The Sewers Of Paris podcast

1:04:32

Hello, I’m Matt Baume, and welcome to the Sewers of Paris. We’re on a podcast search for entertainment that changed queer peoples’ lives. This week, I’m continuing the monthlong Pride special, bringing you excerpts from some of the very best Sewers of Paris conversations I’ve had over the last nine years. This week, we’re talking comics books. We’ll start with a conversation with writer Andrew Wheeler, whose tales of adventure and intrigue stand in sharp contrast to his domestic life. Then moving on to artist DJ Kirkland, who pursued his dreams in spite of — or maybe in order to spite — a particularly mean art school teacher. Then we’ll hear from artist Justin Hall, whose erotic imaginings are seemingly without limit. And finally the delightful writer Anthony Oliveira, who hosted a panel with me just last week at the Toronto Public Library. And also a quick note: if you’re in Seattle, I hope you’ll come see me at Elliott Bay Books this Friday, June 21st! I’ll be talking about The Golden Girls , and what made those ladies such powerful queer icons — both on screen and in real life. Full details on all that at mattbaume.com/events . Full conversations with this week’s guests: My 2018 conversation with Andrew Wheeler My 2016 conversation with DJ Kirkland My 2019 conversation with Justin Hall My 2017 conversation with Anthony Oliveira…

The Sewers of Paris

1
The Best of The Sewers of Paris: Musicals! 48:20

41 weeks ago48:20

48:20

I’m continuing the monthlong Pride special, bringing you excerpts from some of the very best Sewers of Paris conversations I’ve had over the last nine years. This week, we’re talking musicals — a roundup of conversations about songs on stage and on screen. We’ll start with a conversation about Pippin with voice actor Cam Clarke; then moving on to Rocky Horror with a programmer named Matt; then a chat about Sondheim with NPR’s Ari Shapiro; and finally a talk with Gregory Maguire, author of the novel Wicked . And if you’re in Seattle, I hope you’ll come see me at Elliott Bay Books next week, June 21st! I’ll be talking about The Golden Girls , and what made those ladies such powerful queer icons — both on screen and in real life. Full details on all that at mattbaume.com/events . Here are the full conversations with all my guests this week: Cam Clarke Matt Hintzen Ari Shapiro Gregory Maguire…

The Sewers of Paris

1
The Best of The Sewers of Paris: A Drag Race Spectacular! 1:07:47

42 weeks ago1:07:47

1:07:47

Starting this week, I’m doing something special for Pride. Throughout the month of June, I’m going to bring you the very best of the last nine years of Sewers of Paris interviews — excerpts from some of my very favorite conversations. We’re starting this week with a roundup of some of the fabulous Drag Race performers that have stopped by the show, starting with BenDeLaCreme, continuing on the Peppermint, then Jaymes Mansfield, Alaska, and then paying tribute to Chi Chi DeVayne. I’ll have more best-ofs next week — for that episode, themed around musicals of stage and screen. And if you’d like to hear the full interviews, check out these episodes: Ben DeLaCreme: Episode 303 Peppermint: Episode 306 Jaymes Mansfield: Episode 304 Alaska and Jeremy: Episode 198 Chi Chi DeVayne: Episode 299 And for some more BenDeLaCreme, check out Matt’s So-Cast Pod Episode 1 .…

The Sewers of Paris

1
Bright Colors, Zany Action (Ep 470 - Skeletor/JP Karliak) 57:05

43 weeks ago57:05

57:05

You may have most recently heard this week’s guest on X-Men 97, where he plays the character morph — but you’ve also heard him as the voice of the Green Goblin, the Joker, Boss Baby, Archie, Wile E. Coyote, and so many more I’ve lost count. I spoke with JP Karliak back in 2020 about his career as a voice actor for video games and animation. And for this week’s episode, we’re celebrating season 1 of his X-Men role by revisiting that interview about the animated villains who inspired him as a kid. We’ll have that conversation in a minute. First, a reminder that if you like The Sewers of Paris , you’ll probably also enjoy my other projects. This weekend I’ve got a new YouTube video premiering about the movie Cabaret — you can join us for a livestream and premiere at youtube.com/mattbaume starting at 11am pacific. Or you might want to check out my new podcast where we dive into the 90s TV series My So-Called Life , one episode at a time — it’s available now wherever you listen to podcasts, just search for Matt’s So-Cast Pod . And check out my Twitch livestreams, videos, my book, my newsletter, and more at MattBaume.com .…

The Sewers of Paris

1
Dangerous Book of Secrets (Ep 469 - Lord of the Rings/Jared) 36:49

44 weeks ago36:49

36:49

My guest this week is Jared Pechaček , author of the forthcoming fantasy-horror novel The West Passage. Jared’s work is heavily informed by his homeschooling and his upbringing in the Pentecostal church — influences that found their way into his writing without him realizing it. When he finally did understand just how much his fiction revealed about him, it was like finding clues that his brain had been dropping for years. Clues that helped point him in the direction of understanding his past, and coming to terms with it. We’ll have that conversation in a minute. First, a reminder that if you like The Sewers of Paris , you’ll probably also enjoy my other projects. For example, my weekly livestreams on Twitch . Or you might want to check out my new podcast where we dive into the 90s TV series My So-Called Life , one episode at a time — it’s available now wherever you listen to podcasts, just search for Matt’s So-Cast Pod . And check out my videos, my book, my newsletter, and more at MattBaume.com .…

