Queer as Folk

[Guest wolverine]

How about last night's episode of Queer as Folk? Specifically, how about the part where Brian sells himself to the gray-haired businessman? Strike any responsive chords in anybody? Suggest any fresh perspectives?

 

Also, any new thoughts about the show generally? Its glamorization? Truth to life?

[Guest youngblood]

I thought that it was a sad commentary in last night's episode that none of the five 30ish main gay characters seem to have much experience with dating/relationships, but all of them seem to be quite familiar with one night stands.

[Guest NWDixieboy]

I think it is a pretty fair representation of a subculture in the Gay community, epecially big urban areas. It seems to be diverging from the Brit version, so it will be interesting to see where it goes. My one beef so far is that the Brit version seemed to have developed somewhat more likable characters, especially the best friend with the unrequited love. The way they have developed him with Hal Sparks is that he seems to be very whiney,so he is harder to take in large dosages. Maybe time will tell.

[Guest youngblood]

Are tapes of the British version available in the US?

[Guest ProfTBear]

DVD's are available at planetout.com to name one location. But be ready to shell out $70.

[Guest Tampa Yankee]

LAST EDITED ON Jan-10-01 AT 12:13PM (EST)[p]I caught last nights rerun... This is the only episode I've seen except for the first. I found last nights serving very disappointing! First, the lead and his ex-now-lesbian and her lover... a never ending one note whine fest -- how about adding some diemension to these characters and their story. Shouldn't be an impossible task for some imaginative writers -- there could be a story to tell there.

 

Next, opening of a potential relationship between the Hal Sparks character and the Chiro has some potential, the more so, bringing a 40's guy into the story line but it will have to get better than last nights intro -- does any grown man (who is capable of dressing himself), however naive, act like that in a restaurant, especially the wine/coca cola scene... and then the sophomorish ' don't you want to fuck me on the first date... you bought me dinner you know'. Not that there might not be some action desired on the first date -- but that scenario was just too lame for words.

 

Moving on to the lead and his 50's guy.... again lame, lame, lame! THe older guy is not only portrayed as an asshole but a major one -- dumping his injured daughter for a tryst without a thought. And the sleazy lead being the knight with a white horse in this case but dumping on his ex and kid at the same instant, all without any apparent conflict -- too much or more to the point -- too little. This scene had a lot of potential to explore the issues of business pressures on personal behavior as well as balancing family responsibilities with personal desires and even obessions and presenting them in a manner that was not simplistic, even comic bookish. These writers are really lame or lazy or are not being allowed to create decent product -- my view.

 

The one scene with some real potential, though just barely scratching the surface, was the scene with the 17 year old kid coming out to his mother and her attempt to cope and more, to accept the situation, and her interaction with the Sharon Gless character, (Gless demonstrates once again that she carries her weight as an actress -- there was no pun intended here, really) . Hopefully the writers of this segment will be allowed to continue the plot line development along thoughtful and thought provoking lines, but probably not.

 

The other characters are all throw aways. On the plus side, there is some nice scenary to behold.

 

Well, those are my few comments... more than you probably wanted to know. This convinces me that the couple of episodes I missed didn't amount to anymore that missing some nice scenary. If I'm wrong someone please clue me in...

[Guest Tall Texn]

I too watched the rerun...and frankly that show could do with some major reworking! If some REALLY good writers got hold of it...it could be meaningful. I suppose in a way it's a lot like Life...if some major writers got hold of it...a lot more people would lead interesting fulfilling lives. It just doesn't work that way, though, does it?

 

Sharon Gless is a really delightful actress for that part.

I remember her all slim and trim on Cagney and Lacey and thought that she must have put on padding at first. No. But she's still Dynamite. Like looking at Rosie Clooney now. As big as the back of a bus...but wow...such talent.

 

It's a sad show...in that you see how some people fuck up their lives with such abandon...and the characterization of the older client...well...that should have be axed and told to go back to Rewrite!

 

Oh well.

[Barry]

Tampa,

 

Nice analysis. I totally agree and there isn't much I can add. I fear that since the series has already been shot, there's not too much hope for better writers. Where did they get these guys?

 

I suppose the scene with Brian and the "client" was meant as some sort of irony with Brian, of all people, judging someone for placing sex before love. I have grown very very tired of Brian's sexiopathic personality and predictable, redundant and boring behavior week after week.

 

And I actually liked Michael's character until that stupid restaurant and car scene. Give me a break. Showtime's official QAF site states this about Michael's thoughts regarding the chiropracter.

 

"Michael is drawn to the opportunity to explore dating and a possible relationship with David."

 

So a perceived obligatory post dinner, in the car, good night blow job is exploring dating and a possible relationship?

 

And I agree about Debbie. The only character I like and believe.

 

We'll have to see. Maybe they replaced the writers at somepoint during shooting and there is something of value yet to come.

 

As far as the "scenary". Yes, Toronto does have some great scenary, doesn't it? :-)

[Guest bd]

Both VHS tapes and DVDs of the original British series are available from http://www.c1tv.com (American TV station with gay focus).

