John Inman, who played Mr. Humphries on the BBC TV show "Are You Being Served?" has died at age 71.
The character was the very over-the-top clerk in the menswear department of a department store. The show ran from 1975-1985 and his character was the target of many gay groups for being too over-the-top, and therefore a negative stereotype. The response was that the character was neither gay nor straight, but "just a mother's boy", and over the course of time Mr. Humphries became an icon in the gay community.
One of the reasons that I really enjoyed the show, and Mr. Humphries in particular, was because of the "over-the-top"-ness of the character. (That and the sophomoric, innuendo-laced humor!) Of course, I've known a few people that I would consider to be "over-the-top", both gay and straight. It's the attitude, not the orientation, that matters.
Rest well, Mr. Humphries, it's closing time.
The character was the very over-the-top clerk in the menswear department of a department store. The show ran from 1975-1985 and his character was the target of many gay groups for being too over-the-top, and therefore a negative stereotype. The response was that the character was neither gay nor straight, but "just a mother's boy", and over the course of time Mr. Humphries became an icon in the gay community.
One of the reasons that I really enjoyed the show, and Mr. Humphries in particular, was because of the "over-the-top"-ness of the character. (That and the sophomoric, innuendo-laced humor!) Of course, I've known a few people that I would consider to be "over-the-top", both gay and straight. It's the attitude, not the orientation, that matters.
Rest well, Mr. Humphries, it's closing time.
