So Much More In Store

Whew. There have been so many posts regarding Kevin and Chad's relationship since Sunday's episode, I thought it wise to let the air clear an extra day. Everyone has something to say. But all the objections can pretty much be divided into three camps:

1.  Watching men kissing is gross AND wrong.
2.  Kevin's interest in a hot, shallow guy is not only unbecoming of his character, it serves to perpetuate a negative stereotype about homosexual males: their promiscuity.
3.  Kevin and Chad have no chemistry... at least, not as much as Kevin and Scotty Wandell!

The first position is unfortunate. It saddens me that there are people that feel this way, but I'm far more heartened by the fact that "Brothers & Sisters" has received, that I know of, no network or advertiser pressure to exclude these scenes. As many of you point out, Kevin's kiss with Chad is merely a different version of the heterosexual snogging we see on TV all the time. It is human intimacy, plain and simple, and it's nice to see Disney's support for normalizing it.

The second position is a bit unfair to Kevin as an individual, I think. How many of our single viewers, given the invitation to make out with someone they found extremely physically attractive, would pass it up? Some, maybe. But not many. As to whether this relationship will last... you'll have to wait and see.

The third position strikes me as overly sentimental. But that's just me.

Anyway, I went to a read-thru for episode 117 today, and it was nothing short of breathtaking. The script, by Robbie Baitz and Molly Newman, is one of the most emotionally deep thus far, and our brilliant cast only deepened it with their interpretation. When I think of the some of the big events, first-class drama and hilarity coming up over the next few weeks, I'm almost jealous of our faithful viewers. For I am spoilt by the things I've read and seen.

You're in for a great ride.

Your pal
Dan

Comments

[Martha]

I don't see what the big fuss is...as long as Kevin is happy and enjoying himself then I'm happy for him.

Besides, if it means we get more sibling hilarity than I'm down.

Plus..not gonna lie, two hot guys kissing each other? Really, there's nothing wrong with that.

I'm very proud of Disney for being so open to reality and supportive of this way of life.

[Jim]

Dan,
I can't wait to see what's coming next. Thanks for writing!

[ilovemylife]

About the The Kiss
Duration:
Two seconds = what we saw up close and personal
Nine seconds = Total length of time, including the long shot of the car and view
Those are the statistics ladies and gentlemen.

The thin veil covering homophobia is vulnerable I do think.
What we have here is the illustration that it doesn’t take much to get homophobia out of the closet. What is it REALLY that makes a person uncomfortable, insecure or feel threatened?
What’s beneath it all?

Some introspection: I have learned so much about myself by tuning into my own reactions to this show and to this blog. Life is a journey. It doesn’t always take us where we would choose to go, and sometimes it takes us to a place so much better than we dreamed. Be bold. Be true. Have fun. We all want and need the same human needs met no matter what we look like, how much money we have or where we live. And we have the power to give others what they need and even more, we have the power to give ourselves what we need.

I saw T.R. Knight on Ellen’s show, Thursday, January 18. What a treat to see T.R.’s sweetness. Ellen handled the whole “fag*ot” real-life episode so well. There was love on that stage set. One human being giving another human being what he needed. And the audience at the end of the segment gave T.R. a standing ovation. It’s moments like those that it makes me proud to be a human being.

[Jeffrey Bryan]

I completely fall into Category 3... but even Kevin knows the chemistry isn't there. He's just too blinded by the smile (been there). As for Scotty... I don't know what the original intentions were with the plotlines of his character... but as an avid viewer it would take a LOT for me to accept Kevin in a serious relationship with anyone else. They just had this spark, it was amazing.

[Kong Chang]

#3 is overly sentimental?

I think it merits more than the other two, because if you look around on other boards, you'll find that people enjoyed the chemistry portrayed between Matthew & Luke moreso than with Jason Lewis. Plus the fact that what Jason Lewis said on Extra TV also hurt his chances with the gay audience, so that made it even more disbelievable.

I think if anything, we are still awaiting word on interest #3 for Kevin. Many of us have already skipped over #2 and hoping for a better #3. Lots of us wish Kevin all the happiness in the world, but we wish him really to be with Scotty instead as his one and only true happiness.

[Balthazar's Hott!]

Will there be more Tommy and Julia "shower" scenes??? ;)

[hello]

how come "Sexual Politics" didn't end with something to do with the Walker family as a whole like all the other episodes?

