|
April 30, 2004
A new month is nearly upon us, and I have LOTS of updates, with more to come. Grab a drink, put your feet up, and let's get folked! ;)
There are only a few days left in the QAF Addiction giveaway! For a chance to win a DVD Box Set of Season 3, fill out the form on the contest page before Monday, May 3rd. Remember, you can only enter once; duplicate entries will be disregarded. Good luck!! :)
The 2004 Prism Awards were handed out in Los Angeles last night. Scott Lowell, Michelle Clunie, Ron Cowen and Dan Lipman were all in attendance. Queer As Folk took home the prize for TV Drama Series Multi-Episode Storyline, "Crystal Clear" (episodes #313 and #314). QAF also received a commendation for "A Shot in the Dark" (episodes #306 and #307). Peter Krause from "Six Feet Under" won the performance award for which Scott Lowell was nominated. There are pictures of the gang, including photos of Scott with Claire Sakaki at the Awards on wireimage.com, and more arrivals at filmmagic.com. For a complete list of recipients, visit the PRISM awards page.
Be sure to check out the Issues Over the Rainbow Archives at Party 93.1 radio to listen to the interviews with the cast that have been airing throughout April on Sunday mornings.
Showcase has updated their QAF pages (finally!) with Canadian "Future Babylon Tour" dates, and a sneak peek at the upcoming episode (403). "New business ventures, custody battles, drug rehab and even a feature film deal are on the horizon as the fourth season of Queer as Folk airs on Showcase. The critically acclaimed drama about a group of gay friends airs weekly on Mondays at 10 pm et/pt."
According to Robert Gant, as of this week, neither he, nor Peter Paige, nor Hal Sparks are scheduled to attend, or plan to attend, the Elements dance party event taking place in Pittsburgh this July, as has been advertised on some websites.
Peter Paige stopped by the "Connection" at his website last week to say hello to fans. Pre-production for Donut Hole begins this week, and Peter has been busy tending to his film as well as doing press and promos for season 4 of QAF, as well as taking some time for friends and family. As always, he thanks everyone for their support and encouragement, and says there is some wonderful stuff ahead in season 4. I should also mention that Peter's birthday is June 20th (the date was mis-reported earlier), so for those who sent wishes via his website, he thanks you for being "early". LOL!! Ron, who runs Peter's site, says he will be updating soon, so keep an eye out for more news on the 'Paige page.' ;)
"Peter Paige makes the Donuts", writes Romeo San Vicente. "No, Peter Paige isn't opening a Krispy Kreme franchise. He's starting production on 'Donut Hole,' an independent feature based on a script he wrote when he wasn't busy playing Emmett on Showtime's 'Queer as Folk.' The out actor will star - as well as make his debut as director - in a comedy about a young artist who loses contact with his beloved godson when the boy's family relocates to Japan. The artist's innocent desire to be with the boy turns strange when, in order to find a replacement kid to feel parental about, he goes to work in a toy store and begins hanging out at neighborhood playgrounds. Kathy Najimy is in negotiations to star as a meddling local mom who decides that Paige's affection for kids is a danger to the community. Romeo is thrilled to see Paige branch out, but thinks a Krispy Kreme franchise sounds like less work."
In an article on Mitch Morris by Cassandra Hinojosa, she writes, "Beginning today, Mitch Morris appears in four episodes of Showtime's "Queer as Folk." His role as gay vigilante Cody Bell might get people gossiping, but that doesn't bother him. 'I think an artist can't really be concerned by other opinions,' said Morris, who is not gay. 'If you are people-pleasing, you aren't fulfilling a high level of artistic integrity.' Morris says he read for the show three times before he was picked for a part. The gay lifestyle Mitch Morris portrays isn't something his father agrees with, but he still supports his oldest son's acting endeavors. 'I am happy that he is pursing a career he enjoys,' said Johnny Morris, a maintenance supervisor whose younger son, Mark, is training to become a preacher. 'The character that he plays on the show is not something that I would have chosen.' "
I Want Media's Patrick Phillips recently interviewed Simon Dumenco about the newly relaunched Colors magazine, and took the opportunity to ask him about his personal relationship with Randy Harrison (Justin), which was recently made public in Michael Musto's column, and whether that relationship has given Dumenco any insights into celebrity journalism. Simon responded by saying, "I've discovered that a surprising number of 'celebrity journalists' are unable to distinguish between an actor and the character he plays on television. Randy has literally had interviewers ask him how he felt when his character experienced something on the show. They'll ask him how it felt to have 'gone through' a fictional circumstance -- as if Randy personally experienced his character's storyline. I guess it's a testament to his acting talent that people confuse him with the character he plays -- a character, incidentally, with whom he has almost nothing in common. But it's disappointing when journalists make that same idiotic mistake. I suppose the conceptual confusion has to do with the blurring of the boundaries between dramas and reality television, and what's made up and what's real in 'celebrity journalism.' Fiction is passed off as fact so often these days that fiction is often automatically presumed to be fact."
