I originally posted this on 12/4/2006. I just watched the repeat again tonight and it's worth a repost.
Cold Case is the one show that always brings tears to my eyes. The final montage featuring the ghost of the deceased interacting with the stars and the program's supporting characters always does me in.
Last night's episode featured a storyline of two cops that are partners that end up falling in love. The year was 1968 — when you think of how things are now, it's a great reminder to us all of how things were 40 years ago pre-Stonewall. For one of the men (Shane Johnson pictured here), the relationship ends with betrayal by his father, and by his boss, and death; for the other (Brian Hallisay photo unavailable), it brings divorce and a lifetime of regret, loneliness, and self denial. The surviving partner as an older man was played by 60's hunk Chad Everett who played Dr. Joe Gannon on Medical Center.This series is quality stuff. The story lines are cutting edge and consistently presented with sensitivity. I can't imagine a man/man kiss on primetime, done with such a clear and unapologetic approach, before Brokeback Mountain. The actors in this episode were nearly carbon copies of Enos/Jack in the looks department. One more reason to give a tip of the hat to that groundbreaking movie, its director Ang Lee, and stars Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal.
Does anyone remember when thirtysomething (loved that show) was boycotted over showing two men in bed together even though they weren't touching? And the stink that Roseanne caused when she kissed Mariel Hemingway in 1994?
We've come a long way, but still have a long way to go.
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