QAF New Season & Interview

[Guest tmbg]

For those who enjoy the Showtime series Queer As Folk the new season begins this Sunday. There is a nice interview at TV Guide <http://tvguide.com/newsgossip/insider/020104a.asp>

 

Cheers! Ritchie

[+ deej]

GREAT interview!

 

I love how the interviewees called the interviewer on the carpet for his hostile questioning.

[Guest Kevin 2]

That was a great interview. Guys check it out if you like the show.

[Guest Les]

Good article. Thanks.

Really not much longer than many verbose posters.

You do miss some of TV Guides editorial emphasis and a pic or two.

 

When Showtime's Queer as Folk launches its second season Sunday night (10 pm/ET), fans of the same-sex soap opera can rest assured that the randy regulars will continue to go above and beyond... and below the belt. In fact, executive producers Ron Cowen and Daniel Lipman hint at carnal delights so scandalous, they may make Melrose Place look like Walton's Mountain. QAF will be as "outrageous and controversial and politically incorrect" as ever, they promise. Adds Lipman: "We felt very strongly that when a show is successful and people really like it, [it shouldn't be screwed around with]." Ah, but while the series inarguably is a ratings smash — it's the cable network's most popular program — not every critic is convinced that it doesn't engage in its own form of backhanded gay-bashing. How do the partners respond to such a suggestion? Rowr! — Michael Ausiello

 

TVGO: Some critics feel Queer as Folk can't decide what it wants to be: a trashy soap opera or a serious drama. Your thoughts?

Cowen: I think that's total and utter bull----. As a matter of fact, I think that's f---ing bull----. I think this show is an exceptional, extraordinary drama. It is not trashy soap opera. It is not a serial. And I defy anyone to look at Queer as Folk and call it a soap opera. Can you sense the anger in my voice? I think a lot of people who say that absolutely have not watched the show. And you know something? They said the same thing about our last show, Sisters. And the people who said that — including journalists and critics — never even bothered to watch the show. They said, "Oh, it's about four women in the suburbs. It must be a soap opera." Well, let me tell you something: There wouldn't be an Ally McBeal, there wouldn't be a Judging Amy, there wouldn't be a lot of shows if it wasn't for Sisters. It's as groundbreaking as Queer as Folk is. So I really take offense that people would think this is a trashy soap opera. Why? Because people have sex? Is that why? There happens to be tremendous humor, wit, very emotional scenes, wonderful performances, incredible production value...

Lipman: I would happen to agree with Ron. I would say a big fat f--- you to whoever said that. They can go watch some politically correct, straight soap opera.

 

TVGO: Queer as Folk takes a lot of heat for its characters' promiscuity, yet the ladies on Sex and the City are just as promiscuous and no one bats an eye.

Lipman: Well of course, because they're straight. They're women.

Cowen: They're allowed to f---. Straight people — even gay people — are very upset seeing gay characters f---ing their brains out. So, again, we would say f--- you to anybody who has a problem seeing gay people f---ing. I say the more the better.

Lipman: Gay people are allowed to entertain us, allowed to be queeny clowns, they're allowed to be eunuchs and not have relationships, or pine away for a romance that they're not allowed to have. But the minute they have sex... and I think that's what makes Queer as Folk extraordinary: We have a very central character — Brian (Gale Harold) — who is a very sexual and masculine character. And I think people — including gay people — are very threatened by this. It's very curious.

 

TVGO: Speaking of criticism, I spoke to Alan Ball (the openly gay creator of HBO's Six Feet Under) last year, and he made it quite clear that he wasn't a big fan of Queer as Folk. He rolled his eyes and said something like, "This isn't the kind of show I want to see."

Lipman: Isn't that amazing? I said exactly the same thing when I saw the first episode of Six Feet Under. I rolled my eyes, turned around and said, "Boy, is this not the kind of show I want to see."

Cowen: If you want to see a show about a bunch of politically correct closet queens, go watch "Two Feet Under."

