Michael has been writing for PopMatters since 2000. His primary focus, aside from queer culture, is television reviews and commentary, and his article Male Bashing on TV has been reprinted in two college textbooks. He currently lives in Louisville, KY, and is a Lecturer of Communication Studies at Indiana University Southeast in New Albany, IN. As a teacher, he has an interest in the study of contemporary political rhetoric and argumentation. He and his partner Jim have been living in un-wedded bliss since 1995.
Features
Thursday, January 12 2012
The Best TV Performances of 2011
For all the high points on TV in 2011, there were also things that bothered me, and not all of them were named Kardashian.
Tuesday, January 11 2011
Undead and Kicking: Zombies and Betty White Ruled TV in 2010
It was difficult to turn on your TV this past year without seeing the undead... make that the undead and Betty White.
Thursday, February 18 2010
Caregiving a Damn: Travels through Hell with Love
Were lawmakers to seek a better understanding of the work of the caregiver, health care reform would reflect an economic model that placed altruistic motivation above financial consideration.
Wednesday, January 6 2010
The Best TV Performances of 2009
It would have been easy to miss most of this year's best, with all the distractions -- Rihanna and Chris, Taylor and Kanye, Adam and his same-sex drummer, Tiger and, well, who knows, and, ugh, Jon and Kate.
Wednesday, January 14 2009
The Best Television Performers of 2008
More than anything, though, I wish all those political pundits would take some time off, to rest and let their vocal cords recuperate. That truly would make for a happy new year.
Columns
Friday, February 10 2012
And the Academy Awards Nominees Are… Straight
Films about LGBT people that are aimed at mass audiences win awards; films about LGBT people that are aimed at LGBT audiences… not so much. So, here's the Queer, Isn't It? Best Pic nominees.
Wednesday, February 1 2012
The Gay Ole Countryside
As challenging as it can be to grow up gay or lesbian in an area where the next closest homosexual is 50 miles away, it's often not the sad existence that an urban dweller might assume it to be.
Thursday, December 15 2011
Sex Is Between the Legs, Gender Is Between the Ears
It's been over 70 years since Lili Elbe underwent the first gender reassignment surgery, so isn't it time that media in so-called 'advanced' cultures began to recognize the presence of trans persons in its midst?
Tuesday, November 15 2011
The 'Down-Low' Is Still Kept Down and Low in Black Communities
Despite gay rights progress on many fronts, the problems of black LGBT people are still largely invisible, as they are often shunned by the black communities from which they come.
Wednesday, October 5 2011
Beyond Jodie Dallas: TV's 10 Most Important LGBT Characters
Several "best" or "favorite" LGBT TV character lists have popped up in recent years, but they don't always include the most important LGBT characters. So, we pay tribute to the ten(ish) most significant LGBT characters in US television history.
Reviews
Monday, January 16 2012
'Lost Girl' Is a Pleasant Diversion
Bo learns that the Dark Fae will clean up any messes from her kills and find her a good job in the human world. Plus, they "have dental."
Tuesday, January 3 2012
ABC's 'Work It' Is Uninspired and Unoriginal
Work It will most likely be remembered for years to come, alongside My Mother, the Car and Who Wants to Marry a Millionaire, as one of TV's truly bad ideas.
Wednesday, November 30 2011
I Hate My Teenage Daughter: Or, How Not to Raise a Child
TV offers too many horrible girls and despicable mothers, most frequently on reality shows. As sitcom material, the problems only loom larger: there's nothing amusing about Sophie and Mackenzie's out-of-control behavior.
Friday, June 24 2011
'Rhett & Link: Commercial Kings' Series Premiere
In Commercial Kings, Rhett and Link are assigned to create commercials for real life small businesses.
Thursday, January 20 2011
'Fairly Legal' Series Premiere
Kate Reed is a typical USA Network protagonist, and Fairly Legal a typical USA show.
Blogs
Friday, September 2 2011
100 Essential Directors - Sergei Eisenstein
100 Essential Directors celebrates directors of distinct vision, who have honed their respective crafts, who have brought something new and exciting to the medium, and who continue to push the boundaries of the form.
Tuesday, August 30 2011
100 Essential Directors - George Cukor
100 Essential Directors celebrates directors of distinct vision, who have honed their respective crafts, who have brought something new and exciting to the medium, and who continue to push the boundaries of the form.
Thursday, June 16 2011
The Hypocrisy of Mother Monster. Yeah, We Mean You, Lady Gaga
Lady Gaga preaches acceptance and love. However, her music videos teach that love is only for the beautiful.
