Gayest Episode Ever

“Ovulation Day” (January 7, 1996) Mad About You was one of NBC’s major sitcoms in the 90s, but it hasn’t left a legacy the way many of its Must See TV mates have. We talk about why in this episode, which is actually the part one of a two-part crossover with the queer film podcast A Piece of Pie, where we’re also discussing Helen Hunt’s Oscar-winning turn in 1997’s As Good as It Gets. Listen to Drew and Glen guest on A Piece of Pie’s discussing of As Good as It Gets here. Subscribe to A Piece of Pie on Apple Podcasts and follow them on Twitter. Read the New York Times’ write-up on the history of the show. Read the Vulture piece on how Mad About You defied categorization. Watch Helen Hunt do PCP and then jump through a plate glass window in the after school special Desperate Lives (which is actually not the angel dust movie, which is called Angel Dusted and which is also entertaining). Buy the first issue of Drew and Glen’s new comic anthology, Beyond Sunset. Go shop at our TeePublic store! Follow: GEE on

“Single White Male” (January 7, 1995) Even if you were the kind of person who watched all of NBC’s Saturday night sitcoms back in the day, the following things may surprise you: 1) Empty Nest is a solid sitcom. 2) Empty Nest was a strong ratings performer that often beat the show it spun off from, The Golden Girls. 3) Empty Nest was still on in 1995. 4) When it uses the “f”-slur, it actually uses it appropriately — to mark someone as being heinously gauche. Watch the interview where Rita Moreno talks about hating the filming of the backdoor pilot to Empty Nest. Read the Slate article about how Drew’s tweet inspired an SNL sketch. Also read the Slate article about the history of the effeminate wrist. Buy the first issue of Drew and Glen’s new comic anthology, Beyond Sunset. Go shop at our TeePublic store! Follow: GEE on Facebook • GEE’s Facebook Group • GEE on Twitter • GEE on Instagram • Drew on Twitter • Glen on Twitter Listen: iTunes • Spotify • Stitcher • Google Play • Google Podcasts • Himalaya •

“Turkey in a Can” (November 24, 2013) Why did the fourth-season Thanksgiving episode of Bob’s Burgers make some people think Bob Belcher is bisexual? In short, it’s a single line — “I’m mostly straight” — but the real answer is a more complicated one that has to do with the show’s queer sensibility, its overall gentle nature and the fact that Bob is a TV patriarch who operates differently than Homer Simpson and Peter Griffin. Who's the real sloppy bear? Read the Mary Sue’s piece on Bob Belcher being a bi icon, which is probably the best-written argument in favor of this. Go shop at our TeePublic store! Follow: GEE on Facebook • GEE’s Facebook Group • GEE on Twitter • GEE on Instagram • Drew on Twitter • Glen on Twitter Listen: iTunes • Spotify • Stitcher • Google Play • Google Podcasts • Himalaya • TuneIn And yes, we do have an official website! We even have episode transcripts courtesy of Sarah Neal. Our logo was designed by Rob Wilson. This episode’s art was designed by Ian O’Phelan. This episode wa

“The Play’s the Thing” (November 17, 1992) The big joke with Full House never did a gay episode despite being a show about three men cohabitating and coparenting in San Francisco. However, the fifth season introduced Derek (Blake McIver Ewing), a new friend for Michelle who’s well-mannered, soft-spoken and really good at showtunes. We’d argue that Derek, while young, still comes off as a queer-coded character, and the fact the actor himself would later come out makes the performance all the more interesting. Submit your pitch for issue two of Beyond Sunset here. Also buy the first issue of Beyond Sunset. Watch the unaired Full House pilot with John Posey playing the Bob Saget role Watch a pre-Full House Bob Saget on the CBS Morning Show Watch Lori Loughlin play Black Canary on the WB Birds of Prey before her Full House co-star Jurnee Smollett played her in the Birds of Prey movie The history of “Yankee Doodle,” via Atlas Obscura Go shop at our TeePublic store! Follow: GEE on Facebook • GEE’s Facebook Group

