Gay.com Column: Clinton V. Obama: The Greatest Show On Earth

A confession: in the past month, my television viewing has largely been restricted to DVDs and the odd hour of network programming. As a student at NYU's scriptwriting department, it just didn't feel right crossing picket lines, even in the privacy of my own living room.

That being said, I've been getting my fill of comedy, drama, pathos and tragedy - and all of it, surprisingly, from the normally boring-as-hell C-SPAN.

Clinton V. Obama has been going on for some time now; but only recently has it taken on the dimensions of a soap opera. I was first hooked by the drama of Iowa, where months of groundswell for Senator Obama was capped by the candidate's victory. Suddenly, faced with Senator Obama's capture of the state's voting majority, Senator Clinton was officially no longer the inevitable Presidential nominee.

And, since then, each day of the battle has been like daytime television. In the period between Iowa and New Hampshire, Senator Obama was the hero, the underdog of yore made good. Senator Clinton, on the other hand, was the demonised shrew, the villainess who was finally going to be cast out of the running. Going into the New Hampshire primary, you could hear the knives being sharpened for Camp Clinton, the champagne bottles waiting to be popped at Camp Obama.

But wait, what was this? The votes were coming in and Senator Clinton was... pulling ahead? New Hampshire... rallied behind Senator Clinton? The votes came in and - shocker again - Senator Clinton actually won...?!

I swear, watching C-SPAN during the night of the New Hampshire primary, I was riveted as only the best television can rivet. You really had it all: the down-to-the-wire edging between the two candidates; the anticipation of a Senator Obama lead at any moment; the overturning of any and every 'authoritative' opinion; and, finally, the second amazing comeback in less than a week.

And as for the twists and turns before, after, and during Iowa and New Hampshire - well, sometimes I looked at C-SPAN and thought: "As the World Turns" and "All My Children", I hope you're taking notes. Hell - Aaron Sorkin, J. J. Abrams, and all the network writers - you guys should probably have your notepads out too.

You want stirring oratorical speeches that just might shape the world? Look no further than Senator Obama's J.F.K.-esque firestarters. You want a plot twist that could send newspapers into a tizzy? Here's Senator Clinton's brilliantly-ambiguous brimming eyes (and how's that for a song title while you're at it?). You want deliciously taboo underpinnings to stoke the audience's fire? How about a generous helping of racism and sexism? Factor in all the splinterings, reconciliations, betrayals and leaked memos, and Clinton V. Obama was really The Greatest Show On Earth.

Even the minor characters in this opera have been eye-catching and varied, from the powerhouse that is Michelle Obama, to the ego-driven and non-too-bright Bob Johnson. Senators Clinton and Obama have, if I may say, assembled around their stars some seriously television-worthy second bananas.

Some of you might be offended at my comparisons. At first I had some misgivings too, comparing something as weighty as the presidential race to television. But, and here's the thing: you couldn't fit a piece of paper between Senators Clinton and Obama. Both, if nominated, would make the history books. And their positions on 99 percent of the issues are virtually identical. This Democratic race, in my opinion, is likely to come down to nothing but perception. This Democratic race, in my opinion, will be fought not over issues and debates, but will be fought over who can craft the best televisual story.

And I say there's absolutely nothing wrong with that. The best television shows have the power to make us Google. After watching "Friday Night Lights", I dug up everything I could on that show. After watching the nail-biter that was the New Hampshire primary, I spent five hours reading up on the senators. And if Clinton V. Obama: The Show can make me, a non-American, so invested, imagine what it must be doing across the states of America.

And the best part of this entire saga? It ain't over, not by at least a few more months. Oh no; this prime-time opera is just getting started. So, if I were you, I'd get on C-SPAN now. You don't want to miss The Greatest Show On Earth.

Gay.com Column: "Cashmere Mafia": Brainless, but Fun

Okay, everybody, heavy sigh of relief. The premiere of "Cashmere Mafia" did not begin with, and nor did it contain, any Carrie Bradshaw-esque voiceovers. And that's just one of the improvements Darren Star has made to his "Sex and the City" follow-up.

After "Melrose Place" and "Beverly Hills 90210", Star hit the big time again with "Sex and the City". Depicting four women and best friends' sexual adventures in Manhattan, the HBO series quickly became a cultural zeitgeist and Emmy magnet. By the time the television curtain fell on Carrie, Samantha, Charlotte and Miranda in 2004, the series had racked up some 50 nominations.

Now, Star is back with another four-best-friends-in-Manhattan series. And in this "City" fan's opinion, "Cashmere Mafia" hits the ground rolling.

Snappier, more polished, and certainly better-looking, last night's "Mafia" pilot proved the old geezer Einstein right: where the "City" premiere seemed longer than thirty minutes, "Mafia" seemed to zip by in less than its alloted hour.

As far as direction and visual flair go, two scenes in particular stand out: watch when Mia (Lucy Liu), Zoe (Frances O'Connor), and Caitlin (Bonnie Sommerville) band together to tell their friend Juliet (Miranda Otto) the awful truth about her husband. When they sit down to better break and receive the news, the scene is for a moment divided equally between the four women, and you just know that each character is invested in her best friends' troubles.

In the next scene, however, you can see Star knows when to give each woman her spotlight too. Ascending the stairs at a benefit given in her honor, Juliet appears sheathed in a stunning red gown and, framed by her black-clad friends, it is impossible to look away from Otto.

Indeed, in yesterday's premiere, Otto walked away with the episode in her pocket. Armed with the meatiest storyline, she was also given the two best scenes: one where she tells her friends why she stays with her philandering husband, and another where she quietly tells her husband how she will punish him for his affair. I haven't seen Otto in anything other than the "Lord of the Ring" movies, but damned did she win me over completely last night.

Even if Otto dominated the episode, though, the other three characters were given promising storylines. Mia's promotion to big shot at her publishing firm, Zoe's husband getting a job that will take him out of New York and away from her and their children, and, most excitingly, Caitlin's burgeoning lesbian relationship - all of these will undoubtedly lead to some fine material for each actress.

Don't get me wrong: there are some problems with the premiere: Caitlin's abrupt transfer to the gay-lovin' train, the obnoxious CrackBerry appearances, and the anvilicious soundtrack choices are just some. And whether it can transcend its "Sex and the City" roots is still uncertain, as is whether it can similarly define this generation. But as far as being comfort (if a little brainless) entertainment, it's already a hit with this fan.

Besides, you gotta give props to a show that features a lesbian kiss in its very first episode. If that's not gay-friendly I don't know what is.

"Cashmere Mafia" airs every Wednesday on ABC at 10 pm / 9 pm central.