[will]

Dan: Great to see you all are circumspect & RATIONAL about Kevin's lovelife. Maybe it's true most of us would not pass up fresh available skin we're attracted to (& if we're single), but Kevin can't be sated & satisfied forever with new skin. New bodies get "old" real quick. (I have some experience here.) This dude better have something going for him we're not detecting. Make him a "still waters run deep" kinda guy. Give FLASHES of brilliance & insight into this dude & keep us curious (need more than the "gym" & "soap star" to explain a human being.)
NEILSEN NEWS: B&S is in the top 20 again. 2nd week in a row. (wk of Jan. 8-14) ABC's roster: "Grey's Anatomy" was #4, "Desperate Housewives" #7, "Ugly Betty" #14 & "Brothers & Sisters" #17. How's that for ringing in the New Year? (& this current chart shows 131 primetime network listings).

[JamesH]

I agree with Martha. Why is everyone so upset about Kevin's new love interest? I think the show is great and the writers are amazing. I would change NOTHING!!

Can't wait for the next one... sounds like it's gonna be a good one. Keep up the good work, writers!

[will]

One quick other thought.

Those of us blogging in every week come across the "gloom & doom" people. They regularly predict plummeting ratings, all kinds of disasters if B&S keeps up the "gay stuff". (The way Jerry Faldwell predicts natural disasters or blames earthquakes & tsunamis on homo-sex). This happened big-time after Kev's desert army bar pick-up.
RATINGS ARE STRONG though. No advertiser or network pressure as Dan says, no backlash. In its quiet way, this is historic. As I mentioned before, this country is going through some serious social change right now....always a slow process, but now, finally, it's like we can almost see some light at the end of the tunnel. Unfounded fears are melting away - again, slowly. "Gay" will not always be such an ISSUE....but just an adjective to describe sex. That's all it is. In the end, as Martin Luther King, Jr. said, we have to judge a man (or woman) by the content of his character. As it should be.

[Beth]

The double standard in this country really upsets me. How many years have we been watching two girls kiss on network tv?

[Bernice]

I think the show is great. The only problem is there is way too much time spend on the homosexual aspect.I enjoy good acting and would like to see less of the sexual side on either one hetrosexual or homosexual.

[brittany]

can't wait to see the coming episodes!!!

[Maxine]

I fall into catagory #2 and #3

#2 - I'm not disagreeing that Kevin should'nt have intimate relationships with other men. And I agree he can make out with some 'hot' guy until his lip's chap. It's not that which bothers me, it's the ease with which Kevin jumps in and out of bed with vertual strangers. Case in point...Arm guy on one meeting at some bar out in the boondocks, and now flirty Soap Star on two meetings at the gym. Also, is'nt Kevin suppose to be a mature individual, not an irresponsible teen who would just jump into a stranger's car and drive off to some lover's point, putting himself in what could have been potiental danger. It make's Kevin come off as easy trade. And Kevin is anything but that. He is an attractive, well educated lawyer and all around nice guy who many men would jump at the chance to start up a relationship with.

#3 - "The third position strikes me as overly sentimental. But that's just me."

It's a lot more than that. I've watched many gay movies and series which involved gay realationships, but I have to say, the believability with which Luke Macfarlane played Scotty and Matthew Rhys portrays Kevin is extremely well done and rare. You believed that Scotty and Kevin had deep feelings for each other. There was an authenticity with which they made eye contact, or the subtle movement of their body language whch spoke volumes. The entire storyline was interesting, exploring the whole dynamics between two people where you have a difference in career status, education levels, and comfortability with one's sexuality. So much could have been explored, but then in a blink of an eye...Scotty was gone. Now we have Chad, and I know it's only been one episode with Jason Lewis, so I try to be fair. Nevertheless, I was terribly unmoved with how Jason Lewis came across on camera. Very weak next to the towering Matthew Rhys in terms of acting skills. If it were not for Matthew Rhys, none of their scenes would have worked. The chemistry was just not there. And I will be honest, I already went into this episode jaded by what was said on Extra Tv. Could Mr Lewis not have had the grace to wait for his run on Brothers And Sister to end, then said what he felt he needed to say. It was completely uncalled for. He lost a lot of credibility because of his tongue. Very disappointing comments.

For so many followers of Brothers And Sisters to have spoken out with such passion about the loss of the Scotty character from the show, demonstrates that this was anything but sentimentality. It was the belief in and embracing of a wonderful developing character which most wanted to stick around and be with Kevin for a while.

