14 replies to this topic

[QAF Rocks]

I figured these guys deserved their own thread!

"Smitty" Smith (Patrick Cavanaugh) and Kurt (Edin Gali) are a young copy writer/art director team hired by Don at the beginning of the second season. They always work together. Kurt is a fan of Bob Dylan and arranges to take Peggy to a concert. Kurt is also openly homosexual and quickly dispels the assumption that he is pursuing a romantic relationship with Peggy.

So, what do we think about these two? Are they a couple? We know that Kurt's gay, but I'm not so sure about Smitty. I think it's a possibility, but then I also have the nagging feeling that Smitty is going end up dating Peggy.

[ags]

I also have the nagging feeling that Smitty is going end up dating Peggy.

Well she's going after the wrong guy again, because he's gay too.

As you surmised as well.

[Constantinople]

I wonder. Smitty was making a lot of eyes at Joan, before Kurt dropped his bombshell. Maybe just overcompensating.

[Billthebear]

Thanks for opening up the new thread!

My gaydar admittedly isn't the best, but I always had Smitty and Kurt pegged as a couple...or at least as both being gay, if they weren't in a relationship together.

I would guess that Smitty, not being "European," is not willing to be so open about it as Kurt is. I think the "more for me" remarks sounds like something I'd expect a not-out gay man to have said in those days.

I wonder if Kurt could break through Sal's shell? Heaven knows Sal needs to come to terms with his attraction to men, and maybe having someone in the office who's so openly gay might be just what he needs.

[Scaramanga]

I think having someone openly gay in the office is going to scare Sal to death. Also, since Kurt is an artist, isn't Sal his supervisor? That's gonna be awk-ward. I think we can expect Sal to butch it up even more.

[QAF Rocks]

Poor Sal seems terrified of his own sexuality. I can imagine that having Kurt around will be more threatening than anything else.

Is Smitty gay? Interesting question. We've seen him hit on women repeatedly, so either he's playing it straight in the office or he is really interested in the ladies. There was a scene in a preview that still hasn't appeared in an episode, which had Smitty saying to Peggy: "How do you work with these people?" I assumed for a long time that there was going to be something happening between them, but now I'm not so sure. I think it's Smitty's physical resemblance to Pete that made me think Peggy was going to be attracted to him.

Are Kurt and Smitty a couple? Could be, but if that's the case, I wonder if Kurt would have been so forthright with his colleagues. He might feel more incentive to keep quiet lest suspicion fall on Smitty, too. Smitty clearly knows the repercussions of Kurt telling everyone that he's gay. During the big revelation, notice the concerned look on Smitty's face when everyone starts teasing Kurt and Peggy. He knows that Kurt's going to say something (I assume he's done something like this before), and he knows how unwise it is. After Kurt's announcement, Smitty even tries to warn him not to say anything else, but of course Kurt clarifies things further: "I make love with the man, not the woman."

[ags]

Smitty is an undercover freak the likes of which puts Don, Roger, Bobbi and Pete's fantasy sex life to shame.

[DAngelus]

I get the feeling Smitty might have sampled the goods, but he and Kurt are more friends than anything else. I think he seems more pansexual (and yes, quite possibly a freak) than strictly gay or straight. Somehow, I don't think Smitty would personalize his advertising so much ("We are the voice of a new generation", or whatever that was) if he was living his life fully in the closet; my idea of the character is that he views sex as an experience and he just likes to try different things. JMO.

Also, since Kurt is an artist, isn't Sal his supervisor? That's gonna be awk-ward.

It was my impression that the Smiths hired on as a team, and work only with each other. So where Peggy or Paul might get Sal (or another artist) to flesh out their concept, Kurt and Smitty conceptualize together (…dirty!) and then split the work, with Kurt doing the art (or the music, as in the Martinson coffee pitch) and Smitty handling the presentation. So I don't think Kurt works for Sal. Just my guess.

I must say that, while it's bound to twist poor Sal into knots, I am just so glad to have a character who's open and honest about his desires when everyone else, both straight and Sal, is living these dysfunctional lives of repression and denial. When Kurt outed himself so plainly and simply, I actually said "God bless you, Kurt Smith. God bless you!" Quite possibly my favorite scene of the season.