“Portrait of a Lackey on Fire” (November 21, 2021) Either we traveled to the future or the showrunner of The Simpsons reached out and asked us if we want to preview a new Smithers-centric episode airing this Sunday. Maybe both? This new episode happens to be written by Rob LaZebnik (a straight) and Johnny LaZebnik (his son, a gay), and we spoke with both of them about how they write together, what it’s like growing up gay in the shadow of Smithers and what it means that Helen Lovejoy is down with the gays.  Follow Rob and Johnny on Twitter! Watch “Smithers & Beyond: Every LGBT Joke on The Simpsons” if you haven’t already and you have 2.5 hours to kill. And if we’re talking about stuff we did, listen to the “Glen Writes a Golden Girls” episode. Also listen to the story about how Gayest Episode Ever helped get Tony Rodriguez cast as the  new Julio on The Simpsons. We are extra special stoked on the art for this episode, which if you’re not seeing on your podcast app of choice you should check out on the m

“The New Girl, Part One” and “The New Girl, Part Two” (November 19 and 26, 1980) True, the first episode of The Facts of Life is the one that comes closest to addressing LGBT issues, but so much of Jo and Blair’s relationship treads close that we are returning to discuss Nancy McKeon’s two-part introduction to the show. Librarian and Facts of Life scholar Erin Fletcher joins us to discuss the many layers to Jo and many lines that, upon second thought, seem like they might be double entendres. Listen to our first Facts of Life episode, “Blair Warner Is a Homophobe” Read The L Chat, a message board charting a longstanding history of queer women shipping Jo and Blair Watch Facts of Life co-creators Dick Clair and Jenna McMahon playing hetero husband and wife on The Ed Sullivan Show Watch Sara Gilbert tell Lisa Whelchel on The Talk that yep, Jo was gay “Literally the gayest ship that has ever existed” but also this Jo/Blair montage set to “Good for Me” by Amy Grant “the story inside my head of how jo and blai

“Michelangelo Meets Mondo Gecko” (September 14, 1991) It’s finally here: The Cartoons That Made Us Gay, our new Patreon-exclusive bonus podcast, focused on queer readings of the cartoons of our youth. While this series will comprise ten episodes only available on our Patreon feed, we’re putting the first part of the first episode on the main feed to show off what we’re doing.  To listen to the full version of this episode, all you need to do is pledge $1 a month on Patreon and subscribe to the Patreon-only feed for fancy people in your podcast app of choice. It’s easy! You should do it! But we’re biased! This episode focuses on the 1987 run of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles — specifically “Michelangelo Meets Mondo Gecko,” which is all about Mike being drawn to the man (or man-gecko) of his dreams, and we couldn't think of a weirder way to kick off this new podcast project. In doing this episode, we hoped to make this cartoon series accessible even for people who have never watched the show, but let us know how

The Paul Lynde Halloween Special (October 29, 1976) It’s the first TableCakes crossover! But is Gayest Episode Ever making an appearance on Monday Afternoon Monday or vice versa? Who cares! The point is that Sam Pancake — actor, comedian and host of MAM — is discussing The Paul Lynde Halloween Special with Drew and Glen in all its vintage bonkers badness. If there is one significant difference in this episode, it’s probably that it’s light on clips because 1) the jokes aren’t great and 2) Sam does a good enough impression of Paul Lynde that he can spare you from having to listen to the original audio. Watch this special right now on YouTube, if you want to for some weird reason. Subscribe to Monday Afternoon Monday and, in particular, listen to Drew’s episode about the Valerie Harper made-for-TV shocker Don’t Go to Sleep. Also the episode with Drew “Other Drew” Droege is great. Listen to Deep Cuts & Superficial Wounds’ three-hour all-music, no-talk Halloween special Listen to the Singing Mountain H

