A very gay Thanksgiving on "The Class"
Lance Bass considers himself be a S.A.G. (Straight Acting Gay) so after watching tonight's episode of CBS' "The Class," I would have to say that Perry Pearl (Sam Harris) is a G.A.S. (Gay Acting Straight).
I want to be offended by all the laughs that are had at the expense of this flamoyantly funny character who is married with a child (who he named Oprah Liza Pearl) but who everyone seems to think is gay. (I wonder why?) I want to be offended because it's just such a cheap joke and besides, it is cruel to laugh at the flamboyant kid on the playground and all of that. But darn it, I just can't help but howl with laughter each week.
I guess I'm kinda cheap. But I feel real bad about it. Well, sorta bad about it.
This week, Perry and his wife Holly Ellenbogen-Pearl (Lucy Punch) are hosting Thanksgiving dinner for her parents and Polly's high school ex-boyfriend Kyle (Sean MaGuire) who comes with HIS boyfriend Aaron (Cristian de la Fuente). Perry greets the men and proudly announces: "I made two different turkeys, four pies, and this sweater didn't knit ITSELF!" Polly's parents then show up and Kyle says to Aaron: "You know how they say all women marry their fathers?" And in walks her prissy father Robert Michael Morris, the gayest straight man since, well, Perry Pearl.
The two men are in charge of cooking Thanksgiving dinner. Says Perry to the boys: "He's a doll, I love him. But just between you and me, could he BE any gayer?" Later, the dad says to the boys: "Is it just me or is Perry a little light in the loafers?"
Obviously the show can get away with this because the people laughing behind Perry's back are the two gay men themselves who just can't stop snickering. When Holly sees them to the door and says, "I hope it wasn't awkward for you guys - you know, being the only gay people [at dinner]."
Replies Kyle: "You know, it didn't feel that way."
Good grief, Sam Harris is so damned funny as Perry, just so happy to be Perry. I do wonder where the show is going to go with his character though. Even I am going to start to feel conflicted about laughing at him (I hope!) but probably not for at least the rest of this season!
Greg Hernandez has covered the entertainment industry for the Daily
News since 2001. He's considered a bit odd by some for his obsession
with box office numbers, has been known to camp out near the kitchen
at premieres for first crack at the hors d'oeurves, and Greg's never
seen a red carpet he didn't want to stroll down.
Comments
Yes, I too am conflicted about laughing at these two, but I have actually met men like this. They are either not gay or don't know they are gay. As for me, I'm going to continue enjoying the characters, as that's just what they are!
Posted by: Russ Harding | November 21, 2006 08:00 AM