The Sam Sanders Show How Queer Was 2025?
Dec 9, 2025
In this insightful discussion, Alex Abad Santos, a culture writer at Vox known for his sharp analysis of queer representation in media, reflects on the vibrant year for queer entertainment. They dive into HBO’s Heated Rivalry, exploring its appeal and underlying themes. The duo also debates the complexities of representation in Hollywood, examines both positive and negative cultural shifts, and celebrates moments like Brokeback Mountain's re-release, while pondering the industry's future for queer narratives. This conversation is both entertaining and thought-provoking!
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Embarrassed By The Gay Hockey Show
- Sam admits he felt embarrassed watching Heated Rivalry with his partner because it's essentially softcore porn.
- Alex calls it smart and wonderful but agrees it's primarily about sex and aesthetic pleasure.
Representation Isn't The Same As Justice
- Heated Rivalry shows queer representation can be purely pleasurable rather than politically heavy.
- Sam and Alex argue representation alone doesn't equal justice or systemic change.
Visibility Coexists With Backlash
- The hosts note representation expanded but hasn't solved political threats facing queer people.
- Visibility coexists with backlash and doesn't automatically change systems.