By Vivian Kane | Celebrity | January 19, 2015 |
By Vivian Kane | Celebrity | January 19, 2015 |
There’s been a lot of news coming out of this weekend’s Television Critics Association press tour. It the kind of wham-bam event that’s perfect for creating outrage over off the cuff comments that were either taken out of context or just not thought through in the first place. Coming out ahead of the pack in that department was Billy Crystal, who made a lot of people angry over some things he said about gay love scenes on television.
Sometimes I think, ‘Ah, that’s too much for me.’ …Sometimes, it’s just pushing it a little too far for my taste and I’m not going to reveal to you which ones they are. I hope people don’t abuse it and shove it in our face… to the point where it feels like an every day kind of thing.Quite a few people didn’t take very kindly to Billy’s “ew, gross” perception of gay relationships, but he released a statement today saying that that was absolutely not what he meant. He’s not opposed to gay sex on TV— he’s opposed to ALL sex on TV!
What I meant was that whenever sex or graphic nudity of any kind (gay or straight) is gratuitous to the plot or story it becomes a little too much for my taste.And to be fair, Crystal also said some really interesting, honest things about playing Jodie Dallas, one of television’s first gay series regulars, on Soap in the 1970s.
It was very difficult at the time. Jodie was really the first recurring [gay] character on network television and it was a different time, it was 1977. So, yeah, it was awkward. It was tough.I did it in front of a live audience and there were times when I would say to (co-star) Bob [Seagren], ‘I love you,’ and the audience would laugh nervously. I wanted to stop the taping and go, ‘What is your problem?’
Also, on today’s list of non-retractions: Seth Rogen made an offhanded comment to 2.5 million people about American Sniper reminding him of fake Nazi propaganda.
American Sniper kind of reminds me of the movie that's showing in the third act of Inglorious Basterds.
— Seth Rogen (@Sethrogen) January 18, 2015
And then got super mad when people noticed.
I just said something "kinda reminded" me of something else. I actually liked American Sniper. It just reminded me of the Tarantino scene.
— Seth Rogen (@Sethrogen) January 19, 2015
I wasn't comparing the two. Big difference between comparing and reminding. Apples remind me of oranges. Can't compare them, though.
— Seth Rogen (@Sethrogen) January 19, 2015
But if you were having a slow news day, you're welcome for me giving you the opportunity to blow something completely out of proportion.
— Seth Rogen (@Sethrogen) January 19, 2015
See! He’s not saying they’re SIMILAR. They just REMIND him of each other. Clarification noted.