Also interesting to note is that the first issue of Colors features, according to Dumenco, "a really frank, poignant interview with the international literary sensation JT LeRoy about being a fan -- of artists and writers and musicians who he's often befriended -- and having sometimes really creepy fans himself." Leroy is a favorite of Randy's as well; some may recall that the actor participated in a reading of Leroy's work last April. Coincidentally, Randy was spotted in New York City a few days later at Calvin Klein's special screening of the film "Confidence" and posed for pictures with actor Jason Weinberg ("Law & Order") and Dumenco. [read the full story]
Zap2it.com features interesting article on the show and its evolution, suggesting that while Queer as Folk considers itself "a celebration," Showtime's fourth-year drama isn't afraid to shy away from the darker issues. Robert Gant, who is quoted in the article, says he was taken aback by the overt hostility some gay viewers expressed toward the series. "I can certainly accept criticism about our show," he says, "but please, why not make it constructive criticism? We haven't learned to do that as a community. We devour our young. This show is an imperfect entity that is trying to serve and to tell our story in some way, at least a piece of it, and many in our community aren't willing to give that a chance. That's starting to change, I think, because all of us are growing up, and in that way what is happening on the show again parallels what is happening in our community."
Bobby Gant was also interviewed by Richard Kravitz for gay.com. During their chat, Kravitz asked about the difference between Ben's relationship with Michael and Brian's relationship with Justin, in that the former appears to be monogamous while the latter appears to be more open, and whether that was that done on purpose? Bobby replies, "Yeah, I think it was very much done on purpose. I think that, without being able to speak for the writers, my guess (and it's somewhat more than a guess, from having heard them talk about it) is that they are trying to show opposite sides of gay culture. That you can have two very strong, passionate relationships and they can look very different. What's nice about it is that it doesn't create this judgment on what the right choice is, because obviously so many of us are making one choice or the other, or vacillating even. And I think it is reinforcing the idea that you get to choose your path, to pick what's right for you. Certainly what's right for Ben is to be in a committed, monogamous relationship." [read more]
And if you still haven't had enough of Mr. Gant, here is another great interview where he talks to David Guarino about the show, and coming out. Of his character, he says, "People really like Ben, and in particular those people who had a problem with other aspects of the show early on. They see him as the picture-perfect role model, that is, the face they want to present to the world. You know, having to air dirty laundry is an embarrassing thing ... and the fact that we have issues in the (GLBT) community regarding drugs and sex—things that come from many gay kids (who didn’t feel loved) having low self esteem ... well, it’s those kinds of things that make many folks glad that Ben exists."
Variety.com reports that Dr. Phil could soon be sharing the Paramount lot with another doc: Howard Dean. While everything's still in the early talking stages, the one-time Democratic presidential candidate is mulling the idea of hosting his own syndicated gabfest. Wonder if we might see Bobby Gant or any of his fellow QAFers who supported Dean during his campaign last year in the guest chair? Stranger things have happened. ;)
Showtime's Queer as Folk gets more political in its fourth season is a new article in The Advocate. Dan Lipman says, "Now people are used to seeing gay personas, gay characters. I think Queer as Folk had a little something to do with people perceiving gay people in a way they hadn't before, and with gay people perceiving themselves."
"Lena Love isn't a Barbie doll, though she's played one on TV. Last year she performed on Showtime's Queer as Folk, as a Barbie doll
breaking out of her package. It was the most recent of many cameo appearances she's made the past couple seasons, performing at the
show's Babylon nightclub," writes Doug Rule, in an interview for Metro Weekly.
Here is the lineup for Gale Harold's film "Rhinoceros Eyes" at Madstone theaters across the USA:
Ann Arbor, Michigan - May 7th
Atlanta, Georgia - May 7th
Denver, Colorado - May 7th
Albuquerque, New Mexico - May 7th
San Diego, California - May 21st
Cary, North Carolina - May 21st
Chandler, Arizona - May 7th
Salt Lake City, Utah - May 21st
Check out Madstonetheaters.com for showtimes in each location.
