Farewell to Falwell

I was reminded last week, in the aftermath of the death of polarizing televangelist Jerry Falwell, that his craziest moment had to be when he pointed a crooked finger of shame at the purple Teletubby, Tinky Winky. Salon.com posted an exclusive interview with the controversial PBS character, who neither celebrated nor mourned the death of his tormentor.

A gay Teletubby? Really? A somebody who was forced to endure countless hours of that mind-numbing psychedelia, I had to chuckle at Falwell's character judgments. Tinky Winky was a scoundrel, to be sure. A ringleader. An inciter. A self-involved navel-gazer, a pouty prima donna, who wanted his tummy to be the center of attention again, again, again! And again!

But gay? Come on. That's a bit of a stretch, especially with so many other more obvious targets -- Velma, Peppermint Patty, Daffy Duck and Jeffy from The Family Circus.

By the way, my theory on Falwell's cause of death? Massive stroke after viewing his first Ace and Gary cartoon.