The Sewers of Paris

1
Don't Ask Me Out Again Until You've Written Chapter Two (Ep 468 - Steven Rowley/Tootsie) 1:03:06

45 weeks ago1:03:06

1:03:06

The writer Steven Rowley is known for numerous novels: Lily and the Octopus ; The Celebrants ; The Editor ; and The Guncle , which is about a gay man who finds his hands full when he takes in a niece and nephew he never expected to raise. Not only did that novel win the Thurber Prize — it’s now the first installment in a series, with his latest novel, A Guncle Abroad , coming out on May 21, 2024. For this week’s episode, I’m diving into the Sewers archives to revisit my 2016 interview with Steven. At that point, his debut novel Lily and the Octopus had just hit shelves. We spoke about how he’d spent a large chunk of his career disguising himself, writing rom-com scripts about heterosexual relationships. But there came a point when he decided to stop de-gaying his stories — and little did he know then just how much success that choice would bring him. We’ll have that conversation in a minute. First, a reminder that if you like The Sewers of Paris , you’ll probably also enjoy my other projects. For example, my weekly livestreams on Twitch . This weekend we’ll be continuing our watch-along for the musical episode of The Love Boat . Or you might want to check out my new podcast where we dive into the 90s TV series My So-Called Life , one episode at a time — it’s available now wherever you listen to podcasts, just search for Matt’s So-Cast Pod . And check out my videos, my book, my newsletter, and more at MattBaume.com .…

The Sewers of Paris

1
There Was a Rage (Ep 467 - Star Wars/Karl Dunn) 52:42

46 weeks ago52:42

52:42

My guest this week is writer, activist, and former gold trader Karl Dunn , whose new book How to Burn a Rainbow is a memoir of how he pieced his life back together after a chaotic divorce. Karl’s journey from wedded bliss through a nightmare of legal battles and losing his livelihood and then ultimately finding inner peace sounds like a Hollywood narrative — which isn’t surprising, given that he worked for a time as a screenwriter, drawing on inspiration from wildly different sources from epic sci-fi novels to angry hip-hop to confrontational queer activism. We’ll have that conversation in a minute. First, a reminder that if you like The Sewers of Paris , you’ll probably also enjoy my other projects. For example, my weekly livestreams on Twitch — this weekend we’ll be starting a two-part watch-party of the movie Cabaret. Or you might want to check out my new podcast where we dive into the 90s TV series My So-Called Life , one episode at a time — it’s available now wherever you listen to podcasts, just search for Matt’s So-Cast Pod . And check out my videos, my book, my newsletter, and more at MattBaume.com .…

The Sewers of Paris

1
Lucy Would Not Take This Down (Ep 466 Lucille Ball/Eli McCann) 37:04

47 weeks ago37:04

37:04

My guest this week is Eli McCann , a lawyer, a humor columnist for the Salt Lake Tribune , and a devotee of Lucille Ball since the age of six. That made him an easy kid to shop for, and by the time he was a teen he’d amassed a treasure trove of Lucy memorabilia … which nearly led to a crisis when he caught wind of his classmates’ plan to ambush him at home and reveal what had been, until then, a mostly private obsession. We’ll have that conversation in a minute. First, a reminder that if you like The Sewers of Paris , you’ll probably also enjoy my new podcast where we dive into the 90s TV series My So-Called Life , one episode at a time. It’s available now wherever you listen to podcasts — just search for Matt’s So-Cast Pod . And you may also like my YouTube videos for a queer look at movie and television history, my weekly livestreams on Twitch , my book Hi Honey, I’m Homo! , and my email newsletter. You can get all that and more at MattBaume.com .…

The Sewers of Paris

1
Living a Superhero Lifestyle (Ep 465 - Scooby Doo/Tim Fish) 50:50

48 weeks ago50:50

50:50

My guest this week is writer and artist Tim Fish . I first came across his work in the book Liebestrasse , written by Greg Lockard and illustrated by Tim. It’s the story of two men connecting in Berlin in the leadup to World War II, and it’s typical of Tim’s interests — personal, emotional, and thoughtful. Tim’s always been interested in comics, but for many years it was something of a secret identity for him — a passion that he thought was just a hobby, until he turned thirty and realized he wanted to walk away from his day job and become a full time artist. To make that work, he had a rich vein of inspiration to draw from, starting with Hanna Barbera cartoons. We’ll have that conversation in a minute. First, a reminder if that if you like The Sewers of Paris , you’ll probably also enjoy my new podcast about the 90s TV series My So-Called Life . The podcast is called Matt’s So-Cast Pod , and it’s available now wherever you listen to podcasts. And you may also like my YouTube videos for a queer look at movie and television history, my weekly livestreams on Twitch , my book Hi Honey, I’m Homo! , and my email newsletter. You can get all that and more at MattBaume.com .…

