To me, the series premiere of ABC’s new, Tim Allen-led sitcom Last Man Standing seemed simply annoying, what with its low-brow and overly testosterone-fueled humor. Read the full post.
Oct 12
2011
12:00 AM ET
'Last Man Standing' series premiere features a seemingly homophobic 'joke': Were you offended?
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Yes I got censored by EW although I didn’t use foul language
This whole article is a bit juvenile and reaching at best.
it’s unfortunate they had to stoop to that level. but, it’s also realistic that we don’t have parents that are well-educated and close-minded, and would make such a comment. at the same time, i don’t think it’s right and very easily should’ve been omitted. i just feel like, anyone who says it’s an overreaction or ludicrous to worry about this – just think of these young kids, sitting to watch tv with their parents, questioning their feelings and watching their mom/dad laugh at a joke like that. and then have them feel like what they’re feeling is wrong — and could potentially lead to thoughts of suicide or actually committing the act. i think when this was brought up to state it was offensive and they were given the option to keep it or remove it, they plain and simple, made the wrong decision. it’s a shame tim allen got involved in the conversation, because it tarnishes the way i view him now.
Young kids shouldn’t be so obsessed about their sexuality.
EXACTLY!
Your offense is understandable, but I think you have to make a distinction between being gay and being effeminate. The two are not the same thing, of course. One can be manly and be gay; one can be effeminate and straight. Even in the gay community, these distinctions are maintained; thus “dancing on a float” in a boa is considered by many men — gay or straight — to be a flamboyant, effeminate act. Things like that can even drive gay men crazy because — again — you can’t equate being gay with being effeminate. You can be pro-gay or literally gay and find float dancing a wee bit ridiculous.
And, there’s something wrong with being effeminate? I get that you’re saying that not all gays are effeminate, but at the same time, people act like the more masculine you are, the better you are. There are effeminate gays, masculine gays, effeminate straights, so what? People care so much about labeling everything. Be whoever you want to be.
It seems like Tim Allen’s explanation is sufficient and reasonable. If the joke is specifically meant to illustrate the character’s close-mindedness, then it worked, didn’t it?
First if you were offended, then that is your right and it is unfortunate. Secondly (and having not read every previous post I may be repeating someone else) I don’t understand how being in a parade would be unmanly or uncool. Ferris Bueller was in a parade and he’s awesome. The military has parades. Santa has an annual parade. Every time a sports team wins a Superbowl, Stanley Cup or World Series they get a parade. Parades are awesome!
Matthew Broderick is gay!
um, no he’s not?
Can I sell u a bridge Mary?
Every station I watch has had liberal mumbo jumbo on it, so who cares if this one leans left. As for the joke it was one mans opinion about men dancing. The fact that your that upset makes me smile. Settle down
You mean leans *right*?
This is why All In The Family was a peerless sitcom. Archie said the worst things but it came through that he was a bigot. In this case, the joke was not funny and the script did not make it clear that Tim Allen’s character was a bigot. That’s the difference. Bad joke and should have been taken out of the script.
I agree. If it had been clear he was going for the Archie Bunker effect, that’s understandable. I think they were sort of going for that based on the daughter’s response. All in the Family always made it clear that Archie’s views were not ok and the fact that he was such a bigot was the funny part. I definitely didn’t get that impression here. It may not seem like a big deal to many of you, but it is little things like this that made me feel like being gay is not acceptable when I was growing up. I also don’t like that it fuels the image that all gays dance on floats for those who do not know any LGBT people. It’s very far from the truth. It was just a poorly written script in general.
Are we going to start calling out Archie Bunker for all his racist and homophobic views as well?
That’s the character. He’s an insecure “man’s man”, and there are few things a person like that fears than a child or grandchild NOT being a man’s man.
I try to be open to complaints and grumblings about offensive jokes and characters and the like, but this was just silly.
And most importantly, it just wasn’t funny. Not the joke. Not the show.
Holy cow, man. Relax. No young, curious person even knows who Tim Allen is, let alone watches this kind of show. People get offended over everything these days. Don’t be so sensitive about being called “sensitive”.
Offense can only be given to those who take offense.
If I took offense every time someone said anything not on the up & up about Canadians, females, mormons, native american, or anything else that I am it would make for a very stressful life.
Some comments do cross the line. Problem is, everyone has a different idea where the line is. So I say, pick your battles. By all means, take offense but don’t expect everybody else to be up in arms…
So you are a native american Canadian mormon?
WATCH OUT! YOU’LL BE SNITCHED ON!
I for one found the show refreshing, thank you Tim Allen, oh no, aren’t I suppose to be offended? I mean I’m a woman and I liked his cave man type character, better write a 2 page essay on how much I’m offended……..nah
Um… I am trying to read between the lines to find the sarcasm or the joking… It is fine to dislike a lifestyle or disagree with anything, really, but there is no need to make a blanket rude comment like this. But if you must please don’t feel the need to speak for ‘everyone’. I for one can tell you that I am not laughing at “them” when I go home at night.
MY GOD A JOKE YOU DONT AGREE WITH!!!
It would be a far worse tragedy if a kid ended up like Tim Allen.