Oct 2nd, 2003
“It’s All Relative” Premieres
Just about everyone I run into asks me what I think of the new show, It’s All Relative, where a college-aged daughter has two gay dads. After just one episode, it’s too early to judge. But of course, I have a few thoughts.
Advocate Magazine says the show is “groundbreaking.”
My other-dad says, “It’s just a sitcom.”
Despite Russ’s pre-show judgment, he and Dad had me over for the series premiere. For this special event, the TV joined us at the dinner table. And you know what? We laughed.
For once I didn’t have to pretend a couple of sitcom parents were gay. Remember “My Two Dads” and “Kate and Allie?” I’m not the only child of the 80s with gay parents who convinced myself the parents on those shows were using “roommate” as a code word.
For the pilot at least, the writers did their homework. Most children of queer parents have faced situations where they had to say (or wished they could have said) something along the lines of the daughter’s words when homophobic insults were directed at her dads: “Excuse me, but you are talking about my PARENTS!”
After the show Dad brought out a dessert he whipped up: halved pears baked in butter and cream, sprinkled with cinnamon and sugar. (I don’t think it’s a stretch to say I think more gay dads than straight dads have mastered the art of cooking with fruit.) My parents and I began dreaming up potential directions for the show that we think could make it soar or bomb. We know there are potential pit falls if any show leans too much on stereotypes or if it goes the opposite direction and becomes a weekly public service announcement.
As the show develops, will the portrayal of this gay-dad family seem authentic, or will it seem stereotypical? When I looked down at my dessert I chuckled, realizing there are times when it’s not so easy to tell the difference.
I completely agree with your remark about cooking with fruit! My dads seem to have mastered the art of grape pie!