Editing Normal, Ohio (section)

==Overview==
The original concept for the series was an ''[[The Odd Couple (1970 TV series)|Odd Couple]]''–style situation comedy called ''Don't Ask'', with Goodman as "Rex", sharing his [[West Hollywood, California|West Hollywood]] apartment with college friend David ([[Anthony LaPaglia]]). Although the pilot was well-received, creators Bonnie and Terry Turner felt that the premise was not strong enough for an ongoing series. LaPaglia's character was written out and the series was relocated to Ohio.<ref>Tropiano, Stephen (2002). ''The Prime Time Closet: A History of Gays and Lesbians on TV''. New York, Applause Theatre and Cinema Books. {{ISBN|1-55783-557-8}}. p. 252</ref>

The show was most notable for the divisions it exposed regarding American culture's view of [[homosexuality]]. Gamble is an average [[Blue-collar worker|blue collar]] [[bear (gay culture)|bear]]-type gay man, with many traits typical of American [[masculinity]], including a love of [[American football|football]] and beer, and very few of the traits [[stereotype|stereotypically]] associated with gay men. Nevertheless, his sexuality itself was signified in part by isolated moments of more stereotypically gay behavior, such as singing snippets of Broadway show tunes and helping his sister to color her hair, that were seemingly at odds with the way his character was presented most of the time. As a result, some media outlets dismissed Goodman's role as unrealistic.<ref>{{cite web
 |last        = Maitra
 |first       = Rob
 |title       = Getting Back to Normal
 |publisher   = [[PopMatters]]
 |url         = http://www.popmatters.com/review/normal-ohio/
 |accessdate  = June 24, 2009
 |url-status     = dead
 |archiveurl  = https://web.archive.org/web/20140117011518/http://www.popmatters.com/review/normal-ohio/
 |archivedate = January 17, 2014
}}</ref>

Goodman won the [[People's Choice Awards|People's Choice Award]] for Best Actor in a New Comedy Series, but up against the second half hour of ''[[Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?]]'', it flopped in the [[Nielsen ratings]]. Twelve episodes of the series were made, but only seven were aired before its cancellation.

Goodman appeared on the cover of [[TV Guide]]'s 2000 Fall Preview issue, along with three other actors starring in new sitcoms: [[Geena Davis]], [[Bette Midler]] and [[Michael Richards]]. The magazine proclaimed them a "fab foursome", but none of the shows was a hit. (In the 2001 Fall Preview issue, the 2000 cover was re-printed with thought balloons over the actors' heads, with Goodman's saying, "Even I didn't buy me as a gay dad!")