nyjava2003

This is a great movie to watch during a New York City winter, especially if you can't afford to travel. Now that I see the date it was made, I realize I must have seen it on Spanish TV here in NYC shortly after it was released. The scenery, a Mexican beach resort, is great. A minimum of plot and a maximum of sun, sand, and waves. If you're straight you get to watch the four pretty Garibaldi ladies spend almost the whole movie in bikinis or other revealing outfits; if you're gay (Yo soy) you get to watch the four very hot Garibaldi men spend almost the whole movie in Speedos, shorts, or open shirts! Just a win-win situation all around. It's kind of silly but a lot of fun and also a great way to brush up on your basic Spanish. I just got the video from the local library & I am enjoying it all over again (in another NYC winter).

This was a sweet and funny series and was far ahead of its time compared to other gay-themed TV series. It prob. would never have survived on network TV at that time (make that definitely would not have survived) at least without compromising its humor. Also, forget Roseanne or any other shows with gay characters: s far as I know Brothers featured the first male-male gay lip-lock in prime time. And it featured a lot of prime Hollywood talent as guest stars. Nor was it "just" gay-themed, but it showed that gay and straight, family is family, and sexual labels don't mean a damn thing.

Showtime schedules a month of gay programing each year during June and I've suggested to them that they broadcast reruns of the series at that time. I haven't checked this month but maybe with more pressure they'll realize they have a treasure on their hands.

Like Perry Mason, this series wasn't an original, it was based on a (still ongoing) series of books by Ralph McInerny. Unlike Perry Mason, though, the producers took almost nothing from the books but the characters of Fr. Dowling and Mrs. Murkin, and of those two only Mrs. Murkin bears any resemblance to the character in the book. I'd advise anyone who likes mysteries but was disappointed in Fr. Dowling on TV to read the books, they are excellent.