Well … the summer heat is here and time to celebrate. Libations are in hand, or iced tea and lemonade for those abstaining. Time to lay on the pool deck and soak in the gorgeous sunlight. June, also, marks the start of Pride Month. What began as a riot slowly morphed into a party, then back into a riot again, then into an excuse for a parade; but what about now? Funny how the summer months contain such histories of struggle. Next month commemorates the American collective’s and so forth. But when I look at the Construction, it is that part about the pursuit of happiness that always caught my eye. Watching this collection of shows and documentaries made me proud in that pursuit. And I hope you’ll enjoy them as well.
HBO Max has an array of LGBT programming but none caught my eye like Pee-Wee as Himself. Produced while Paul Reubens was still alive, director/interviewer Matt Wolf took 40 hours of footage to create this document of the late comedian’s legacy. Split into two parts, this chronicle of the rise and fall of a cult icon was more fascinating than I thought it would be.
I grew up watching Pee-Wee’s Playhouse without knowledge of where it began and even the mind behind which it sprung up. Learning about his family and interviews with his sister create a complete portrait of a man who was actually quite guarded. That poindexter gonzo persona; Reubens wore this like a mask hiding, deep insecurities and quiet passions. Even as he tells the interviewer about his early life in San Francisco and West Hollywood; Paul releases his words slowly, still careful who might hear. Things he confesses to, he later recants in a half-joking way. Oh I didn’t mean that. Listening to his friends, you see a genuinely earnest man. Cassandra Peterson a.k.a Elvira speaks most reverently, kindred spirit in the art of inhabiting roles. I knew some of the scandal surrounding his later years, but when we got to the false allegations of profane material it really had me shocked at how far politicians would go for clout. A must watch for fans and casuals alike.
Speaking of playing a role, Amazon’s Overcompensating has to be one of the most hilarious shows I have seen. It might also be the most triggering. Benito Skinner, star and creator, plays Benny; a college freshman who is just trying to fit in. He played football, drank beer and has a poster of Megan Fox on his wall. Only it is just an act. He is harboring some crippling fears that he will be found out. So much so that he tries to hook up with a girl the first weekend. It doesn’t go over well, but he makes a great friend in Carmen.
Wally Baram brings the same attitude she brought to her writing gigs on Shrinking and What We Do In The Shadows to her first headlining role. She and Skinner feel like best friends without missing a beat. This school is where Benny’s sister Grace also attends. She is the prim and proper young daughter to their parents, played beautifully by Kyle McLachlan and Connie Britton. Grace’s boyfriend Peter is a real bros’ bro, part of an elite secret society on campus. But like all the characters, these are just impersonations of what they think they should be. All the while, those resentments bubble to the surface adding to the comedy and drama.
Like I said before, the cringe factor of this series wasn’t because of sympathy but in solidarity. Skinner has crafted a show so deeply personal that I couldn’t help but see myself in his turmoil. Those fears were mine, as they are for so many. Watching Grace try to recapture her punk girl past and Benny running into an old friend who got away in episode seven, my laughter gave way to tears of joy. Along the way, sometime we have to show our true colors. And as the strains of Charli xcx (executive music producer here) play us out, I wonder if we will all be okay. All this writer can say is; keep dancing, my friends.
