DAVID ALEXANDER NAHMOD | 3.26.2008
probably not a happy
camper these days.
The conservative
televangelist’s CBN
Network, sold to
Disney and renamed
ABC Family, has taken
to airing programs that would probably
scandalize 700 Club fans.
“Greek,” a teen soap that the
network launched last summer, is set
on a Midwest college campus and
follows the sometimes comic,
sometimes dramatic adventures of two
fraternities and a sorority. Pledges of
Kappa Tao Gamma, Omega Chi Delta
and Zeta Beta Zeta manage to pull off
the impossible: they attend university
without ever going to a single class.
They have more important things to
do, like partying of course, so the show
is akin to “National Lampoon’s Animal
House,” sans the nudity and profanity.
It’s reasonably family friendly, though
its characters aren’t exactly monks and
virgins.
Cute Jacob Zachar heads the cast
as Rusty, a nerdy pledge who wants to
fit in. Blonde bombshell Casey (Spencer
Grammer) is Rusty’s sister, who has the
confidence and popularity he lacks.
Rusty may be the show’s official
lead, but other characters are given
their fair share of screen time. Gay
viewers will no doubt root for Calvin
(Paul James), a pledge who’s dealing
with coming out. Calvin’s stories are
particularly well written, and gay teens
should relate to him, while older
viewers will most likely sigh as they
remember when.
of the coming out process. When his
fraternity brothers react to the
revelation with stunned silence, Calvin
resigns from the house, until the
housemaster poignantly invites him
back. Calvin agrees to give his brothers
a chance to accept him — and to give
himself the chance to accept them.
He is forced out of the closet when
Ashleigh (Amber Stevens), his female
best friend, falls in love with him, and
it’s surprisingly touching to see them
working out the kinks of their deep
friendship.
Most humorous are Calvin’s run-ins
with Dale (Clark Duke), an ultra-dorky
born-again Christian who offers to
“cure” the newly out young man.
“Greek’s” writers brilliantly poke fun at
the absurd tactics often employed by
ex-gay ministries, and Calvin, bless him,
teaches Dale a thing or two about
tolerance.
And stay tuned: the network tells us
that a boyfriend may be looming on
Calvin’s horizon! Max Greenfield,
known for his recurring roles on
“Veronica Mars” and “Ugly Betty,” will
soon appear as Michael, Calvin’s
potential love interest.
upgrade for the airwaves, with a gay
character who is inspirational instead of
twisted, suicidal or completely
innocuous.
Which brings to mind another fine
aspect of the series: its casual
diversity. Calvin is black, while Michael
is white. But the conspicuous absence
of discussions about ethnicity and
difference could be seen in two ways:
Perhaps, “Greek” is presenting,
successfully and beautifully, the next
generation of America, where race will
cease to be an issue. Conversely, it
could also be a glaring omission of real
issues that touch people of color and
white people in different ways,
especially in a relationship. “Greek”
might not be the spot for multicultural
education, given the show’s attempts
at inclusion, but it’s disappointing that
the writers aren’t going the extra step
and diving more deeply into some real
issues.
Still, while no classic, “Greek” is a
well-done, fun romp with a hugely
likable cast. ABC Family should be
commended for presenting such a gayfriendly
series to viewers across the
country.
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