite sitcom for sure.

[@lilithhedwig5408]

@@goober69er I've never watched Frasier but this channel and the comments made me want to do it. Do you think it'd be enjoyable for a contemporary viewer with no previous exposure whatsoever to it? (I didn't even know it was a Cheers spin-off and I've never watched Cheers either)

[@goober69er]

@@lilithhedwig5408 I watched frasier before cheers and still very much enjoyed it. Although I like cheers frasier IMO was the better of the two and aside from a few jokes and references here and their the only big thing you miss out on from not seeing cheers first is frasiers wife Lilith who’s plays a bigger roll and she is a really good character and actress.

[@tylerrshaw88]

15:24. I love Gingers rendition of I Am What I Am, chills. And watching Harvey cry in the audience

[@deadpan_studios9697]

The Village People also did a song called "I Am What I Am" several years earlier in 1978. Its lyrics possess a similar powerful theme and was therefore just as wonderfully (and unapologetically) gay.

[@TheComedyGeek]

See, that's Coach's genius. He might be a space case most of the time but he told that father exactly what he needed to hear in order to get him where he needed to go. Imagine how amazing a coach that would make him. No wonder Sam is so devoted to him.

[@Toekneebob]

Thank you for exposing me to so much gay I never knew existed. I figure that's what this channel is about and I'm pretty grateful it exists.

[@jaggass]

To me Harvey Fierstein will always be Uncle Frank from Mrs Doubtfire.

[@kenthuang436]

You forgot to add Gloria Gaynor to the I Am What I Am montage. Her cover is an iconic recording of the song.

[@MattBaume]

I tried to find a good place to fit it in! But the tempo is quite different and I just couldn't find a good way to join it up in the edit without sounding super weird.

[@elsakristina2689]

Ah, Harvey Fierstein. The guy's a legend.

[@codenamekendall2780]

Norm as Edna......well now I've seen everything😂

[@domhnallhart6018]

I love that the last piece of that “I am what I am” montage was when they sung it for Harvey & he was moved to tears. I remember when they did that. I cried too when I saw that; I’m old enough that he was pretty much my only out & loud role model growing up. He did so much for us, & will always be a hero/icon

[@victreebel170]

Love these. Btw there was an episode of Gimme a Break from the very early 80s where the Dad (a cop) found out his partner was gay during a stakeout. They also had a cop that had undergone gender reassignment surgery in a different episode. Early 80s so I'm sure there's lots to discuss concerning those depictions!

[@raenedjadi7976]

So I was trying to eat lunch when I heard "seen here sending Trixie Mattel home" and I CHOKED ON MY FOOD AND ALMOST DIED.

[@WalrusPlatypus]

“Guess he was a little stylish after all” DEAD 😂😂😂 Very well set up

[@AGothNamedWednessday]

I really appreciate you, it's nice to know my queer history as a queer person myself, and I love watching your show, and how good your research is. You're like the Lindsay Ellis of queer culture, (which I hope you don't mind the comparison, she is my favorite KZbinr, and I like to reference her cause her level of research is insane), and honestly I could cry sometimes. Thank you

[@kirkreid743]

The Golden Girls had a couple of episodes that dealt with LGBT issues. Blanche's gay brother was featured in two episodes. And there was an episode that featured Dorothy's lesbian friend who had a crush on Rose.

[@kazoobard8589]

this is always my favorite series on youtube, it makes my day whenever you upload!

[@newwavepop]

my ex girlfriend had purple drapes in her bedroom,.. i wonder.

[@rosiemullen9100]

The end montage got me teary-eyed! You did a fantastic job! Great research, wicked charismatic and also heartfelt.

[@nardo218]

I remember this ep (in reruns). First time I met Harvey on tv, and I loved him right away. I was pretty young and I think this may have been the first out gay character I saw on tv. it meant a lot that Rebecca was his friend that that people were mostly kind to him. It set a preceent: gay people deserve friends, gay people are normal people, gay people have sexy gravelly voices.

[@thesylvan]

So excited to find your channel. I came for due to Maud search, but will be staying for all the episodes!