FilmJerk.com has a Film Review on ''Rhinoceros Eyes'' written by Edward Havens. The author gives a favorable review of the film (A-), and props to Gale Harold for his performance, but did not care for the writing of that particular part: "Less lucrative is Woodley’s subplot featuring the singing cop Barbara. While Mr. Harold gives his character his best, Det. Barbara is too thinly drawn and too much an incompetent boob (at one point, Barbara is so busy fawning over a prop at the prop house that he fails to notice a crucial piece of evidence in clear view not a few steps away) that he ends up being more distracting than essential to the overall story." [read the full review]
Here is another review of Rhinoceros Eyes, this one from the New York Times.
A Sneak Preview of "Wake" will be held on May 8, 2004 at 6pm at the McMahon Memorial Auditoruim, 801 NW Ferris, Lawton, Oklahoma. Admission is free. Both Blake Gibbons and Roy Finch will be attending, and will answer questions immediately following the film. For more information, visit Blake's official website, or join the yahoo group.
After Ellen is a website that provides reviews and commentary on Lesbian and Bisexual women in Entertainment and the Media. There is a new interview with Michelle Clunie posted to the site, along with season recaps, links, photos, and more.
Pictures are available on wireimage.com of Thea Gill and Michelle Clunie at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on April 17th for the Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Center's Women's Night 2004. The actresses were among the presenters handing out awards to the honorees.
Harris Allan spoke to EXP Magazine in an exclusive interview. When asked if he has a favorite character on the show, he replies, "I guess I take from all of them. Emmett's a very sweet character. I really like that character. Michael is a very cool character because he's kind of a boy becoming a man throughout all three seasons that's how he's been. Ben is interesting because the whole steroids thing last season. That was very interesting because they let him slide into that and I didn't expect that because he's seen as a strong character that wouldn't let himself do that. And then Brian, his character does so many things you would never expect. He's very complex. I find myself really liking him and at the same time be like oh you're so difficult."
Both wireimage.com and filmmagic.com have pictures of Hal Sparks at the Mark Ruffalo Hosts Johnnie Walker Gold Sensuality, April 22 in Beverly Hills, California.
Carrie has uploaded some video clips of Hal's comments from " I Love the 70's/80's/80's Strikes Back" to a site she's creating here.
The synopsis for the new QAF book, " Always Have, Always Will" by Quinn Brockton is available at SimonSays.com.
Fans of QAF in South Korea will be able to watch the show on Home CGV, one of the cable networks, beginning this week. Film 2.0 magazine published this advertisement.
Several articles pertaining to QAF and its cast members have been published over the last couple of weeks to coincide with the premiere of Season 4. Here are a sampling, which will soon be added to my articles page, along with the others already mentioned:
From the Dallas Voice: Radical Fairy:
As ‘Queer as Folk’ enters its 4th season, perennial cheerleader Peter Paige defends television’s unflinchingly gayest show", by Daniel A. Kusner, Life+Styles Editor.
Excerpt: Paige admits that he’s the show’s most vocal, openly gay cheerleader. In 2002, he came to Dallas and delivered an excellent speech at Fair Park on National Coming Out Day. His basic message was, "The greatest political act for any gay person to engage in is to come out of the closet. I firmly believe it. I’m living my life based on that credo," he says. "I have a hard time with gay people who don’t come out. I also believe that everybody is on his or her own journey. I try to be as supportive as possible, but it is difficult for me," he continues.
From Planet Out: "An interview with Michelle Clunie"by Richard Kravitz.
Excerpt:
"Honestly, it has been a very interesting experience for me, because I'm not Jewish and I'm not a lesbian. Although sometimes I think that my soul is Jewish and that my heart is lesbian. [Laughs.] I think there is a reason that this role came into my life. My boyfriend is Jewish, and I have a great respect for the Jewish faith. I am actually thinking about converting."
From Film Stew: "Gay Sex and the City". After a critically panned third season, Showtime tries to amp up its Queer as Folk series with a national party and publicity tour. [photos from the tour are included]
From the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: 'Queer as Folk' characters grow up in new season" by Rob Owen.