The Sewers of Paris

1
Gay Male Student #1 (Ep 464 - Carol Burnett/Justin Root) 1:19:42

49 weeks ago1:19:42

1:19:42

Next week, comedy legend Carol Burnett turns 91 years old, and in honor of her amazing career and life, for this week’s episode of the Sewers of Paris podcast we’re diving into the archives to revisit my 2018 chat with Carol superfan Justin Root . Justin’s entry to showbiz was kind of a cliché: a pretty young face who arrives in LA with no plan other than getting famous in movies. And yet, within a few days of moving from Ohio to Hollywood, Justin found himself in front of movie cameras. It didn't take long for the entertainment industry to discover Justin, but it took another decade -- and some terrified cruising in the local video store -- for Justin to find himself. We’ll have that conversation in a minute. First, a reminder if that if you like The Sewers of Paris , you’ll probably also enjoy my new podcast about the 90s TV series My So-Called Life . This week’s episode features the wonderful Guy Branum, talking about his experience writing for television and why he’s a superfan of actress Bess Armstrong. The podcast is called Matt’s So-Cast Pod , and it’s available now wherever you listen to podcasts. And you may also like my YouTube videos for a queer look at movie and television history, my weekly livestreams on Twitch , my book Hi Honey, I’m Homo! , and my email newsletter. You can get all that and more at MattBaume.com .…

The Sewers of Paris

1
I Love F***-Ups (Ep 463 - Another World/Rasheed Newson) 55:09

50 weeks ago55:09

55:09

My guest this week is author Rasheed Newson , a TV writer who got his start on the show Lie to Me and has gone on to write for The 100, Narcos, Bel Air , and more. Last year his debut novel, My Government Means to Kill Me , made a big splash — it’s the story of a young gay black man who moves to New York during the HIV epidemic. And although Rasheed didn’t experience that world first-hand, he discovered during his writing process that in a strange way, he’d been preparing himself to tell that story for years without ever realizing it. We’ll have that conversation in a minute. First, a reminder if that if you like The Sewers of Paris , you’ll probably also enjoy my new podcast about the 90s TV series My So-Called Life . This week’s episode features the delightful Anthony Oliveira, who appeared on The Sewers of Paris just a few weeks ago. We talked all about My So-Called Life episode 3, in which we learn a lot more about the gay teen named Rickie — and we also talked about Anthony’s own experience as a semi-closeted teen in Catholic school, and how his secret boyfriend wasn’t quite as secret as he thought. The podcast is called Matt’s So-Cast Pod , and it’s available now wherever you listen to podcasts. And you may also like my YouTube videos for a queer look at movie and television history, my weekly livestreams on Twitch , my book Hi Honey, I’m Homo! , and my email newsletter. You can get all that and more at MattBaume.com .…

The Sewers of Paris

1
Loners & Misfits (Ep 462 - Silence of the Lambs/Monty Wolfe) 52:56

51 weeks ago52:56

52:56

My guest this week is director Monty Wolfe, whose queer romcom Exploding Boy is now available on streaming. Monty’s path to filmmaking took a lot of swerves over the decades — starting with a teacher who saw the potential in a young teenager, and maybe something a little queer. That was followed by some less helpful guidance from other adults in his life, a job at a news station that he landed by accident, a decision to completely upend his life and move across the country in part to get as far as possible from a homophobic coworker, and a boyfriend who believed in Monty’s dreams and pushed him to go after them. We’ll have that conversation in a minute. First, a reminder if that If you like this podcast, you might enjoy my new show about the 90s TV series My So-Called Life . The podcast is called Matt’s So-Cast Pod , it features a bunch of fabulous guests, and it’s available now wherever you listen to podcasts. And you may also like my YouTube videos about movies and TV shows, my weekly livestreams on Twitch , my book Hi Honey, I’m Homo! , and my email newsletter. You can get all that and more at MattBaume.com .…

The Sewers of Paris

1
Sci-Fi, Soaps, and Sports (Ep 461 - Jesse/All My Children) 51:51

1 year ago51:51

51:51

My guest this week is Jesse Murray, who got hooked on soap operas as a kid when he watched them with his mom … and then as an adult, found himself working in writer’s rooms at ABC, helping to make soap operas for a new generation. As a young viewer, Jesse’s enthusiasm for the soaps was bolstered when he saw gay teenage characters on daytime TV. It’s a measure of inclusivity that’s steadily improved in the years since — thanks to folks behind the scenes who appreciated its importance. We’ll have that conversation in a minute. And by the way, speaking of gay teens on television: If you like this podcast, you might enjoy my new podcast about the 90s TV series My So-Called Life, which featured a groundbreaking gay teenager named Rickie, played by Wilson Cruz. The podcast is called Matt’s So-Cast Pod , it features a bunch of fabulous guests, and it launches March 25, 2024. You can subscribe now wherever you listen to podcasts, and at SoCastPod.com . And you may also like my YouTube videos about movies and TV shows. I just premiered a new video about the 1961 movie Victim , which helped overturn England’s 400-year-old ban on homosexuality. Also check out my weekly livestreams on Twitch , my book Hi Honey, I’m Homo! , my email newsletter. You can get all that and more at MattBaume.com . And by the way, here are some fun soap clips that Jesse sent along: Susan Lucci being amazing as Erica: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_-YlCHBbE_8 Susan Lucci being even more amazing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RT98I87Fsaw Another fun Erica scene, ending on a hilarious delivery of “I’m not even that rich!” https://youtu.be/RT98I87Fsaw?si=Sg_B6i-91L7W-aOU&t=444 Erica compares herself to Yoko Ono: https://youtu.be/NH9xsXKbpuA?si=oiXnjNdZZlEmCFHe&t=323…

