Jim J. Bullock Says 'Too Close For Comfort' Didn't Have "Guts" As A TV Series - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Brian Damage · 03-08-2012, 11:53 AM

In an interview with GuySpy, Bullock explains that he was embarrassed by his gayness back in the early ’80s, but couldn’t help becoming more flamboyant as he grew into the role of Monroe.

In 1980, a sitcom called “Too Close for Comfort” hit the airwaves, with a post-“Mary Tyler Moore” Ted Knight fretting over his two hot daughters in a San Francisco duplex. “Three’s Company” seemed like an obvious influence, as added to the mix was Monroe (Bullock), the kooky, goofy, neighbor who the girls loved and who…never made a pass at either one. And, was it just me, or did Monroe seem ever-so-slightly a big ‘mo?

“It wasn’t discussed,” says Bullock on the creation of Monroe. “The more comfortable I became the more flamboyant he became. That’s when Monroe became gay. They [the producers] got fan mail and said they didn’t want the character to be gay. I didn’t want him to be gay! I was a Christian. I said ‘Give me a girlfriend.’ They gave me two love interests; an eighty-year-old woman and a transsexual.”

Reflection, and Bullock, has changed. “The show didn’t have the balls to say, ‘We’re gonna make you gay. We’re gonna be the first show to make a main character gay.’ All shows up until that time had tragic gay characters. Who did gay people look up to in the eighties, onscreen or on TV? Anyone?”

http://www.guyspy.com/comfort-zone-close-jim-j-bullock

MRPITT · 03-08-2012, 12:09 PM

He got taken advantage of by 2 woman that was kinda of a ballsy episode.

03-08-2012, 11:53 AM	#1
Brian Damage I'm Rich Bitch Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 03, 2002 Location: What Ain't No Country I Ever Heard Of...They Speak English in What? Posts: 63,107	Jim J. Bullock Says 'Too Close For Comfort' Didn't Have "Guts" As A TV Series In an interview with GuySpy, Bullock explains that he was embarrassed by his gayness back in the early ’80s, but couldn’t help becoming more flamboyant as he grew into the role of Monroe. In 1980, a sitcom called “Too Close for Comfort” hit the airwaves, with a post-“Mary Tyler Moore” Ted Knight fretting over his two hot daughters in a San Francisco duplex. “Three’s Company” seemed like an obvious influence, as added to the mix was Monroe (Bullock), the kooky, goofy, neighbor who the girls loved and who…never made a pass at either one. And, was it just me, or did Monroe seem ever-so-slightly a big ‘mo? “It wasn’t discussed,” says Bullock on the creation of Monroe. “The more comfortable I became the more flamboyant he became. That’s when Monroe became gay. They [the producers] got fan mail and said they didn’t want the character to be gay. I didn’t want him to be gay! I was a Christian. I said ‘Give me a girlfriend.’ They gave me two love interests; an eighty-year-old woman and a transsexual.” Reflection, and Bullock, has changed. “The show didn’t have the balls to say, ‘We’re gonna make you gay. We’re gonna be the first show to make a main character gay.’ All shows up until that time had tragic gay characters. Who did gay people look up to in the eighties, onscreen or on TV? Anyone?” http://www.guyspy.com/comfort-zone-close-jim-j-bullock
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03-08-2012, 12:09 PM	#2
MRPITT Member Senior Member Join Date: May 14, 2011 Posts: 1,678	He got taken advantage of by 2 woman that was kinda of a ballsy episode.