[@jasonc.parker4644]

To be fair, it seems like most of these examples were the straight characters acting like the majority of people at the time. And when people see themselves portrayed in an absurd way, they can take a step back and question whether or not they sound as absurd, which can help sway their opinion.

[@BatmanuelTheCactus]

I learned so much with this one! I always get something new from a culture cruise but I was very excited to learn about Harvey Fierstein and that song made me tear up. Wonderful work as ever, Matt! Thank you

[@sirusbones]

It's kinda funny to me seeing George Hearn in drag, considering what I've always known him for in his stage performances as Sweeney Todd. haha

[@MattBaume]

Yes it's just a LITTLE different

[@gennybaratta2460]

Vincent Bair lol same

[@mkkp1308]

Fun fact: George Hearn was also on an episode of "Cheers," as the manager of the retirement community Cliff's mom moves into.

[@Leftatalbuquerque]

Rebecca: Your voice sounds so much better! Mark: I stopped smoking!

[@lauriefields3523]

"I am what I am" always gives me chills. So powerful.

[@George-ni5ic]

Keep in mind that those early Cheers episodes were in the first half of the 80s. In that context, they were pretty progressive. Also, the network censors, advertisers, and local affiliates had to be placated. And the bit about Elaine wanting to convert the gay guy was set up to make her look pathetic for even considering that. The person wanting to convert was the butt of the joke.

[@DokkaChapman]

I could listen to Harvey's voice all day.

[@PaulAdler11]

Wow ok didn’t expect to be weeping openly at my job over this incredibly beautiful video but here we are

[@eppittanka9160]

Dude you know exactly what you're doing with these videos. Bravo. They are really well done

[@ItsSpecialHands]

Interestingly in one of Harvey's other cameo appearances he was actually supposed to be a semi recurring character but when he saw the next script for his character he thought it was poor and turned it down, his character Karl still physically appears in the Simpsons sometimes among Springfield's crowds

[@catsmom129]

As for the ending, sexual harassment was a running *gag* on Cheers 🤢🤮

[@quirkyblackenby]

You’re being silly. Gay people also come from art class😂

[@matthew8153]

I was a math nerd.

[@sakuram69]

I can absolutely confirm this lol Wasn't in drama club, but was required to play a role in class. I had the cosmic luck of getting stuck with Scooby Doo. I... I still have nightmares. 'Nam flashback quality nightmares. Totally ruined it all for me lol

[@k.h.production22669]

I was from both

[@life02ab]

Sooo Excellent - giving Harvey his due.

[@OctoberLotus]

“They met in drama club, which is where gay people come from.” I almost choked on my drink. That caught me off guard and made me laugh so hard.

[@chrisleneil]

Awww! It was great watching this video & seeing an actor I’m proud to have performed with many times in the compilation at the end! Yay, Josh - you made Harvey cry!

[@morgand.3809]

You really made me feel my age there. "You probably know him from Mrs Doubtfire, or Hairspray, or Mulan..." And I'm like, "What are you talking about? I know him from Torch Song Trilogy! You forgot about that one?... oh. I see. I'm old."

[@Chilcutte]

I AM IMPRESSED- i was only Vaguely aware of his work and never saw him interviewed when he was Young and Oh Wow. He was Stunning. That voice is iconic but Ive always know him as a Cheery older man seeing him in his youth he was a Work of art Not just his appearance I mean how driven and deadicated he was. Really just beautiful.

[@PDComicBookNetwork]

You said "Jo" in that Facts of Life clip, but the character in question was Cindy, one of the characters that were removed after season 1.

[@beatnickblanket]

And also it has nothing to do with her thinking she's gay and Mrs. Garret convincing her she isn't. She's a tomboy and it's other girls like Blair who make fun of her and suggest she's a lesbian, and Mrs. Garret teaches the lesson that A.being a masculine girl doesn't mean that you're gay and B.if you ARE gay it doesn't matter and is nothing to make fun of someone about.

[@MattBaume]

I did get the name wrong! But Mrs. Garret definitely talks her out of thinking she's a lesbian, telling her that she'll become interested in boys eventually.