The Sewers of Paris

1
I Don't Know When I Lost My Sense of Shame (Ep 460 - Dayspring/Anthony Oliveira) 39:00

1 year ago39:00

39:00

My guest this week is Anthony Oliveira, whose new book Dayspring comes out this Easter, April 2, 2024. That’s a particularly suitable pub date, since the book is an exploration of how Christian ideas can infuse and are infused by queer love. Anthony’s a returning guest to The Sewers of Paris — I last spoke to him back in 2017 , when our conversation focused on monsters and villains and standing in opposition to so-called decent society. Now, nearly a decade later, Anthony’s found himself engaged in a different sort of project: Building queer community through his writing, speaking, podcasting, and film series. We’ll have that conversation in a minute. First, a quick reminder that if you like this podcast, you’ll probably enjoy my other projects — starting with my brand new podcast that launches next week! The new show is all about the beloved TV series My So-Called Life , and why it’s such a perfect encapsulation of the 90s and also the timelessness of teen angst. The podcast is called Matt’s So-Cast Pod , it features a bunch of fabulous guests, and it launches March 25, 2024. You can subscribe now at socastpod.com . You may like my YouTube videos about movies and TV shows, and by the way I have a new one launching this weekend about the 1961 movie Victim . Also check out my weekly livestreams on Twitch , my book Hi Honey, I’m Homo! , my email newsletter. You can get all that and more at MattBaume.com .…

The Sewers of Paris

1
Legendary Slumber Parties (Ep 459 - Robert Patrick/Greenwich Village) 43:25

1 year ago43:25

43:25

This week, March 17, marks 54 years since the premiere of the groundbreaking film The Boys in the Band . Set in a New York apartment in the 1960s and based on the play by Mort Crowley, it was one of the first major movies to feature majority-queer characters. And to mark that 54th birthday, for this week’s Sewers of Paris I wanted to revisit my conversation with someone who knew the world of 60s Greenwich Village very well, playwright Robert Patrick. Robert wandered into the Village as an unsuspecting young gay man in the 1960s. He was only supposed to be there for a day, but he wound up staying for years, witnessing -- and participating in -- one of the most important periods in American theater history. He passed away last year, having written hundreds of plays — as Samuel French called him, “New York’s most-produced playwright.” We’ll have that conversation in a minute. First, a quick reminder that if you like this podcast, you’ll probably enjoy my other projects — like my YouTube videos about movies and TV shows, my weekly livestreams on Twitch , my book Hi Honey, I’m Homo! , and my email newsletter. You can get all that and more at MattBaume.com .…

The Sewers of Paris

1
The Silver Age of Queer Cinema (Ep 458 - Tyler/It's a Sin) 40:02

1 year ago40:02

40:02

My guest this week is my friend and colleague Tyler Albertario , a writer and researcher with a magnetic enthusiasm for queer history and culture. Tyler always had an interest in our vast queer past, but it was a chance viewing of a show about gay life in the 80s that turned it into a more serious field of study — and that’s led to some of his fascinating insights into the silver age that we’re living in right now. We’ll have that conversation in a minute. First, a quick reminder that if you like this podcast, you’ll probably enjoy my other projects — like my YouTube videos about movies and TV shows, my weekly livestreams on Twitch , my book Hi Honey, I’m Homo! , and my email newsletter. You can get all that and more at MattBaume.com .…

The Sewers of Paris

1
People Who Have Real Magic (Ep 457 - Ryan/Dune) 37:30

1 year ago37:30

37:30

For this week’s episode, the recent release of Dune Part 2 reminded me of a Sewers of Paris episode from 2018 where my guest Ryan and I talked about the grip that fear can have on a person’s mind. Ryan grew up in a rough environment, where his parents subjected him to devastating homophobia and dangerous "ex-gay" treatments. After Ryan legally emancipated himself from his family, what followed was a period of homelessness and addiction that took years for him to overcome. But overcome them he did — and now in 2024 he’s working as a civil rights attorney in Los Angeles. We originally recorded this interview back in 2018, during a thunderstorm in Colorado, so you'll hear some noise of rain in the background and a few rolls of thunder that were oddly well-timed for Ryan's story. We’ll have that conversation in a minute. First, a couple quick announcements, starting with a reminder that I’ve got a weekly newsletter about LGBTQ+ entertainment history. You can sign up for that at MattBaume.com . Also, check out my YouTube channel for videos about the making of iconic pop culture. I just released a new video about the movie Rebel Without a Cause — that’s at YouTube.com/mattbaume . And I’ve got one coming your way in March about the movie Victim. And I hope you’ll join me for weekly livestreams over on Twitch every Sunday afternoon. That’s at twitch.tv/mattbaume . Also! If you haven’t yet, take a look at my book about the history of queer characters on American sitcoms, Hi Honey, I’m Homo! Available now wherever books are sold. Go to gaysitcoms.com for details and to get a signed copy. Big thanks to everyone who makes this show possible on Patreon — visit patreon.com/mattbaume to support Sewers of Paris and get patron-exclusive benefits.…

