Since there was a lot of fuss about Glee doing Rocky Horror and the episode didn’t mesh with my impression of what Rocky Horror was all about, I decided it’s time to hide behind the sofa and watch it from a safe distance. Even in adulthood, the impression that the film (and the musical that was its root I was now aware of) were dark and evil beyond that of the vampire movies and shows that fill my Tivo. Sometimes there is just no shaking that Catholic upbringing. While I credit Catholic school with the best education I ever received, it lacks in many other areas. But that is another story.

So on Halloween night I watched The Rocky Horror Picture Show. It was probably the campiest, craziest, weirdest, freak show I have ever seen and it was just brilliant. BRILLIANT. And even more brilliant thinking that something like that was produced in the 1970s and made it into theaters at all. And to this day, 35 years later it is still playing. Amazing.

I totally credit Glee for turning me on to this pop and queer culture gem that I’ve kept at a safe distance for too long. I re-watched the Glee Rocky Horror episode and it made a completely different impression on me. I get it now and will rank it up there with some of Glee’s best episodes. I wouldn’t have bothered with it if it weren’t for something Shue said — that Rocky Horror is about people being different, outcasts trying to fit in and find someplace where they can just be. The second time I watched the episode I had a “wow – if only I could roll the clock back” moment when he said that so that I could’ve sneaked into The Rocky Horror Picture show when I was a teenager.

I wasn’t a big fan of his from Beverly Hills 90210 days, but he’s become a buff, tattooed hunk of a 30something man that has caused me to go ohhh…

While Glee has dealt with tough and unpleasant issues in the past, it always left you with a good feeling at the end of an episode, but that was not the case with the season premier. I was the most shocked with Will jumping on Sue’s bandwaggon to bully Bieste. He did apologize in the end, but how can one really every completely forget or forgive? Certainly Bieste will not forget, nor will I. Shue, your cuteness factor will only get you so far.

The next episode did no better with everyone purposely going to the dentist to get gassed so they could have Britney Spears hallucinations. Only with the third episode did I find some redemption, although Finn seeing Jesus in a grilled cheese sandwich was a bit over the top (and too Jason Stackhouse dumb for the character). And while I agree that a specific religion should not be taught in school, I do believe that there should be some medium for kids to learn about different forms of spirituality, religions and belief systems to determine what is a good fit for them. For that reason, that episode did end on an upswing.

Really? How could anyone pass on an action series starring Craig Horner.

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Well, I am hooked. It was kind of odd to start with, but the second I saw Matthew Morrison lying shirtless in bed things started to look up. As the first episode unfolded it began to shed light on things long since buried. I found that I could identify with every one of the glee club members. I was the misfit, the fat kid, the kid who marched to the beat of a drum that no one else could hear, the queer, the invisible one — only to be recognized when being the butt of a joke. By the end of the episode I was in tears. If there would’ve been a “Glee” club when I was in high school things could have been so different, but those days were so different.

I really shouldn’t be though as One Life to Live was also the show that brought a little known kid called Ryan Phillippe from out of nowhere to play gay teen Billy Douglas way back in the days when I would freak if I missed even a minute of “my shows.”

I was thrilled to see how the alphabet network let the scene play out, although I was a bit disappointed when they pulled back to the candle and faded. I watch too much cable I guess. But the real treat was the next episode today when Kyle and Oliver woke up and were interrupted by Roxie who barged in and thought nothing of two hot, naked men in bed on daytime TV. Hell, she wanted to join them! Who wouldn’t.

The genius that is Russell T. Davies (who also brought us the ground-breaking Queer As Folk) and intrepid actor David Tennant are credited with reimagining the previously campy Doctor Who for a contemporary world. Both men have chosen to leave the series behind as it morphs into yet another incarnation.

David brought something special to the show and the character. He has become my favorite and was the embodiment of all that one could ever imagine The Doctor being. I’m particularly drawn to him because he is living a boy’s fantasy… a boy who grew up watching Doctor Who dreaming of what it would be like to travel through time and space. Well not only did he get to travel with The Doctor, he was The Doctor. As he ends his run, I commend and thank him for doing what no one else could have done – proving that even in adulthood, childhood fantasies can be realized.

While no official word from CBS has come on the subject, speculation abounds from wardrobe malfunction to erections to just because they are gay men playing in the mud with other men. The only thing that is clear is that the censoring has caused more of a fuss than had the show been left uncensored.

TAR’s Dan was in underwear and could possible have had a peek-a-boo moment, but what was wrong with Sam? Sam, who was wearing shorts, also had his crotch censored and had he not been blurred, this probably would’ve been a non-issue. It does make one wonder what the real problem was as there have been some questionable moments during the recent season of CBS’s Survivor where underwear-clad schemer Russell’s silhouette of his manhood has been clearly visible in several episodes.

I took a second look at the glimpses that weren’t censored, the guys movement and stance in the mud and how things were hanging (err… pointing). That combinded with Sam’s comment about “the hot Estonian guys” leads me to believe that CBS was running terrified that people would assume that in some shots the guys had erections. Whether they did or not no longer seems to be the issue as it has led to a larger concern… would CBS have been as quick to blur if the guys were straight?

Update 12/08/09 – Sam explains in interview with AfterElton: “Here’s the deal. Cheyne had black boxers on so you couldn’t see everything for him. Dan had lighter-colored boxers on, I had paper-thin little shorts on, and so you could just see too much. Apparently, the outline was too obvious, so they had to blur everything. No, we were not getting excited by the Estonian hotties, despite what everyone else seems to think. There’s not too much that’s erotic about playing volleyball with your brother in a little town in Estonia.”

On it being a gay issue on CBS’ part, Dan only said, “Trust me, that was my theory. But it happened and it was really funny. We were watching with our dad when that episode came on, and he was just like, ‘What’s going on?’”

Hmm…

I’m a gardener myself, but don’t look nearly as good in swim trunks and watering can as he does. Jeff can come over and tend my garden as soon as he gets out of the Big Brother house while I lounge by the pool sipping a cool drink and taking in the “hot” scenery!