“Nightmare on Oak Street” (November 23, 1987) We had to break format to do it, but at long last, we are talking about The Hogan Family… a.k.a. Valerie, a.k.a. Valerie’s Family. And yes the history of how this one sitcom had three different names is explained, but more to the point we ask why a show that killed off its title character would choose to confront its young viewers just a few weeks later with zombie horror — and worst of all, the Zombie Sandy Duncan. The Associates, the lawyer sitcom starring Martin Short and created by Hogan Family creator Charlie Hauck is, after all, available on YouTube. Jaime Weinman’s 2008 Maclean’s piece on why Valerie Harper left the show provided many details in my recapping on the incident. Buy the first issue of Drew and Glen’s new comic anthology, Beyond Sunset. Go shop at our TeePublic store! Follow: GEE on Facebook • GEE’s Facebook Group • GEE on Twitter • GEE on Instagram • Drew on Twitter • Glen on Twitter Listen: iTunes • Spotify • Stitcher • Google Play • Goo

“PIlot” (1993) This unsold pilot, featuring JoBeth Williams as an aging actress in 1930s Hollywood, represents writer Joe Keenan’s attempt at selling NBC a TV series with a gay sensibility back in 1993. And while Gloria Vane never made it to air, its legacy lives on in Frasier, as Keenan joined the Frasier writers’ room and ended up penning some of the series queerest and most farcical episodes. Even without that Frasier connection, however, Gloria Vane would still merit its own very special episode, because it’s very funny and very queer. Watch the Gloria Vane pilot on YouTube. Watch Dear Diary, the unsold Bebe Neuwirth pilot that won an Oscar. Buy the first issue of Drew and Glen’s new comic anthology, Beyond Sunset. Go shop at our TeePublic store! Follow: GEE on Facebook • GEE’s Facebook Group • GEE on Twitter • GEE on Instagram • Drew on Twitter • Glen on Twitter Listen: iTunes • Spotify • Stitcher • Google Play • Google Podcasts • Himalaya • TuneIn And yes, we do have an official website! We even have ep

“The Love Lesson” (Jan. 22, 1980) Heads up: The gender politics in this one are all fucked up, and a lie results in a character getting misgendered in a way that won’t be funny to every listener. However, it’s not the whole of the episode. When Mr. Furley catches Jack necking with a woman, Jack lies and says this woman is actually a man. Naturally, Mr. Furley offers to teach Jack how to be heterosexual. Listen to the What a Cartoon episode on Laverne and Shirley in the Army and get a nice primer on the extended Happy Days universe. Listen to our previous Three’s Company episode. Listen to an NPR piece on Jim Sullivan’s UFO. Smart Mouth is back! Listen to it! Monday Afternoon Movie is also back! Listen to it! Also Singing Mountain is ending! Listen to it! Support us on Patreon! Go shop at our TeePublic store! Follow: GEE on Facebook • GEE’s Facebook Group • GEE on Twitter • GEE on Instagram • Drew on Twitter • Glen on Twitter Listen: iTunes • Spotify • Stitcher • Google Play • Google Podcasts • Himal

“Out With Dad” (February 10, 2000) It’s been far too long since we did a Frasier episode, and so we’re returning with a good one, in which Martin (John Mahoney) plays gay and pretends that Niles (David Hyde Pierce) is his boyfriend. It’s a great farce, and as special guest Anthony Oliveira points out, it’s one of the best Joe Keenan-penned episodes of the show. Beyond Sunset is live! Buy issue one here! Listen to Anthony’s Patreon podcast, The Devil’s Party. Watch the pilot for Gloria Vane, a Joe Keenan script that didn’t go to series but did result in him writing for Frasier and also in Gil Chesterton and Bebe Glazer becoming characters on the show. What the fuck is Einstein on the Beach? Previous Frasier episodes: Frasier’s Boss Is Gay Frasier Has a Gay Dream Frasier Dates a Gay Guy Smart Mouth is back! Listen to it! Monday Afternoon Movie is also back! Listen to it! Also Singing Mountain is ending! Listen to it! Watch Drew’s video compilation of every LGBT joke ever on the history of The Simpsons. B

