Jim Carrey & William McNamara in Doing Time on Maple Drive (1992)

Obscurity factor: 2

Next in our series of gay themed content (in honor of Pride week here in New York) we have this television film from the early 90's. The Carter family seems to have it all - a successful business, three beautiful children who are seem fulfilled. When they get together for the homecoming of the youngest son Matt (McNamara) the cracks in the perfect facade begin to show. We learn that Tim (Carrey) is an alchoholic, Karen is pregnant and contemplating an abortion rather than bringing a child into the maelstrom of their family and Matt, who has brought his fiance home with him has a car accident shortly afterwards, which is revealed to be a suicide attempt to avoid telling his family that he's gay and his fiance has left him because of it.

This is an early attempt to deal sympathetically with the pain of a homophobic family and it does so in a sensitive, well crafted way. In addition, Carrey's subtle dramatic performance shows his range in relation to the comedy he's become known for. This film has some notoriety for Jim Carrey's performance, which was early in his career. It's also known for the gay story line, rare in television in those days. It's available on DVD and can be seen in its entirety on YouTube, thanks to an upload by yySh0e.

Update: the full film was taken down from YouTube. I've replaced it with a scene with Jim Carrey.

Obscurity factor: 2 (known to Carrey fans and in the gay community, available on DVD)

Lynn & Vanessa Redgrave in What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? (1991)

Obscurity factor: 8

This early 90's remake of Baby Jane was done for ABC. The familiar plot is updated to 1991 with video stores and drag queens, but presents the same themes. The interpretations of Jane and Blanche are softer, more gentle, but animosity still shines through. Look for John Glover as a hopeless sycophant.

This version of the film is hard to find. There was a DVD release back in 2007, but it's out of print, and copies are quite expensive now. You can find some scenes on to YouTube. The video store scene is above, uploaded to YouTube by Grinnygog1975.

Obscurity factor: 8 (on DVD but hard to find, partially available on YouTube)

Jonathan Katz in Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist (1995)

Obscurity factor: 3

This successful series for Comedy Central featured Katz as the go-to shrink for the stand up comedian set. His wry, deadpan style was the perfect match for the varied comedy styles of his guests/patients. Each week featured one or two different comedians who told their troubles to the doctor while he listened patiently, occasionally interjecting words of support or comments on the absurd circumstances. Regulars on the show included his son Ben (H. Jon Benjamin) and Laura, the receptionist (Laura Silverman).

Dr. Katz

While this series is still fairly fresh in the minds of the viewing public, it has started to acquire the luster of obscurity. The last production year was 2002 and hasn't had much air play since. It's available on DVD, and lots of segments can be seen on YouTube. Best of all, new segments are still being made! The one above features Sarah Silverman.

Obscurity factor: 3 (on DVD, still fresh in viewer's minds, can be seen online)

Rita Rudner in The Rita Rudner Show (1990)

Obscurity factor: 9

Rita Rudner's comedy has always appealed to me, so when this show appeared on cable TV I made sure to watch. It was produced for the BBC and has since become very obscure. There were only 6 episodes, as is the case for much British programming. The show featured skits, stand up and even some musical numbers - Rita having a background as a dancer. The clip below features one of the many guest stars - Jennifer Saunders from a time when Ab Fab was just a glimmer in her eye. The editing is a bit rudimentary, but the comedy is deft.

This series is not available on DVD. You can find several clips of it on YouTube. The clip above was uploaded by PhillipaRM.

Obscurity factor: 9

Sharon Gless in The Trials of Rosie O'Neal (1990)

Obscurity factor: 9

After the phenomenal success of Cagney & Lacey, Sharon Gless was in a good position to pick her projects. She chose this 1 hour dramatic series about a Los Angeles lawyer. Rosie works in the public defender's office and is working through her feelings about her divorce from another lawyer. Each episode begins with her weekly appointment with a psychologist (producer and soon to be husband Barney Rosenzweig). Each week she would tackle a problem in her personal or professional life that would make you feel as well as think.

 

 Photo, courtesy Darkchilde at Bookmice.net

The series lasted only two seasons, and hasn't been released on DVD, but had some high profile guest stars, including Robert Wagner and Tyne Dailey (pictured above) who played a high school rival of Rosie's. The episode is available on YouTube, though embedding has been disabled. Click the link to view part one. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A478eMzntOY&feature=related

Obscurity factor: 9 (not on DVD, two episodes available on YouTube, series available on iOffer.com)

Demi Moore & Jeff Daniels in The Butcher's Wife (1991)

Obscurity factor: 3

Marina (Demi Moore) has a knack for second sight. She's able to see exactly what everyone else needs. As with many psychics, however, she has trouble seeing her own path clearly. When New York butcher Leo (George Dzundza) washes up on the shore of her North Carolina island home she recognizes him from dreams she's had and believes that he's her soulmate. Who is he to argue? Demi Moore just proposed marriage! He brings her home and they begin life together in the cozy, New York neighborhood he lives and works in. Marina, however, continues to use her second sight to help the lives of the neighborhood residents, which disturbs Leo and psychologist, Alex Tremor (Jeff Daniels). Will Marina's influence on the neighbors and her inability to see what's right for her threaten to destroy the little world of the neighborhood?

This charming film has a delightfully mystical quality to it. It's also such a lovely portrayal of the nature of New York neighborhoods to become close knit communities. It's a bit disconcerting to see Demi Moore as a blond, but that can be forgiven for the honest performance she gives. Also in the cast are Mary Steenburgen (singing, quite well, actually), Frances McDormand, Margaret Colin, Christopher Durang and female impersonator, Charles Pierce.

The film is available on DVD and can also be seen in full you YouTube. The link to the first installment is above, uploaded by filmfreak420. The poster above is available from MoviePosterShop.com.

Obscurity factor: 3 (fairly recent production, available on DVD and YouTube, not a huge hit when released and not well remembered)

Mia Farrow & Natasha Richardson in Widow's Peak (1994)

Katherine O'Hare (no relation to Bunny) is a simple woman who has found her way into the tightly knit society that lives on the hill in a small Irish town. She has been taken under the wing of Mrs. Doyle-Counihan (Joan Plowright). The hill has been informally reserved for widows, and when a new, young, racy American widow comes to join the ladies on Widow's Peak, Katherine takes an instant and irrational dislike to her. The people in the town don't know quite what to do about that, as the dislike turns to open hostility and physical violence. Will harm befall one of the women, so brutally pitted against one another?

This taut, well crafted little film is not what you expect when you sit down to watch it, and it's full of unexpected twists and turns as it plays out its story.

The film is fairly recent, and available on DVD. The trailer is up on YouTube and can be seen above, thanks to an upload by Gabben92. The poster above is available from MoviePosterShop.com.

Obscurity factor: 3 (still fairly recent, available on DVD)