Excerpt: Dan Lipman says, "We have characters that began in their late 20s and now are in their early 30s, very vital, very crucial, dynamic years in a character's development. Gay or straight, young people in their late 20s are out partying. They're exploring their sexuality. They're trying to find themselves. As they get involved through their early 30s, they start developing relationships. They start realizing that it's do or die. I have to have that career or start that business; maybe start thinking about having children. Gay people are no different than straight people in that respect."
From The Washington Post: 'Queer as Folk,' Still Daring To Be Different", by Tom Shales, Washington Post Staff Writer.
Excerpt: [warning: many spoilers included in the article] The new season promises provocative complications and new variations on old relationships. Even in the first four episodes, one can see less reliance on production gimmickry and more on human conflict and interdependence. "QAF" obviously is not the show for everybody, but it's still the drama series least likely to play it safe and most likely to turn bluenoses red with rage. It's hard to be daring in today's shock-pocked culture, but "Queer as Folk" is still in there pitching, innovating and taking admirable risks.
From The Toronto Star: "Ferragamo a Ferragamo with Kidman", by Rita Zekas, about Lynne Deragon (Joan Kinney), who plays American ambassador Miriam Davis opposite Nicole Kidman in the film The Interpreter.
Excerpt: Deragon has been in the biz for 30 years. You would know her from the films Lives Of The Saints and American Psycho 2 (in which she played the mother of Mila Kunis), and the series Queer As Folk, where she is Joan Kinney, homophobic mom of Brian, played by Gale Harold. "I'm terrible to him," she insists.
From TWN online: Justin time: Randy Harrison discusses the ins and outs of his ‘QAF’ role" by Loann Halden, Features Editor.
Excerpt: "Most of the growing [I’ve done] hasn’t come directly from playing the character but more from the way my life has changed and the kind of things I’ve learned from being in a position of being on a television show, Which has in a lot of ways strengthened my resolve – what it takes to assert your individuality all the time has always been important to me, learning to stand up for myself, learning to figure out as quickly as possible exactly what people want from you and how to give them what you’re capable of giving them without feeling like a total whore yourself." About Gale Harold, he says, "We’re good friends. I have a lot of respect for him. I learn a lot from him. I love talking to him," Harrison says. "I think he more than anybody else understands my position in doing the show a lot of time."
From Mercury News: Sexual Evolution: 'Queer As Folk' characters have matured as show enters fourth season on Showtime," by Charlie McCollum.
Excerpt: "I was always startled when people said, 'Well, my God!' when we began. 'They're going to a club! They're doing some recreational drugs!' Well, straight people in their 20s do that, too. So what?" says Ron Cowen. "If you track the show -- and we've always considered this a sort of epic novel -- from the beginning to where we are now and where we'll be at the end of this season, you will see it's about growth, coming of age, a passage," says Robert Gant. "The show is coming of age in that we've gotten out of the way of the stereotypical arguments that a lot of people have about gays being promiscuous, the drug use, the club thing. You actually get to who they are as people and what really matters to them."
April 15, 2004
On May 24th (corrected date), Robert Gant will appear at the Museum of TV & Radio's New York City branch at 25 West 52 Street, to participate in a seminar with special emphasis on Showtime's groundbreaking programs "Queer as Folk," and "The L Word." The seminar runs from 6:00 to 7:30pm. Additional panelists to be announced.
Hal Sparks will appear on The Wayne Brady Show on Wednesday, April 21. If you missed Hal on The Sharon Osbourne Show this past week it will re-air on Tuesday, April 27th.
Visit OUT.com's "Scene" for a picture of Peter Paige with playwrights Paula Vogel and Charles Busch, and Theater Offensive Artistic Director Abe Rybeckat, the Theater Offensive Benefit, February 21, 2004, Boston.
Showtime will air the VH1 special (Inside QAF) on April 17th, 10pm ET/PT, just ahead of the QAF marathon (episodes 311, 312, 313, 314), and again on April 18th, immediately following the season premiere.
From out.com comes "Getting Folked…"
The only thing gayer than a Queer as Folk premiere is…well, we can't think of anything right now. Wednesday night in Los Angeles stars
from the show gathered at the Regent Showcase Theater to screen the first episode of the new season (which premieres Sunday on Showtime). Stars Sharon Gless, Peter Paige Hal Sparks, Gale Harold, Thea Gill, Michelle Clunie, and Scott Lowell all posed with the throngs of fans who had waited out front for a picture. Out's April cover guy, Robert Gant, looked remarkably similar to one of his Out photos as he got out of his car in sunglasses and a white suit. "It's the same suit," he confessed to us at the after-party, held at Asia de
Cuba. "Different sunglasses." The outdoor fete, sponsored by Motorola, was also attended by Joanna Cassidy, Charlotte Rae, MTV's Brian Graden, Motorola's David Pinsky, Showtime honcho Robert Greenblatt, and Queer guest stars Matt Battaglia, Mitch Morris (who was also featured in Out's April issue), and Harris Allan. Despite an abundance of heat lamps, it got a bit nippy out. "Are you kidding?" quipped Peter Paige after we noted the chill in the air. "I've been in Toronto for months. I'd be comfortable out here in a thong."
