mattbaume
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New video! Gay Bar Murder Mysteries, from Starsky & Hutch to Murder She Wrote
🕑 Added 2021-08-08 00:07:02 +0000 UTCGood evening!
I've got another new video coming out tomorrow! And as a $10+ backer, you get early ad-free access. Thanks so much for making videos like these possible! Here it is -- and if the embed doesn't work, use this link: https://vimeo.com/mattbaume/murdermystery
Gay Bar Murder Mysteries, from Starsky & Hutch to Murder She Wrote
In 1977, the popular cop show Starsky and Hutch tackled a murder mystery centered around a Los Angeles gay bar, complete with a depiction of queer life that’s surprisingly nuanced for the late 70s. Then, less than a decade later, an episode of Murder She Wrote featured a similar storyline, but this time the setting is … well, not quite so realistic. So why are they so different? Well, something big happened in American culture between these two episodes that completely transformed TV gay bars. And it involved a presidential election, a pie, and messages from space.
In the video, I mention that there's a bonus video about Starsky & Hutch available to watch right now -- I'll actually be posting that Sunday morning (tomorrow). Sorry it's not ready yet! Just putting the finishing touching in place.
As always, I'll also be hosting a livestream and then the public launch of the video this Sunday (August 8) starting at 11am. I hope you'll join us for that! We'll be chatting about Murder she Wrote, secret homoerotic characters on cop shows of the 70s, and bonkers televangelists.
And once again, thanks so much for making all of this stuff possible with your support here on Patreon. :D
Matt
Comments
Sim
at 3:27 you cut the pauses out to just focus on the dialog, did you do that to save time? I felt the 10 seconds of silence was important to the scene.
Matt Baume
Just doing my part as an old, old man!
Matt Baume
OMGOMGOMG that's hysterical, I had no idea! Another weird casting quirk is that Jeff Conway was of course in Grease with John Travolta, and Gabe Kaplan was on Welcome Back Kotter with Travolta. What does it mean? Absolutely nothing, just a weird coincidence.
QueBijoux
The comment you make about Jeff Conway's character on MSW having an unrealistic soap opera hiring experience is even funnier given that his co-star, Genie Francis, was a big soap opera star at that time (and still is on General Hospital). She would know better!
Jason Dugger
Love this one! Once again you serve the children the history they need!
Matt Baume
Aw thanks glad you liked it! :D
Matt Baume
The whole series is on YouTube! It holds up pretty well.
Matt Baume
Oh wow this is incredible. And I'm very impressed that they were able to find such high-quality copies of some of those shows!!!
Matt Baume
Whoooooops well I'm glad you enjoyed it! :D
Lin Kibblemom
Great video! I remember the series "Brothers" with great fondness, especially for Donald, the gay friend of the gay brother. He always had the wittiest lines. Would love to be able to see the show again! Very positive depictions of gay characters.
Fantastic video, Matt! Thank you for your amazing content.
Siddharth M
Not sure if this was intentional, but this post is unlocked for all patrons, not just for $10+ backers. I only realised after watching, sorry -.-' A great video as always!
Rachel
Very excited to see you talk some about Death in a Different Place - definitely one of my favorite Starsky and Hutch episodes that much of the fandom feels holds up well even today. And Charles Pierce being in it is just the cherry on the top. That episode spawned a short 5 min video project by a dear friend of mine last year, highlighting a bunch of 70s dramas and their queer characters (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pblx-civNxI). As always, an extremely engaging and interesting video! Thank you!
