Impossibly normal

Like probably many of you, I watched “The New Normal” this week because of The Impossible Dream. You know the dream. The dream that American television will finally give us a great gay show that isn’t called “Glee.” Not that I hate “Glee.” I do not. I still sort of love it in spite of myself. But, you know, I always want more. I continue to crave representation. Sure, we’re integrated many places – “Modern Family,” “Grey’s Anatomy,” “Pretty Little Liars,” “Lost Girl,” “The Good Wife” – I could go on. But the hope for a show with central leading gay characters, not just the part of a sprawling ensemble, still exists. And, no, “The Real L Word” does not count.

So how “The New Normal” do then? Well, um, let’s just say, uh – eh. Part of the problem is our generation’s “Gay Shows” seem to come from the same few voices. For lesbians, we get Ilene Chaiken who has given us “The L Word” and “The Real L Word,” highlighting among many other things her shocking lack of creativity when naming TV shows. Gay men, in turn, get Ryan Murphy. And, well, we all know how that’s going on “Glee.” And that’s the thing, “The New Normal” already feels like a Ryan Murphy brand show. Andrew Rannells’ Bryan is basically Kurt all grown up complete with sassy black sidekick and Highly Successful boyfriend. And Ellen Barkin’s Nana From Hell is basically early Sue Sylvester in a Chanel suit instead of a track suit.

But, even more damning, “The New Normal” feels like a Ryan Murphy show because it’s already wildly schizophrenic. Is it a snarky comedy? Is it a sentimental drama? It doesn’t help that half the cast is playing it one way, the other half the other. David, the non-gay acting half of the gay couple, and Goldie, the single-mom surrogate seeking a life change, seem to think they’re in an inspirational family drama. Bryan and Nana, meanwhile, seem to think they’re on “The Real Housewives of Snark County.” Together, they don’t mesh. In fact they almost seem in competition. Which show will win out? Hard to say. But I know it won’t be pretty while they duke it out.

The jarring nature of the show’s two personalities mutes what should be its emotional center. Namely, Bryan and David’s love and excitement over starting a family. Instead of providing the universal connection we want it to, with non-gay viewers in particular, this moment is treated like – at best – a punchline. Bryan sees a baby at Barneys and wants one. Rim shot! Thank you, gays, I’ll be here all week! Worse still is the total lack of chemistry between Bryan and David. Sure, it’s early, but I’ve seen potted plants with more spark than these two. Though I do love Little Miss Sunshine Shania, particularly her Little Edie impersonation.

And can we, just for a minute, discuss Ryan Murphy’s continued affectionate and respectful representations of lesbians? Oh, wait, sorry, I meant the opposite of that. Yes, granted, this man gave us Santana Lopez. But that’s only because the fans demanded it from him while brandishing pitchforks. In the pilot we get the lesbian couple who gets called ugly men. And last night we were “frowners” and shaped like gingerbread men. Rim shot! Thank you, gays, I’ll be here all week! (p.s. Oh, hai, Julie Goldman – so sorry you got Ryan Murphyed.)

Will I keep watching? Probably. Maybe. A very firm, eh. Sigh. The work goes on, the cause endures, the hope still lives, and the impossible dream will never die.