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© St. Petersburg Times, published October 2, 2001
For once, Frank DeCaro is being serious. The resident film critic for Comedy Central's The Daily Show is talking about what he did after watching the World Trade Center towers collapse from just a few blocks away. He went to church and took Communion for the first time in about 15 years.
But DeCaro, who talks about movies in a campy, gay-themed segment titled "Out at the Movies," can't resist a joke for long.
"My head didn't spin around," he confides. "I'm taking that as a very good sign."
These are strange times for satire, as anyone who saw Daily Show host Jon Stewart's sobbing monologue on his first new show after the attacks. DeCaro, who will host Wednesday's Laugh Out Loud comedy show, part of the Tampa International Gay and Lesbian Film Festival, says he's waiting for the right time for his edgy humor to bubble up again.
"I don't think the answer is to never make a joke again," he said. "You can't act like it didn't happen. Humor gets us through a lot. You can only do the weepy opening once.
"I think everybody in the entertainment business is coming to grips with what to do next. A joke I've said in private is not something that I might say in public."
Like what, for example?
"I came up with a joke a few days after the bombings: "You remember simpler times, don't you? Like last Monday?' That's the kind of joke we need now. (Two days) after the bombings, The Producers was sold out (on Broadway). If people can laugh at Hitler and take the power away from such an awful man, then more power to them.
"It's almost time to go for the groaner. Go for the joke that makes 'em say "Owwwww."'
DeCaro has earned that kind of response for years as Style Over Substance columnist for the New York Times and contributions to magazines including Newsweek, Vogue and Martha Stewart's Living. He also wrote a well-reviewed semi-autobiography, A Boy Named Phyllis.
"It wasn't a bestseller but when I think of the people who did read it, I have a high celebrity quotient," he said. "Rosie O'Donnell read it and told me: "I think I passed it over to Madonna.' That's great to know, I mean, my God."
Wouldn't it be better if Madonna had sprung for her own copy of the book?
"Well, I taped her CDs so that's okay," DeCaro said. "We're even."
The Daily Show gig was a lark suggested five years ago by a producer (and former publisher of Spy magazine) who enjoyed DeCaro's takes on real and imagined gay themes in movies.
"The rest has been one caftan after another," he said.
"Out at the Movies" resembles those talking-head movie review segments, except DeCaro is more concerned with what actors are wearing than how well they perform. He never met a man or a double entendre he didn't like. DeCaro plays it flamboyantly horny, mooning over stars like Russell Crowe and getting catty about the Jennifer Lopez types.
"We always say that my segment is one note but it's very loud," DeCaro said. "I feel that our mission is to find gay subtext in films, and when it's not there, put it in.
"My fixation has always, always been Matt Damon. We do Mark Wahlberg because he's just so convenient. We've gotten in some unbelievably snarky jabs at Tom (Cruise) and Nicole (Kidman). I have nothing against any of the performers we make fun of. It's just fun."
DeCaro is quick to admit that he isn't a bona fide film critic. "I just play one on TV," he said. He's never heard from any of the celebrities he skewers. "I do hear about who likes it, though. More often than not, it's straight college males."
One can almost hear his wicked smile when he adds: "There's nothing wrong with that."
Laugh Out Loud kicks off the 12th annual Tampa International Gay & Lesbian Film Festival. Host is Frank DeCaro with stars Elvira Kurt, Georgia Ragsdale and Jason Stuart. 7 p.m. Wednesday at Tampa Theatre. Tickets are $35 advance; $45 day of show. Call (813) 274-8286.