Third Place Books joins the Seattle Public Library to welcome Matt Baume for a presentation of his new book Hi Honey, I'm Homo!: Sitcoms, Specials, and the Queering of American Culture. Using clips from classic TV shows, vintage news broadcasts, and excerpts from the new book Hi Honey, I’m Homo!, we’ll explore a surprising evolution across decades of iconic primetime sitcoms, and reveal the behind-the-scenes struggles to put queer people on the air with humor and humanity.
Venue: Microsoft Auditorium, Seattle Public Library (Central Branch), 1000 Fourth Ave., Seattle, WA 98104
Time: 7pm
This event is free and open to the public. Registration is required in advance.
Doors will open at 6:30 p.m. Seating is first come, first served for registered patrons.
This event will include a public signing and time for audience Q&A. Sustain our author series by purchasing a copy of the featured book, or request a hold at your local library.
Click here for more about our COVID-19 policies for in-person events.
There's a secret storyline hidden across some of the most popular sitcoms of the 20th century.
For decades, amidst the bright lights, studio-audience laughs, and absurdly large apartment sets, the real-life story of American LGBTQ+ liberation unfolded in plain sight in front of millions of viewers, most of whom were laughing too hard to mind.
From flamboyant relatives on Bewitched to closely-guarded secrets on All in the Family, from network-censor fights over Soap to behind-the-scenes activism on the set of The Golden Girls, from Ellen’s culture clash to Modern Family’s primetime power-couple, Hi Honey, I’m Homo! is the story not only of how subversive queer comedy transformed the American sitcom, from its inception through today, but how our favorite sitcoms transformed, and continue to transform, America.
Accessible, entertaining, and informative, Hi Honey, I'm Homo! is filled with exclusive commentary and interviews from celebrities, behind-the-scenes creators, and more.
"Every chapter serves up a slice of queer history with a rich scoop of fascinating, juicy asides and shocking behind-the-scenes insights—like having dishy late-night cheesecake with a witty, wise friend.”
—Anthony Oliveira, PhD, author, film programmer, and pop culture critic
“Matt Baume takes us on a highly entertaining tour of queer representation in television comedy, from the be-bad-with-metaphor and you’ll-miss-it winks of Bewitched to the out-and-proud-ish center stage of Will & Grace. Baume brings his trademark mix of childlike enthusiasm and intellectual rigor to a medium he clearly loves. He calls out cowardice and appeasement where he sees it, but is also careful to place each show inside its moment in queer history.”
—Richard Day, TV writer and producer on Arrested Development, Spin City, The Drew Carey Show, Ellen, and more
“Queer visibility didn't just happen overnight. It is and continues to be a series of wins and setbacks, which Matt chronicles with each painstaking step it took to move equality forward . . . The tremendous amount of curated minutia reads like Matt's love letter to the television pioneers of queer culture.”
—Deven Green, award-winning comedic chanteuse
Matt Baume is a Seattle-based writer, podcaster, and video-maker who tells stories about pop culture history from a queer perspective. His work explores the behind-the-scenes creation of movies and TV shows that changed the world, and the fascinating people behind them. Matt's first book, Defining Marriage, chronicles the personal stories of people who fought for marriage equality over the last forty years. His latest book, Hi Honey, I'm Homo!, tells the story of how subversive queer comedy transformed the American sitcom from its inception through today, as well as how our favorite sitcoms transformed, and continue to transform, America.
Want a signed edition of the featured book, but can't make it to the event? Order through our website or over the phone, and write your request for a signature or personalization in the comments field at checkout. Please call the hosting store if you're placing your order within 24 hours of the event.
Third Place Books Events Code of Conduct: Third Place Books is committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of event attendees and guest authors, during both online and in-store events. By registering for this event, you are agreeing to refrain from engaging in inappropriate behavior and harassment of any kind throughout the course of this event (i.e. racial slurs, profanity, hate speech, spam comments, etc.). Please note that any participants who engage in inappropriate behavior or harassment of any kind will be immediately ejected from the event.
For media inquiries, access inquiries, or questions about our Covid-19 policies, please email events@thirdplacebooks.com or call our Lake Forest Park store at (206) 366-3311.
