here's a strange one for you - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

joan davis fan · 03-14-2002, 06:51 AM

Came across an old copy of TV Guide from 1973 yesterday. They did a story in its news section saying that beginning in the 1974-1975 season the networks are asking the producers/ writers/ directors or tv shows to reframe from using "bruce" ( gay ) jokes. Some comedians and radio djs actually protested this according to TV Guide as they felt such jokes are a MAJOR part of their act. The more I read this the more strange it was.

I have noticed over the years heard such jokes both on radio and in reruns of sitcoms and other shows . CPO Sharkey, Maude, Paul Lynde , even Anita Bryant on Mike Douglas did some of these "gay Bruce " jokes. I heard a tape of a radio show from the 70s featuring Alan Sues from Laugh In. He claims that Dan Rowan and Dick Martin wanted him to do a tv show with his character to be named "Bruce Sues" but he refused because Sues didnt want the viewers to believe he was gay if his character was named "Bruce". He felt Bruce was a gay name.
He even said that he has a hard time buying milk because it has the words "homo" on it and "they wanted me to play a Bruce"?
Talk about being homophobic !!

ON WKRP Les Nesman was banned from doing an interview in a locker room because someone thought he was gay. Towards the end of the show as he was about to jump off the WKRP building the sports star who called Les gay called. When it was discovered this sports star was anmed "Bruce" the audience just howls with laughter. I have this show on video and each time I see the scene and I ask, what is so funny about it?

Was wondering how the name Bruce became connected with "gay" as these so-called "gay Bruce" jokes must've been big during the 70s. Its also interesting, I have known many guys over the years named "Bruce" and none of them were gay. Must've been tough to be named "Bruce" during the 70s when you have stars on tv "connecting the name with homosexual.

DetectiveGriffin · 03-14-2002, 10:56 AM

Hey, what an interesting tidbit! I wondered the exact same thing!
I just figured bruce was a local sports personality that i didnt know about, since i dont know ANYTHING about sports.
I'm curious about this, too.

I know that in writing fanfiction stories, using the name "Mary Sue" is a way of identifying the author as a character, or a way for readers to slam the author if they think he/she has included herself as a hero like leading character. Maybe Bruce
just represented a common male name. I'm going to look around the net and see if i can find info on this.

you said:
ON WKRP Les Nesman was banned from doing an interview in a locker room because someone thought he was gay. Towards the end of the show as he was about to jump off the WKRP building the sports star who called Les gay called. When it was discovered this sports star was anmed "Bruce" the audience just howls with laughter. I have this show on video and each time I see the scene and I ask, what is so funny about it?

Was wondering how the name Bruce became connected with "gay" as these so-called "gay Bruce" jokes must've been big during the 70s. Its also interesting, I have known many guys over the years named "Bruce" and none of them were gay. Must've been tough to be named "Bruce" during the 70s when you have stars on tv "connecting the name with homosexual.

bb · 03-14-2002, 01:24 PM

This IS a very good question, I dont know.

I can tell you that both Anita Bryant and Alan Sues were both so homophobic ( even for the 70s ) that their opinions actually hurt their careers. In fact I dont think Sues has done much of anything since Laugh In. I dont even know if he is still living.

About sitcoms that used those "gay Bruce" jokes, in the case of Maude. The episode where Maude Findley has a vistor stopping by who happens to be gay. Walter ( maybe it was Arthur ) asks what is his name then he said "..well let me guess..BRUCE.". Then you heard the audience laughed. Oh the character's name in question wasnt Bruce. I caught this on a Maude rerun on a station out of North Carolina years ago, it was edited out by the time Maude made its run on TV Land. Gues the folks at Nick though it was outdated.

My take on this is the same as those awful "dead baby" jokes and AIDS jokes that were used by many comedians 10-20 years ago like Andrew Dice Clay, the late Sam Kennison, and of course Eddie Murphy ( remember his infamous 1983 HBO special Delerious ? ). Funny back then, use them now you would be very lucky just to get a single laugh.

But in the case of those AIDS jokes, AIDS was something many didnt know about at the time so I guess many comedians just though they could make a joke about it. The dead baby jokes were if I remember correctly got it start in both radio and those joke books that were so big in the 80s. In the case of the connection between the name Bruce and gay, thats a good question.

Frankly I glad one doesnt hear many ( if any ) of these jokes today. I dont miss them !!

Jimbo · 03-14-2002, 07:38 PM

I remember that period when the name "Bruce", for whatever reason, was synonymous with homosexuality (at least according to comedians and T.V. writers of the day). I have no idea how that got started.

Perhaps the popularity of people like Bruce Springsteen, Bruce Lee, and Bruce Willis helped to put an end to that stereotype.

