01/19/2006
Jay Saddles Up
Towleroad correspondent Ryan sent in this cap from last night's Jay Leno, where he introduced the "saddle for the gay cowboy craze" complete with Louis Vuitton purse, hair dryer holster, and disco horn.
For a straight man preoccupied with collecting vintage cars, Leno's Brokeback obsession is beginning to make us think he has a fishing buddy out there somewhere.
Posted 3:18 PM EST by Andy Towle in Film & TV | Permalink
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As soon as I saw this piece (as part of a promo) for The Tonight Show last night, I promised myself never to watch Leno's show again. His constant gay jokes aren't funny and actually just annoy me.
Posted by: John M | Jan 19, 2006 3:47:35 PM
I don't know one single self-respecting gay man who would ride on that saddle. I'm not usually angered by gay jokes, but I find that really ridiculous. Oh well. Who watches Jay Leno's show anyway?
Posted by: StephenGregorySmith | Jan 19, 2006 3:49:48 PM
There's some sort of logic to humor and this follows none of it not to mention the fact that within the context of the film -gritty Wyoming there are no rhinestone cowboys or horses. This man is an idiot. Your follow up comment alluding to him have gay tendancies is also completely misplaced.
Posted by: Scott | Jan 19, 2006 4:05:15 PM
I catch Leno every now and then, only because I cannot STAND Paul Shaffer on Letterman. Jay Leno is a... tad bit obsessive about gays. Last year it was Michael Jackson, this year, BBM. He also has "Ross the Intern"; a dizzy space-shot Queen that he sends out on assignments. All in all, I would say he's been supportive.
Posted by: Rad | Jan 19, 2006 4:16:16 PM
(Jay looks like he's wearing a Prada skunk helmet.)
Someday jokes like this will be viewed as off color, much like the once popular watermelon jokes directed at African-Americans are today. Straights have to get it out of their system, at our expense, of course.
Posted by: Dan | Jan 19, 2006 4:21:22 PM
I agree that they "have to get it out of their system," but they're taking too damn long! A couple of centuries too long! While not as crude as Dennis Quaid's flaccid dick flick joke, I think it's really more offensive—and illogical given Leno's expressed admiration for the film. The comparison to watermelon jokes is exact. But then, on the other hand, how can we expect straights to be more enlightened when we make celebrities out of Walking Fag Jokes like Carson Kressley?
Posted by: Leland | Jan 19, 2006 4:34:45 PM
I'm really, really tired of the Brokeback/gay-in-general jokes. The only way anyone who isn't gay and obviously "liberal" can talk about something regarding homosexuality is through a Goddamn joke. I'm sick of it.
Posted by: matt f. | Jan 19, 2006 4:36:25 PM
What an interesting series of arguments; Christians touting that the "Liberal Media" is shoving gays in their face, gays turning off the "Liberal Media" for being too offensive.
What a world.
Posted by: Rad | Jan 19, 2006 5:00:24 PM
Oh my.
I must be nuts, but I saw it and thought it was funny. When I just noticed the posting by Andy, I thought there'd be comments about just plain old laughing out loud (that's LOL, right?) to the TV.
As for any self-respecting gay man not riding in that saddle - um, have you ever seen the Gay Rodeo?
Perhaps LTFU is good acronym (Lighten The Fuck Up)
(and Ross The Intern ROCKS!!!, the mad queen!!!)
Posted by: Mark | Jan 19, 2006 5:01:52 PM
I do not find it funny. Maybe someone like Boby trendy would ride it or a drag queen, BUT!!!!!!!!!!! i am neither and am not friends with anyone who is (not that i wouldn't be....just 2 different circles)
Now saturday night lives joke with decrepit toothless miners was funny.
Posted by: jimmyboyo | Jan 19, 2006 5:17:27 PM
I also thought it was funny. A number of my close friends personally know Jay through the old-car hobby...and all agree that Jay is a good-mensch. I find his "gay cowboy"-shitck as being more ironic than satirical, and he's teasing the straights, not us gays. LTFU. And he's wasted no time in having both Heat and Jake on the show as the main guests. And everytime he mentiosn the movie, that' sjust more free-promotional exposure to middle-America.
If you want to get mad about someting on Jay's show, get mad at the total idiot-assholes he interviews on "Jay-Walking" who are teachers or social workers, and give incorrect-answers to questions that almost any American should know. They have no clue about their-own elected officials, current events, basic geography or U.S. history; and they have no shame for their basic ignorance. Sheeesh, we let these people vote?
Posted by: Ted B. (Charging Rhino) | Jan 19, 2006 5:18:34 PM
I'm not defending Jay, but I think that (much like Oprah) he is just clueless. I don't think he has any animosity, but he doesn't realize his jokes are hurting people. He thinks they are good natured, he said as much to Jake when he was on the show last Friday. He asked him if he minded the jokes (Jake said, "Bring it on!) At the same time he seemed absolutely effusive about the film and how much he liked it, while encouraging people to see it and leave their preconceptions at the door. He had the same enthusiasm for the film during his interview of Heath the other night. I really think he just needs a little more education and some sensitivity training!
