ONTD Original™ - Christmas Edition: Make the Yueltide Gayer Pt. 2
The holidays can be rough, ONTD. Between 2017 coming to the ends of the earth for us all and having to deal with family issues, the holidays can bring as much trouble as joy, if not more so. The Christmas specials we watch every year often tell tales of a group of outcasts, whether it's literally titled "The Island of Misfit" Toys ft. a flamboyant elf dentist, a gay lumberjack, and a red-nosed reindeer from Rudolph or Community's chosen family, including Abed, shown above.
But rarely do those allegories render into reality with LGBT people: after all, where are our Christmas narratives?
In part one of this series, I tried to any whiff of gayness in Christmas or barely Christmas-related films and indie films and bring them back to ONTD. As a reminder, I had three basic requirements:
- If it isn't about Christmas, it has to be at least set around the time period or in the month of December
- It doesn't have to be centrally gay, but it has to have at least one explicitly gay character.
- They have to physically speak.
Television:
1
Grey's Anatomy
2005 - Drama 1hr
Christmas-themed | Set during Christmas
Gay appeal: Arizona Robbins (Sara Ramirez) and Callie Torres (Jessica Capshaw) are girlfriends... before the dark times.
S6E10, Holidaze: As Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's pass, Miranda is visited by her father, William, who disapproves of her choices in life; meanwhile, Mark and Lexie must cope with the shocking arrival of a woman from his past, and Thatcher Grey questions the Chief's recent behavior as Meredith comes to his defense.
Featuring "Silent Night" sung by Sara Ramirez. There's also this episode, though Callie and Arizona weren't on the show yet:
S2E12, Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer: Christmas hits Seattle, with Izzie caring for a man who fell from his roof while hanging decorations. Meanwhile, Cristina helps perform a heart transplant on a depressed boy, and George has to contend with the family from Hell.
Where you can watch it: ABC, iTunes, Google Play.
Warnings: Surgery scenes, brief blood/amputation, alcohol, interpersonal issues that are too personal.
Click to view2
Will & Grace1998 - Comedy 30m
Christmas-themed | Set during Christmas
Gay appeal: You been alive the last twenty years... actually don't answer that let me maintain the illustion of youth.
S4E12, Jingle Balls: Grace has found about Robert. Will doesn't want to introduce Robert to Grace, but Grace invites Robert to dinner and he accepts. Jack names Karen as his assistant on a designer job.
S5E11, All About Christmas Eve: On Christmas Eve, Grace is torn when she has only two tickets to "The Nutcracker" musical and can't take both her best friend Will and new husband Leo (Grammy-winning guest star Harry Connick, Jr.)- but her back-and-forth indecision leaves Will spinning like a Hanukkah dreidel between a dithering Grace and his previous holiday plans with Jack and Karen.
S6E10, Fanilow: It's Christmas and Will tells Grace he's helping feed the homeless but in reality is falling in line to get tickets to a Barry Manilow concert. Grace is pleased that her mother who ingratiates herself on Grace during this time told her she's not coming.
S7E12, Christmas Break: Karen's step-daughter Olivia visits her for Christmas, but Karen wants to get rid of her as quickly as possible so she makes Jack take care of her. Other than expected, Jack has a lot of fun with Olivia and Karen suddenly wants to hang out with them.
S8E09, A Little Christmas Queer: Karen, Grace, Jack and Will visit Will's family over the Christmas break. Will's brother Sam and his two children are there, too. Everyone suspects that Sam's son Jordy is gay. Worried that his mother would freak out about having another homosexual in the family, Will tries to stop Jack from encouraging Jordy in his gay antics, and even forbids the boy to put on a Christmas show.
S9E7, Gay Olde Christmas: Will (Eric McCormack), Grace (Debra Messing), Karen (Megan Mullally), and Jack (Sean Hayes) wish they could have experienced Christmas in old New York City, but realize the past was not quite as romantic -- or open to diversity -- as they pictured it.
Where you can watch it: Netflix, Amazon.
Warnings: Alcohol, light violence and sexual content, intense family arguments.
3
Doctor Who2005 - Sci-Fi/Fantasy 1hr
Christmas-themed | Set during Christmas
Gay appeal: Vastra (Neve McIntosh) and Jenny (Catrin Stewart) are recurring guests and lesbian partners, the season ten companion Bill Potts (Pearl Mackie) is a lesbian.
S7E6, The Snowmen: London, 1892. Snow is trying to evolve, feeding off of the nightmares of a little girl. But the Doctor has given up on saving the world. It is up to a young governess named Clara to convince him, with just one word, to save the day.
