Up on the hilltop where the vultures perch, that's where I'm gonna build my church

[judecorp]

I took advantage of my in-laws' satellite dish to watch several hours of Game Show Network, much to my MIL's dismay. I do believe her question was, "Why on earth are you watching those old game shows?" but I just can't help it - 1970s game shows are like crack to me. I could watch hours of Match Game 78 if it happened to be on. Thankfully we don't have GSN at home.

But dear gods, Charles Nelson Reilly was one fruity man. And Jm J Bullock on Hollywood Squares, too. They are quite possibly the two gayest specimins I have ever seen!

It's amazing to me how far we've come as a society, even though I'm always ranting about everything. To think that men like CNR and JJB, not to mention Liberace, could exist as gay icons but in this sort of pseudo-secret to the American viewing public. Nowadays at least we have the ability to complain about the portrayal of queer characters on television - that there are some to even discuss is progress... let alone enough to compare and contrast.

But I tell ya, Will and Jack, Brian and Justin, that boy on Dawson's Creek... they ain't got nothing on Charles Nelson Reilly in his big 70s sunglasses and his frickin' /ascot/.

Comments

[jucifer.livejournal.com]

OMG> I LOVED Charles Nelson Riley!!!
AND don't forget Paul Lynde. Paul Lynde is <<33! :)

[jucifer.livejournal.com]

"Reilly" sorry. i got excited.

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

It's okay, I totally understand. Richard Dawson was quite the character, too.

I am such a sucker for those 70s game shows. I CAN'T STOP!!

[cfred.livejournal.com]

Richard Dawson was quite the character but still stayed the...ladies' man, shall we say.

And then there was Mr. Humphries on the British sitcom "Are You Being Served," which also dates back to the 1970s. I don't know that they ever explicitly said that the character was, but the overtones and references were there.

As for game shows, I'm a junkie in general. I'll take them in any vintage possible, but I also enjoy going back to even the old 1950s game shows.

[prettyvacantone.livejournal.com]

Brian and Justin *sob sob sob*

I just finished watching the last episode ever. :-x Obviously, no spoilers, but still. :( :( :(

[kumquat23.livejournal.com]

Big Bucks and a spin....big bucks, no whammies....and STOP!

[sacharine.livejournal.com]

man, I LOVE match game '78. CNR and richard dawson are hilarious.

[gimmeapony.livejournal.com]

I got two words for you: Little Richard. Almost all of his songs were about cross-dressers and gay sex and yet mothers let their little white daughters buy his records. Awesome.

[buckeyebrain.livejournal.com]

What Would CNR Do? (http://www.t-shirt-town.com/browseproducts/Retro-T-Shirt--What-Would-Charles-Nelson-Reilly-Do-.HTML)

[folkyboy.livejournal.com]

yeah i am not a big gameshow fan but i do love me some Dawson's Creek :D

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

Richard Dawson was SUCH a playa on Family Feud, always kissing all of those women and being totally inappropriate. I am always amazed that those things were acceptible on television!

And I'm with you on Mr. Humphries. And on being a game show fan. I'll watch pretty much ANY game show.

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

I have to wait until it comes out on DVD! *sob*

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

I love Peter Tamarkin!

What about, "Joker! Joker! And $50."

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

Some of those women were pretty effing funny, too. Not to mention those wacky 70s contestants and those ridiculous Buicks they were always giving away.

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

Yeah, he was a totally fruity crazy man! (Though I can't say I know any of his songs.)

People are so weird.

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

Ha ha ha, that's hysterical!

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

I've never really watched Dawson's Creek. I should rent the DVDs or something... but I'd probably just want to bust into the TV and beat up Katie Holmes.

[prettyvacantone.livejournal.com]

I know. That's why I was careful to not say anything. I'm just so depressed it's over! I wish I would've waited til it was out on DVD so it wouldn't be over forever for me yet. I'm pathetic. (I totally cried.)

[cfred.livejournal.com]

You saying he was a little bit Tutti Frutti? :)

It's all about being subtle. Frankie Goes to Hollywood, "Relax"? Nobody in our house (I was barely a teen when it came out) got the content, so it was played without restraint. Prince, "Erotic City"? One spin on the turntable and it was banned from the house.

[cfred.livejournal.com]

Same here. I love watching BBC on the weekend for the game shows. "Enemy Within" has a nifty element of evil in it (one contestant of the five was given all of the answers in advance; the others have to figure out who while they're answering questions).

And I understand Bob Barker's stand on principles (he doesn't want the episodes where furs were given away, back in the day, to air), but I lament that he's tied up the entire The Price Is Right library, including the 1950s Bill Cullen episodes where they gave away, among other things, an island.

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

Don't cry! Come over when I get the DVDs and watch it all over again, like we did with MSCL.

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

Really? They gave away an island??!?!

[cfred.livejournal.com]

Yes! According to Wikipedia, it was in the St. Lawrence Seaway. I don't remember seeing where it was, but I remember an episode where it came up. It seems like it might have been a contest prize for mail-in entries, to where they mentioned it for several weeks running.

[sunshyne72.livejournal.com]

I couldn't agree more... re: CNR or game shows=crack=me and jude apparentely. I thought I was the only one.

I have the GSN but I don't even flip to that channel... I'm afraid I'd never leave. :)

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

I don't have pay cable, so I'm immune to the temptation... but put me in front of a box with cable and nothing to do and I will zone out to the old game shows all freaking day.

It's a menace! :)

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

Wow, that's really fascinating. Thanks for that bit of trivia!