Reflections on ... The Gypsy Rose Lee Show

Oldshowbiz is the essential Tumblr account of comedian turned author and astute show business historian Kliph Nesteroff devoted to “Showbiz Imagery and Forgotten History.” He regularly exhumes a treasure trove of mid-twentieth century kitsch curiosities and obscurities – including THIS delectable high camp bonanza. 

Turns out brassy burlesque legend Gypsy Rose Lee hosted her own talk show in the sixties (The Gypsy Rose Lee Show, 754 episodes, aired 1965–1968). As the ads exclaimed, “Gypsy is Fresh! Delightful! Mad-cap! Cheery! Glittering! Irrepressible! Provocative! INCOMPARABLE!” The summary for this 1965 installment: “Singer-actress Eartha Kitt talks of men and love and singer-actress Lainie Kazan sings a tongue-in-cheek love song “Peel Me a Grape””.  Thrill as these three camp icons let their hair (wiglets?) down and dish some “girl talk” over coffee (although my boyfriend Pal suggests their coffee cups appear empty. There’s also a bottle of champagne on the table but it goes untouched). The episode captures intense, fiercely glamorous Kitt around the same time she portrayed Catwoman on TV’s Batman series, while Kazan purrs a sex kitten anthem with lyrics like “Peel me a grape / Crush me some ice / Skin me a peach / Save the fuzz for my pillow … Pop me a cork, French me a fry / Crack me a nut, bring a bowl full of bon-bons …” It culminates in the three women joining forces to belt-out Lee’s signature tune “Let Me Entertain You.” If you weren’t gay already, you will be after watching this!

Reflections on ... Oy Vey! My Son is Gay! (2009)

/ Lainie Kazan and Jai Rodriguez in Oy Vey! My Son is Gay! (2009) /

Recently watched: my boyfriend Pal and I cringed our way through ultra-hackneyed romantic screwball comedy Oy Vey! My Son Is Gay! (2009). IMDb synopsis: “Every Friday night Shirley invites another "perfect" woman for Shabbat dinner in hopes that her son, Nelson, will marry a nice Jewish girl. Nelson, however, has something to tell them...he's gay.”

Some of the putrid “highlights” of this strained farce: Oy Vey was an actual feature film, but it’s got that harsh artless “made-for-TV” look familiar from Hallmark and Lifetime productions. The central gay couple Nelson and Angelo are so chaste that even when they’re alone at home, they only ever seem to kiss each other on the cheek. (Oy Vey’s sensibility is strictly PG13). Throughout, they feel more like clingy roommates than lovers. When Angelo panics about what to wear to a wedding, we’re treated to a kooky 1980s-style “fashion montage” sequence of him changing outfits set to the musical accompaniment of a bad cover version of Diana Ross’ “I’m Comin’ Out”. (This is sung by Jai Rodriguez of the original Queer Eye, who plays Angelo). There are Jewish stereotypes and gay stereotypes a-plenty. And then once we’re introduced to Angelo’s parents, there are Italian-American stereotypes for good measure, too! Carmen Electra from Baywatch crops-up as Nelson and Angelo’s sexy glamour model neighbour. Her scantily-clad segments are heavy on the jiggling tits and ass – which seems odd for a gay-themed movie? Also: we’re repeatedly told Electra is a Playpen Playmate. Could they not use the title Playboy for legal reasons? A nadir is reached when Shirley inexplicably declares to her husband Martin (Saul Rubinek), "You're a homophobe - so therefore you need to go to a gay bar!" And once he's in there, he's instant catnip to all the predatory gay men. (For a film ostensibly by and for queers, Oy Vey's depiction of gay characters is deeply confused).

But never mind all that! Exclaiming in Yiddish and swathed in forgiving caftan-type outfits, the fabulous Lainie Kazan is a zaftig, volatile force of nature as Long Island matriarch Shirley. Her overbearing, scenery-gobbling, life-affirming performance must be seen to be believed, bubbeleh! She is a raging torrent of emotion! It’s a shame that veteran singer, actress and durable all-purpose diva Kazan isn’t more embraced as a camp icon in the United Kingdom. You probably know her best as Bette Midler’s stage mother Leona in Beaches (1988) or as the stereotypical Mediterranean mama in My Big Fat Greek Wedding (2002). But long before that Kazan competed with Divine for the affections of Tab Hunter in the cult Western Lust in the Dust (1985). And even before that, she posed for a nude pictorial in the October 1970 issue of Playboy! Kazan's full-throttle ultra-dramatic 1980 MDA telethon rendition of Barry Manilow’s “Copacabana” is a must-watch. 

Anyway, just when you think the worst is over, Lulu (!) caterwauls the theme song “The Word is Love” over the closing credits. Oy Vey offers wacky misunderstandings, laughs, tears, hugs – and rest assured heartwarming life lessons are learned along the way! If you still want to watch it, Oy Vey is free – as it should be! - on Amazon Prime. Apparently, it’s viewable on YouTube, too. (Thanks to columnist Michael Musto for recommending this monstrosity. Musto also recommended Disco Godfather recently. He never steers me wrong!).