Also, the next Christmas special ft. Bill will air this December 25th! Season ten was great and you should definitely check both out.
Also, the Snowmen special includes two prequel scenes starring Vastra and Jenny.
S10E13, Twice Upon a Time: Two Doctors stranded in a forbidding snowscape, refusing to face regeneration. And a British army captain seemingly destined to die in the First World War, but taken from the trenches to play his part in the Doctor’s story. It’s the end of an era. But the Doctor’s journey is only just beginning.
Where you can watch it: Amazon, BBC.
Warnings: None.
4
Brooklyn Nine Nine2013 - Comedy 1/2hr
Christmas-themed | Set around Christmas
Gay appeal: Rosa Diaz (Stephanie Beatriz) is bisexual, Ray Holt (Andre Baugher) is gay and married, and Jake Peralta (Andy Sambrg) is bisexual (implicitly IMO).
S1E11, Christmas: When Holt receives death threats, he surprisingly puts Jake in charge of his security. Meanwhile, Terry undergoes a psych evaluation, and Amy tries to make the perfect holiday card for Holt.
S2E10, The Pontiac Bandit Returns: The Pontiac Bandit aka Doug Judy, is back in custody, after jamming up Jake and Rosa in his previous encounter with them. Meanwhile, Gina and Boyle are nervous that their parents might be getting too close, and Santiago makes Holt a Christmas gift against his wishes.
S3E10, Yippie Kayak: Jake, Charles and Gina get into trouble while doing last-minute Christmas shopping, Terry tries to make it through the holidays without a call from the precinct, and Amy takes part in a "Polar Swim" with Holt and Diaz.
S4E10, Captain Lativa: Jake and Charles face off against a Latvian criminal ring when Jake helps Charles find his son's favorite toy for Christmas.
Where you can watch it: Amazon.
Warnings: Homophobia, drugs, alcohol, addiction.
5
Brothers and Sisters2006 - 2011 Drama 1hr
Christmas-themed | Set during Christmas
Gay appeal: Kevin Walker (Matthew Rhys) and his uncle Saul Holden (Ron Rifkin) are both gay and the family is positive and accepting of it.
S1E10: Justin seeks a stay before reporting for duty and ends up in court, Ojai becomes dependent on Holly's goodwill, Kitty gets a job offer she's not sure she wants, and granddaughter Paige convinces Nora to celebrate Hanukkah.
S4E10: With the holiday season come panic and discord in the Walker family when Nora takes a last minute getaway with Karl. Saul has a chance encounter with a past love, guest starring Richard Chamberlain as Stephen, who he believes had a lasting and very permanent effect on his life.
Where you can watch it: Amazon, ABC.
Warnings: HIV discussion.
6
Ugly Betty2006 - 2010 Comedy/Drama 1hr
Christmas-themed | Set during Christmas
Gay appeal: Hilda's (Ana Ortiz) son Justin (Mark Indelicato) is gay with a loving and supportive family. Also like.... Ugly Betty, Vanessa Williams... I do what I want.
S1E4, Fey's Sleigh Ride: After Mode is forced to abandon its big Christmas photo shoot because another magazine has copied the idea, Betty forms an uneasy alliance with Marc and Amanda.
S1E10, Fake Plastic Snow: It's Christmas at Mode as Betty questions her relationship with Walter and her feelings for Henry the accountant. Daniel, on the other hand, is sure of his love for Sofia.
S4E09: Against the backdrop of Ignacio's multi-culti holiday dinner that he prepares for his new flame Jean, who is Jewish, Betty and Hilda have pregnancy scares.
Where you can watch it: Amazon.
Warnings: None.
7
Orange Is the New Black2013 - Comedy/Drama 1hr
Christmas-themed | Set during Christmas
Gay appeal: This would be a very, very long list.
S1E13: Alex makes a final decision about Piper and Larry finally decides what will happen to Piper after meeting Alex for the first time. Red's plan to retrieve her kitchen goes awry. Piper is forced to stand up to another inmate.
I know ONTD is mixed on the show now overall, and most turned away after the Poussey disaster, but those first two seasons though... and this finale... dark Christmas perfection. *chef kisses fingers*
Where you can watch it: Netflix, Amazon.
Warnings: Violence, assault.
8
Vicious2013 - 2016 Comedy 30m
Christmas-themed | Set during Christmas
Gay appeal: Gandalf et. al.
S1E07: Freddie and Stuart have invited the whole gang for a traditional Christmas dinner. But things start to heat up on the revelation of a secret.
Bitter british bickering and Iwan Rheon before he joined ABC's The Inhumans.
