09/22/2006
The Office Gets a Raise for De-Stereotyping Gays
Folks around the gay blogosphere are applauding last night's episode of The Office — "Gay Witch Hunt" — which focused on the unintentional outing of the show's paper supply accountant, played by Oscar Nuñez. After watching the above clip and reading the reviews, I'm sorry I missed it.
A few reactions:
Viva la Graham: "I think they handled this very well. they got the most laughs by making fools of those who can only identify gay people through stereotypes, which is commendable."
Queer Beacon: "In Gay Witch Hunt, it is clear that being homophobic is idiotic and ignorant. What an unbelievable season premiere. It could not have been more positive for us gays. Oh, and in a very awkward demonstration of acceptance, both Steve Carell and Rainn Wilson (the office's eccentric brownnoser paper salesman) kiss Oscar on the lips. That's Steve's crazy way of showing he is, in the end, fine with Oscar being gay. I'll take it."
AfterElton: "Humor often allows touchy subjects to be addressed in ways that get past viewers' protective walls. Last night's episode probably did more to educate viewers on why the use of the word 'fag' is inappropriate than a year's worth of well-intentioned public service announcements could ever do. But The Office went one better. Oscar was never the butt of the show's jokes—that was usually his ignorant, homophobic co-workers who think gay people wear dresses, who giggle uncontrollably at the thought someone is gay, or gullibly believe that 'gaydar' is a product to be ordered online."
Looks like I'll have to download this one from iTunes and set my DVR for the rest of this season.
Sphere: Related ContentPosted 10:48 AM EST by Andy in Oscar Nuñez, Steve Carell, Television | Permalink
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Yet again it's testimony to the talents of Ricky Gervais. I'm glad to see that The Office has become a hit in the US after a shaky start. Unfortunately most UK shows that are remade in the US get lost in translation. Good to see the US version of The Office get the recognition it deserves.
Posted by: Jethro | Sep 22, 2006 11:21:32 AM
It's a fantastic show. And I love it even more for last night's episode.
For those of us who work in an office, it's a bit frightening to occasionally see ourselves in that mirror.
Posted by: Eddie | Sep 22, 2006 12:18:00 PM
I love that the bunch from the original Daily Show are helping to show that homophobia is a bias that is simply not socially acceptable. Go Steve Carrell!
Posted by: Brian | Sep 22, 2006 12:27:21 PM
Last night's episode was the best of the series, and certainly one of the best of any comedy this year. Starting with the first shot of Dwight clipping his nails and blowing them on his co-worker, to Angela rubbing Purell sanitizer over her body to avoid "gay" germs, to the resident alcholic seeing the purell, realizing it has alcohol in it and eating it from the palm of her hand... simply a priceless episode of classic television comedy! And the addition of Ed Helms (also from the Daily Show) to the cast of the second office is a stroke of genius!
Posted by: Wayne | Sep 22, 2006 12:58:35 PM
Ugh. Where to start?
Jethro, there was no "shaky start" for the US Office. It might have taken a few episodes for the viewers to catch on/up but the critics have praised it from the beginning. Brian, though the show was indeed enlightening I truly doubt that it was intended to as the PSA you seem to think it was. Andy, if the only reason you're going to start watching the Office if because there's a queer on it... Well, that's just as offensive [IMHO] as anything Michael says. Well, okay. Maybe not. Heh. But don't expect the Office to become some banner-waving queer champion. There's only one reason to watch the show... Because it's fuckin' hysterical.
Sorry about all the vitriol there. My bark is worse than my bite. I do enjoy this blog as well as the reader commentary but I just had to speak my mind.
Posted by: RSL | Sep 22, 2006 1:37:25 PM
There wasn't a shaky start? Well, you could have fooled me. The first episode of the series was a poor remake of the first (and much better) episode of the British series. I will definitely agree that the show managed to pick up after that, and really hit it's stride during Season 2, but if you were basing your opinion of the show on that one Episode, then you likely wouldn't have a very high opinion of it (which is, I think, where most of the "shaky start" business comes from).
I enjoyed last night's episode immensely. I love the show though, so gay themed or otherwise, I would have watched it.
Posted by: Murphy | Sep 22, 2006 1:57:50 PM
BRILLIANT!
I swear, I laughed 'til I cried.
Posted by: Zeke | Sep 22, 2006 2:11:36 PM
"You dont' call a retard a retard" like yeah, so then "You don't call a fag a fag"? such leftist PC bullshit.
Posted by: chet | Sep 22, 2006 2:40:47 PM
'"You dont' call a retard a retard" like yeah, so then "You don't call a fag a fag"? such leftist PC bullshit.'
The DList ad on the right clearly disagrees with that...
Posted by: Kevin | Sep 22, 2006 2:49:56 PM
SPOILERS!!! Warning!
SPOILERS!!! Warning!
