Gay For Play

Can Sara Rue pull off gay?

We've been fans of the actress since we saw Gypsy 83, and news came out today that the CW is developing a series for Rue based around the idea that her character enters into a domestic partnership with a friend in order to hold onto a New York City apartment.

We've heard of some crazy schemes to keep from having to move in Manhattan, but this seems a bit... drastic?

Despite the fact that a show about a woman who decides she wants to explore her Sapphic tendencies would be a lot more interesting than a show about ladies pretending to be lesbians in order to keep from losing a piece of prime real estate, this news got us thinking about the history of TV characters pretending to be gay.

Who's pulled it off?

Actor: Adam Sandler
Role: Chuck Levine in I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry
Wacky Scenario: Sandler's widower firefighter character gets his pal (Kevin James) to marry him so Sandler and his kids don't lose his fireman's pension.
Believability: Awfully far fetched. If the film featured hot firemen, we'd be more apt to believe. With these two playing Brooklyn-based hose handlers, nobody's buying it.

Actor: Cuba Gooding, Jr.
Role: Jerry Robinson in Boat Trip
Wacky Scenario: Two straight pals looking to meet ladies end up on a gay cruise thanks to the machinations of an evil queen of a travel agent.
Believability: No way! We don't know anyone who uses a travel agent, so it's kind of hard to buy. But the idea of an evil queen of a travel agent ruining Cuba Gooding's is delightful, so we'll give this one a pass.

Actor: John Ritter
Role: Jack Tripper in Three's Company
Wacky Scenario: In order to room with sexy, high-waisted-pants-wearing ladies, Jack needs to convince a series of Ropers and Furleys that he's light in the loafers and there's no hanky panky going on.
Believability: Not out of the realm of possibility! We know people who've pulled similar stunts, so this one we can buy. Also, doesn't everyone from the '70s seem kinda gay?

Actor: Al Pacino
Role: Steve Burns in Cruising
Wacky Scenario: A NYPD cop goes undercover (and into leather) to catch a killer who's preying on gay dudes in seedy S&M clubs.
Believability: Believable! Though they'd probably get a gay cop who knows something about the scene, this is much less far-fetched than most other playing-gay scenarios.

Actor: Cynthia Nixon
Role: Miranda Hobbes in Sex and the City
Wacky Scenario: Lawyer Miranda is set up on a blind date with a cute lesbian and even though it's awkward, they decide to play a game of, what else, softball together. Later on they contemplate faking a relationship so Miranda can rub elbows with her fancy boss.
Believability: 100% true to life. Lawyers will do anything to get ahead.