Funny thing… after watching a disappointing episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live featuring the cast of Lost on Hulu (Don’t get me started!) I switched to Netflix for something new. This time I wanted something that would actually entertain me.

As I perused Netflix it offered me it’s usual suggestions. “If you like Farewell My Concubine then you’ll like Blah Blah Blah…” I normally don’t pay attention. Just because I liked Life is Beautiful doesn’t mean I want to see everything about that era. I kept looking through the choices. That is until I saw the picture of Michael Bluth. Now that will get my attention. Nothing says hilarious like Arrested Development. I laugh like a small child when it’s on. I can’t explain it. Something tickles my fancy and I laugh out loud without abandon. (Everyone should have something like that, right?)

This time Netflix says “Since you like Arrested Development you’ll like Soap.” Well, yeah, I did like Soap, about a million years ago. We even affectionately called my mom Jessica Tate. Of course I’ll watch Soap. Funny show as memory serves.

Stay with me… remember that I was reaching 10 when this show aired so some things I “got” and some I did not. I also have to recognize that I am sure I didn’t see every episode. No Tivo. No DVR. Just you and the tv with a standing date. Go to a friend’s house and you miss the whole shebang. Get the flu and no dice. Being in grade school I think it’s logical to say that this tv show was not on the official agenda. I did; however, remember several parts, some of which scared me (demonic possession) and equally intrigued me (really clever humor).

When I downloaded the first couple episodes I was blown away. How did I not know that Billy Crystal played a transgender person? I always thought the character was gay. Researching later Wikipedia describes the character as gay too, even going so far as to say that several gay rights organizations were upset that Crystal was portrayed as wanting to have sex reassignment surgery. In the first few episodes the character (ze perhaps) was standing in hir mom’s clothes, with her wig, explaining that ze has always been a woman. Even recalling a shaving kit ze got when ze was four. Hir brother started shaving his face and ze started shaving hir legs.

My heart pulled when Crystal’s character was seriously (a rare moment) explaining that he was “just a person” to his step father who could not bear to even look at him. This was the 70′s folks. Why can’t we see something as progressive on network television today? Now granted, I only saw three episodes, but in that short time I saw something that is missing today and for that moment I was so proud. Funny that I was looking back in order to look forward.