There is one thing about comedy; it is universal. Sure, the specifics may change from one culture to the next but the axiom is that all human beings love to laugh. When television shows could only be obtained over the air waves the studios had to make their series as broad in appeal as possible. This would ensure large ratings and ensure the income derived from sponsors. Now, with hundreds of cable stations readily available we can now have niche programming. This is targeted to one specific portion of the general population. We now have Lifetime for women, Spike for men and for the sci-fi fans out there the Sci-Fi channel. A few years ago the gay and lesbian community received their own cable network, Logo. This network features programming involving their world. It was only a matter of time before they created their own comedy series. Since sketch comedy series like Saturday Night Live have proven to be a popular format the ‘Big Gay Sketch Show’ was born. The series was created and executive produced by one time morning TV juggernaut Rosie O'Donnell. The purpose of the series was to showcase the talents of young, up coming gay and lesbian comedians in a way similar to how SNL has launched some many careers in comedy. While this is a admirable concept for a group denigrated by many to take control in this fashion the results are not up to the dream, The series has its moments but overall the jokes are not funny. To be sure this was not just from the viewpoint of a heterosexual middle aged male I asked some gay and lesbian friends what they thought about the series. The general consensus was the skits served little more than to promote stereotypes. One valid counterpoint that came up in the discussion was one of the best ways to fight prejudice and stereotype is to own them and make fun of them. This is true and has been done many times in several venues. Again the idea was solid but it falls apart in the execution.

For one thing the writing is not up to the worse years of SNL. The jokes are predicable and the situations mundane. Instead of poking fun at the stereotypes the troupe severs more to reinforce them. Since this series’ demographic was the gay and lesbian audience they could have gone more for cutting edge comedy. I have seen it done much better with the stand up routines of comedians on HBO or the uncensored late night airings on Comedy Central. The show would have benefited by including some skits that did not concern the sexual orientation of the performers. Some of the best African American comedians had race as an issue in their work but also provided jokes about regular, everyday life. The first rule of a comedy show, even one with a very specific audience is to be funny. So many good ideas for skits just went unfulfilled in their potential. This is not to say there aren’t some bits that were hysterical, they are in their. Like some of the off seasons of SNL, they are rare gems that are to be savored when found.

The first skit of the first episode is one example of a great idea that doesn’t quite make it out of the gate. Logo at Night, of course a parody of Nick at Night, has a classic gay television series, ‘The Facts of Life’. In it Mrs. Garrett is a man, (Michael Serrato), in drag with outrageous hair sticking up. Blair (Kate McKinnon) complains that Natalie farts too much and naturally Jo (Nicol Paone) is very butch and on a motorcycle. At first Blair is turned off by Jo but soon sexual chemistry starts up. When they are caught rolling around ‘fighting’ Mrs. Garrett decides their punishment will be to share a single bed. The next morning when they come to breakfast Jo is wearing Blair’s PJs and Blair is smoking a cigarette. The humor was drawn with far too broad a brush. This series was a natural for this sort of satire but they went at it with a heavy handed approach. In the next skit things are a little better. Serrato plays the mother of an Eastern European hopeful for a dance troupe. Her daughter, Svetlana is played by Stephen Guarino in tight buns on either side of his head and a drab, plain set of tights. Mother tells her daughter that failure is not an option and to remember her KGB training. As he dances he goes around and kills his competition; all in step with the music. Now this skit was funny. It was dark, well paced and very nicely, shall we say, executed. Another skit that didn’t meet expectations was another Logo at Night attempt, a gay ‘All in the Family’. It pushed the jokes artificially instead of mining what would have been a gold mine of possibilities. Another that worked was Logo life tips with Chad Michaels (Guarino) and Michael Chad (Jonny McGovern) where the skit makes fun of all the decorating tip segments on every possible morning talk show. They also have a good skit with Erica Ash playing Naomi Campbell speaking out on domestic violence and to prove her point she brings on her domestic, her maid, expertly played by Julie Goldman.

The second season of the series is also available. Instead of offering a combined two season set they allow you to try out one season and go back to get the other. Season two is pretty much the same format and the same results. By this time they have developed a recurring cast of regular characters including Svetlana, a gay werewolf and a flamboyant receptionist. Rosie O’Donnell and Chastity Bono often appear in a balcony making fun of the show; homage to the old men in the Muppet series. One skit in season two that came off very well was a parody of ‘I Love Lucy’ with Nicol Paone as Lucy, Paolo Andino as Ricky, Julie Goldman as Ethel and MAD TV regular Paul Vogt as Fred. They are actually keeping up sham marriages since, as they explain, everyone knows to be in show business you can’t come out of the closet. In the second season the quality of the writing did experience an upturn and the result was funnier.

The members of this comedy troupe are very talented and they deserve the best possible material. The series is on the right track to display what they can do but is not there yet. The DVDs are available through Logo distributed by Paramount. It may take a little longer to achieve but at least they are getting on the right track.