Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Path: utzoo!linus!decvax!genrad!mit-eddie!godot!harvard!wjh12!foxvax1!brunix!sdo From: sdo@brunix.UUCP (Scott Oaks) Newsgroups: net.motss Subject: Brothers Message-ID: <9863@brunix.UUCP> Date: Fri, 5-Oct-84 11:23:27 EDT Article-I.D.: brunix.9863 Posted: Fri Oct 5 11:23:27 1984 Date-Received: Sun, 7-Oct-84 21:51:04 EDT Lines: 42 [] Does anyone watch the show Brothers, which is aired Thursday nights on Showtime? I have been able to see this show occassionally since it first aired (whenever I can find someone who has cable) and though it is no better than typical network sitcoms, it has at least a more interesting premise: it deals with the lives of three brothers, one of whom is gay. Unfortunately, much of the characterization in this show tends to be exaggerated and plots tend to be typically sitcom-ish. But every now and then an interesting line is developed; one such line developed last night. The episode dealt with the youngest brother's new love: a Russian wrestler in the process of defecting. This was the first time the other brothers were actually confronted with tangible evidence of their brother's homosexuality; until now it had been merely an intellectual process for them. Now, however, they had to deal with the fact that their brother actually had a lover and with their brother, who they viewed as being "blinded by love". Anyway, one of the brothers (this would doubtless be easier if I remembered their names, but unfortunately I don't, so you'll all just have to put up with my convoluted syntax) was troubled enough by this to seek the advice of one of the youngest brother's friends, who gave what I thought was an extremely interesting and accurate assessment of the youngest brother's actions. The basic arguments was that the young brother had been denied those adolescent experiences which straight people all are allowed to share: "Remember when you were in love with Annette Funicello and wanted to tell the whole world. Well, he's just now able to go through something like that" was essentially how it ran (but not an exact quote). I thought this was highly interesting and perceptive (especially after my roommate had bemusedly remarked last week as I prepared to go out to dinner that I was just like an 18-year-old going to a school dance) and unfortunately indicitave of the state of modern society. And the group of people I watched the show with all agreed that they had felt something similar to this when they first came out (and for a while afterwards, and even still after many years, and . . . ). And I was curious to know what others thought about this: how is/will be/was your life affected by this "denial of adolsecent experience" (what a clinical phrase!). Scott Oaks "YOU were in love with Annette Funicello?" "No! I was in love with Cubby!"