The Sewers of Paris

1
Very Powerful Women (Ep 456 - Paul/The Eyes of Laura Mars) 37:55

1 year ago37:55

37:55

My guest this week is artist Paul Robinson , who just launched a fantastic new project called Twelve Soldiers . It’s a year-long series of monthly profiles, spotlighting heroes of the queer community — and it’s just one of the ways that Paul hopes to give back to a community that’s been very good to him. Starting from the early days of his career as a photographer, working with friends like Lara Flynn Boyle and Jennifer Tilley, to his more recent projects like elevating the work of emerging filmmakers in Africa and around the world. We’ll have that conversation in a minute. First, a couple quick announcements, starting with a reminder that if you like this podcast, you’ll probably like my weekly newsletter about LGBTQ+ entertainment history. You can sign up for that at MattBaume.com . Also, check out my YouTube channel for videos about the making of iconic pop culture. I just released a new video about the movie Rebel Without a Cause — that’s at YouTube.com/mattbaume . And I hope you’ll join me for weekly livestreams over on Twitch every Sunday afternoon. That’s at twitch.tv/mattbaume . Also! If you haven’t yet, take a look at my book about the history of queer characters on American sitcoms, Hi Honey, I’m Homo! Available now wherever books are sold. Go to gaysitcoms.com for details and to get a signed copy. Big thanks to everyone who makes this show possible on Patreon — visit patreon.com/mattbaume to support Sewers of Paris and get patron-exclusive benefits.…

The Sewers of Paris

1
A Writer's Job (Ep 455 - Wicked/Gregory Maguire) 1:00:37

1 year ago1:00:37

1:00:37

There’s a new trailer out for the upcoming Wicked movie, so I thought it was a good time to dive into the Sewers archives to revisit my chat with Gregory Maguire, author of the Wicked novel, among many other works. Though I’m sure you’re familiar with his book and the musical adaptation, you may not know the extent to which Gregory’s childhood was infused with elements of fairytale — from the fantasy novels he devoured, to the family tragedy that led to his time in an orphanage. We’ll have that conversation in a minute. First, a couple quick announcements, starting with a reminder that if you like this podcast, you’ll probably like my weekly newsletter about LGBTQ+ entertainment history. You can sign up for that at MattBaume.com . Also, check out my YouTube channel for videos about the making of iconic pop culture. I’ve got a video coming your way this Sunday, February 18, about the movie Rebel Without a Cause at YouTube.com/mattbaume . And I hope you’ll join me for weekly livestreams over on Twitch every Sunday afternoon. That’s at twitch.tv/mattbaume . Also! If you haven’t yet, take a look at my book about the history of queer characters on American sitcoms, Hi Honey, I’m Homo! Available now wherever books are sold. Go to gaysitcoms.com for details and to get a signed copy. Big thanks to everyone who makes this show possible on Patreon — visit patreon.com/mattbaume to support Sewers of Paris and get patron-exclusive benefits.…

The Sewers of Paris

1
If I Drown Myself in my Bathtub for my Art, so Be it (Ep 454 - Sam/Pushing Up Daisies) 50:32

1 year ago50:32

50:32

My guest this week is a sort of collector of culture. Sam is the co-host of a YouTube series called P and S — be careful not to say it too quickly in polite company — where he and his friend Ewan dissect the strangest pop culture artifacts they can find. Sam’s sensibility was shaped in part by stories about fictional oddballs finding each other. And now through his own videos and comedy, he’s creating culture that helps oddballs find each other in real life. You can find more of Sam’s work via Instagram , Twitter , and TikTok . We’ll have that conversation in a minute. First, a couple quick announcements, starting with a reminder that if you like this podcast, you’ll probably like my weekly newsletter about LGBTQ+ entertainment history. You can sign up for that at MattBaume.com . Also, check out my YouTube channel for videos about the making of iconic pop culture. I’ve got a video coming your way about the movie Rebel Without a Cause at YouTube.com/mattbaume . And I hope you’ll join me for weekly livestreams over on Twitch every Sunday afternoon. That’s at twitch.tv/mattbaume . Also! If you haven’t yet, take a look at my book about the history of queer characters on American sitcoms, Hi Honey, I’m Homo! Available now wherever books are sold. Go to gaysitcoms.com for details and to get a signed copy. Big thanks to everyone who makes this show possible on Patreon — visit patreon.com/mattbaume to support Sewers of Paris and get patron-exclusive benefits.…