Planetout actually links you to this site. As far as I know, C1TV is the exclusive seller in the US of the original eight British episodes in formats compatible with American machines.

[Guest Joey Ciccone]

LAST EDITED ON Jan-11-01 AT 10:25AM (EST)[p]>>...and the characterization of the older client...well...that should have be axed and told to go back to Rewrite!<<

Too true! Judging by the couple of episodes I've seen thus far, that show seems to have been written by straight, even chauvinistic, white men who sit around imagining what gay life must be like. Unfortunately, their vision falls as flat as their heads. After viewing, I'm left with the impression that gay men do nothing but troll for cock every night, lament their inability to find true love (except for the character who every passing stranger wants to screw on the spot for some reason), and then live a lie at the workplace the next day. I think the ratings will soon reflect how thin this perspective is, if they don't already. I've yet to find someone on that show that I can relate to (have they introduced an escort character yet?), much less develop a fondness for, and the storylines are about as gripping as those on As The World Turns, only without the cliffhangers and prescription pill abuse. Honestly, you'd get a better slice of gay life by setting up a steady cam on a Greenwich Village street corner and just letting it roll. The characters would be about as developed, and the action equally engrossing, if not more so.

Aside from these greivances, I think the producers should still be applauded for investing in and running the series. Next time out they'll hopefully get it right.

 

joey ciccone

http://www.manicpress.com/joey

[Guest alanm]

All of the comments are on target. The morality tale of Brian

turning the businessman down was stupid. Brian has no morality.

 

Potential interesting story lines are lost, like Justin and the

classmate football player, who is much hotter than Brian. I even

liked the cute guy whose drugs caused the coma. Yes, he should have called 911, but I liked him better than any of the three lead characters.

 

Having said that, it is still good to have the show. Showtime at

least tried to do something interesting. Justin's mother is good

and Justin has potential.

[Guest DickHo]

I totally agree with Tampa's review. There is so much unexplored potential. It seems to me that the writers are not gay.

 

As far as the scenery, I know it is supposed to be Pittsburgh, and I know it is filmed in Toronto...but do either of these cities have such a carnival atmosphere even on a Thursday night? I don't remember it from my visits to these cities...

[Guest DickHo]

>classmate football player, who is much

>hotter than Brian. I even

>

>liked the cute guy whose drugs

>caused the coma.

 

Me too...I thought these two guys are way hotter than any of the main characters...Justin desperately needs braces or smaller caps.

[quiet storm]

I agree with you on so many points, particularly the sex on the first date bit with the best friend. I would have expected that from someone more immature, not his age. I also agree about the businessman. That was too absurd a plot turn to show that Mr. Beautiful has a human side.

 

The best story indeed was the coming out material with the blond and the Sharon Gless scenes. Definitely!

 

I hope the show improves. I haven't seen the British version, but I understand from what I have read that it was created as a limited series with no intention of doing more episodes, so there may be a difference in the direction of the characters because this show is to be a continuing series. We'll see...

[+ deej]

>(have they introduced an escort character yet?)

 

Actually, they have. Early in the series we see one of the characters dragging around a Japanese kid who speaks no English. He keeps repeating "kane, kane" and nobody will translate.

 

Turns out it means "money". ;-)

[+ deej]

At the risk of becoming a pariah, I actually like the show.

 

Yes, the show has its flaws. I could throw stones at all of the things you guys have already picked apart. I choose not to do so.

 

I can look at any of the regular cast and recognize traits of people from my own circle of friends. (Yes, even including a 17yo cock-hungry slut.) In that regard, the show is fairly accurate. Yes it is a "styled" representation but it's television for goodness' sake!

 

It marks the first time that a slice of gay life is appearing on a network television series in the US. (OK, a cable network -- it's still a major milestone.) It's no gay "Ozzie & Harriet" but it's not intended to be that either. Perhaps it will open the (closet) door for something along those lines later.

 

The show is a landmark in television history every bit as much as "All in the Family" was in the 60's. Showtime should be applauded and encouraged and supported. I hope the series has a long and successful run.

 

Having seen the original Brit version, I can see where the characters and storylines are diverging from the original leaving room for further development. I applaud those efforts. Think of any successful long-running series -- the ENTIRE first season is spent developing characters. I think we're seeing that here.

 

I hope this show proves that "gay" can "play in Peoria". I'll continue watching it, partly because I love cute blond boys and Randy Harrison (the Justin character) is the only openly gay actor on the show, but partly because I think the show deserves our support.

 

My $.02.

[NASAguy]

deej-

I second your sentiments and wish I had taken the initiative and posted such a reply myself. I too enjoy the show and recognize traits of all the people I know in the major characters. If some of the situations are contrived, get over it. It's television for god's sake!

It's just another example of a phenomena that we can witness all too frequently. Gays are their own worse enemies. Instead of applauding the major step Showtime has taken in depicting a realistic slice of gay life, the gay community seems hell bent on pointing out just how poorly the show is developed and what artistic flaws are present. It's a little sad how unforgiving the gay viewers seem to be.