EDIT: Apologies for the original file cutting off early. It has since been fixed. “Pat Connects With Her Fans” (August 26, 2021) The Other Two is not a gay show, necessarily, but one of the two titular characters is gay, and through him this sitcom explores aspects of gay life that most shows don’t. Its current season has Cary (Drew Tarver) explore what kind of gay man he wants to be, and this episode in particular does that through a wacky sitcom misunderstanding that’s both expertly crafted and that could only work in a gay context. We love it, and we think you should watch this show. Help us decide which series we’ll be covering for our new Patreon-exlucsive podcast, The Cartoons That Made Us Gay.  Read the Buzzfeed article about this episode. Watch the SNL sketch “Do It on My Twin Bed,” written by Chris Kelly Sarah Schneider. “He’s gay / he’s blind” Watch Drew’s video compilation of every LGBT joke ever on the history of The Simpsons. Buy Glen’s movie, Being Frank. Support us on Patreon! Go shop at our

(“The Beard,” February 9, 1995) And… we’re back. Welcome to season five of Gayest Episode Ever, which is a lot like the previous seasons but with a few streamlining improvements. Our first episode looks at an Elaine-centric Seinfeld in which it’s supposed that a straight woman can cure a gay man if she tries hard enough and Melrose Place is a show that heterosexual men watch only in secret. Listen to our previous Seinfeld episodes: Susan’s Dad Had an Affair With John Cheever and Jerry and George Aren’t Gay, Not That There’s Anything Wrong With That  Watch Drew’s video compilation of every LGBT joke ever on the history of The Simpsons. Buy Glen’s movie, Being Frank. Support us on Patreon! Go shop at our TeePublic store! Follow: GEE on Facebook • GEE’s Facebook Group • GEE on Twitter • GEE on Instagram •  Drew on Twitter • Glen on Twitter Listen: iTunes • Spotify • Stitcher • Google Play • Google Podcasts • Himalaya • TuneIn And yes, we do have an official website! We even have episode transcripts co

“Quest for He-Man” (October 5, 1983) A thousand gay nerds debating on a thousand twitter threads could come up with any number of candidates for the gayest episode ever of He-Man and the Masters of the Universe, but the one we’re talking about with Talking Simpsons co-host Henry Gilbert is the one where our hero travels through a swirling rainbow hole to an alternate dimension ruled by a gay-seeming bunny-man who loads a phallic rocket full of his precious, life-giving fluid, and no, we’re not making any of that up. Follow Henry on Twitter, and listen to Talking Simpsons, What a Cartoon and his show’s various Patreon-only projects. Listen to our “Glen Writes a Golden Girls” episode, featuring Ted Biaselli, executive producer of Masters of the Universe: Revelation. Also listen to our “Cartoons That Made Us Gay” episode, also featuring Ted. Listen to episodes of Monday Afternoon Movie. Read Drew's Shelley Long essay. Read the Men’s Health article “Who’s Afraid of a Gay He-Man?” Read about the Bo Derek Daz

”Gone But Not Forgotten” (February 16, 1987) Surprise! We’re back! And we brought Fraggles with us! In the final season of Fraggle Rock, the episode “Gone But Not Forgotten” features Wembley making a new friend in Mudwell the Mudbunny, who knows he will soon die. Mudwell’s passing and Wembley’s grief serve as not only a general life lesson for young viewers but also a parallel for the life of Richard Hunt, the openly gay Mupetteer who voices Mudwell, who lost his own partner to AIDS not long before this episode was filmed and who would die as a result of AIDS not long after. Matt Baume, queer sailor of the pop culture seas, joins us to discuss how Fraggle Rock goes deeper than you might expect. Watch Matt’s videos Richard Hunt, the gay man behind the Muppets Star Trek's First Gay Ship-Mates? The Star-Crossed Romance of Garak & Bashir What Makes Disney Villains So Gay? Rocko’s Modern Life: Cartoons Coming Out of the Closet Plus there’s more on his YouTube channel and even more on his Patreon Also watch

