by Lyle Masaki

Discuss: What shows deserve John Barrowman more than "Desperate Housewives"?

It sounded great for a second. When I first heard that John Barrowman was in talks for a role on Desperate Housewives, I was excited by the possibility. After all, my first exposure to Barrowman was on the campy soap (and spectacular failure) Central Park West, and Barrowman would fit well on the vividly-colored Wisteria Lane.

But then I quickly realized that I had felt that kind of anticipation before. Between the arrival of Alfre Woodard, the promise of desperate househusbands Bob and Lee and waiting for Lily Tomlin to get screen time, Desperate Housewives doesn't exactly have a good record in living up to my hopes (Dixie Carter and Valerie Mahaffey excepted).

With my hopes falling as quickly as they rose, my mind quickly switched to imagining Barrowman being better used on other shows. Here's where my mind went:

Gossip Girl

Okay, this is a dangerous suggestion, considering how the only wasted potential on Gossip Girl have all come with the series' gayest episodes, but it's hard to resist the potential of Barrowman being in another melodrama with a camp sensibility. The obvious idea would have Barrowman as a hot professor who gets Dan questioning his sexuality, as Dan does in the books. Still, I think it'd work better to have Barrowman as a spoiler in the Rufus/Lily relationship. Or maybe, he could play a former ADA on the run from the law after a privileged life in Central Park West.

The Big Bang Theory

While I've been charmed by CBS' nerd-com, I have been underwhelmed by the way the show has handled Sara Gilbert's recurring role. She usually has a leg up on the guys, but maybe it's time to see her lose that advantage with Barrowman appearing as himself (a nod to Summer Glau's earlier appearance) and Leslie outed as a secret Torchwood fangirl. A secret shame and ammo for Sheldon to use (especially one so unlike the Leslie we know so far) might give Leslie a new side to explore.

Between the soapiness, the big designs and Jane Badler's tough-as-nails villainess, the original V had a pretty gay sensibility. Hopefully, that won't get left behind when ABC revisits the concept this fall in order to establish how this version is so much more serious and smarter than the last version. I could see him as one of Anna's (the new Diana, from all appearances) Lieutenants, mixing the grim with the camp.

Glee

With the likes of Kristen Chenoweth, Victor Garber and Cheyenne Jackson scheduled for guest-appearances or recurring roles, Barrowman would fit in well, especially considering the way the Glee pilot used music to bring some earnestly cheesy moments as well as twisted, inappropriate laughs... maybe he can be the kind of chorus director who finds "Rehab" an appropriate song for a glee club?

Supernatural

If you've already got the two sexiest guys in sci-fi on your show, why not add the guy who (last we checked) came in third to the show and consolidate that advantage. I could see Barrowman channeling the maverick spirit of Captain Jack into a rival hunter who antagonizes the Winchester boys the way Bella did a couple seasons back. I know I was one of only five Supernatural fans who liked Bella, but maybe history won't repeat itself if the rivalry is mixed with a generous amount of hoyay.

Those are my thoughts, have any suggestions to add?

Lyle Masaki's blog

Submitted by

Lyle Masaki

on Tue, 2009-08-04 08:00.

TAGS ::

My head just exploded

Submitted by

Ed Kennedy (6314 points) (1176 posts)

on Tue, 2009-08-04 08:10.

I was all set to endorse Glee for Barrowman (DH only works for me if they give him Edie's role, and let him be a maneating tramp), then you had to toss Supernatural into the mix. I think he's a horrible fit for the show, and yet I get some sort of perverse pleasure at the thought of him camping it up opposite Dean, who wouldn't know what to do with him.

And if it turned out awful I could always just watch with the sound off.

no votes

Welcome to AfterElton.com!

by Lyle Masaki

Who's online

Discuss: What shows deserve John Barrowman more than "Desperate Housewives"?

Recent Comments

Recent blog posts

New forum topics