Drunk History (2013-2019) is a comedy series in which drunken comedians describe historical events to a narrator, who responds approvingly with smiles and laughter. Meanwhile they are acted out by guest stars (with the comedian providing the voices).
In Episode 3.15, "Space," there are three stories: Carl Sagan falls in love with Ann Druyan, Werner von Braun invents rockets, and two Russian cosmonauts become the first humans in space. Let's start with the cosmonauts. Kyle Kenane tells this story to Derek Waters.
In 1965, cosmonauts Pavel Belyayev (Adam Devine) and Alexey Leonov (Blake Anderson, his co-star on Workaholics) have nothing going on in their lives, so they volunteer for the space mission. Alexey, in addition, will take a space walk.
Pictured: Adam and Anders Holm, another Workaholics star. I just wanted to post some Adam Devine beefcake photos.
They do the standard comedic hand-holding and hugging during the various crises on the flight, but the gay subtext intensifies when they crash-land in Siberia.
They are 2,000 kilometers from home, in the middle of mating season. Wolves and bears approach "with raging hard-ons." The guys look at each other, and Pavel says: "I guess we can start with some sweet kisses."
Wait -- do they intend to mate with the animals or with each other? Their expression seems to suggest each other.
Then they are rescued, hug, and receive accolades back home in Moscow. Good luck as a gay couple in 1960s Russia, guys. End of segment.
That's quite a lot of queer codes for six minutes. (Left: Blake Anderson's dick, or something like it). We cut to Derek Waters and Steve Berg holding hands as they prepare to frolick in zero gravity.
On to Matt Gourney telling Derek Waters the story of Wernher Von Braun (Nathan Fillion). On IMDB this one is illustrated by a picture of Mark Gagliardi, playing John F. Kennedy, hugging and holding hands with Nathan. So the two became Cold War boyfriends?
Wernher grows up in Prussia and becomes a mild-mannered rocket scientist, looking at "heavenly bodies" and hoping to one day get there with his buds.
The juxtaposition of "heavenly bodies" and same-sex pals counts as a subtle queer code.
Then World War II "hits the fan," and Hitler orders him join the SS and help bomb England. So he becomes a Nazi.
Jeffery James Lippold (left) plays a Nazi soldier (and an American soldier).
After the War, the Americans grab him, forgive his war crimes, and tell him to invent some more rockets. But he takes time off to promote the space race, culminating in putting a man on the moon in 1969!
Tim Baltz sighting: his assistant, no lines but a lot of sneezing.
Wait: what happened to the hand-holding? Futher research reveals that the photo is mislabeled: it comes from Episode 1.1, with Mark Gagliardi (uncredited) holding hands with Derek Waters.
At least Adam always delivers: "I won't take the part unless you guarantee a gay subtext." And I found out that Jeffrey James Lippold exists. That's a win.
Devine has such a hot beefy body he should be naked in every show -movie he makes- love to see him do a real gay love story
ReplyDeleteAdam said in an interview that he wanted to play a gay guy in a story that's not about coming out or falling in love, just having regular adventures with his boyfriend. And a few months later, he is cast as Kelvin.
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