Look, I’m fully aware that the "I’m not gay, but you are!" banter between Ryan Seacrest and Simon Cowell is an annual rite of passage on American Idol, but isn’t it time these boys graduated to something a little less homophobic, a little less sophomoric, and a little more appropriate for a show that bills itself as family programming? I mean, it’s 2007 — did these guys miss the Seinfeld "not that there’s anything wrong with it" episode? And what’s next, dropping the good old-fashioned, "f—-t" bomb?
For those of you who missed last night’s episode, PopWatch has the YouTube clip, but if it gets removed, I’ve also included a transcript, which started over a discussion of contestant Melinda Doolittle’s uncomfortable shoes.
Ryan: "Simon, any advice on the high heels?"
Simon: "You should know, Ryan."
Ryan: "Stay out of my closet!"
Simon: "Come out!"
Ryan: "This is about the top 12, okay? Not your wishes."
Simon: [Laughs heartily.]
Ryan: [Grinning like an idiot.] "We’re friends."
Urgh. Haven’t most of us been hearing a variation on this depressing routine since fifth grade? Judging from the live audience’s tepid laughter, it seems like the answer is yes. But what do you think, PopWatchers? Am I missing a good opportunity to laugh, or is it time Ryan and Simon focused on the music and saved their "comedy" act for a different forum?
It’s not particularly funny but….on that same token, it’s not particularly offensive either. Besides, it’s Seacrest. Who really cares about Seacrest?
oh…and who was the instigator? That’s right…it was Seacrest. Don’t start what you can’t handle.
It’s annoying, THEY’RE annoying, but the show is so average with the lack of talent they’ve managed to foist upon us, I guess they feel the need to fill with inane banter.
That was really uncomfortable to watch.
Simon won this round.
The homophobic slurs were enough to make me stop watching after Season 2, and I haven’t watched since.
Couldn’t they all just go away, please? Pretty please? I think I’d like to see Seabiscuit and Simon have a knife fight. Or maybe Randy can go all Hannibal Lechter on Paula. Now that is reality television that I could get behind…
Ryan Seacrest is gayer than Elton John’s fanny pack, so I just pity him for not being able to be open about what he really is – a total bottom!
It was like Ryan bated him! If you watch Ryan preside over the red carpet and alll the other places he is on, he works so hard to hammer home the idea that he is not gay. He does the same thing here too. Its really annoying and frustrating.
Why even comment? You don’t comment on any other cheesy jokes they make about Paula…why is it necessary here? It’s not offensive and shouldn’t be taken as any kind of a slur. I personally thought it was funny, but I also thought that people in the media would blow it out of proportion. I guess this is the case in point.
Funny is that Simon is married. Seacrest gets flack for allegedly being gay all the time, which he is constantly denying. Is this there way of trying to tell the world?
What’s odd to me about all this is how these guys pull this homophobe act in front of Randy, who I read somewhere (thought it was Wikipedia) is actually gay.
Which is ironic, because Randy’s frequent use of words like “dawg” probably have folks thinking he’s the show’s only resident straight guy
Wait, Randy is gay? I don’t even think that is right…absoultely no gaydar reading on him.
I have to agree with JP, but I think the term is “power bottom”. There is no way that Sea-hag is the pitcher. DEFINITELY receiver material.
Correction to my previous comment:
I can not find the source that had said that, so I may be totally wrong on it. Anyone know if Randy’s married to a lady still? I had read somewhere that he was divorced and was with a DP, but now can’t find it for confirmation…
Simon and Ryan’s banter is always uncomfortable, whether they are playing the “You’re gayer than I am” game or not. There is a fine line between what’s funny and what’s insulting, and they croseed the line ages ago. I know that they are supposed to be pals in real life, but leave the schoolyard games off the show.