Better Than Besties: Why Gay Holiday Films Matter
This season’s movies with queer characters may be a largely chaste affair, but their comforting formulas also tell L.G.B.T.Q. viewers that they are seen.
Heath (Juan Pablo Di Pace), left, and Wyatt (Peter Porte) get romantic in “Dashing in December,” on the Paramount Network.Credit.Paramount Network
I gasped so loudly, it sounded like Judy Garland had shown up at my Christmas party.
It happened during “Dashing in December,” a new holiday film on the Paramount Network about two men who fall in love on a ranch. I involuntarily inhaled as Wyatt, a stuffy venture capitalist, locked lips with Heath, the sweetheart ranch hand. Watching it made me feel like Santa put me at the top of his nice list.
Groundhog Day (1993) ★★★
Grown Ups (2010) ★
Paramount Thur. 10:30 a.m.
Paramount Thur. 6 p.m.
TCM Sat. 3:45 a.m.
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EPIX Mon. 6:05 p.m.
Happy Feet (2006) ★★★
BBC America Wed. 12:04 p.m.
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002) ★★★
USA Fri. 11:55 a.m.
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005) ★★★
Syfy Wed. 8 p.m.
USA Fri. 6:35 p.m.
USA Sat. 2:10 p.m.
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Syfy Thur. 2:28 p.m.
USA Sat. 8:30 p.m.
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007) ★★★
Syfy Wed. 11:29 p.m.
Syfy Thur. 11:26 a.m.
USA Sat. 5:40 p.m.
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004) ★★★
USA Fri. 3:35 p.m.
USA Sat. 11:10 a.m.
(1996)
Like most B-movie stars, actress Raven Quinn (Debbie Rochon) has her share of possessive fans. But her neighbor Wayne (Grant Kramer) takes it to a whole new level by donning a Santa suit and taking a gardening claw to anyone else vying for her attention.
Killer Claus Content: Wayne does most of his killing in a Santa suit, but in the one case of this movie overdoing it, he also wears a black ski-mask. The ski mask becomes the focal point of the get-up, which diminishes the Santa aspect.
Yuletide Terror Quotient: Writer/Director John A. Russo co-wrote
The Night of the Living Dead with George R. Romero, but there’s absolutely none of that creativity on display in
The Expanse. Oh, and a new holiday horror flick from SYFY. Thanks Satan oops, we mean,
Santa!
The biggest stories this week are arguably the premieres of Season 5 of
The Expanse on Amazon Prime and the series premiere of CBS All Access big budget, eagerly-anticipated event series adaptation of Stephen King s
The Stand. Both have a ton of buzz and look to be two of the biggest genre premieres of the winter. Turning to big finales, Season 2 of
The Mandalorian is coming to what will certainly be a universe-shaking end, with Mando gunning for Moff Gideon.
On the scary side, SYFY is dropping the new horror flick
Chuck Barney
East Bay Times
DON T MISS: Celebrity IOU â Keep the tissues handy. Twins Drew and Jonathan Scott are back in the kind of feel-good series that so many of us could use right now. The premise? Hollywood stars express their sincere gratitude to friends, mentors and family members who have had a major impact on their lives by gifting them with heartwarming home renovations that bring everyone to tears. Brad Pitt got the ball rolling in season one with a surprise project for his longtime makeup artist. Celebrities participating this season include Zooey Deschanel, Justin Hartley, Allison Janney and Rainn Wilson. (9 p.m. Monday, HGTV).