Ask the Flying Monkey (November 26, 2008)

Q: I can't recall a single out cast member of Saturday Night Live. Considering how many cast members there have been, I'm certain that I'm mistaken and must be making a huge oversight, but really, I can't think of any! Have you any insight on this? – Chris

A: In fact, SNL has still only had a single out gay performer, Terry Sweeney, back in the 1985-86 season.

SNL's 1985 cast: Randy Quaid (top left), Robert Downey (top center), (bottom row, left to right) Nora Dunn, Danitra Vance, Anthony Michael Hall,
Terry Sweeney, Joan Cusack and Jon Lovitz.

Sweeney was known mostly for his Nancy Reagan impression, but he was actually the first out gay actor as a regular on a TV show ever. He, along with his partner who was a writer on SNL, left the show after that single season. They’re still working TV writers, but like Mark Patton, the Monkey has made repeated attempts to contact him, all without success.

As for SNL, the Monkey’s sources tell him that there have been quite a few other gay regulars in the show’s 34 seasons, but none chose to be out. And there have only been two out gay male hosts: Alan Cumming (in 2000) and Ian McKellen (in 2002).

SNL hosts (and hot tub enthusiasts!) McKellen (left) and Cumming

Still, the show does occasionally audition out performers for its Not Ready for Prime Time Players (including at least one, Michael Serrato, from The Big Gay Sketch Show). And as of several months ago, the current writing team of 15 included three out gay folks (including the head writer, who is a lesbian).

Q: Given the ignorant statements Elton John recently gave in the press, isn't it time to change the name of this website? -- Terry

A: Yes, John has a chronic case of foot-in-mouth disease, doesn’t he? But let’s not forget the man has raised and donated tens of millions of dollars for AIDS charities. That pays for more than a few gaffes in the Monkey’s mind.

Plus, it would be such a pain to change our name and letterhead.

For the record, we'll have a response from David Furnish, John's partner, on the whole Elton John/Prop 8 imbroglio later today.

Elton John (right) with "civil union partner" David Furnish

A: The Monkey has heard some talk. And on some level, the Monkey believes that the members of the different churches are responsible for the actions of their leaders. That’s why the Monkey left the Catholic Church when he was 21 — he couldn’t countenance what the priests, bishops, and pope were doing in the Monkey's name (and this, mind you, was before we learned that these same folks had spent decades enabling pedophiles!).

Next page! Twilight's Pattinson puts the "boy" in boycott.