The Sewers of Paris

1
I Didn't Know I Could Love Someone Like That (Ep 453 - Mark/Rent) 33:00

1 year ago33:00

33:00

My guest this week is Mark Daley. Mark’s background is in politics, and included some time as communications director for Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign. But a few years ago, he stumbled across an opportunity to apply his advocacy skills in a new arena, when he and his partner became parents — under circumstances that were not exactly what they’d planned. Mark has a new book out entitled Safe — it’s a look back at how he became a dad, how he maintained a family amidst the challenges of the foster system, and how he founded TheFosterParent.com to help families like his. We’ll have that conversation in a minute. First, a couple quick announcements, starting with a reminder that if you like this podcast, you’ll probably like my weekly newsletter about LGBTQ+ entertainment history. You can sign up for that at MattBaume.com . Also, check out my YouTube channel for videos about the making of iconic pop culture. I’ve got a video coming your way this month about the movie Rebel Without a Cause at YouTube.com/mattbaume . And I hope you’ll join me for weekly livestreams over on Twitch every Sunday afternoon. That’s at twitch.tv/mattbaume . This weekend we’re continuing our watch along — and debate about the queerness — of James Dean in Rebel Without a Cause . Also! If you haven’t yet, take a look at my book about the history of queer characters on American sitcoms, Hi Honey, I’m Homo! Available now wherever books are sold. It was just named one of the American Library Association’s Stonewall Book Honorees! Go to gaysitcoms.com for details and to get a signed copy. Big thanks to everyone who makes this show possible on Patreon — visit patreon.com/mattbaume to support Sewers of Paris and get patron-exclusive benefits.…

The Sewers of Paris

1
How Much Can We Get Away With? (Ep 452 - David/The Muppets) 58:37

1 year ago58:37

58:37

My guest this week is David Levy, co-host of the Muppeturgy podcast. David thrives when he’s putting on a show, goofing around with friends, finding ways to make an audience laugh — but finding the best way to do that took some trial and error and a bit of a lawsuit. We’ll have that conversation in a minute. First, a couple quick announcements, starting with a reminder that if you like this podcast, you’ll probably like my newsletter. Every week I share fun stories about the making of beloved movies and TV shows, as well as the fascinating people behind them. You can sign up at MattBaume.com . Also, check out my YouTube channel for videos about the making of iconic pop culture — I just released a new one about the 2004 movie Straight Jacket , which made a big splash when it came out, then disappeared for mysterious reasons, and is finally poised for a triumphant return. That’s now live at YouTube.com/mattbaume . And keep your eyes peeled for my upcoming video about Rebel Without a Cause. And I hope you’ll join me for weekly livestreams over on Twitch every Sunday afternoon. That’s at twitch.tv/mattbaume . This weekend we’re about to start a watch-along of the movie Rebel Without a Cause. Also! If you haven’t yet, take a look at my book about the history of queer characters on American sitcoms, Hi Honey, I’m Homo! Available now wherever books are sold. It was just one of the American Library Association’s Stonewall Book Honorees! Go to gaysitcoms.com for details and to get a signed copy. Big thanks to everyone who makes all my work possible on Patreon — visit patreon.com/mattbaume to support Sewers of Paris and get patron-exclusive benefits.…

The Sewers of Paris

1
I Live My Life Like Performance Art (Ep 451 - Dean FM/That's So Raven) 29:14

1 year ago29:14

29:14

My guest this week is Dean FM , a genderqueer rapper from Massachusetts. Dean was always a colorful kid and loved to escape into music — but never considered that it might become a career until a series of setbacks made him re-evaluate where he was living and what he was doing with his life. Dean just released a new album — there’s a link to that in the shownotes — and he has big dreams for what’s next. We’ll have that conversation in a minute. First, a couple quick announcements, starting with a reminder that if you like this podcast, you’ll probably like my newsletter. Every week I share fun stories about the making of beloved movies and TV shows, as well as the fascinating people behind them. You can sign up at MattBaume.com . Also, check out my YouTube channel for videos about the making of iconic pop culture — I just released a new one about the 2004 movie Straight Jacket, which made a big splash when it came out, then disappeared for mysterious reasons, and is finally poised for a triumphant return. That’s now live at YouTube.com/mattbaume . And I hope you’ll join me for weekly livestreams over on Twitch every Sunday afternoon. That’s at twitch.tv/mattbaume . We’ll be watching Straight Jacket this weekend, as well as some of my favorite scenes from the drag camp classic Girls Will be Girls. Also! If you haven’t yet, take a look at my book about the history of queer characters on American sitcoms, Hi Honey, I’m Homo! Available now wherever books are sold. Go to gaysitcoms.com for details and to get a signed copy. Big thanks to everyone who makes all my work possible on Patreon — visit patreon.com/mattbaume to support Sewers of Paris and get patron-exclusive benefits.…