[Lucille]

The worst part of this episode was that Chad referred to his dog as 'Lola' and it was definitely a MALE dog with a penis which was blatantly evident ! Chad even said as they walked off..."good girl" ...didn't anyone notice that the dog is NOT a bitch.....
As for the budding relationship...forget it, Chad comes across as a two-faced liar and shallow to boot. Kevin deserves better besides..whatever happened to getting to know a person first, like become friends before lovers.

[Kong Chang]

I wholeheartedly agree with you, Maxine, on number 3. :)

[will]

Maxine: Gay people have never had a structure for relationships, like straights. Not marriage, not "dating", none of those traditional ways people develop healthy relationships. (Oh my god I am sounding like "Dear Abby") Until recently, they've always had to sneak around, hide, clandestine meeting places. All ugly options. Actually, this probably doesn't apply to Kevin. His mom's practically waiving a rainbow flag for him. OK, never mind. I was gonna make some profound point about why gay men would "sleep around.". But got derailed. Won't work in Kevin's situation.

[Maxine]

Will, your points are well taken. And unfortunately very true about gay people never having the 'structure' for relationships like straight people do. I've had to watch my totally great brother-in-law struggle for years with having to 'hide' and 'sneak' around. It's been terribly unheathy and sad for him. But in terms of Kevin whose family really embrace him, I just don't know why he would chose this path with Chad. From how the writers have presented Kevin so far, he just doesn't seem that insecure about himself to feel he need stoop to the level of a Chad type who blatently flirts with his girfriend in front of him, and say's he's straight but likes to fool around with men. Then again, maybe i'm jumping the gun and have to give the writers more time to flesh out Kevin's character more as they've already stated.

[mark]

I see a lot of myself in Kevin and I am glad the writers have not paired him off with anyone long term yet. It's too early in his story for him to settle down. I like television that is messy and characters that say the wrong thing and make mistakes and not all tied up at the end- which is why I hate Tommy/Julia. Balthazar Getty is growing on me, but the stuff with his wife never works.

[will]

Dan, I'm taking issue with your use of the word "sentimental" to decribe the 3rd option. (Sentimental: marked or governed by feeling; resulting from feeling rather than thought). Are you suggesting viewers who prefer the Kevin-Scotty chemistry to the (almost non-existant) Kevin-Chad chemistry are guided by EMOTION? Basing your preference on the CHEMISTRY of the actors is not sentimental. (wanting Scotty back because you "miss him" may be sentimental, but saying the Kevin-Scotty chemistry is better than the Kevin-Chad chemistry is a sane, reasonable judgement).

[will]

About Kevin hopping in & out of bed with virtual strangers (the army bar pick-up, soap dude Chad).... Kevin's SINGLE! He has no kids! If he's wrapping himself safely up in non-spermicidal lubricated condoms, what's the beef? Let him have some fun. Life is short.

[MRH]

I am in the #1 camp. I don't care who doesn't liek it...Watching two men kiss IS gross and wrong, and I'm not going to be afraid to say it. It bugs the heck out of me that everywhere you look, network tv is trying to shove the homosexual agenda down everyone's throats. It is not just about "love is love, no matter who it is." That is the lie you tell, in trying to be politically correct. But the truth is you are trying to get ratings by airing controversial subject matter. There is hardly a show left that hasn't jumped on the gay bandwagon, because why?? It gets ratings. The truth is hard to hear sometimes, isnt' it.

[SCL]

I disagree that a kiss and impending sexual one night stand interlude with two men is on the same par with a serious relationship whether it includes one man and one woman or two men. I think this act on his part of "being on the prowl" diminishes his character and plays into the negative image of gay men.
I have had enough and will not be watching any more episodes. I am sure there are others who were just as turned off as I was but are too cowardly to say so.
Too bad you had to ruin what was one of the best new shows of the season.

[Jill]

Sorry to be so old fashioned! Two guys/girls kissing is not OKAY! I am sorry Disney is trying make it seem normal.

[Maxine]

MRH, question: What is an 'homosexual agenda' I've asked several homophobes to define it for me but no luck. Maybe you have the answer.

Oh, and I beg to differ with you about the 'gross' out factor with watching to men kiss. I find it hot as hell and I hope the writers/ producers continue to show some hot male/male lip action. Three kisses and counting!!

Courtesy...straight female.