film & television reviews from Philip Bahr focusing on a gay male gaze | gay film | gay movies | gay television | LGBTQ perspective | classics | indie | television reviews
GLAAD hosts two award events each year, one in Los Angeles and another in New York City. NYC’s just aired on May 11, 2024, after LA’s earlier. Hulu’s got both events but the LA is worth watching if only to fast forward to President and CEO Sarah Kate Ellis‘s amazing frank discussion about the political climate we are in and the importance of our votes in November to save democracy. Really incredible. Just can’t find the clip online, but Hulu’s got the entire broadcast. Lots of other great awards given out including Ron Nyswaner winning for his Fellow Travelers – Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series.
The 35th Annual GLAAD Media Awards (both ceremonies) currently stream no Hulu.
I’m so excited that my love for HGTV shows on Max and my affection for adorable, smart, and creative young lesbian couples comes together in Small Town Potential. And the show takes place in my old stomping grounds, Hudson Valley, NY. A place that still makes my heart swell each time I visit. Davina Thomasula and Kristin Leitheuser star as real estate agent/designer and contractor respectively. They make a great reno team along with Kristin’s Dad Don. The show is heartwarming, addictive, and showcases more ordinary homes priced from $250,000 – $800,000. The hosts infuse the series with a lot of passion and charm. And we get to see so many amazing communities between NYC and Albany. Episode 3 is a first. The hosts are a queer female couple and the buyers are a queer female couple. Represent! Love, love, love this series. Please HGTV, give us a second season! 4 out of 5 for Small Town Potential.
Small Town Potential currently streams on HGTV, Max, and a ton of other streamers.
Outstanding 2020 documentary, Ahead of the Curve follows the life of magazine publisher Franco Stevens, who in 1990 published Deneuve, the first lesbian lifestyle magazine. After a 1996 trademark infringement dispute with French actress Catherine Deneuve, the case was settled and the magazine changed names to Curve and continued as a lesbian magazine until 2010. Stevens reacquired Curve in 2021 and helped launch The Curve Foundation to help advance its mission. Curve magazine is now a non-profit project of The Curve Foundation which champions lesbian, queer women, transgender and nonbinary people’s stories and culture through intergenerational programming and community building. The documentary begins as Stevens contemplates the future of Curve and wonders if she should get involved again. She travels around the country interviewing young lesbian and queer women about what they need, if they care about history (they do), and where does she need to point Curve. In between there is a massive amount of footage from the 1990’s showing the rise of the magazine, it’s triumphs, it’s imprint on the lesbian community, and Stevens personal and professional challenges. I was so impressed with the crafting of the story and the sensitivity between generations as everyone grapples with identity and the use of labels in the 2020’s. A must-see. 5 out of 5.
I usually review a series after I’ve completed a season. Not this time. If you thought the first three seasons of We’re Here, a show about drag queens traveling to small towns to work their magic were intense, wait until you watch Season 4. New cast featuring Sasha Velour (RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 9), Jaida Essence Hall (RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 12), and Priyanka (RuPaul’s Drag Race: Canada’s Drag Race). The series begins in Tennessee where the queens confront bigotry and hatred first hand. No sugar coating what’s going on in this country. Shit gets real. The LGBTQ community is in the middle of a crisis targeting all of us, but especially laser focused on our trans and drag communities. I am sure creators Stephen Warren and Johnnie Ingram had no idea how important their show would become as a barometer of intolerance in the United States. The show just started airing episodes. This is essential viewing. Come for the activism, stay for the glamour. 5 out of 5.
We’re Here currently streams on Max with new episodes airing every Fridays at 9pm.
I was minding my own business spending a Saturday night at home sliding down yet another Internet rabbit hole of nostalgia. It started out with me trying to find obscure New Age music I listened to during the 80’s when I was a sweet little new age gay boy. I actually found a few titles which took me back and made me smile. I even found a really cool Janis Ian song, Getting Over You from her Hunger album which made me think how her beautiful music would make a perfect song for a movie I should write someday. Soon. That led to me leafing through the Olivia Records’ catalog remembering all the Women’s Music artists I was introduced to by my late friend Lynn Rogers. Lynn and I had a falling out which of course I regret. I hope I can somehow make up for that at least a molecule’s worth of make up for that in my living friendships today and moving forward. After listening to Cris Williamson’s Waterfall, I started thinking of out lesbian comics. Not comic books or strips, although those are funny too. I mean comics as in comedians as in stand-up. I’m not sure how many people born post Ellen’s coming out, Rosie’s later coming out, or after Lily and Wanda’s even later coming out realize there was already a bevy of hysterically funny out lesbian comics on the circuit feeding our funny bone. Names such as:
Kate Clinton
Lea DeLaria
Cameron Esposito
Judy Gold
Julie Goldman
Marga Gomez
Elvira Kurt
Reno
Robin Tyler
Suzanne Westenhoefer
I’ve always had a soft spot in my laughter for Suzanne and so I scrolled through Spotify. Did you know Spotify has stand-up routines? They used to be called comedy albums back in the day. You can literally search your favorite comedians and listen to their routines and create some healthy laughter for yourself. I chose Suzanne’s 2003 album, Guaranteed Fresh. Hysterical still at 21 years old. Makes me want to go subscribe to some of my favorites for news of their upcoming tours which I actually already did.