 

TVGO: So, you're not a fan of Six Feet Under?

Lipman: Of course not.

Cowen: We hate politically correct and we hate pretentious and we find that a highly offensive show to our tastes.

Lipman: A closeted gay son is supposed to illustrate gay people, and that's acceptable?

Cowen: Well, I'd say if you like your [gay characters] in the closet, watch that show.

Lipman: Right. If you all like your [gay characters] in the closet, watch Six Feet Under.

Cowen: If you want to see f---ing, watch our show.

 

TVGO: You're well beyond the British series in terms of episodes, so you're in unchartered territory now, aren't you?

Lipman: We were basically in unchartered territory from the second episode of the entire series because once again, there were a lot of people who had never seen the show who said, "They used everything from the British [version]." We barely used anything from the British. The three main characters — Michael (Hal Sparks), Justin (Randy Harrison) and Brian — are very much based on the characters from the British series, [but] the other characters [are original]... We use a few odd elements here and there from the British show, but this was never the sort of situation where we used everything and then we went off on our own. It was pretty much our show from the beginning.

 

TVGO: How will you keep the show's lesbian couple, Melanie (Michelle Clunie) and Lindsey (Thea Gill), viable? Ever since they resolved the infidelity crisis last season, they seemed to drift into the background.

Lipman: We shall see. That is part of the challenge. A lot of criticism [we get] is that it's all those guys that are in their early 30s who are just going dancing, taking drugs and [having sex]. Well, seeing a movie [like] Swingers, about straight guys the same age only interested in [having sex], I didn't hear a lot of criticism about that. Once again, it's only because they're gay. We have various ages on our show. Like even last season, we had [Michael's ex] Dr. David (Chris Potter), who was 40, we have Vic (Jack Wetherall) who is in his late 40s or 50s, we have Justin who's 17. We go through a lot of different characters, and part of this, in answer to your question, is people couple. And how do they survive in that? Some do, some don't. And that's part of the whole terrain of the show.

 

TVGO: Is Dr. Dave gone for good?

Lipman: Yes, Dr. David is gone. He's moved on.

 

TVGO: So, who's going to fill that healthy, centered, fortysomething male void?

Lipman: We have someone coming up that will be very interesting to our audiences, not as a replacement to Dr. David at all, a very different kind of character.

 

TVGO: After nearly losing Justin last season, will we see Brian start to grow up this season?

Lipman: At the very beginning of the show, Ron and I — with all due respect to our lesbian characters — always felt that this show was about boys becoming men. So I think that with each progressive season, it is all about maturation and growth, and I think you will see growth in Brian — emotionally. But Brian is still Brian.

 

TVGO: Last year, the characters explored S&M, scarfing, threesomes, you name it...

Lipman: And that was just the pilot!

 

TVGO: ... exactly. (Laughter) Are there any sexual taboos you won't touch?

Cowen: There's nothing we won't address.

Lipman: Straight sex?

Cowen: There are plenty of new taboos that we are going to take on and a lot of targets to go after. One of my personal favorites is gay hypocrisy, so we'll slam a few of those motherf---ers.

 

TVGO: Any story decisions you made last season that you regret?

Lipman: No. Anything you regret?

 

TVGO: Yes, actually. I was not a fan of the multiple episode arc where Emmett (Peter Paige) tried to go straight.

Lipman: Why?

 

TVGO: I thought it was really out of character.

Lipman: It's funny, because for us, Emmet comes from a fairly religious background from Mississippi. But [the plot] was much less about becoming straight and much more about faith and making a pact to God. Don't you think, Ron?

Cowen: Funny you should mention that because we just had a conversation with Peter about that yesterday and how delighted we all were with that storyline because, to us, it wasn't at all about Emmett trying to go straight. Emmett, in an absolute cold terror when he thought he was testing positive [for HIV], prayed to God and said, "Oh please God just let me be negative. I promise I'll never sleep with another man again." In a moment of panic, he made a promise to God and then he didn't know how to break a promise to God... We saw it as a storyline about how a gay person relates to God since most religions tell you you're going to hell. I think perhaps a certain [portion] of our viewers didn't understand what the real story was about.

