ABC-TV's Missing Adjective

The all-out media blitz is on for "Crumbs," the new ABC sitcom featuring former "Wonder Years" star Fred Savage. The gay media are focusing on Savage's character, Mitch Crumb, the "gay prodigal son" (Ed: Is there any other type? BaT: No, I don't think so.) who returns home after a failed career in Hollywood to help run the family business:

As the name implies, the Crumbs are a crumbled family, who nevertheless retain affection for each other. The mother (Jane Curtin) has just been discharged from a psychiatric facility. The father (William Devane) is expecting a baby with his new girlfriend. They have suffered the death of one of their three sons, and many unspoken memories linger. Jody, the son who stayed home running the family restaurant, is played by Eddie McClintock. Savage portrays Mitch, the gay prodigal son, who returns home from a failed Hollywood career.

The series will explore the family's varied reaction to Mitch's sexual orientation, but Savage says: "That's not what the show is about ... the show is really about family and secrets that families keep from each other, and how a family pulls itself back together after keeping so much from each other for so long."

Promising perhaps, especially considering the cast is reputable and have been in hit TV shows before -- albeit 15 years ago. And the show's publicists certainly have been trotting out the gay angle to attract the highly sought-after homo demo(graphic).

Yet one issue, an oversight perhaps, is concerning. Check out this page hosted by ABC on the official "Crumbs" site and see if you can find what one little adjective is missing that almost all the trade press immediately picked up on.

Central to everything is the dynamic between these two brothers: Mitch is the prodigal son, who is returning home after a failed Hollywood career, while Jody is the older brother who has stayed in the confines of their small New England town to run the family business. Together for the first time as adults, this family will have to stick by one another despite their combustible relationships.

Keep looking ...

If you find where it mentions that Mitch Crumb is gay, let me know. I can't.

It seems odd that the "prodigal son" description is there, yet no reference to "Mitch's sexual orientation." So is it or is it not central to the character? Well, it must be, as the widely distributed AP article referenced above took it on as a central theme. This article references gay Mitch, as well. And this one, where Mitch is described as a "closeted writer." Don't forget this one, too.

Yet, it's also odd that Savage's hometown newspaper, The Chicago Tribune, fails to mention the gay angle. It does, however, dutifully inform us that he is recently married and wants kids -- just in case we "might be wondering" which side of the plate from which Fred bats.

So what's the deal, ABC? Are you attempting to draw in the gay viewership without raising the ire of the boycott brigade? Is this one of those shows where you tell us the character is gay, but never show it? *Cough, Will, cough* Or is Mitch's struggle to return home and face his family's perceptions of who he is?

We may find out Thursday. But judging by the missing adjective from the ABC Web site, I'm not hopeful it will be the latter.