In response to transphobic cis male comedians on Netflix, Hannah Gadsby hosts a special, Gender Agenda. From Rotten Tomatoes,
Award-winning comedian Hannah Gadsby hosts an extraordinary global comedy special. Curated by Gadsby, the show brings together a line-up of the world’s absolute funniest genderqueer comedians. Recorded at London’s iconic Alexandra Palace Theatre.
Comics include Alok, Krishna Istha, Chloe Petts, Dahlia-Belle Sirvio, DeAnne Smith, Jes Tom, and Asha Ward. As with most multi-comic evenings, it’s a mixed bag. My favorites included must-see self-identified masculine lesbian and extraordinarily gay Chloe Petts and the luscious and giggly Mx. Dahlia-Belle Sirvio. Overall 3.5 out of 5. Higher for my two favorites.
Hannah Gadsby’s Gender Agenda currently streams on Netflix.
My favorite author, Armistead Maupin released his tenth Tales of the City novel this week. Mona of the Manor is his first foray back in time. Tales lands in 1990’s England, which isn’t a surprise since Armistead and his husband now live full time in England. From my Goodreads review,
I almost don’t know what to say. I never expected a 10th Tales book. So I made my peace with The Days of Anna Madrigal being the last Tales story. And then whoosh… Armistead releases Mona of the Manor, Book 10 in the Tales of the City series. And here I am having just finished this beautiful new addition already wanting more.
Armistead takes us back in time to the 1990’s when Mona Ramsey lived in an English castle with her adopted son Wilfred, and Michael Tolliver faces his mortality from HIV. There are a few new characters, a mystery of sorts, and eventually Michael and Mona’s parent, Anna Madrigal make it to England. I laughed, I cried, I want more Tales. I’m so thrilled Armistead gifted us with another story. Such a delight. My feel good book of this year and next!
Thank you Harper and NetGalley for the advanced reader’s copy – release date March 5, 2024. Really thank you! In awe.
Such an incredible surprise getting a new Tales. Find a copy from your favorite book retailer or free from your public library.
Husbands, wives, partners, lovers, soulmates, best friends, copains, companions, comrades, amis, dates, valentines, live-ins, the greatest loves of all. There are so many words to define a relationship between two humans. The previous sentence merely scratches at the surface.
Here are Reel Charlie’s 2024 favorite LGBTQ+ love stories in film:
And if you want a lot of pain and heartache in your long-term relationship, along with understanding how destructive homophobia and the closet are to humans, check out the incredibly brilliant, must-see limited series, and yes there is a mountain of love between these two men: Fellow Travelers
Welcome. You’re listening to Reel Charlie Speaks, an LGBTQ podcast spin-off of the film and television review blog, Reel Charlie looking at movies and TV from a gay male perspective since 2009.
I’m your host, Philip Bahr. Each month I select a classic queer film, television series, or creator. I talk about how the subject spoke to me when I first discovered it years ago, and how its stood the test of time. Spoilers ahead.
In episode 19 I explore the American television series, Queer as Folk (2000).
hosts two award events each year, one in Los Angeles and another in New York City. NYC’s just aired on May 11, 2024, after LA’s earlier. Hulu’s got both events but the LA is worth watching if only to fast forward to President and CEO Sarah Kate Ellis‘s amazing frank discussion about the political climate we are in and the importance of our votes in November to save democracy. Really incredible. Just can’t find the clip online, but Hulu’s got the entire broadcast. Lots of other great awards given out including Ron Nyswaner winning for his Fellow Travelers – Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series.
Outstanding 2020 documentary, Ahead of the Curve follows the life of magazine publisher Franco Stevens, who in 1990 published Deneuve, the first lesbian lifestyle magazine. After a 1996 trademark infringement dispute with French actress Catherine Deneuve, the case was settled and the magazine changed names to Curve and continued as a lesbian magazine until 2010. Stevens reacquired Curve in 2021 and helped launch The Curve Foundation to help advance its mission. Curve magazine is now a non-profit project of The Curve Foundation which champions lesbian, queer women, transgender and nonbinary people’s stories and culture through intergenerational programming and community building. The documentary begins as Stevens contemplates the future of Curve and wonders if she should get involved again. She travels around the country interviewing young lesbian and queer women about what they need, if they care about history (they do), and where does she need to point Curve. In between there is a massive amount of footage from the 1990’s showing the rise of the magazine, it’s triumphs, it’s imprint on the lesbian community, and Stevens personal and professional challenges. I was so impressed with the crafting of the story and the sensitivity between generations as everyone grapples with identity and the use of labels in the 2020’s. A must-see. 5 out of 5.
I was minding my own business spending a Saturday night at home sliding down yet another Internet rabbit hole of nostalgia. It started out with me trying to find obscure New Age music I listened to during the 80’s when I was a sweet little new age gay boy. I actually found a few titles which took me back and made me smile. I even found a really cool 
In response to transphobic cis male comedians on Netflix, Hannah Gadsby hosts a special, Gender Agenda. From Rotten Tomatoes,
Husbands, wives, partners, lovers, soulmates, best friends, copains, companions, comrades, amis, dates, valentines, live-ins, the greatest loves of all. There are so many words to define a relationship between two humans. The previous sentence merely scratches at the surface.
Reel Charlie 