Ask the Flying Monkey! (May 20, 2009)

Q: I recently watched the final few episodes of Dirty Sexy Money, and to my surprise, John Schneider played a gay senator. I know he’s a Christian, but did I jump to conclusions to assume he leans to the right politically? (If you have seen those Dukes of Hazards photos of him in tight jeans, you know he leans to the right in more ways than one!) -- Bambino Italiano

A: Now hold on there, Bambino – this is my column, and I’ll make the cheeky, funny comments, thank you very much! The first rule of writing to the Flying Monkey is that you can’t be wittier than he is.

As to how “right” Schneider leans, it’s true that Schneider is a born-again Christian. But a typical right-winger? I’m not so sure. After all, he became born again after living with Johnny and June Carter Cash, and Johnny, while a devout Christian, was a close friend of Al Gore, a Native American rights activist, and an opponent of the Iraq War – about as far from the typical right-winger as you can get.

(Speaking of Cash, do yourself a favor and go listen to “The Man Comes Around,” the title track from his 2002 CD that is even better than “Hurt,” the break-out single. Do it now!)

Anyway, I’d like to believe that Schneider, like Cash, is one of those Christians you don’t hear much about: the open-minded, non-sanctimonious, deeply empathic kind. You know – the ones who actually imitate Christ?

For the record, at 49-years-old, Schneider still looks pretty fricking amazing.

Schneider then and now. Does he still lean to the right ... politically?

Q: I know you guys are tied to the Logo network, but I would like to know what has been going on over at here! TV. Last year they had a great podcast that they were turning into a TV show (The Ben and Dave Show), when suddenly Ben was gone from the network. This year they had several great podcasts, and now they’ve dropped all of them. Is this some straight-owned network that doesn’t know what they're doing, or just some corporation only looking at the bottom line? Now they have even canceled their Hot Gay Comics TV show. – Scott, Rochester Hills, MI

A: Ben Harvey left the network in April to work for the gay radio show, Radio with a Twist (currently on hiatus).

Will he work with Dave Rubin again? “Funny you ask, because we’re reunited and back in action with a new show,” Ben tells the Flying Monkey. “It’s called So What, Who Cares? – an SNL/Joy Behar/The View reference. It’s a podcast – for now.”

Ben Harvey and Dave Rubin

As for here!, they’ve shifted their priorities away from podcasts to network programming – though one former podcast, Josh and Sara, is still being filmed for TV. Hot Gay Comics hasn’t been canceled and is still airing new episodes. And I can’t speak to how “bottom-line” the network is, but I can tell you it’s owned by two men – one straight (Stephen P. Jarchow), but also one gay (Paul Colichman).

And for the record, while AfterElton.com is owned by Logo/MTV, we’re editorially independent.

Q: I was watching The 2009 TV Land Awards (loved Neil Patrick Harris) and I had a question about the Home Improvement cast. Jonathan Taylor Thomas was missing from the group. Is there bad blood between him and the Home Improvement cast and crew? Also, what is he up to now? -- Reid, Orlando, FL

A: I’m not saying anything that hasn’t already been explored in much greater depth on E!’s True Hollywood Story, but yes, there was reportedly bad blood between Jonathan and the Home Improvement cast (especially Tim Allen) when he left mid-way through the eighth season, and didn’t return for the finale the following year, because he had landed movie roles (as hard as it is to imagine now, Thomas was then a Very Big Deal).

“I think he might be in New York going to school now, so maybe he didn’t want to take a flight out to L.A.,” TV bro Zachary Ty Bryan told TV Guide, though he says the actor did attend his wedding three years ago.

Nonetheless, Thomas’ absence got plenty of tongues wagging. Was it lingering resentment?

Thomas wasn’t talking – nor is he interested in telling AfterElton.com readers what he’s up to lately. He didn’t respond to a recent interview request.

Jonathan Taylor Thomas