03-14-2002, 06:51 AM	#1
joan davis fan Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Feb 07, 2002 Posts: 179	here's a strange one for you Came across an old copy of TV Guide from 1973 yesterday. They did a story in its news section saying that beginning in the 1974-1975 season the networks are asking the producers/ writers/ directors or tv shows to reframe from using "bruce" ( gay ) jokes. Some comedians and radio djs actually protested this according to TV Guide as they felt such jokes are a MAJOR part of their act. The more I read this the more strange it was. I have noticed over the years heard such jokes both on radio and in reruns of sitcoms and other shows . CPO Sharkey, Maude, Paul Lynde , even Anita Bryant on Mike Douglas did some of these "gay Bruce " jokes. I heard a tape of a radio show from the 70s featuring Alan Sues from Laugh In. He claims that Dan Rowan and Dick Martin wanted him to do a tv show with his character to be named "Bruce Sues" but he refused because Sues didnt want the viewers to believe he was gay if his character was named "Bruce". He felt Bruce was a gay name. He even said that he has a hard time buying milk because it has the words "homo" on it and "they wanted me to play a Bruce"? Talk about being homophobic !! ON WKRP Les Nesman was banned from doing an interview in a locker room because someone thought he was gay. Towards the end of the show as he was about to jump off the WKRP building the sports star who called Les gay called. When it was discovered this sports star was anmed "Bruce" the audience just howls with laughter. I have this show on video and each time I see the scene and I ask, what is so funny about it? Was wondering how the name Bruce became connected with "gay" as these so-called "gay Bruce" jokes must've been big during the 70s. Its also interesting, I have known many guys over the years named "Bruce" and none of them were gay. Must've been tough to be named "Bruce" during the 70s when you have stars on tv "connecting the name with homosexual.
	Last edited by joan davis fan; 03-14-2002 at 06:53 AM.

03-14-2002, 01:24 PM	#3
bb Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Sep 30, 2001 Location: Martinsburg, WV usa Posts: 276	This IS a very good question, I dont know. I can tell you that both Anita Bryant and Alan Sues were both so homophobic ( even for the 70s ) that their opinions actually hurt their careers. In fact I dont think Sues has done much of anything since Laugh In. I dont even know if he is still living. About sitcoms that used those "gay Bruce" jokes, in the case of Maude. The episode where Maude Findley has a vistor stopping by who happens to be gay. Walter ( maybe it was Arthur ) asks what is his name then he said "..well let me guess..BRUCE.". Then you heard the audience laughed. Oh the character's name in question wasnt Bruce. I caught this on a Maude rerun on a station out of North Carolina years ago, it was edited out by the time Maude made its run on TV Land. Gues the folks at Nick though it was outdated. My take on this is the same as those awful "dead baby" jokes and AIDS jokes that were used by many comedians 10-20 years ago like Andrew Dice Clay, the late Sam Kennison, and of course Eddie Murphy ( remember his infamous 1983 HBO special Delerious ? ). Funny back then, use them now you would be very lucky just to get a single laugh. But in the case of those AIDS jokes, AIDS was something many didnt know about at the time so I guess many comedians just though they could make a joke about it. The dead baby jokes were if I remember correctly got it start in both radio and those joke books that were so big in the 80s. In the case of the connection between the name Bruce and gay, thats a good question. Frankly I glad one doesnt hear many ( if any ) of these jokes today. I dont miss them !!
	Last edited by bb; 03-14-2002 at 01:26 PM.

03-14-2002, 10:56 AM	#2
DetectiveGriffin Sankontessou! Senior Member Join Date: Aug 08, 2001 Location: North Central Indiana Posts: 1,288	Hey, what an interesting tidbit! I wondered the exact same thing! I just figured bruce was a local sports personality that i didnt know about, since i dont know ANYTHING about sports. I'm curious about this, too. I know that in writing fanfiction stories, using the name "Mary Sue" is a way of identifying the author as a character, or a way for readers to slam the author if they think he/she has included herself as a hero like leading character. Maybe Bruce just represented a common male name. I'm going to look around the net and see if i can find info on this. you said: ON WKRP Les Nesman was banned from doing an interview in a locker room because someone thought he was gay. Towards the end of the show as he was about to jump off the WKRP building the sports star who called Les gay called. When it was discovered this sports star was anmed "Bruce" the audience just howls with laughter. I have this show on video and each time I see the scene and I ask, what is so funny about it? Was wondering how the name Bruce became connected with "gay" as these so-called "gay Bruce" jokes must've been big during the 70s. Its also interesting, I have known many guys over the years named "Bruce" and none of them were gay. Must've been tough to be named "Bruce" during the 70s when you have stars on tv "connecting the name with homosexual.

03-14-2002, 07:38 PM	#4
Jimbo Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jul 29, 2001 Location: United States of America-One Nation UNDER GOD! Posts: 471	I remember that period when the name "Bruce", for whatever reason, was synonymous with homosexuality (at least according to comedians and T.V. writers of the day). I have no idea how that got started. Perhaps the popularity of people like Bruce Springsteen, Bruce Lee, and Bruce Willis helped to put an end to that stereotype.