The Sewers of Paris

1
Everything but the Snakes (Ep 450 - Joseph/Worship songs) 1:02:52

1 year ago1:02:52

1:02:52

This month sees the return of the Ryan Murphy series Feud, with its first new season in about five years. The topic this time is Truman Capote and his battles with high society. In honor of Capote’s return to the zeitgeist, for this week’s episode we’re diving into the sewers archives to revisit my 2017 conversation with Joseph Krebs, for whom Truman’s work played a pivotal role. Josef's done a lot of thinking about the impact he can have on the world, whether through the evangelical church where he grew up, or in the world of theater where he eventually found a more satisfying home. Like his heroes, Joseph’s work has always been about chasing the feeling of ecstasy. We’ll have that conversation in a minute. First, a couple quick announcements, starting with a reminder that if you like this podcast, you’ll probably like my newsletter. Every week I share fun stories about the making of beloved movies and TV shows, as well as the fascinating people behind them. You can sign up at MattBaume.com . Also, check out my YouTube channel for videos about the making of iconic pop culture — I’ve got a new one coming your way about a queer film that vanished for years and has only recently resurfaced. That’s coming next Sunday, January 14 at YouTube.com/mattbaume . And I hope you’ll join me for weekly livestreams over on Twitch every Sunday afternoon. That’s at twitch.tv/mattbaume . Also! If you haven’t yet, take a look at my book about the history of queer characters on American sitcoms, Hi Honey, I’m Homo! Available now wherever books are sold. Go to gaysitcoms.com for details and to get a signed copy. Big thanks to everyone who makes all my work possible on Patreon — visit patreon.com/mattbaume to support Sewers of Paris and get patron-exclusive benefits.…

The Sewers of Paris

1
It's Worthwhile to Fall in Love (Ep 449: Jin/Tales of the City) 36:42

1 year ago36:42

36:42

Sorry this episode’s coming a day late! I’m recovering from laryngitis and still can’t talk, so you’ll hear a Very Special Guest introducing this week’s episode. My guest this week is Jin De Luong, author of the novel Naked Love Berlin. Jin never intended to uproot his life and move across the planet. But on what was supposed to be a short vacation, he fell in love — first with a city, and then with a man. And he took a cue from one of his favorite literary icons and let an adventure carry him away into the bars and backrooms of Berlin. We’ll have that conversation in a minute. First, a couple quick announcements, starting with a reminder that if you like this podcast, you’ll probably like my newsletter. Every week I share fun stories about the making of beloved movies and TV shows, as well as the fascinating people behind them. You can sign up at MattBaume.com . Also, check out my YouTube channel for videos about the making of iconic pop culture — I’ve got a new one coming your way about a queer film that vanished for years and has only recently resurfaced. That’s coming next Sunday, January 14 at YouTube.com/mattbaume . And I hope you’ll join me for weekly livestreams over on Twitch every Sunday afternoon. That’s at twitch.tv/mattbaume . Also! If you haven’t yet, take a look at my book about the history of queer characters on American sitcoms, Hi Honey, I’m Homo! Go to gaysitcoms.com for details and to get a signed copy. Big thanks to everyone who makes all my work possible on Patreon — visit patreon.com/mattbaume to support Sewers of Paris and get patron-exclusive benefits.…

The Sewers of Paris

1
The Sewers of Paris: Best of 2023 37:04

1 year ago37:04

37:04

I can’t believe this is the case, but we’re just about at the end of 2023 — somehow — and I figured this was a good time to look back at some of my favorite Sewers of Paris episodes of the past year. From a New Orleans ghost-hunter who was inspired by Monty Python, to queer romance novels, to bad gays, to the shocking stories behind 1970s couture, I was lucky enough to chat with a lot of really intriguing guests over the last 12 months. So for this year-end episode, I’ve gathered the first few minutes of some of my favorites, and I present them to you here. Links to these episodes are in the description if you’re like to listen to the full thing. I know I say thanks for listening every week, but truly, thank you from the bottom of my heart for listening along to these interviews, for sending suggestions for future guests, and for making my work possible by supporting Sewers of Paris on Patreon or just by sharing episodes with people in your life. It’s a real honor to have you along for this ride, and I look forward to even more in 2024. Featured guests: Andrew Farrier: https://www.mattbaume.com/sewers-shownotes/2023/1/5/never-saying-no-to-anything-ep-413-andrewmonty-python Christopher Rice: https://www.mattbaume.com/sewers-shownotes/2023/3/30/enemies-to-lovers-ep-419-christopher-ricegay-romance-novels Trip Galey: https://www.mattbaume.com/sewers-shownotes/2023/7/27/my-favorite-fairy-ep-426-fairy-talestrip Jesse Finley Reed: https://www.mattbaume.com/sewers-shownotes/2023/7/20/the-fantasy-that-they-sold-us-ep-425-international-malejesse Ben Miller: https://www.mattbaume.com/sewers-shownotes/2023/8/24/you-and-your-peacocks-are-ridiculous-ep-430-salomeben-miller Huw Lemmey: https://www.mattbaume.com/sewers-shownotes/2023/8/31/to-be-disgusting-is-good-ep-430-beautiful-thinghuw-lemmey Jon Ginoli: https://www.mattbaume.com/sewers-shownotes/2023/11/2/loud-brash-profane-and-punk-ep-440-pansy-divisionjon Tim Sheridan: https://www.mattbaume.com/sewers-shownotes/2023/11/9/playing-with-toys-all-over-again-ep-441-timtransformers Eric Gonzaba: https://www.mattbaume.com/sewers-shownotes/2023/11/16/why-do-people-live-like-this-ep-442-erickennedy-center-honors…

