In the print edition of Time, my Culture Complex column is on America’s love affair, or at least its like affair, with lesbian talk-show hosts. Is it a landmark, or entirely unremarkable, that Ellen DeGeneres is uncontroversially hosting the biggest mass-media event besides the Super Bowl? Or is it a landmark because it’s so unremarkable? And how about that Rosie?
In the column, I suggested that it’s hard to imagine any gay man hosting the Oscars today–any one, that is, who’s out, who has the broad appeal of Ellen and who’s a big enough star to be given the podium. (Several years ago, we might have imagined, say, Rupert Everett reaching that level, but that hasn’t quite panned out.) Anyone have any candidates?