[QAF Rocks]

Here are a few videos of Edin Gali, who plays Kurt.

I never thought Kurt was particularly good looking, but the actor looks cute in these videos, a little scruffier with facial hair. Interesting to hear his real accent, too, which is much more Americanized. He's using his father's Bosnian accent for the character of Kurt; his real one sound more German to me.

[Justine2003]

So do people still think Smitty is gay? I'm kind of hoping he isn't after seeing "My Old Kentucky Home," because I like the idea of Smitty & Peggy. Not that she seems interested, but I get the feeling that there is potential for something there. I liked the vibe between them when they were both laughing at Paul and the "Tigertones."

[QAF Rocks]

I don't think Smitty is gay, and I've always had the feeling that something is going to happen between him and Peggy.

[Justine2003]

In light of recent events with Sal ("Wee Small Hours of the Morning"), I decided to watch "The Jet Set" again.

Smitty clearly knows the repercussions of Kurt telling everyone that he's gay. During the big revelation, notice the concerned look on Smitty's face when everyone starts teasing Kurt and Peggy. He knows that Kurt's going to say something (I assume he's done something like this before), and he knows how unwise it is. After Kurt's announcement, Smitty even tries to warn him not to say anything else, but of course Kurt clarifies things further: "I make love with the man, not the woman."

You're right, QAF Rocks, Smitty gets a worried look on his face right away. I think he's being really protective of his friend - maybe he knows with this crowd, it's not going to go over so well. But then of course Kurt is so innocent really about just blurting it out. He obviously sees no need to hide it from anyone.

I like how when the others start in making comments (Ken especially with his remark about he really hadn't wanted to work with anyone gay), Smitty is not afraid to say that he can't believe they've never met anyone homosexual in advertising. And then he walks out kind of shaking his head in disgust (taking a box of donuts, LOL). That's what I love about him - he's really audacious and not afraid to speak his mind when the situation requires it. I noticed that too in other scenes. For instance, showing disdain that Ken and Pete didn't plan things better ("My Old Kentucky Home"), or voicing opposition to their holiday being cut short ("Guy Walks Into An Advertising Agency").

He's an outsider at the agency (along with Kurt), and although he can be social and charming when the occasion calls for it, he also doesn't mind letting the others know when he isn't thrilled with their behavior. I think he seems more willing to do what he feels is right then to go along with the crowd.

But then, as we saw in "The Wee Small Hours," he's also a good team player when he has to be - he seems to work well with Peggy and he was affable with Don (despite Don's general pissiness with everyone).

All in all, I think Smitty is one of the best characters we've seen at SC lately. And I still hope he and Peggy get romantically involved, but in the meantime I like seeing them working together and being potential friends.

[Justine2003]

Do you think we will see these guys again soon? It seems we've been seeing a lot of people lately--no Sal yet, but we just saw Paul Kinsey, and also Dale ("Where the hell is Dale?"), after a long absence.

I'm very curious to know if Smitty is still working for Ted Chaough. On one hand, I'd say definitely yes, and if we see scenes of Peggy at her new agency, then maybe we'll see Smitty (and Kurt?) working there too. On the other hand, Ted told Peggy that Tom Vogel didn't like the work as much (after Clearasil transferred from SCDP to CGC), and while interviewing Peggy, Ted also told her, "I need a writer."

Obviously Peggy is now copy chief and it's likely that there are already a few copywriters at CGC, so I'm hoping that Smitty is still there. Maybe he can give her advice on how to deal with Ted....

[Lollia Pollina]

If Kurt came back, he could give Peggy the new haircut she desperately needs. Please come back, Kurt!

[Tom Bomb]

Last we saw of Smitty was Ted quizzing him, then bossing him around while deciding on chasing SCDP on the Honda account, right? That didn't work out for CGC, and they lost money on the deal. Smitty might have left or been fired after that.

When was the last time we saw Kurt? I hope we see them both next season, since Peggy is with Ted.

QAF's revelation link from 2008 still rocks, thanks for posting it. I agree with DAngelus, it's refreshing to see someone be open and honest on the show.