SPOILERS!!! Warning!
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.
.
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SPOILERS!!! Warning!
I nearly lost it when Michael asks Oscar to go for a beer with me and explain to him how he does that to another dude.
The gay porn bit was funny too.
The "does his roommate know?" bit.
Oh, and that looks like a different model of Ed Helms' "Homometer" there at the end.
Posted by: L | Sep 22, 2006 2:50:13 PM
I was one of those UK version snobs until I decided to relent and take in the first two seasons. Now I think it easily exceeds the British version in almost every way -- and last night's triumphant ep seals the deal. I love this show.
Posted by: Tim | Sep 22, 2006 3:18:57 PM
This episode was incredibly well handled and funny. Glad I was able to watch it!
Posted by: Gary | Sep 22, 2006 4:12:47 PM
Murphy, the first episode was intended to be an exact, word-for-word redux of the British version but from episode two onwards the show has been nothing but amazing. I think your opinion of the first episode depends greatly upon how you view the British original. Myself, I'm not a big fan of it. Heresy I know!
Posted by: RSL | Sep 22, 2006 4:19:32 PM
Heresy indeed!
That said, I can definitely see where having not seen the Brit version or (more shocking) not liking it would definitely influence your opinion of the first episode of the US version. I'm a huge fan of both series, but like Tim, I defintely feel that the US version has surpassed it's predecessor.
Posted by: Murphy | Sep 22, 2006 4:43:13 PM
I'd like to remove at least one "definitely" from the above post. ><;
Posted by: Murphy | Sep 22, 2006 4:44:57 PM
How does one see a repeat of this ep?
The Nip/Tuck "shower" scene was less than its billing in the end, though Mario Lopez ain't bad! Was anyone else let down by that?
Posted by: Anon | Sep 22, 2006 5:19:26 PM
I do agree with the notion that everyone should watch the Office because it's the best comedy on the air, not just because of the gay character.
I didn't think I would love the U.S. version as much as the U.K. but I was wrong. There wasn't an "Oscar" on the U.K. version, and I love how in the U.S. version his sexual orientation was revealed with hints that only (until now) the audience was privy to.
Very much a reflection of my experience working in offices.
Posted by: mark m | Sep 22, 2006 5:39:24 PM
You can buy Office episodes on iTunes for $1.99 each (or the whole upcoming season for $29.99).
Season 3, Ep 1 is now available there. I echo all the praise given here.
BTW, check out Dwight's new blog entry (yes, for those of you who don't know, Dwight has a blog - "Schrute Space")
http://blogs.nbc.com/office/
Excerpt:
"I would also like to say a few words about gays.
"Gay" used to mean jolly. Now it means a man or a
woman who likes to make out with other men or women.
Now, according to all Schrutes: Who and what people
make out with is their own business.
My uncle Gunther used to tend goats and there were
some very viscous rumors going around the village.
When he fled the invasion he met a Finnish woman and
they had 17 children. That put those rumors to rest
once and for all.
Judge not, lest ye be a judge.
That is all."
Posted by: Pompeius | Sep 22, 2006 8:04:18 PM
The British writers are brillant. Watch the original version, it's even better.
Posted by: Ken | Sep 23, 2006 12:05:59 AM
What????
Yes it deserves praise for it's intentions but i feel if it really did want to de-stereotype gays then it shoud of used a middle aged, cucasion male.
Since most of the cast is of cucasion appearance, i feel it would've broken down more barriers if they would've had the gay character played by a masculine, middle aged, cucasion male since most people who aren't educated in the matter would never think of a gay as that.
I hope everyone gets where i'm going with this.
Posted by: steve | Sep 23, 2006 1:15:47 AM
I get where you are going with it. You wanted them to use another stereotype to deconstruct an existing one? Is that not exactly what you just described? Who better to portray gay than the one stereotype that might be considered the antithesis, in their office culture anyway. I enjoyed the calculator in Jello bit myself...
Posted by: Scott A | Sep 23, 2006 3:03:48 AM
It seems that the US version of The Office has found its own direction, much in the same way as the US version of Queer As Folk.
Like The Office, which lasted for two seasons and a special, and many other British shows, the UK version of Queer As Folk had a short run. The US version initially followed the same storylines as the UK version, but then developed its own storylines and characters.
Look forward to seeing this season of The Office when it is shown in the UK. (Don't get me started on the mess the BBC made of showing the US version of Queer As Folk - they bought the rights to Season 2 but didn't show it.)
Posted by: Leo | Sep 23, 2006 10:23:08 AM
I think many in the black community think that gay equals exactly that--a middle-aged caucasian male.
Posted by: jmg | Sep 23, 2006 3:26:50 PM
Do you represent the many voices of the black community, JMG?
I'd say NOPE! What an idiot.
Posted by: lubridan | Oct 9, 2006 12:29:59 AM