'Hot in Cleveland' Gay-Cap: Lesbian Wedding Fallout

The much anticipated season three of Hot in Cleveland returned to TV Land on Wednesday night and viewers were treated to a newly married Joy (Jane Leeves) and Victoria (Wendie Malick), Victoria, the “the lesbian thespian” being offered a guest spot on the new fictional View-esque show The Chatter, and lots of Kathie Lee Gifford in between.

Just when you think that Hot in Cleveland can’t get any campier, they notch it up, completely off the charts.

Season 2 left off in August with Elka’s (Betty White) wedding cliffhanger; who would she marry, her “dead” (really just in hiding from the mob) husband Bobby (Don Rickles), new beau Fred (Buck Henry) or Max (Carl Reiner)? And if that three-way plight wasn’t enough, Victoria and Joy end up getting hitched in a drunken haze.

So, open season 3, Elka, still undecided between her three suitors, is hiding in the closet, avoiding the choice she is saddled with making. So, she decides to accompany the girls to New York for Victoria’s big return to national television on The Chatter. Victoria, really wants the full time, fourth host gig and she let’s main host, Kathie Lee know right away. But there’s a catch, Kathie Lee informs her that they are looking for “a gay one, you know, to compete with the Rosie’s and the Ellen’s.”

Well, it looks like Victoria’s in luck; conveniently, she is currently married to her best friend Joy. She wastes no time, eagerly blurting out (“loud and proud”) her marriage status, brags about how wonderful her beautiful bride is and assumes the role of the happy newlywed. All the while, Joy is sitting in the front row, shocked by this turn of events. After all, Victoria promised not to say anything about their current situation.

Even though Victoria and Joy are both straight, they play off each other like a true married couple. Their constant bickering, and sometimes-comfortable banter, was the highlight of the show. From their first fight over why Joy assumed that Victoria was the “husband,” to Victoria referring to an enraged Joy as “her little spitfire,” followed by Victoria’s off-hand remark about how much wine Joy is drinking, “more wine dear, how many is that, I would go easy on that, (insert condescending leg tap) you know how you get.” These two really know how to get a laugh.

And with no divorce proceedings in site, it looks like our new favorite TV couple will be around for the foreseeable future. The third season promises to get more and more gay friendly, upcoming episodes are rumored to include a gay cruise, featuring guest stars Sarah Bernhard, Gilles Marini and Laura San Giacomo.

Queue up your DVRs TV lovers; it’s going to be a fantastic ride…

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