Where you can watch it: Amazon, Vudu, iTunes.
Warnings: Crass humor.
9
My So Called Life1994 - 1995 Drama 1hr
Christmas-themed | Set during Christmas
Gay appeal: Angela's friend Enrique "Rickie" Vasquez (Wilson Cruz) is gay.
S1E15, So Called Angels: Rickie finds himself homeless on Christmas, and Angela tries to help him with the aid of a mysterious homeless girl.
This episode revolves around Rickie, eyeliner wearing, half-black, half-hispanic gay teenager being kicked out of his home. Actor Wilson Cruz shortly came out after in interviews, revealing that he'd also been kicked out by his father after coming out to him on Christmas Eve.
Cruz noted the similarties between the character and himself, saying, "I can play him as honestly as I can to what I went through, how I reacted to those things." He also recalled the lack of support he found in the media: "I would turn on the TV and think, 'Please, give me a sign that I fit in somewhere, that I'm not alone out here.'"
Cruz now plays Dr. Hugh Culber, half of Star Trek's first gay couple, and the second of its gay characters (after John Cho as Hikaru Sulu in Star Trek: Beyond).
Where you can watch it: Amazon, Hulu, Youtube, Vudu, Google Play, iTunes.
Warnings: Abuse, homophobia.
10
Xena: Warrior Princess1995 - 2001 Fantasy/Adventure 1hr
Christmas-themed | Set during Christmas
Gay appeal: The mothership OTP, Xena and Gabrielle.
S2E9, A Solstice Carol: Xena and Gabrielle help save an orphanage from being shut down by a tyrant king on Solstice Eve by impersonating the three Fates.
Xena meets Santa 1200 years before there's even a reason for Christmas to exist. What's not to like?
Where you can watch it: Amazon, iTunes.
Warnings: Campy violence.
Short Films/Web Series:
1
Tangerine2016 Comedy/Drama 1h28m
Christmas-themed | Set during Christmas
Gay appeal: Sin-Dee Rella (Kitana Kiki-Rodriguez) and Alexandra (Mya Taylor) are the trans heroines of this Christmas Eve bender revenge narrative.
Transgender sex worker Sin-Dee Rella, who has just finished a 28-day prison sentence, meets her friend Alexandra, another trans sex worker, at a donut shop in Hollywood on Christmas Eve. Alexandra accidentally reveals that Sin-Dee's boyfriend and pimp Chester has been cheating on her with a cisgender woman. Sin-Dee storms out to search the neighborhood for Chester and the woman.
My dumbass thought this was a 28m instead of 1hr28m for some reason and that I'd be able to watch it as a short film in half an hour. Nope! So it gets top billing here after missing out last post.
Where you can watch it: Youtube, Amazon, Vudu, iTunes, Google Play.
Warnings: Abuse, prostitution, drugs, alcohol, violence.
2
Unfortunately Ashly: Season Two2016 - Comedy 10m
Christmas-themed | Set during Christmas
Gay appeal: Lesbian protagonist and love triangle.
All your favs are back for an even crazier Christmas season. Ashly and Izzy are back to their old tricks only this time, it’s Christmas. From new romances and love triangles to seasonal jobs and one inclusive holiday party gone SUPER wrong, this season is packed with antics, heartache, and holiday freakin’ cheer, baby!
Ashly Perez, co-creator of Buzzfeed Violet, is back! With both seasons easily and quickly bingable, what better way to spare an hour of your quiet desperation late at night while your relatives are sleeping?
Where you can watch it: Below, youtube.
Warnings: None.
3
Seasons & Signals2016 Comedy 14m
Christmas-themed | Set during Christmas
Gay appeal: Two part short film series about a lesbian relationship.
Seasons | A Short Lesbian Film. A HUGE thank-you to Gay's the Word (The best gay bookstore in London!) for letting us use their beautiful shop as a location and of course, I am forever grateful to my lovely crew for bringing my vision to life. Oh and extra special thanks to Holly Ashman for being an incredible actor and adorably cute.
Signals | A Short Lesbian Film. Signals is a sequel to my first short film: Seasons.
Where you can watch it: Below, youtube.
Warnings:
4
Long Distance Relationships2016 Romance/Drama 10m
Christmas-themed | Set during Christmas
Gay appeal: Two part film series about about an LDR.
A short two part film about the struggles of a long distance relationship.
Where you can watch it: Below, youtube.
Warnings: Gay pining, isolation, dreariness, etc. (I promise the ending is okay)
5
The Right Man: Christmas Gift2016 Drama 15m
Christmas-themed | Set during Christmas
Gay appeal: Gay relationship troubles.
