Page 1 / 2 - Home

The episode was significant on several levels. Humor often allows touchy subjects to be addressed in ways that get past viewers' protective walls. Last night's episode probably did more to educate viewers on why the use of the word “fag” is inappropriate than a year's worth of well-intentioned public service announcements could ever do.

But The Office went one better. Oscar was never the butt of the show's jokes—that was usually his ignorant, homophobic co-workers who think gay people wear dresses, who giggle uncontrollably at the thought someone is gay, or gullibly believe that “gaydar” is a product to be ordered online.

The episode even winks at one of the more au courant stereotypes about gay people: that just being gay makes us more interesting in and of itself. One co-worker remarks to Oscar that she had underestimated him. Another seems thrilled to be working with a real homosexual and says that he is cool like Ian McKellen. The joke, of course, is that he isn't cool or particularly interesting just because he's gay. Gay, the slyly show tells the audience, is just gay.

Nor was Oscar some sainted, suffering homosexual silently suffering the slings and arrows of his co-workers ignorance.

Oscar didn't even want to be out in the first place. His homosexuality is something he's kept from his co-workers. Even after it's clear everyone knows his secret, he tries to lie to the camera claiming to be baffled as to why anyone would think he's gay. Whether it's shame, fear, or embarrassment, Oscar is not an out and proud homosexual.

Oscar is also allowed his anger when he tells he co-workers he didn't want them knowing he was gay or tells off Michael for being a jerk.

Indeed, throughout the episode Oscar is treated like a real character rather than a stock gay stereotype. He's not perfect. In fact, at the end of the day, he's like every other employee who has a job at the company. He dresses badly, would clearly be rather anywhere but work, and is a little bit banal.

Best of all, when he threatens to leave the company because of Michael's actions, he ends up staying. Not because of an In and Out stand-up-together-to-be-counted-and-cheer moment, but because the company offers him three months paid vacation and a company car. Oscar, you see, can be bought.

By keeping Oscar, human, fallible and in on the joke, rather than the butt of the joke, The Office, does something that many shows on the subject rarely do (with maybe the exception of Six Feet Under or The Sopranos): they truly make him one of the gang. And that is something worth applauding.

The Office airs Thursday nights at 8:30 pm on NBC

Page 1 / 2 - Home