“There’s Something About Marrying” (February 20, 2005) Gayest Episode Ever would not exist without The Simpsons — mostly because we stole Talking Simpsons’ podcast format and applied it to LGBT episodes of classic sitcoms, and Talking Simpsons would not exist without The Simpsons. But cultural and personal importance aside, there comes a time to point out when a thing you love screws up, and this episode — the one that should be about Marge disapproving about Patty marrying a woman but ends up being a nasty little parable about transphobia — is not the series’ best moment, despite promising bits in the first two acts. We’ve brought in both hosts of the Totally Trans podcast — Ada-Rhodes Short and Henry Giardina — to discuss why Marge really sucks and why the episode’s conclusion is hard for some trans folks to watch even today. Listen to some of Henry and Ada-Rhodes’ favorite episodes of Totally Trans: Spuds MacKenzie Wolverine The Dean from Community Hamlet Ferris Bueller Holly Golightly Read the New

“Family Gay” (March 8, 2009) Is it anticlimactic to say that this episode of Family Guy is not as terrible as you might expect? It concerns Peter being injected with the gay gene and becoming temporarily gay, and for the Seth MacFarlane of it all, this one gets some stuff right, lands a few decent jokes, biffs some bad ones and sometimes sacrifices laughs altogether to shock, horrify or offend. In short, it’s typical Family Guy. Listen to Drew and Glen on You’re Making It Worse. Listen to the summer/pride episode of Deep Cuts and Superficial Wounds, Drew’s 80s music podcast.  Read the New York Times article “The Secret History of Leviticus” — the "exception that proves the rule" article about the old testament outlawing homosexuality. Watch Drew’s video compilation of every LGBT joke ever on the history of The Simpsons. Buy Glen’s movie, Being Frank. Support us on Patreon! Follow: GEE on Facebook • GEE’s Facebook Group • GEE on Twitter • GEE on Instagram • Drew on Twitter • Glen on Twitter Listen: iTune

“Woman Gets Plastered, Star Gets Even” (January 23, 1997) There was a time when two different networks were trying to push Téa Leoni as a sitcom star. The Naked Truth’s three seasons spanned ABC and NBC, and while it didn’t launch Leoni to TV success at this point in her career, Glen and Drew share a love of all things Téa with our guest, comedian H. Alan Scott. This episode is one of the more forgettable gay sitcom episodes sure, but there’s something to learn from the sitcoms that manage to make LGBT themes seem boring and banal. Right? Listen to H. Alan’s podcast, You’re Making It Worse. Watch Drew’s video compilation of every LGBT joke ever on the history of The Simpsons. Buy Glen’s movie, Being Frank. Support us on Patreon! Follow: GEE on Facebook • GEE’s Facebook Group • GEE on Twitter • GEE on Instagram •  Drew on Twitter • Glen on Twitter Listen: iTunes • Spotify • Stitcher • Google Play • Google Podcasts • Himalaya • TuneIn The episode’s outro track is “Follow Me” by Giusy Dej, which is not

“Chick Like Me” (January 31, 1997) Rider Strong’s Shawn Hunter is not canonically a trans character, but there is a season-four episode of Boy Meets World that gives you all the evidence you’d need to conclude that Shawn might be. For this extra-long episode — possibly our longest! — we are joined by Faati the Street, who explains why this one episode speaks volumes about the trans experience, even if it was not the intention of anyone involved in the episode’s creation. Read Faati’s Twitter thread “The Silencing of the Shrew.” Also read their promised list of Doom Patrol trigger warnings. Read Trina McGee’s 1999 L.A. Times column on Shawn and Angela’s interracial relationship. Listen to Monday Afternoon Movie’s episode about the Linda Blair TV movie Stranger in Our House. Listen to the Talking Simpsons episode that explains the Julia Sweeney/Dr. Hibbert connection. The “Snake” anti-drug PSA that Glen mentions. Samus Aran from Metroid is a trans woman. Watch Drew’s video compilation of every LGBT joke e