The Sewers of Paris: Best of 2023

December 28, 2023 Matthew Baume

I can’t believe this is the case, but we’re just about at the end of 2023 — somehow — and I figured this was a good time to look back at some of my favorite Sewers of Paris episodes of the past year. From a New Orleans ghost-hunter who was inspired by Monty Python, to queer romance novels, to bad gays, to the shocking stories behind 1970s couture, I was lucky enough to chat with a lot of really intriguing guests over the last 12 months. So for this year-end episode, I’ve gathered the first few minutes of some of my favorites, and I present them to you here. Links to these episodes are in the description if you’re like to listen to the full thing.

I know I say thanks for listening every week, but truly, thank you from the bottom of my heart for listening along to these interviews, for sending suggestions for future guests, and for making my work possible by supporting Sewers of Paris on Patreon or just by sharing episodes with people in your life. It’s a real honor to have you along for this ride, and I look forward to even more in 2024.

Featured guests:

Andrew Farrier: https://www.mattbaume.com/sewers-shownotes/2023/1/5/never-saying-no-to-anything-ep-413-andrewmonty-python

Christopher Rice: https://www.mattbaume.com/sewers-shownotes/2023/3/30/enemies-to-lovers-ep-419-christopher-ricegay-romance-novels

Trip Galey: https://www.mattbaume.com/sewers-shownotes/2023/7/27/my-favorite-fairy-ep-426-fairy-talestrip

Jesse Finley Reed: https://www.mattbaume.com/sewers-shownotes/2023/7/20/the-fantasy-that-they-sold-us-ep-425-international-malejesse

Ben Miller: https://www.mattbaume.com/sewers-shownotes/2023/8/24/you-and-your-peacocks-are-ridiculous-ep-430-salomeben-miller

Huw Lemmey: https://www.mattbaume.com/sewers-shownotes/2023/8/31/to-be-disgusting-is-good-ep-430-beautiful-thinghuw-lemmey

Jon Ginoli: https://www.mattbaume.com/sewers-shownotes/2023/11/2/loud-brash-profane-and-punk-ep-440-pansy-divisionjon

Tim Sheridan: https://www.mattbaume.com/sewers-shownotes/2023/11/9/playing-with-toys-all-over-again-ep-441-timtransformers

Eric Gonzaba: https://www.mattbaume.com/sewers-shownotes/2023/11/16/why-do-people-live-like-this-ep-442-erickennedy-center-honors

I Wanted to be a Rock Star (Ep 447 - David Bowie/Scott Shoemaker)

December 21, 2023 Matthew Baume

As we veer ever closer to Christmas, this week's episode is a dive into the Sewers of Paris archives for a chat with Scott Shoemaker. Along with his partner Freddie, Scott’s great passion is live weird theater, which manifests in such projects as an ongoing series of live shows in which he plays a boozy pill-popping version of Ms Pac Man, or his annual Christmas show where he finds new ways every year to ruin and then hastily repair the holidays. Growing up, Scott dreamed of being a rock star — and as it turns out, dressing his friends in goofy costumes and taking them on the road to sing and dance and tell jokes is oddly close to a super queer version of rock stardom.

We’ll have that conversation in a minute. First, a couple quick announcements, starting with a reminder that if you like this podcast, you’ll probably like my newsletter. Every week I share fun stories about the making of beloved movies and TV shows, as well as the fascinating people behind them. You can sign up at MattBaume.com.

Also, check out my YouTube channel for videos about the making of iconic pop culture — I just released a new video about how America fell in love with closeted gay actor Rock Hudson in the 1950s, and what happened when his truth was revealed. That’s at YouTube.com/mattbaume.

And I hope you’ll join me for weekly livestreams over on Twitch every Sunday afternoon. That’s at twitch.tv/mattbaume.

Also! If you haven’t yet, take a look at my book about the history of queer characters on American sitcoms, Hi Honey, I’m Homo! — available now wherever books are sold, and it makes a very pleasant holiday gift. Go to gaysitcoms.com for details and to get a signed copy.

Big thanks to everyone who makes all my work possible on Patreon — visit patreon.com/mattbaume to support Sewers of Paris and get patron-exclusive benefits.

A Dream I Didn't Know I Had (Ep 446 - Justin Randall/Girls)

December 14, 2023 Matthew Baume

My guest this week is New York comedian Justin Randall, who was a very different person when he moved to the big city a few years ago. Back then he was a closeted actor, and the idea of coming out seemed like a distant dream — and not a good one. But things changed when he started getting up on stage as a stand-up comedian, and discovered the liberating power of making people laugh … and of making fun of the things that once seemed scary.

We’ll have that conversation in a minute. First, a couple quick announcements, starting with a reminder that if you like this podcast, you’ll probably like my newsletter. Every week I share fun stories about the making of iconic movies and TV shows, as well as the fascinating people behind them. You can sign up at MattBaume.com.

Also, I just released a new video on YouTube — this one’s about how America fell in love with closeted gay actor Rock Hudson in the 1950s, and what happened when his truth was revealed. That’s at YouTube.com/mattbaume.

And I hope you’ll join me for weekly livestreams over on Twitch every Sunday afternoon. This weekend we’ll be watching Christmas at Pee-Wee’s Playhouse, one of the most chaotic holiday specials ever made. That’s at twitch.tv/mattbaume.

And one last plug — if you haven’t yet, please do take a look at my new book about the history of queer characters on American sitcoms, Hi Honey, I’m Homo! — available now wherever books are sold, and a very pleasant holiday gift. It was just named one of Vulture’s top comedy books of 2023, and one of NPR’s books we love! Go to gaysitcoms.com for details and to get a signed copy.

Big thanks to everyone who makes all my work possible on Patreon — visit patreon.com/mattbaume to support Sewers of Paris and get patron-exclusive benefits.

Brave Families (Ep 445- David & Melinda/Ordinary People & Wings of Desire)

December 7, 2023 Matthew Baume

We have two guests this week — filmmakers Melina Maerker and David Miller are the co-creators of a new documentary entitled We Live Here: The Midwest, which follows a variety of brave families enduring challenging circumstances as queer people in conservative parts of the country. Both Melinda and David came to filmmaking out of a desire to tell other peoples’ stories, and create a space where people can feel listened to — inspired, in their early careers, by two very different films.

We’ll have that conversation in a minute. First, a couple quick announcements, starting with a reminder that if you like this podcast, you’ll probably like my weekly newsletter where I share fun stories about the making of iconic movies and TV shows, as well as the fascinating people behind them. You can sign up at MattBaume.com.

Also, I’ve got a video coming your way this Sunday, December 10 about 50s heartthrob Rock Hudson — it’s the story of how America fell in love with a closeted gay man, and what happened when his truth was revealed. That’s at YouTube.com/mattbaume.

And I hope you’ll join me for weekly livestreams over on Twitch every Sunday afternoon. That’s at twitch.tv/mattbaume.

Also! If you haven’t yet, take a look at my new book about the history of queer characters on American sitcoms, Hi Honey, I’m Homo! — available now wherever books are sold, and a very pleasant holiday gift. Go to gaysitcoms.com for details and to get a signed copy.

Big thanks to everyone who makes all my work possible on Patreon — visit patreon.com/mattbaume to support Sewers of Paris and get patron-exclusive benefits.

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