[Guest alanm]

As someone who had problems with "Queer as Folks" on an earlier

posting, the last several comments have considerable merit. The

gay community can be petty -- witness some of the extremely unkind comments made about Liza Minnelli on other sites. Liza

is a person with major, major problems, problems that she has

tried to get help for. Having said all this, "Queer as Folks"

could be considerably better, I can't just ignore that because

of the gay theme. While I know people like Brian, Mike and Justin, I know many more gays who have much more depth and sensitivity--and who don't exist in a purely gay world.

[Guest Joey Ciccone]

>>(have they introduced an escort character yet?)

>

>Actually, they have. Early in the

>series we see one of

>the characters dragging around a

>Japanese kid who speaks no

>English. He keeps repeating "kane,

>kane" and nobody will translate.

>Turns out it means "money".

>

 

That's hysterical. It figures that the most intriguing character to date has already been written off without anyone having ever understood a word he said. I guess art really does imitate life.

 

joey

http://www.manicpress.com/joey

[Guest EvilSwine]

Actually, I think that the football player shows up again in tonite's episode, if I saw right on the preview shown at the end of the last episode. I thought that Justin went a little far last episode with the trip to the restroom in the art museum. He wants his mom to understand and accept him and then he picks up a guy on their trip to the art museum and takes him for a fuck in a bathroom stall. That was kind of tacky.

 

I thought that the guy with the drugs who didn't call 911 was cute, too.

[Guest swordas]

I like the show. I agree some of the characters have annoying traits, but I think that there is a lot of subtle things beginning to happen. Brian is beginning to grow up, but it is being done very subtley. Since the first episode he has had to deal with the birth of his child, being responsible for deciding life and death of someone, even having Justin steal away two of his conquests on the dance floor. That last had to be tough on his ego. He also found out that he was made responsible in Ted's living will because he was such a cold bastard, another slap in the face. All of this is starting to change him. He threw a new guy out, and let Justin in, he made a lot of noise about it, but Justin still spent the night. He left the businessman in the middle, was it because he didn't like being treated as an object or because the guys child was hurt, and Brian now has a child of his own? He did go spend time with the baby after that, which is another thing he wouldn't have done before.

 

The scene in the museum with Justin and his mother was hysterical. She sits and looks worshippinly at the painting of the baby while Justin goes of to the men's room. She knew what he was doing, I wish she had laughed at the situation! I thought it was well done.

 

Is there anyplace like Babylon (big, well lighted, awesome props, clean), outside of New York and San Francisco, in the whole country? I find that the most unreal part of the series. Which brings up more questions: If this is a place only for the young and beautiful, why do they keep going there? There have to be better places to meet people, if you want a relationship. If Mikey can decide he wants to get laid and walk into the back and do it, why is he always whining about not getting any? The whole place is rather sad, if you do not fit the beauty mold. Why go there and pummel your self-esteem night after night?

[+ deej]

>deej-

>I second your sentiments and wish

>I had taken the initiative

>and posted such a reply

 

Thanks! Glad you spoke up!

 

> Instead of applauding the

>major step Showtime has taken

>in depicting a realistic slice

>of gay life, the gay

>community seems hell bent on

>pointing out just how poorly

>the show is developed and

>what artistic flaws are present.

> It's a little sad

>how unforgiving the gay viewers

>seem to be.

 

Yes, and this is a very disturbing thing in our community which purportedly celebrates diversity. The fact is that we, as a whole, do not celebrate diversity at all.

 

We lambast our public figures and revile those we wish were our public figures. Ricky Martin is derided for staying in the closet. He's called a) a hypocrite, b) a coward and c) a liar.

 

If he comes out he'll be blasted for being a) a hypocrite for staying in the closet so long, b) a coward for staying in the closet for so long, and c) a liar for staying in the closet for so long.

 

What's the benefit to him in coming out? There's no community waiting to welcome him with open arms.

 

Rather than welcoming this Showtime series (which is really quite daring) we pick it apart and yell about what's wrong. We don't celebrate what's *right* about it: we're here and we're queer and we're in your living room every week so deal with it.

 

$.02 more ;-)

[+ deej]

>

>That's hysterical. It figures that the

>most intriguing character to date

>has already been written off

>without anyone having ever understood

>a word he said. I

>guess art really does imitate

>life.

>

>joey

>http://www.manicpress.com/joey

 

 

Joey, dear, I can't *wait* until my next trip east. YOU I have to meet! LOL

[Guest Joey Ciccone]

I'll look forward to it.

And don't forget your kane ;-)

[Guest erik88nyc]

Yes, it's definitely available on DVD, I think 2 or 3 videos, the whole set. As I recall, pretty pricey, about $80?

 

I can't remember where I ordered it, but look around because it is available and it's worth taking a look at. It's far better, with better characters, story lines, and "integrity" than the Pittsburgh version.

 

Of course, there may be a simpler way.... a few days after I ordered my $80 set, I noticed the videos at my local video store for normal rental. (The store: TLA video, 8th street, nyc), but I'd guess it's not hard to find. This was about 2 months ago.