He always busy during the whole day time. You were left in that empty boring house. Even he's sleeping beside you every night. You still wondering: "Is he the right man for me?"
Adapt from a true story in Thailand, by Blued.
Where you can watch it: Below, Youtube.
Warnings: None.
6
Carmilla: The Christmas Special2014 Romance/Drama 7m
Christmas-themed | Set during Christmas
Gay appeal: Web series adaptation of 1872 lesbian vampire novel, set in modern day.
"The Gingerbread Affair"
When Laura and the gang find themselves fleeing from Silas, an old dusty diner seems like the perfect place to seek refuge. But Christmas cheer may not be enough to overcome the dangers lurking in picturesque Styria.
What better way to reclaim a queer-coded villain narrative in the 19th entury than to have said villain turn into uber-protective girlfriend who sucks evil politicians blood veins dry? Then right after offer her gf a gingerbread cookie.
Where you can watch it: Amazon, iTunes.
Warnings: Blood.
7
Kissing Walls: Season One2016 Romance/Comedy 30m
Christmas-themed | Set during Christmas
Gay appeal: Revolves around James and Cameron, two queer men of color, and their friends.
Kissing Walls is a 3-part comedy that explores work, sex, and frienship between queer 20-somethings living in Chicago.
“There are many people in this country who have zero regard for the LGBT community, people of color, and every intersection in between. They don’t want to watch a show like Kissing Walls, and they don’t want you to watch it either. But every obstacle Kissing Walls has faced has only affirmed its necessity as a series. Art remains one of our most powerful tools against oppression. We must continue to demand these stories and continue to demand adequate representation both in front of and behind the camera. I’m entering the new year with this knowledge: making television is hard. Making television about queer people of color is harder. But I think a series like Kissing Walls is worth fighting for!”
- Zak Payne, writer and director of Kissing Walls.
Unfortunately, just earlier this month, the series failed to gather enough funding for a second season, even though they were planning on it and it sounded great.
Where you can watch it: Youtube, Vimeo.
Warnings: Alcohol, nudity, racism.
8
"Take My Wife" with Tegan and Sara2016 Comedy 5m
Christmas-themed | Set during Christmas
Gay appeal: Holiday special of Take My Wife series with Cameron (Cameron Esposito) and Rhea (Reah Butcher) as series and real life partners.
Cameron Esposito and Rhea Butcher’s Seeso comedy Take My Wife has already been renewed for a second season, and until that new season comes along, the streaming network released a holiday special today that’s sure to fill the Take My Wife-shaped hole in your heart.
Where you can watch it: Below, youtube.
Warnings: Imagining the possibility of meeting Tegan and Sara and the anxiety that follows.
9
SNL / Funny or Die Skits 1993 - 2016 Sketch/Comedy 5m
Christmas-themed | Set during Christmas
Gay appeal: SNL and FOD riffing on gay themes, sometimes successfully, Kate McKinnon, and ofc Glenn Close.
Lesbian Holiday Party: A Holiday Party among a lesbian couple (Glenn Close, Sweeney) and their friends becomes awkward when the biological father (Nealon) of their son stops by.
Saving Christmas: It's Kate McKinnon and Aidy Bryant to the rescue when Santa is kidnapped by one of Chicago's most notorious gangs.
Brunch with Bridget: Bridget McManus welcomes guest Mrs. Santa Claus, who reveals her lesbianism and promotes her new book.
Coming Out At Christmas: Kelsey is in for a surprise when she finally decides to come out of the closet at her family Christmas dinner.
Where you can watch it: Below, youtube.
Warnings: Crude humor, fatphobia, gendered slurs, SNL (still tbh) not knowing how to write black women in 1993.
10
Hjem Til Jul (Home for Christmas)2000 (Norweigan) Comedy/Drama 6m
Christmas-themed | Set during Christmas
Gay appeal: Lesbian coming out story.
On Christmas Eve while her mother obsesses about stuffing the turkey, Annie and her friend think about coming out to their families.
Not to be confused with the 2010 film of the same name, this short Norweigan film is based on the book published by Gerd Brantenberg, lesbian author and literary activist. The novel hasn't been published in English (though maybe there are translations online) but the adaptation does have a subbed version below.
Where you can watch it: Below, Youtube.
Warnings: Homophobia.
Didn't make the cut for whatever reason:
Modern Family, Community (it has the Dean but it felt like cheating so I included it above), and others.
What are your favorite Christmas specials ONTD?
Any faves or recommendations?
Part 3: Musicals and more, coming soon...
PART ONE if you missed it
Sources: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36