Star Trek Isn’t a Sitcom But It Sure Is Gay

“The Offspring” (March 12, 1990)

Yeah, we finally did an hourlong — and if you’re surprised that we picked Star Trek: The Next Generation, then you are probably unaware how many fans of GEE are also huge Star Trek nerds. We’re joined by friend Mike Gizienski, who knows more about the Star Trek franchise than we do, to discuss the episode with Data’s daughter Lal, which isn’t especially any of the letters in LBGTQ but manages to tread into each of their territories. Trust us, it’s a great episode of TV even if you don’t know the difference between an Andorian and a J’naii.Full disclosure: We didn’t come here to say nice things about Debra Messing. What we will say is that she’s forever trapped in sitcom mode, to the point that the laffer that preceded the gay one has her essentially playing an identical character. What’s more? Ned, who is supposedly straight, really reads like a gay character. For these reasons and more, this explicitly gay episode gives this podcast a lot to discuss.

Episode artwork by Ian O’Phelan.