Seven series from the 80s I'd like to see revived with a gay twist

In response to NBC's upcoming revival of Knight Rider, New York Magazine's Vulture Blog compiled a list of TV shows from the 80's more deserving of a revival. Gay visibility on television took a number of forward steps in the 80s, but those were mostly characters who'd make a few guest appearances. Here are some shows whose revival could appeal to our nostalgia while also adding to the small number of gay characters on television.

Too Close for Comfort

Too Close for Comfort started out as a sitcom about a San Francisco couple dealing with their daughters' stepping into independence and adulthood, but took a turn when Jim J Bullock appeared as Monroe Ficus. Monroe was meant to appear in just one episode, but the character worked so well (especially against Ted Knight's easily frustrated Henry Rush) that Bullock was a full cast member in the second season. Since then, Bullock has come out, been a fixture on Hollywood Squares, co-hosted a short-lived talk show with Tammy Faye and provided the voice for Queer Duck ... it could be interesting to see Bullock play Monroe once more, only this time as an openly gay man who's become more comfortable with who he is -- even if he's no more physically coordinated than when he left a meatball on Henry Rush's ceiling.

Bosom Buddies

In the original Bosom Buddies two straight guys dress as women to be able to live in a women-only building where the rent is cheap ... but what if one of the guys in the new version were a drag performer? It'd require a careful balancing act to avoid broad stereotypes, but there could be some great comedy in seeing a performer used to playing "fierce" women learn to take a more mundane personality while in drag.

Scarecrow and Mrs King

With former Charlie's Angels and Making Love star, Kate Jackson, in one of the lead roles, I always figured Scarecrow and Mrs. King had a gay following; the concept seems ripe for a revival with a gay twist. Jackson played a divorcée who gets accidentally drawn into a world of international espionage by Lee "Scarecrow" Stetson (Bruce Boxleitner). Gays have been long wishing for a gay version of the dashing international spy (we'll see that wish granted Robert Gant's first Jacob Keane film debuts on Here!) and if a remake of Scarecrow and Mrs. King featured a gay agent "Scarecrow" there could be not only some action and intrigue, but also a twist on the usual gay male/straight female friendship. 

It's a Living

This workplace comedy about five independent women who were good friends and worked together at an upscale restaurant came from the same producers who gave us gay inclusive shows like Soap and The Golden Girls. It was also a show that lasted longer than expected, having been canceled twice before settling into a four year run in syndication. A revived It's a Living could work as a de-glamorized Sex and the City - instead of going to fabulous restaurants, these singles serve the food and drinks. However, a couple gay characters would also update this show nicely, especially since so many gay characters on TV are employed as waiters.

We Got It Made

It feels like almost every season has a show that has a huge debut, only to lose viewers once people actually see the show. In 1983, We Got It Made was that show. An innuendo-laden sitcom about two bachelor roommates (one played by the late Tom Villard, who was openly gay and best known for his role in One Crazy Summer) who hire a sexy live-in maid, Mickie (Teri Copley), much to the chagrin of their girlfriends. When the show originally aired, I was too young to realize that it wasn't any good (all I remember is the show's addictive "Bah bah dah bah... BAHM!" theme song, really). I never realized that Villard was gay, either, and that got me thinking that this sitcom might be have been a little more interesting if one of the two guys were gay... at the least, it'd give some variety to the innuendo-based humor. 

Paper Dolls

This short-lived soap opera about intrigue and backstabbing in the modeling industry was so campy and trashy that it's still fairly well remembered despite its short run. Considering how models are all the rage on reality TV these days, perhaps its time we revisited the Racine Modeling Agency, this time with some hunky male models as part of the drama and supporting characters who reflect the gay men working in different areas of the fashion industry.

Remote Control

In 1987, MTV debuted its first original, non-music program, a cheesy TV-themed game show set in the basement of Ken Ober, whose admiration of game show hosts motivated him to create his own show. The series was deliberately cheesy and frequently irreverent, with categories like "Dead or Canadian".

When I saw this one on the Vulture's list, I started wondering what Remote Control would be like if Ken were gay and his pop culture obsession was combined with a yearning to find gay role models while growing up. Categories like "Gay or Gaydar" would challenge contestants to separate gay characters from the ones that just seemed really gay. Another category could challenge guests to remember openly gay actors' embarrassing early roles from Ellen DeGeneres' Open House to John Barrowman on Central Park West (gay pop culture fans do seem to enjoy knowing every detail of an openly gay performer's resume). I imagine a drag performer will take over the new version of "Sing along with Colin".

Remote Control frequently brought wacky characters to ask questions, which introduced young audiences to Adam Sandler and Dennis Leary (whose characters included Andy Warhol). It'd be a great side effect if a gay remake of Remote Control helped bring attention to some talented gay comedians in a similar way.