Tom Hanks on the red carpet.
Before he became Hollywood's biggest name and America's Dad, Tom Hanks got his start, like many aspiring movie stars, on television. Based on his output in both film and television, primarily broad comedies with absurd premises, you'd never suspect that this actor would become the modern ideal everyman and face of American benevolence just 10 years later.
The series that launched Hanks, Bosom Buddies, a sitcom that ran on ABC for two seasons from 1980 to 1982, seems like something that would send an actor to cultural jail indefinitely, as its synopsis would comfortably — and understandably — be placed in the"problematic" department through today's lens. Hanks, starring alongside Peter Scolari as a pair of struggling advertising artists posing as women to live in a female-only hotel, appeared to have taken a huge risk taking on such risqué material. However, based on its era, broad portrayals of femininity, including cross-dressing, were viewed as wholesome entertainment. 'Bosom Buddies' Premise Was a Reliable Comedic Device Not so long ago, cross-dressing, or any other methods consisting of men dressing as women, was a reliable comedic device in sitcoms and movies. One of the most celebrated films of all time, Some Like It Hot, follows two male jazz musicians dressing up as women while on the run from the mob. By poking fun at their desperate bids to conceal their identities and creating a sincere self-discovery arc with Jack Lemmon and Tony Curtis' characters, Billy Wilder's 1959 screwball is an unequivocal masterpiece. Released contemporaneously with Bosom Buddies, the 1982 Oscar-winning film Tootsie is both a satire on showbiz and a deconstruction of gender stereotypes and biases. Sydney Pollack's movie starring Dustin Hoffman tracks the arc of a complex, egotistical actor who learns that he doesn't have it so hard compared to female actors working in soap operas. Bosom Buddies, due to the limits of television and audience expectations of a network sitcom, can't have the depth and nuance of a Some Like It Hot or Tootsie. As a result, the series uses the premise of cross-dressing for men to achieve their desires, romantically and professionally, for comedic ends, and audiences are trained to admire Kip Wilson and Henry Desmond , with gentle appreciation, and not skepticism. In an era where drag has become a mainstream performance art, Bosom Buddies' central concept feels out of touch. The two are undoubtedly treated as buffoons throughout each situation, including various dates, flaunting their masculinity, and follies inside the hotel. Tom Hanks and Peter Scolari Elevated the Problematic Sitcom Premise For the time, Bosom Buddies was surprisingly tender, despite what its trite logline suggests. Kip and his longtime love interest, Sonny , undergo a heartfelt"will-they-won't-they" arc that sees the former revealing his alter ego in Season 2. The female characters, notably a stand-out supporting performance by Holland Taylor as Ruth, Kip and Henry's boss at the advertising firm, are no pushovers, and they have no problem undercutting the men's lustful tendencies. Still, it's hard not to feel a little uneasy anytime Hanks and Scolari don their drag attire given the premise, and the series only enhances the hackneyed jokes anytime they are pretending to be women. Men cross-dressing for the purpose of winning over other women or getting a job will understandably paint an unflattering image of the transgender community, something that still lacks its proper representation in modern media today. Related 10 Sitcoms That Are Amazing From Start to Finish These shows don't have a single bad season! Posts 19 By Jennie Richardson The series may not have had the sharpest scripts, dialogue, or situations, but Bosom Buddies was graced with the electric chemistry between Tom Hanks and Peter Scolari. The pair elevated middling material and prevented the sitcom from delving into poisonous water that would've surely gotten it retroactively canceled. Not to mention, because they become one with their drag costumes, they make you suspend disbelief and totally buy that these haphazard outfits would trick anyone. Luckily, the amount of time Kip and Henry spend as their alter egos, Buffy and Hildegard, respectively, is relatively minimal, which also helps the show feature more substantive material than just shock value. From afar, Bosom Buddies could be read as a sitcom about delusional young men who think that posing as women will aid their romantic lives. CL Report: Subscribe and never miss what matters Dive into the world of entertainment with Collider, delivering the latest news, reviews, and exclusive updates from movies, TV, and pop culture Subscribe By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime. Years from now, everyone will likely forget that Tom Hanks kicked off his legendary career on a corny sitcom where he dresses up in female attire, including Hanks himself, who has two Academy Awards and countless iconic movies and quotes to his name. If you watch closely, you can identify the seeds of Josh Baskin in Big, Forrest Gump, and even Woody from Toy Story in Kip Wilson, a character rooted in selfish and illogical principles that nonetheless win you over. That's the power of a movie star right there.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Tom Hanks’ Sneaky Cameo In TV Remake Of His Cult Classic Thriller Explained By CreatorTom Hanks looking up in The 'Burbs
Read more »
52-year-old Olympian Claudia Riegler defies age on her snowboardAustria's Claudia Riegler could be the mother, or even grandmother, of her snowboarding rivals. But at 52 years old she competed in fine fashion in Sunday's parallel giant slalom. She qualified among the top 16 riders from a field of 36 and went toe-to-toe with two time gold medalist Ester Ledecka before being eliminated.
Read more »
Officials identify 17-year-old shot and killed during attempted robbery in Cloverleaf areaThe Gun Violence Archive reports that at least nine teenagers have already been killed this year in the Houston area.
Read more »
Maniac shoves 58-year-old straphanger onto NYC subway tracks during random attack: copsSuspect wanted for allegedly shoving passenger on NYC subway tracks
Read more »
7 Near-Perfect Sci-Fi Movies That No One Remembers TodayTom Hanks holding a child in Cloud Atlas
Read more »
How Keke Palmer's The 'Burbs Connects To Tom Hanks' Cult Classic Thriller Explained By CreatorKeke Palmer's Samira looking worriedly over her shoulder while in a nightcap in The 'Burbs
Read more »