"Normal, Ohio" (2000) TV series 2000-2001

User Rating:

5.4/10   

Director:

David Trainer

Writers:

Kira Arne (staff writer)
Bob Nickman (writer)

Seasons:

1

Release Date:

1 November 2000 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Plot Keywords:

Gay Interest | Homosexual | Homosexuality | Gay Parent

Awards:

1 win

Cast

John Goodman	...	Rex Gamble / ... (7 episodes, 2000)
Joely Fisher	...	Pamela Theresa Gamble-Miller (7 episodes, 2000)
Greg Pitts	...	Charles 'Charlie' Gamble (7 episodes, 2000)
Anita Gillette	...	Joan Gamble (7 episodes, 2000)
Julia McIlvaine	...	Kimberly Miller (7 episodes, 2000)
Cody Kasch	...	Robert 'Robbie' Miller (7 episodes, 2000)
Mo Gaffney	...	Elizabeth (7 episodes, 2000)
Charles Rocket	...	Danny (7 episodes, 2000)
Orson Bean	...	William 'Bill' Gamble, Sr. (7 episodes, 2000)
Jayson Schaal	...	Young Bill (4 episodes, 2000)

Also Known As:

Butch (USA) (working title)
Don't Ask (USA) (working title)
Goodman (USA) (working title)
The John Goodman Project (USA) (working title)
Untitled John Goodman Project (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

30 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Filming Locations:

CBS Studio Center - 4024 Radford Avenue, Studio City, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Carsey-Werner Company

Trivia:

13 Episodes were made but only 7 episodes got to air.

Quotes:

Robert 'Robbie' Miller: What is the point of having a great tree if the outside of the house looks like... like...
Pamela Theresa Gamble-Miller: Our house?
Robert 'Robbie' Miller: Yes.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Family Guy: North by North Quahog (#4.1)" (2005)

I loved it, loved it, loved it!

I loved this show! How wonderful it is to finally see a program on television that features a gay male character in the lead(!) that isn't a stereotype. In fact, he breaks all stereotypes. John Goodman plays William "Butch" Gamble, a tough, macho, masculine guy who also happens to be gay. He stands up for himself when verbally attacked and he likes football too. When is the last time a gay character on television or in the movies had all of those qualities?

I knew it would be a good show simply because everything John Goodman does is a showcase for his amazing talent and natural style of acting. His character in "Normal, Ohio" brought to mind the characters he played in "Roseanne" and "Coyote, Ugly," but this time he is the central focus.

The main point I want to make is that I have worked in network programming for years and I know how hard it is to get a show on the air. In fact, I can't imagine how difficult it must have been for this show's producers to even make this show at all. When critics say "Normal, Ohio" isn't as good as other programs, those critics do not realize that a few years ago, a show with a gay male character in the lead would never have been on TV at all.

It doesn't matter if you're gay, straight, bi or whatever - everyone should support this program and watch it. Let's not forget the way America jeered Margaret Cho's sitcom "All American Girl," which should have been praised for its wonderful portrayal of an Asian family. Hopefully, "Normal, Ohio" will find an audience before it's too late.