Brothers

Showtime took a great first step with this series based on the coming out of a gay character. He has two brothers (hence the title) and they live in Philadelphia (city of brotherly love).

Long before ELLEN and WILL AND GRACE, this series tackled the thorny issues of a gay character struggling with himself and society. The situations are played for comedy, but there are serious issues of prejudice, self-acceptance, and AIDS, among others, interwoven into the plots.

The two sides of the gay spectrum are represented by the straight-acting character who comes out at his own wedding (a la IN & OUT) in the first episode, and the flamboyant queen who also has a more serious side as he offers advice and help to the young man who is coming out. It is an enjoyable and ground-breaking series.

People who subscribe to PrideVision, the Canadian GLBT channel, have the chance to see reruns of this great TV series. A friend of mine had taped a few episodes for me a while ago, but I hadn't had the chance of seeing more episodes. I can now catch up, with great pleasure!

It is a shame that time and a limited viewing audience has all but buried "Brothers." If you didn't have Showtime in the 80s you missed out on a show that had as much heart and humor as "Will and Grace" back in atime when AIDS made a gay series untouchable for a TV network. Showtime took the risk and the result is a wonderful series that I saw as a young man but can remember certain scenes vividly and can still hum the a-capella theme song. Modern day viewers will rake the Donald character as being too stereotypical but he was no sissy. He was proud and strong and that should be seen as a plus. The rapport between the brothers was excellent as they try to understand the gay world after the youngest of the 3 comes out. Who can forget gruff Lou trying to blend into the gay scene sitting a park growling: "Hey babe, nice legs!" or Joe responding the his brother's attraction to a Russian when told that he's big and sleek and foreign by saying "so get a Volvo!" Has this show been released on VHS or DVD? If not it should. This is a groundbreaking series that should be resurrected for a new generation to enjoy and share and laugh.

Originally aired on Showtime, then syndicated, it ran for 8 (?) seasons, and was ground-breaking for having the first openly gay *proud* character (Cliff) from the premiere episode, albeit not the main character (Joe). Played with sensitivity and great humor, Cliff was a real gay man - not a stereotype, not hung up about being gay, and never "redeemed" by seeming to be straight. His foils were his construction worker brother, Lou (not too bright, but deep down loved his baby brother) and his best friend, Donald Maltby, who *verged* on stereotype, but because of extraordinary acting always managed to turn the character on its ear and show you something more than just a caricature (notably his brilliant speech about blame and AIDS in one episode, which was very knowledgeable and forthright anyway, despite it being so very early in the epidemic). I'm sure the show will never air again, and it might not even ever be available as a Columbia House collectible series, but if you ever get the chance, watch those old episodes! (And, being from Philadelphia, where the show is supposedly set, maybe someone will be able to explain to me how very good-looking Cliff ever went for 8 years with only two boyfriends for four episodes!)

Today this show would probably make it onto network TV, and would be considered far too "tame" for a cable series. Yet I believe that this Showtime series was the first to not only contain openly gay characters, but deal with homosexuality in an even-handed non-sensational manner. The Donald Maltbie character, labeled "too flamboyant" in those semi-Neanderthal days of early cable, was a successful businessman and a decorated Air Force veteran - a far cry from Jack McFarland on "Will and Grace," who has almost no redeeming characteristics whatsoever, and feeds right into negative Right Wing stereotypes. If Showtime were to re-broadcast this series today it would be a smash hit, what with such a larger percentage of the viewing audience willing to watch "gay comedy." But it WOULDN'T be considered "sexy." Just funny as hell.