Yesterday Seeso (ABC Universal’s streaming comedy network) confirmed that later this year, it will be shutting down.
It’s a dark day for the world of comedy, as Seeso has notoriously been the home of lots of amazing, boundary-pushing content. Including my personal favorite: “Take My Wife” created by real-life comedy couple, Cameron Esposito and her wife Rhea Butcher. It’s the first show ever that stars an out queer couple, is written by an out queer couple and is also co-run by an out queer couple.
Not only is “Take My Wife” hilarious, bitingly-real, and is a blazingly honest and refreshing on-screen depiction of a queer relationship; it also attains an inclusiveness that is (not-so-shockingly) rare on Hollywood sets and inside Hollywood writing rooms. “Take My Wife’s” writing room is actually made up of all women. 43 percent of those writers are women of color. Season 2 (which has yet to air) has an 83 percent female cast. 54 percent of the cast identifies as LGBTQ+.
What “Take My Wife” was able to accomplish in just two seasons is unheard of the film industry and the ever-sexist comedy world. Yes, we may see more queer characters on screen than ten years ago, but most of the time your favorite lesbian character, the one you identify so much with (Insert sarcasm), is played by a wildly heterosexual woman.
White, middle-aged men are writing the lines spoken by queer characters and women of color. Marginalized people might be a key part of the storyline in modern television, but the patriarchy is still telling our stories for us. They are profiting off our identity and often harrowing life-experiences, while we remain wholly exploited and jobless.
And I don’t know about you, but I think that’s fucked up. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: Being offered a seat at the dinner table is not enough. Marginalized people deserve representation onscreen, but it’s not real representation if privileged people are the ones cashing the paycheck when it’s a wrap. “Take My Wife” challenged this tired tradition.
“Take My Wife” walked the walk, talked the talk, felt the feelings. It was apparent in the authenticity of the acting, the music, the writing, the energy.
That’s why it’s so vitally important that “Take My Wife” gets picked up by another network, ASAP. There has been a call to action on twitter to encourage networks to pick up “Take My Wife.” Using the hashtag #takemywife fans of the show are pleading with Hollywood to keep this groundbreaking show alive.
And though networks are taking notice, it hasn’t been picked up quite yet. Which is why I’m asking you, my queer family, to tweet the hell out of #takemywife. Hollywood tends to ignore queer people and people of color. They don’t believe we’re a valid audience. Let’s show them how “dead wrong” they are by harassing them to the point where they have no choice but to pick up “Take My Wife.”
Most importantly, let’s show the queer kids, the queer kids who fear their ideas will never come to fruition because of their sexual identity, that they are just as deserving of a place in Hollywood as their straight counterparts.
Here is a roundup of our favorite tweets so far:
If there isn’t an immediate bidding war for #TakeMyWife the entertainment industry is clearly beyond repair.
— guy you don’t know (@Aaron0VT) August 9, 2017
I'm going to be tweeting about #TakeMyWife most of the day today, FYI.
— Rhea Butcher🏳️🌈⚾️ (@RheaButcher) August 10, 2017
#TakeMyWife is the only show ever co-created/starring & co-run by a out queer couple. And we don't want to be done https://t.co/8IlzogPpDm
— Cameron Esposito (@cameronesposito) August 10, 2017
#TakeMyWife is the only show ever co-created/starring & co-run by a out queer couple. And we don't want to be done https://t.co/8IlzogPpDm
— Cameron Esposito (@cameronesposito) August 10, 2017
