I was all ready to be all cynical and bitchy about this … it concerns me how many of my posts start like that … anywho, i was pleasantly surprised when a short way into this new bbc2 show had me laughing out loud.
The series, created by Jonathan Harvey of ‘GimmieGimmieGimmie’ is adult Simon Doonan, a ‘slightly fey window dresser in New York,’ reminiscing about his youth in urban Reading, in the 90s – a painful experience, i’m sure.
The most notable cast members are Meera Syal, her of Umi from the ‘Kumars at no.42′; and Olivia Colman, her of ‘Mitchell and Webb’ and ‘Peep Show’ fame. Syal plays the blind lodger, known as Auntie Hailey, and does a very convincing extract from the exorcist when she’s being weaned off amphetamines by the mum (Colman), who has a very convincing Reading accent, which she must’ve been working on for ages.
The first episode is about how Simon got the ‘varse’ he’s using in a window display in NY – Aunt Hailey went to a health guru who convinced her only to eat nuts and berries. Hailey’s conviction got mother doonan in the mood to cure her alcoholism. Simon catches Hailey eating McDonalds and is paid £30 to keep quiet, just enough to buy a vase he’s fallen in love with…thats about it.
So whilst the plot wasn’t the strongest in the world, the jokes were actually pretty good – Simon’s (white) sister getting her hair done like Heather Small (no relation i’m afraid) from MPeople so she could chat up the local ghetto kids was pretty good, and the spice girls music to accompany mother doonan and Simon’s friend’s mother fighting over a dress, in a boxing ring, with blind Meera selling popcorn was a funny, if weird image.
I’d also like to point out how 10 years or ago, or even 5, there would’ve been huge tabloid headlines about young gay (or at least comfortable playing gay) actors being typecast in roles such as Simon or Kylie (aka Kyle). I think its a great move forwards that roles such as those, and Justin from ‘Ugly Betty’ for example are accepted and applauded. Well done young gays.
Finally, huge amounts of credit goes to Luke Ward-Wilkinson and Layton Williams who had to dress up in 90s gay clothes for the roles, bodywarmers anyone? and Simon’s character had curtains…..bad memories, very bad.
So yes, well done, looking forward to the rest of the series.
NB. have just discovered that Kylie and Dannii Minogue recorded ‘The Winner Takes it All’ for the theme tune <3
Can I just say that isn’t Reading I live there unfortunatly… but love the show its a big plateful of stilton!! xxx
I don’t kno where it was filmed, but its a little bit disappointing to see a 21st Century pub used in a scene of 1990s urbia
I’m guessing the budget wasn’t too fantastical, but we shall just have to wait for the motion picture
also, adult Simon Doonan is pretty, in a pointy sort of way
yeah i’d touch it lol
I found him unlikeable – somone who finds themself too ‘different’ and ‘unique’ but lacking the talent of Leigh Bowery or the wit of Oscar Wilde. It’s a shame Jonathan Harvey couldn’t get some better put downs as they made the leads look foolish. The mother saved that show. At the end I wanted Doonan to be hit by a bus. (also wasn’t keen on the theft of jokes from the internet, methinks JH is out of touch)
oh well I’ll watch next week and we shall see…. ….also did anyone notice that there was a new pop song every minute? I want Jolene by sophie EB and the feem toon!
I can’t believe anyone has anything good to say about that piece of **** program.
I’d have thought that after the amazing QaF we would be seeing less of these Stereotype camp queers. FFS this kind of b*ll*cks belongs with John Inman in ‘Are you Being Served’ in the ’70′s.
It might have got away with some kind of camp factor amusement if it hadn’t been scripted from the Straight Man’s Monster Gay joke Book, if the producer had shown any comprehension of the concept of continuity and if the poor kid in the lead role didn’t look so embarrassed at having to act such poorly written drivel.
Not just an opportunity missed but actually a backward step in showing Gay people on TV.
hooray for strong views
I agree that ‘Queer as Folk’ did buck the trend of stereotypical camp gays on telly, and was one of the first to portray gays as normal people. But having said that, a lot of gays are camp, and judging by what the character of adult simon doonan was wearing, he was one hell of a camp child!
With regards to the jokes, i would’ve been upset if there weren’t any gay jokes in a sitcom centred around the antics of a gay boy, but ‘mum watch out for your hair extensions, they’re fabulous’ was admittedly a bit far for me.
Backwards step? or wider stage for interpretation?