[@chancetx]

When you think "The Facts of Life" and "lesbian," Jo is the first name that comes to mind

[@christyshultz6443]

@@MattBaume or she be asexual that was a thing even then to but many people didn't get asexual visibility either.and a good luck people assume that they were gay because they weren't attracted to the opposite sex. is that the earliest representational we asexuals were somewhere in the mid-1800s but no one really gave us visibility.

[@Trund27]

Harvey Fierstein is a LEGEND!!

[@jonathanbarrett4413]

Will you be able to do a video on “Touched By an Angel” episode “ The Violin Lesson” season 3 ep.13???......the angels help a family when the gay son come home and is discovered to be dying from the AIDS virus....very interesting and sad episode coming from this particular series

[@goncharov000]

every time one of these pops up in my subscription box i do a little happy dance 🥳 thanks for another great ep of culture cruise !!

[@MattBaume]

Aww thank you for the dance!

[@leesnider4363]

Cheers had a resident gay character who hung out at the bar and made cameo appearances on some of the late episodes. His name was Barry. They would ask him to rate the attractiveness of people whose pictures appeared in the newspaper.

[@hadawson72268]

I just love your show, it’s smart, funny, informative and eye opening. Thanks for your hard work in producing it - I remember seeing the film of Torch Song when I was a kid .. it was so moving. Anyway thanks !!

[@noampillischer2655]

What a wonderfully done episode! The montage at the end really got me.

[@MattBaume]

There are so many renditions of the song I wanted to include but couldn't fit in! Donna Summer's is particularly fun.

[@NillKitty]

The gay guy on Night Court was played by Jack Riley, aka Stu Pickles and the man with hands from the Country Crock commercials; as well as Mr. Carlin on the Bob Newhart Show.

[@olly-kai]

Damn Matt, made me cry with the "I am what I am" montage! Bravo!

[@joshuamason2316]

"Shown here sending Trixie Matel home" Hahahahahaha

[@em-cj2zw]

Your amazing insight and editing never ceases to impress me, Matt. Keep up the good work!

[@Taalsman]

I love the face of Frasier when Norm says "I know where to stick the Ottoman" because you know..

[@dylanmuenzberg8736]

“I mean ... I wish I had all those things” I cackled

[@sknywhtboy88]

In a season 2 episode of Single Parents this year a main character from the start of the show introduced his friends to his boyfriend and one character is like hey did I even know you dated dudes and someone goes yeah don't you remember he dated so and so, retconning that he had been out as bi/pan the whole time and not to mention polyam. Anyway, it really hit me watching your videos how far we've come that a sitom running today can do that with a main cast member like its no big deal.

[@positivelysimful1283]

Facts of Life-- that's not Jo, that's Cindy. Jo came in 2nd season-- and had a boyfriend (one of the reasons her mom sent her to boarding school).

[@gabby3036]

8:56 I have this very vivid memory of a scene from the Hercules TV show where Hercules is talking to Harvey Fierstein's character (Argus) and for the life of me I can't recall the line he's responding to but he says to Hercules something along the lines of, "You know I don't like the smell of fish." I was a kid and didn't really understand the correlation, but I knew what he meant in saying it. And for some reason, that moment is drilled into my brain for all eternity.

[@ashtraydekay6624]

Matt I love you in this outfit, I've been following you for a few years, but just went back to an older video, this outfit needs to make a comeback!!!!

[@WhiteRaven696]

@10:42 Ooh, that radiated dom top energy. Take me, Harvey! 😍

[@MaxEverywhereSystem]

I’m in high school, atm and next semester I’m taking a theatre class thing. I’m also bi. I expect to be 100% gay by the end of the year.

[@broddr]

vitalApocalypse [VA] -- just remember to order purple drapes! 😜

[@faeagenda7995]

I was in a production of La Cage when I'd known I was bi for a while and was but a wee baby trans. I teared up backstage during 'I Am What I Am' every. Single. Time.

[@novadeaf]

Love this series of videos. Great job, Matt. Also you should definitely check out episode 2 of season 1 of the 70s sit-com Alice for early LGBT representation (aired 1976).

[@deetlebee]

Decided I had enough time before a work meeting to watch this video, not expecting to cry at the end. "I am what I am" is so damn powerful. Now I gotta try to make my eyes not look red before my meeting.