Best. Gay. Week. Ever. (January 22, 2010)

DON’T LET PERFECT BE THE ENEMY OF GOOD
The news this week that Fox had ordered a script for a possible U.S. version of Torchwood set off our usual battle royale in the comments whenever the subject comes up. I swear I could post Captain Jack's grocery list and get fifty comments in ten minutes.

Our own poll showed 50% of readers thought the idea to be “an abomination greater than Ianto’s death and the extinction of all life on earth combined" or something like that.

Burn Fox! Tar and feather RTD!
And get that idiot editor of AfterElton.com!

Actually, the poll showed that a bare majority of 51% would be willing to at least give the show a chance. Of that, only 4% said they would definitely watch while of the no vote, 21% said "HELL NO, BAD IDEA" and another 21% said "After what happened to Ianto, this show is dead to me."

I, on the other hand, can't wait. Seriously.

For those of you still here and who didn't immediately proceed to the comments to demand my resignation, head on a platter, and/or forcing me to watch episodes of Miami Social for eternity, here are my reasons. 

BTW, the following assumes The Powers That Be don't just simply open up a Torchwood: Boise and staff it with all new characters. I think most TW fans agree that what makes the show click so well is Captain Jack and without him, well, it really would be pointless. So with that in mind...

1) I’m for anything that increases scripted gay visibility on television (that isn't offensive), especially when it comes to genre programming. Remember it's only tonight, after 57 Star Trek spin-offs, the way-too-late reveal via webisode(!) that Battlestar Galactica's Gaeta was a 'mo and years of SyFy programming that did no better than give us a gay coffee shop owner without much to do, that U.S. viewers are finally getting a gay male character on a sci fi show that is significant. (If you missed the news, he's on SyFy's Caprica. It should also be noted it was only last fall that SyFy added a lesbian character in a major role.)

VINCENT: Hey, it's Joe the Bartender from Grey's Anatomy.
His part is even smaller than mine! Woo hoo!

So count me all in for a major broadcast network doing a version of a hugely successful show with major queer characters. 

2) Love it or hate, the fact of the matter is Russell T Davies and Torchwood brought us one of the most compelling queer characters and same-sex relationships we’ve ever covered. And like it or not, unlike some gay writers out there, Davies doesn't shy away from gay content even if you don't always like what he does with it. (And I certainly don't.)

3) Remember, Fox is the network doing a show called Glee. I've seen some folks against the idea of Fox being the network to do a version of Torchwood for a variety of reasons. Some argue that Fox is hostile to gays and Lord knows, I've had my issues with the network. (Hi, Nigel? How's things? Why haven't you called?) But Fox is the network currently letting out writer Ryan Murphy do pretty much whatever he wants with Glee including some pretty great stuff with Kurt. The network also did a great story arc a couple of years ago with Rami on The War at Home, so I don't think we can conclude they will instantly de-gay Torchwood.

Next page! Torchwood = Shakespeare?