The Sewers of Paris

1
I Wanted to be a Rock Star (Ep 447 - David Bowie/Scott Shoemaker) 56:19

1 year ago56:19

56:19

As we veer ever closer to Christmas, this week's episode is a dive into the Sewers of Paris archives for a chat with Scott Shoemaker. Along with his partner Freddie, Scott’s great passion is live weird theater, which manifests in such projects as an ongoing series of live shows in which he plays a boozy pill-popping version of Ms Pac Man, or his annual Christmas show where he finds new ways every year to ruin and then hastily repair the holidays. Growing up, Scott dreamed of being a rock star — and as it turns out, dressing his friends in goofy costumes and taking them on the road to sing and dance and tell jokes is oddly close to a super queer version of rock stardom. We’ll have that conversation in a minute. First, a couple quick announcements, starting with a reminder that if you like this podcast, you’ll probably like my newsletter. Every week I share fun stories about the making of beloved movies and TV shows, as well as the fascinating people behind them. You can sign up at MattBaume.com . Also, check out my YouTube channel for videos about the making of iconic pop culture — I just released a new video about how America fell in love with closeted gay actor Rock Hudson in the 1950s, and what happened when his truth was revealed. That’s at YouTube.com/mattbaume . And I hope you’ll join me for weekly livestreams over on Twitch every Sunday afternoon. That’s at twitch.tv/mattbaume . Also! If you haven’t yet, take a look at my book about the history of queer characters on American sitcoms, Hi Honey, I’m Homo! — available now wherever books are sold, and it makes a very pleasant holiday gift. Go to gaysitcoms.com for details and to get a signed copy. Big thanks to everyone who makes all my work possible on Patreon — visit patreon.com/mattbaume to support Sewers of Paris and get patron-exclusive benefits.…

The Sewers of Paris

1
A Dream I Didn't Know I Had (Ep 446 - Justin Randall/Girls) 44:53

1 year ago44:53

44:53

My guest this week is New York comedian Justin Randall , who was a very different person when he moved to the big city a few years ago. Back then he was a closeted actor, and the idea of coming out seemed like a distant dream — and not a good one. But things changed when he started getting up on stage as a stand-up comedian, and discovered the liberating power of making people laugh … and of making fun of the things that once seemed scary. We’ll have that conversation in a minute. First, a couple quick announcements, starting with a reminder that if you like this podcast, you’ll probably like my newsletter. Every week I share fun stories about the making of iconic movies and TV shows, as well as the fascinating people behind them. You can sign up at MattBaume.com . Also, I just released a new video on YouTube — this one’s about how America fell in love with closeted gay actor Rock Hudson in the 1950s, and what happened when his truth was revealed. That’s at YouTube.com/mattbaume . And I hope you’ll join me for weekly livestreams over on Twitch every Sunday afternoon. This weekend we’ll be watching Christmas at Pee-Wee’s Playhouse, one of the most chaotic holiday specials ever made. That’s at twitch.tv/mattbaume . And one last plug — if you haven’t yet, please do take a look at my new book about the history of queer characters on American sitcoms, Hi Honey, I’m Homo! — available now wherever books are sold, and a very pleasant holiday gift. It was just named one of Vulture’s top comedy books of 2023, and one of NPR’s books we love! Go to gaysitcoms.com for details and to get a signed copy. Big thanks to everyone who makes all my work possible on Patreon — visit patreon.com/mattbaume to support Sewers of Paris and get patron-exclusive benefits.…

The Sewers of Paris

1
Brave Families (Ep 445- David & Melinda/Ordinary People & Wings of Desire) 42:38

1 year ago42:38

42:38

We have two guests this week — filmmakers Melina Maerker and David Miller are the co-creators of a new documentary entitled We Live Here: The Midwest , which follows a variety of brave families enduring challenging circumstances as queer people in conservative parts of the country. Both Melinda and David came to filmmaking out of a desire to tell other peoples’ stories, and create a space where people can feel listened to — inspired, in their early careers, by two very different films. We’ll have that conversation in a minute. First, a couple quick announcements, starting with a reminder that if you like this podcast, you’ll probably like my weekly newsletter where I share fun stories about the making of iconic movies and TV shows, as well as the fascinating people behind them. You can sign up at MattBaume.com . Also, I’ve got a video coming your way this Sunday, December 10 about 50s heartthrob Rock Hudson — it’s the story of how America fell in love with a closeted gay man, and what happened when his truth was revealed. That’s at YouTube.com/mattbaume . And I hope you’ll join me for weekly livestreams over on Twitch every Sunday afternoon. That’s at twitch.tv/mattbaume . Also! If you haven’t yet, take a look at my new book about the history of queer characters on American sitcoms, Hi Honey, I’m Homo! — available now wherever books are sold, and a very pleasant holiday gift. Go to gaysitcoms.com for details and to get a signed copy. Big thanks to everyone who makes all my work possible on Patreon — visit patreon.com/mattbaume to support Sewers of Paris and get patron-exclusive benefits.…

The Sewers of Paris

1
Sissy Diva Worship (Ep 444 - Lucas/Cyndi Lauper) 46:37

1 year ago46:37