 

TVGO: Another criticism I have is that it seems a major character inconsistency to have Michael still closeted at work considering what a progressive upbringing he had. In fact, in an interview with TV Guide Online, Hal Sparks (Michael's portrayer) said there was an episode where he was supposed to come out at work, but he refused to play it.

Lipman: Right... Well, we had a discussion, he didn't refuse.

Cowen: We decided that given the landscape of gay people on our show and given the fact that it is in a city that isn't Los Angeles and Michael is not in the entertainment business or a journalist, that it's very difficult for him to come out working in Pittsburgh in a Q-Mart. And we thought that that was an important aspect of gay life to show on Queer as Folk. But again I didn't feel it was in any way inconsistent with his character. I think, in fact, it's very consistent. And I do have to mention that I'm finding this interview with you extremely unpleasant because I have to say that every one of your questions to us so far has been to ask us to defend the show in light of criticism that you have heard or you yourself feel.

 

TVGO: Well, let's talk about the show's ratings — that's something positive. It's Showtime's top-rated show. In light of all the criticism, that has to be gratifying.

Lipman: It is. It's very much become their signature show, and it's branded them — which I don't think they've had with a series before. They've had some very good series and some very noble efforts, but I think this is the first show that they've been able to get a network brand off of.

 

TVGO: Were you surprised?

Lipman: Yes. I think that when we began doing this show, the intention was that it was not just done for a gay audience, certainly an audience that was tuned into the world. And I think that we thought we would get a niche audience and I think we were all very, very surprised at the vastness of the audience and also overcoming sexual boundaries. We have a tremendous straight audience, as well as a gay audience... and if it were only about sex, people would watch for three weeks and never come back. And I think that they're very compelled and invested in the characters and the stories.

 

TVGO: Does Showtime give you a lot of free rein?

Cowen: I think what you see on TV is the answer to that question, obviously.

 

TVGO: So, that's not reined-in at all?

Cowen: (Sarcastic) Yeah, that r--ming scene was exactly the way it was written. That leather f--ting scene was exactly the way it was written.

Lipman: We've had experience with the commercial networks, and the experience was very extreme in the other direction. [showtime] gives us free rein, and I think part of it is because the show is doing well.

Cowen: Showtime is fantastic. They're brave, they're honest, they're supportive, and they're not hypocrites.

[Guest Vegasboy Dave]

Hey Yall

 

I tried to find when it came on this Sunday the 6th but cant find it on my Tivo, so does anyone know what time the new one comes on Sunday. All i see now is repeats and its like 4 hours of them..

 

Smooch and Hugs

Vegasboy Dave

http://www.vegasboy.com/vbescort

[phage]

It's back in its old time slot -- Sundays @ 10:00.

[Guest Kevin 2]

All of the following shows start the new season tonight 01/06

QAF at 10 sharp!

Sex and the City at 9

OZ at 10

[Guest Vegasboy Dave]

Thanks Phage and Kevin2

 

I will sure have to go and get the Tivo setup and cant wait to see what happens, Oh I hope Justin is ok..

 

Smooch and Hugs

Vegasboy Dave

http://www.vegasboy.com/vbescort

[Guest Thunderbuns]

I'm a great fan of QAF. We get it on Monday nights in this neck of the woods. I am really sorry (pissed?) to read that Dr. David will not be back this season - for my $$$ he was the hottest of the bunch.

[Guest Kevin 2]

Dave, Your welcome..now is there ANY thing else I can help you with?? }>

<Oh I hope Justin is ok..>

Have no fear I'm sure our little twink boy is fine, If not somebodies ass at showtime is MINE! LOL