I just put BoJack on for the first time in a while to have something to hang watch while I clean up. Anyway, season 1, episode 4 “Zoës and Zeldas” starts off in 1985 with BoJack doing stand-up. He’s bombing in stage and asking the audience if they got his corny “long face” joke. Next, he asks if his Rock Hudson stuff went over the audience’s heads, then we immediately cut to Herb Kazzaz heckling him.

Most people my age probably don’t know who Rock Hudson was. Hell, I barely know about him myself. Which is why this reference never landed for me before. Rock Hudson was a gay movie star back in the 50s and 60s. Of course, he wasn’t public about it back then, for obvious reasons. As it turns out, he was diagnosed with AIDS IN 1984. The year before this scene is set.

BoJack Horseman is one of the most tightly written comedies there is. The are no wasted lines in this show. They cut from the Rock Hudson reference to immediately introducing the still closeted Herb for the first time on screen. I don’t think it’s reaching say your has to be the first bread crumb about Herb’s sexuality.

I love this show so much. I always get wrapped up in how dark and emotional it gets at times. But it’s the extremely clever writing that really holds it all together.