There are two new channels on my cable service that almost defy description. Note: I am not recommending these channels; rather, I'm taking a "tune-in at your own risk" point of view. One channel has apparently taken all the Retro and TVLAND channels rejects for our perusal. The station from which these really old celluloid, found-in-the-wastebasket films must be emanating from somewhere below Wayne and Garth's basement based on the quality of picture and sound. Remember back in school when your poor teachers had ancient reels of informative hygiene "facts" or some James Lipton-type professor (without the cool stars) droning on and ruining your love of really good authors? Well, they are on this channel along with video-taped shows from the Fifties shown with eroding edges and sound from a distant state. Once in awhile, I will see- as I surf by- old movies that are so badly acted that even Mystery Science 3000 probably rejected them. I guess it is a fun channel when you are bored, but I'm not so sure a blank screen would be better.
The other channel is somewhat better. If you need jaw-dropping amazement in your life tune into the LOGO channel offered by your cable service. You can look up the full title on your computer, but I like to call it the Elephant Graveyard of Gay Cinema. In the early days, as gay life slowly began to infiltrate mainstream culture, little indie films and TV shows began to appear in certain states and only on cable or art-house movie marques. On this channel, any film or TV show with a gay, lesbian, and everything in between ever made before 1990 can be found. Some of the offerings are quite watchable--the TV Buffy the Vampire Slayer for one and Queer As Folk-the Canadian version.. There are a few old movies that were well-acted--Longtime Companion, As the Band Played On, etc. The JEWELS of this channel are TV series and movies that must have had a limited run somewhere if at all. They can be seen on Sunday afternoon and late at night. I guess that is to prevent small children from surfing by and accidentally seeing and hearing the most bizarre TV action this channel has to offer. The best is Sordid Lives, a campy but poorly acted soap opera that is hilariously charming to us in the hinterlands who have never been exposed to these early creations. I'm sure the modern alternative crowd is horrified by this exposure. I bet they even have tried to get the gay mafia to squelch this channel. I hope it stays in the same way I hope I can always see Gilligan reruns somewhere. They are part of our evolving culture.
This is great. I have a funny story about LOGO. One afternoon I surfed the channels and found what I thought was an interesting movie. And it was, but then my son walked in and asked me why I was watching the gay channel. I asked him why would he say that, and he answered,"just keep watching and you'll see." And sure enough, as if right on cue. I laughed so hard.
ReplyDelete