The Problematic Gaze

• Will, Grace, and the Closet: When Queer Pain Became Primetime Comedy

  This week on The Problematic Gaze, we hop in our Telly Tardis and jump between the year 2000 and 1985 — courtesy of Will & Grace’s infamous two-parter, Lows in the Mid-Eighties. It’s the big bang of the Will & Grace universe, where we witness the origin stories of our favorite neurotic New Yorkers: Will's awkward coming out, Grace's wedding-that-wasn’t, Jack’s dramatic entrance (obviously), and Karen… just being Karen, with fewer highlights, even less shame and Martina Navratilova!In this episode we focus on the US sitcom Will and Grace with the two-part "Lows in the Mid-Eighties" episodes (episodes 8 and 9 of season 3)We break down the fashion crimes, the emotional chaos, and the surprisingly heartfelt moments buried under layers of hairspray and shoulder pads. Was this a nostalgic masterpiece, or a chaotic retcon with a laugh track? So slip into your acid-wash denim, crank up the Eurythmics, and join us for a walk down memory lane — one that’s paved with drama, denial, and deeply questionable hair choices.Click here to follow us on all our socialsPlease leave us a review wherever you get your podcasts. They really help to spread the word of The Problematic Gaze.  And if our fellow Gazers want to comment on what they've heard in our episodes, or to suggest future topics, please email us at [email protected]. We love hearing from you!Gazer Homework: Click here to watch 'The Stepford Wives' from 1975 on YouTube

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• Smize, Cry, Conform: The Messy Legacy of America’s Next Top Model

  Greetings from PG Towers! Join social historian Dr Lee Arnott and TV Producer Dave Moor for a lighthearted look at the world of TV,  Film and Popular Culture from yesteryear.  This week, we deep dive into 'America's Nest Top Model', the US reality show launched in 2003. Now heavily criticised for its promotion of unhealthy body images and questionable racist undertones, this immensely popular show highlights how the modelling industry, and reality TV can age like a glass of fine milk! Click her to watch 'Top 20 Outrageous America's Next Top Model Moments' discussed in this podcast.Click here to follow us on all our socialsPlease leave us a review wherever you get your podcasts. They really help to spread the word of The Problematic Gaze.   And if our fellow Gazers want to comment on what they've heard in our episodes, or to suggest future topics, please email us at [email protected]. We love hearing from you!Gazer Homework: In our next episode we focus on the US sitcom Will and Grace with the two-part "Lows in the Mid-Eighties" episodes (episodes 8 and 9 of season 3)

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• The Monarchy’s Most Bizarre PR Stunt: What "It’s a Royal Knockout" Says About Power and Spectacle

  Greetings from PG Towers! Join social historian Dr Lee Arnott and TV Producer Dave Moor for a lighthearted look at the world of TV,  Film and Popular Culture from yesteryear.  This week, we deep dive into the one off TV event 'It's A Royal Knockout' from 1987. It's a time when Princess Diana had the world in her thrall and the rest of the Royal family fumed in her shadow. Prince Edward decided it would be a great idea to plunge Princess Anne, Fergie and (ahem) Prince Andrew into the world of celebrity, with a special version of It's A Knockout. Cue a series of silly games, pomp and pageantry. Celebrities of all ilk appeared. Where else would you get Su Pollard and John Travolta on the same billing? The result is a mix of fever dream and LSD trip. Not for the faint hearted, pour yourself a stiff drink and buckle up! What could possibly go wrong? Quite a lot it seems!!Click here to watch on YouTube  'It's A Royal Knockout'Click here to follow us on all our socialsPlease leave us a review wherever you get your podcasts. They really help to spread the word of The Problematic Gaze.   And if our fellow Gazers want to comment on what they've heard in our episodes, or to suggest future topics, please email us at [email protected]. We love hearing from you!Gazer Homework: In our next episode we focus on the US reality show 'Americas Next Top Model'  Click here to watch the 'Top 20 Outrageous Moments.' clip we will focus on.

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• Angels or Objects? The 70s Show That Sold Feminism in a Bikini: 'Charlie's Angels'

  Greetings from PG Towers! Join social historian Dr Lee Arnott and TV Producer Dave Moor for a lighthearted look at the world of TV,  Film and Popular Culture from yesteryear.  This week, we step back to into the world of high glam, high fashion and crime busting women with an episode of hit US crime drama 'Charlie's Angels' from 1976. What can these plucky females tell us about the representation of women on the television in the mid seventies? Feminist statement or yet more female exploitation? All is discussed. And just what is Dave's beef with Dr Lee concerning Double Deckers? Click here to watch on YouTube our chosen episode of 'Charlie's Angels'Click here to follow us on all our socialsPlease leave us a review wherever you get your podcasts. They really help to spread the word of The Problematic Gaze.   And if our fellow Gazers want to comment on what they've heard in our episodes, or to suggest future topics, please email us at [email protected]. We love hearing from you!Gazer Homework: In our next episode we focus on the British gameshow featuring the royal family, It's A Royal Knockout from 1987. Click here to watch on YouTube 

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• 'The Young Ones' UK Sitcom from 1984. Punks, Puke and University Challenge

  Greetings from PG Towers! Join social historian Dr Lee Arnott and TV Producer Dave Moor for a lighthearted look at the world of TV,  Film and Popular Culture from yesteryear.  This week, we step back into the world of the grotty student flatshare with an episode of the anarchic cult sitcom 'The Young Ones' from 1984.Click here to watch our chosen episode of 'The Young Ones' from 1984.Click here to follow us on all our socialsPlease leave us a review wherever you get your podcasts. They really help to spread the word of The Problematic Gaze. And if our fellow Gazers want to comment on what they've heard in our episodes, or to suggest future topics, please email us at [email protected]. We love hearing from you!Gazer Homework: In our next episode we focus on the US drama 'Charlies Angels' from 1976. Click here to watch on YouTube

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