Camping with Julian

Terry and Julian
Mondays 9.30 p.m. ABC Television
Reviewed by Sean Malloy

Terry and Julian is comedy with some large points to make about sexuality and stereotyping. Julian Clary stars in the show as a persona of himself, an outrageous, flamboyant, sharp-witted homosexual. He shares a house with Terry (played by Lee Simpson), a heterosexual man who always seems to appear in pyjamas and woollen dressing gown.

Clary and the Fanny the Wonderdog production team, of Sticky Moments fame, are the show's creators. The script is full of sexual double entendre written and performed in a refreshing way, very different to the standard sexist lines of most sitcoms. The style and movement are in the spirit of the Young Ones: simple set design, fast movement and humorous homemade props. Each episode includes a song performed by Julian and the inclusion of a member of the live audience in a scene.

Terry and Julian turns the stereotype of “camp” into a positive, and sharp, attribute.

In the March 29 episode, Julian is called away to perform in Russia. Terry invites his mate, Adam (also played by Julian Clary), over to the house to drink beer and watch football. Adam is very macho and aggressive, but has a face just like Julian's.

While Adam uses the toilet, and destroys the bathroom, the production manager of the royal gala performance storms in and demands that Julian host the evening performance, offering £100,000. Terry decides to take the money and convince Adam to pretend to be Julian.

Adam's behaviour on stage and backstage is atrocious. A woman introduces herself to him and he immediately gropes her and slobbers over her bosom. When a male friend of Julian's tries to greet Adam with a kiss, Adam's response is a knee in the groin. Adam constantly talks about going to the pub to drink beer and brags about sex.

Clary uses the character of Adam to ridicule sexism and homophobia. Adam is always talking or thinking about sex, a trait that is often part of a homosexual stereotype.

The episode ends with an acid comment on the entertainment industry: Julian is offered a contract by an entertainment executive because of Adam's atrocious behaviour.

This article was posted on the Green Left Weekly Home Page.
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