ANGELS IN
AMERICA PART ONE
The big GTV event this week is of, course, ANGELS IN AMERICA. HBO has set an unusual scheduling plan for the two-part adaptation of Tony Kushner's award-winning play. Part One (three hours) debuts Sunday, Dec. 7 at 7 p.m. Part Two will debut a week later, on Sunday, Dec. 14, also at 7 p.m. Each Part is broken up into three one-hour Chapters, and viewers can see repeats of the one-hour Chapters throughout the week. Repeats of Chapter One of Part One will show Dec. 8 at 7 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 11 at 9 p.m., or Monday, Dec. 22 at 7 p.m.
Repeats of Chapter Two of Part One can be seen Tuesday, Dec. 9 at 7 p.m., Friday, Dec. 12 at 10 p.m. and Monday, Dec. 22 at 12:10 a.m.
Repeats of Chapter Three of Part One can be seen Wednesday, Dec. 10 at 7 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 13 at 9 p.m., and Dec. 23 at 10 p.m.
Phew! There must be an easier way to schedule repeats!
THE REAGANS — I WAS COMPLETELY WRONG, AND SO WERE CBS, THE RIGHT-WING COMPLAINERS, AND THE LEFT-WING MEDIA.
I was completely wrong about the three-hour Showtime movie THE REAGANS (formerly, the four-hour CBS mini-series THE REAGANS). But then, so was CBS, the right wing and even the liberal media who reported and hyped CBS's and the right wing's reaction. The movie was a much more fair and balanced portrait of the couple than the 10-minute preview provided by CBS. Based on the preview, one did expect a cross between MOMMIE DEAREST and an SNL spoof of Reagan himself.
But the movie, although not gripping—i.e., it does require patience to watch—was a very sympathetic and honest portrait of two complicated people.
With regard to Reagan's neglect during the early years of the AIDS crisis, I remember a friend had said to me that what troubled her most about Reagan was the fact that he just 'didn't care'—about anything. In truth, he did care about some things—Nancy, for instance, and reducing big government. But there was a certain spaciness or dim-wittedness to him that rendered him almost incapable of caring. It's not an excuse for him. But it does offer an explanation. If he were an evil person, and if his silence on AIDS were part of a conspiracy, it would be easier to accept, because it could be handled and dealt with. It's harder to deal with someone who doesn't even know 'what he's done wrong'—a child-like person who defers responsibility to others and wonders why everyone is so upset.
Reagan did shrewdly use his dim-wittedness, though. In the scene where Al Haig is forced to resign and asks for some time to reconsider, Reagan responds, 'Want a jellybean. Al?' There's just no way to answer such an out-of-touch (seemingly) reply.
As for Nancy, the right wing simply prefers to honor her and remember her as a long-suffering wife—which she was and is. However, she is a strong and decisive woman—the kind of woman that is not popular in our society. Yes, she is arrogant, astro-delusional, and dismissive—but so are most people at the top (with the exception of the astro-delusional). The most colorful and even telling Nancy moment was when she took over the stage at an annual press dinner, where a drag performer mocked her singing 'Second Hand Rose.' The former actress in Nancy triumphed over the mockery by joining the drag performer on stage, and then taking over the song and performance solo.
vLikewise, the ending of the movie was one of the most touching I've seen on film. The couple is shown slow-dancing in silhouette, and Reagan says he can't remember the dance. Nancy replies, 'Don't worry. I'll follow your lead.' It was touching allusion to her caretaking role in his forthcoming Alzheimer's.
On a lighter note, the most shocking thing was learning that Grams from Dawson's Creek (Mary Beth Peil) can act! As Nancy's mother Edith Davis, Peil was filled with steely ambition and icy sarcasm—the opposite of Grams. Let's see her in more evil roles!
I still hold much bitterness towards Reagan for his silence on AIDS. All the fool had to do was say the word AIDS in a speech, but even Nancy could not get him to do that.
RERUN BOREDOM
Yes, we're back to endless repeats, so rather than bore you with a listing of repeats, we'll just say watch for VH-1's one-hour special AIDS: POP CULTURE. The special looks at pop culture's role in raising AIDS awareness, including the deaths of Rock Hudson and Freddie Mercury, the AIDS quilt, and Ryan White. Showing Wed., Dec. 3 at 8:30 p.m.; Thurs., Dec. 4 at 2 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. and Sat., Dec. 6 at 11a.m., with more repeats.
Gay Boy Ric is a comedian and pop singer who recently launched his new gay version of the Aerosmith / Run-DMC classic 'Walk This Way' on The Howard Stern Show. For free e-mail alerts: gayboyric@yahoo.com .
