'Will & Grace' And 'Cheers' Director On The Politics Of Equality And TV's Golden Age - The Beat MSNBC

[Rhiannon12866]

James Burrows, acclaimed director of iconic television shows for five decades, helped pave the way for LGBTQ representation in American media with hit shows like “Cheers” and “Will & Grace.” Burrows joins MSNBC’s Ari Melber on the relationship between politics and culture and some of the TV “firsts” he helped present to the American household, adding “I figured if it was funny enough, people would come to the dance and not be… intolerant.” - Aired on 08/23/2022.

[SheltieLover]

1. Kicking for visibility

[Rhiannon12866]

2. He makes an excellent point, if the show is well written and funny enough, it leads to acceptance

In real life.

[SheltieLover]

3. Of course!

[Rhiannon12866]

4. My mother, who was not that open minded, was a huge fan of "Frasier" - for only one reason

She had been David Pierce's (Frasier's brother Niles) Sunday school teacher! And I know he wasn't gay on the show, but she loved him as a talented little kid, so she was proud of him and accepting of him as an adult.

[SheltieLover]

5. That's so cool!

[NullTuples]

6. I think Kelsey Grammar was one of the few straight actors on the show?

[Rhiannon12866]

7. I don't think that John Mahoney, who played the Dad, was gay - though he never married

Since my mother watched the show whenever it was on, I've seen most episodes numerous times and one sticks in my mind when a woman Frasier was interested in assumed that Martin was gay and tried to "fix him up" with her gay friend - so he pretended to be having a relationship with an unsuspecting Niles. Funny show!

[NullTuples]

8. He never confirmed it to the press. I've heard enough to believe he was, but respect his privacy.