The Pop Culture Academic: Installment One of Max Blum (Victim of Gaycism)

In this week's official first installment of "Max Blum: Television’s Atypical Gay Male Character", I am sharing an article I have titled Max Blum: Victim of Gaycism. This article is based on my 2015 research of the American sitcom, Happy Endings. This specific installment focuses on the Season 1 episode, titled "Of Mice & Jazz-Kwon-Do", which aired on May 4, 2011.

Max Blum: Victim of Gaycism

In episode six of season one, titled “Of Mice & Jazz-Kwon-Do”, ensemble character Brad Williams tells Max that his new co-worker, Franklin, would be a perfect date for him.?Max agrees to go on the date.?After the date is a horrible failure, it is clear that the two men have no chemistry and nothing other than their sexual orientation in common.?Max confronts his friend, inquiring why he would set him up on a date with someone that he clearly shares no common interests with.?Brad states, “I thought you would have a good time, you’re both…”?Max asks, “Both what?”?Brad replies, “… super cool dudes.” Hesitantly.?It becomes apparent that the two characters had nothing in common, but Brad thoughtlessly assumed their sexual orientation was enough of a connection.?Despite this realization of his initial ignorance, Brad still believes that Max had sex with his date. Max attempts and succeeds at exposing Brad’s prejudice and belief in the cultural stereotypes of the promiscuity of gay men.?

Casual promiscuity is a common stereotype that is depicted by gay male characters on primetime and cable television series.?Characters such as Jack McFarland from Will & Grace, and possibly the entire cast of Showtime’s Queer as Folk illustrate gay men, single or not, as promiscuous and overly sexualized.?This sensationalized stereotype when reinforced on television has a direct effect on the American audience’s perception and overall judgment of gay men.?Max accuses Brad of being a “gay-cist”.?Brad does not take ownership of his narrow views until Max makes a similar stereotype upon him, in a comical sitcom-styled lesson.?Max brings a new friend to lunch who he describes as someone who will hit it off with Brad.?Max introduces his new friend to Brad, “Miss Mary”, who sells bibles in his building.?“You guys have a lot in common, because you’re both…” Max states.?Brad and Miss Mary are both African American.?It is clear that this racial similarity is the only trait that the two have in common.?The topics in this episode are depicted in a comical manner; but they are very relevant of prejudices expressed to minority groups of people, whether it is based on race or sexual orientation.?The character of Max brings to light the fact that the gay population is subjected to prejudices from the straight population, not unlike prejudices assumed onto one race from another.?

The character of Max is breaking away from the popular stereotype that often is preferred by television producers and audiences.?He does not fit the popular television versions of gay men, where they are depicted as either “one of the girls” or in search of countless sexual partners in a series of one-night-stands.?In discussing the television series Queer as Folk, Rodger Streitmatter states that what is being shared of homosexuals in America to audiences “was that the most important aspect of gay life is spelled S-E-X.?A second pervasive statement was that many gay people isolate themselves, as much as possible, from straight people” (128).?These statements do not illustrate the life of the character of Max Blum.?In addition, these statements do not illustrate the lives of all gay men and women.?

There are not currently many popular prime-time television series that feature a gay male main character as a lead or within an ensemble cast.?This cast dynamic does currently exist on the ABC series Modern Family, and of course did exist on the hit NBC sitcom Will & Grace.?Aside from the shows just discussed, typically the gay male is a secondary or supporting character on many successful television series.?Since 2012, new sitcoms boasting gay male lead characters have not had network success past season one.?In 2012 Partners debuted on CBS and The New Normal premiered on NBC.?In 2013 Sean Saves the World premiered on NBC.?Of the three seasons listed, none were renewed for a second season.?

On primetime television sitcoms, the gay male character is more often a supporting role and less often the lead.?In most television series and movies the gay male is either considered “one of the girls” or the “GBFF” (gay best friend forever).?Ugly Betty aired on ABC from 2006 to 2010.?Michael Urie played Marc St. James.?He was sassy, flamboyant, and even deceiving.?He was also the supportive shoulder for three main female characters.?This character makeup is an unfortunately common perception television networks portray gay men to be. When the actor was given the opportunity to play a lead role on CBS as Louis McManus on the sitcom Partners, the show was cancelled after airing only seven episodes.?His character was still sassy and witty, but he was now portraying someone established with a successful career and successful monogamous relationship.?Michael Urie’s character depictions of Marc St. James and Louis McManus appear to both be the popular depictions accepted by television audiences.?However, the character of Marc St. James from Ugly Betty is the more popular, and preferred version of a gay man on television, unfortunately.?Audiences, producers and media seem to prefer the gay man that is a doting girlfriend for his girlfriends, and not the man who appears at times as a man.??

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