Jan 10, 2022
“The Bands Break Up” (September 28, 1987)
We’re not *quite* ready yet to swing into regular production, so we’re tossing up an episode of our Patreon-only bonus podcast, The Cartoons That Made Us Gay, onto the main feed. It’s the Jem and the Holograms episode that is titled “The Bands Break Up” but would me more accurately titled “Kimber and Stormer Are Gay Lesbians Making Beautiful Queer Music Together.” Intentionally gay or not, it is hard to dismiss these girls’ relationship as just platonic, to the point that we don’t have to work hard at all to find the queer elements — especially in a show that already offers a lot for LGBT viewers. Showtime, Synergy!
And if you like this episode, you might also like the newest episode of Cartoons That Made Us Gay, which is all about Sailor Moon. You can listen right now on Patreon by pledging just $1 a month. And we’re not charging you all for the next month to account for the lighter content output.
Show notes:
Watch a featurette on Jem’s speaking voice singing the main theme for the anime Project A-ko.
Read the L.A. Times story on Barbie’s victory over Jem.
Read all about Bill Sanders, creator of Jem and (we’re guessing) a gay person.
Queer readings of kids shows, previously:
- He-Man with special guest Henry Gilbert
- Fraggle Rock with special guest Matt Baume
- Dungeons & Dragons
- Dinosaurs
- 80s Cartoons with special guest Ted Biaselli
- Batman: the Animated Series episode “Harley and Ivy”
The logo for The Cartoons That Made Us Gay was designed by Jeff Hinchee. This is a TableCakes podcast.