Posted by: Anna | Jan 19, 2006 5:26:04 PM
You have a good point, ted. However, I seriously doubt straight people are smart enough to see that. I'm sure they are just laughing along with with no sense of satire or irony whatsoever. In the end the jokes are just damaging.
Posted by: MT | Jan 19, 2006 5:31:28 PM
"he's teasing the straights, not us gays"? Hmmm, I doubt if they got the memo. Just because he's gay-friendly doesn't mean he can't do something homophobic or detrimental and not be help responsible for it, e.g., proud-father-of-a-gay-son Gene Shalit's describing Jack Twist as a "sexual predator." And does anyone know if Shalit apologized on the same show he made that absurd comment, or just to the gay press?
As for Bobby Trendy, did anyone happen to be watching E!'s Emmys red carpet show a couple of years ago—the year Reichen and Chip won "The Amazing Race." Ironically, or maybe intentionally, immediately before they were interviewed—two of the most nonstereotypical real gays ever on television—E! ran a prerecorded skit with two macho guys pretending to try to teach Bobby Trendy how to be butch. It was one of the crudest, most homophobic skits I've ever seen. Of course, friends of Trendy probably roared, and he laughed all the way to the nearest branch of the Liberace Memorial Bank.
Posted by: Leland | Jan 19, 2006 5:34:01 PM
omg...that horse is hilarious!!!!
Posted by: Roy | Jan 19, 2006 5:50:26 PM
Can anyone tell me what the last line of Brokeback Mountain is? I've rewound it FOUR times at full volume and still can't understand it.
Posted by: mkl | Jan 19, 2006 6:15:35 PM
As Alfre Woodard said, it's tired, and not funny any more. Which means Jay Leno will be flogging said horse for some time to come. Just look at his demographic.
Posted by: sam | Jan 19, 2006 6:23:22 PM
MKL,
It's "Jack, I swear..." The line comes directly from the short story, and it's meaning is up for interpretation.
Posted by: Anna | Jan 19, 2006 6:24:35 PM
I don't watch Jay Leno but I'm getting the feeling everyones pissed off because he's making fun of the almight bohemoth Brokeback Mountain. :)
Posted by: Damon | Jan 19, 2006 6:43:28 PM
I laughed my ass off!!! I even thought of a few "attachments" that saddle is missing....come on guys it IS funny, and yes I am GAY.
Posted by: rich | Jan 19, 2006 7:06:43 PM
More-Holy-Than-Thou Queens are boring, and betray what's best about gay culture - the abundant ability to laugh at the world AND OURSELVES. You irate bitches need to take a HORSE-SIZED CHILL PILL, and get over your cheap uninteresting faux-political selves. Jay Leno is pro-gay. He's funny. Get over it.
Posted by: Franko | Jan 19, 2006 7:07:23 PM
Ease up, Guys. Leno pokes fun at everything in the news(whether it be political, entertainment, etc etc). I don't get offended by it at all. I think some of you guys are being OVERLY senstive. It's not like he's saying all gay men should be be-headed. Don't take yourself too serious....GET OVER IT!
Posted by: Lee | Jan 19, 2006 7:16:07 PM
Yeah. I guess we should all just get over it since he's just having a bit of fun. Kinda like my boss when he was telling the actresses in the workshop not to wear silk or lace because it messed with the mics. Then he added, "That includes you Gregory." He got a laugh. But it's tired, old and demeaning. And maybe if I was the lacy, silky, Queer eye-type of guy, I'd have seen the humor. But I'm not and never have been and I don't get his joke. And I don't see any humor in Leno's pink boa on a plastic horse.
Posted by: Gregory | Jan 19, 2006 7:48:27 PM
As a straight woman, I'm a bit offended by MT's remarks. You don't think straight people will be smart enough to get Jay's jokes? Seriously, they are not that hard to get.
Leno is no brain surgeon, but those of you who said that "no gay man would be caught dead in a saddle like that" are missing the point! Leno is mocking the pre-conceived idea of what a gay cowboy would ride in. He's seen the film--he knows what the saddles look like. HE IS MOCKING THE STEREOTYPE.
Leno's jokes are far more gentle than Letterman's, btw. I don't have the link to it anymore, but Letterman did a Top 10 list of "alternate Brokeback Mountain titles" that verged on obscene, and that I thought was pretty offensive.
But I could be missing some of the subtleties here; after all, I'm just a dumb straight gal.
Posted by: lemurgrrrl | Jan 19, 2006 8:11:31 PM
I think that Jay or his writers don't realize that while occasionally poking fun at gay stereotypes is good for a laugh, doing such night after night makes some folks wonder what's up.
Especially today, given the overtly hostile legal and social climate towards gays, I find it hard to laugh along with these insecure straight men each time they trot out this tired crap.
Posted by: Dan | Jan 19, 2006 8:49:41 PM