And from the New York Daily News: "Queer Turns its Gaze to More Tough Topics":
San Francisco's mayor may have started the flood of gay marriages, but the producers of 'Queer As Folk' say they were ahead of the curve. " 'Queer As Folk' threw that little pebble into the pond," said Daniel Lipman, co- executive producer of the Showtime series. "Somehow four years later, we might have had something to do with the whole movement of gay progress and gay awareness. I don't think a show has ever been more relevant than this is now."
While the producers promise plenty of "Queer's" usual steamy sex scenes, they say the group of gay friends living in Pittsburgh will confront more serious topics when the fourth season begins Sunday at 10pm. Story lines will reflect a new gay environment. For example, Justin (Randy Harrison), a former victim of gay bashing, will join a gay vigilante group. There's also the issue of "bug-chasing" - referring to someone who wants to become HIV-positive because he figures he'll get it anyway.
And there's gay marriage. The producers won't reveal who will be walking down the aisle, but co-executive producer Ron Cowen said, "We'll have a June wedding!" Will it be legal? "The circumstances we're dealing with are realistic and under contemporary circumstances," said Peter Paige, who plays Emmett. "There's no assumption that gay marriage is legal in Pittsburgh. But the ceremony does have legal ramifications." It won't be the first time the groundbreaking series will have touched on same-sex marriage. In the second season, lesbian couple Lindsay (Thea Gill) and Melanie (Michelle Clunie) had a commitment ceremony. "I don't think it made that much of an impression because it hadn't become the issue that it is now," Cowen said. Gay marriage has been legal in Canada, where the show is filmed, since last year and that influenced Cowen and Lipman to make it a story line. The two have been partners for 30 years, and while they support equal rights for gays, they are not interested in getting married.
"Queer As Folk" hasn't been a smash ratings hit, but it has helped pave the way for other shows based on gay life such as
Showtime's "The L Word" and Bravo's "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy." Despite tackling serious topics, "Queer" has been criticized in and
out of the gay community for portraying gays as promiscuous club hoppers who believe problems can be danced away at their favorite nightspot. "Sex is a very big part of gay life," Lipman said, but he and Cowen point to several characters in long-term relationships dealing with everyday situations like raising children and work stress. Cowen is more direct. "We're airing the dirty laundry," he said. "I say if they don't like the reflection, don't blame the mirror."
The entire cast (except for Randy Harrison, but including Mitch Morris, who plays "Cody" in Season 4) attended the "Queer as Folk" Fourth Season Launch Premiere and After Party at the Regent Showcase Theater & Asia de Cuba in West Hollywood on Wednesday night. Visit wireimage.com, filmmagic.com, and dailyceleb.com to see photos.
April 12, 2004
Queer As Fans 2005, the fan convention taking place in Toronto next year, will be supporting the Casey House Hospice as well as youthquest!. Now in its eleventh year, youthquest! is an organization that seeks to provide a safe haven for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered, and questioning youth to meet and explore their identity. Dean Armstrong is proud to be working with youthquest! as an international spokesperson and fundraiser for the organization. Tickets for Queer As Fans 2005 are now available, at a price of $200.00 (Canadian).
Speaking of the Blake-man, Dean's birthday is April 24th. Feel free to stop by the guestbook on his fansite and leave him a message, or send him a birthday email (be aware that all emails will be screened prior to being forwarded to Dean. Please do not send attachments.). Peter Paige had a birthday this weekend too; if you'd like to leave him a message, you can do so at the "Guestbook" link on his website. Peter often leaves messages for fans in the "Connection," and may respond to the wishes there.
Loann Halden, Features Editor for TWN-Television brings us the article, On the right Paige: Meet the actor who brings strength and heart to ‘Queer As Folk’s’ Emmett Honeycutt. Here is an excerpt in which Peter Paige talks about his fellow castmates:
"We as an ensemble are a very interesting group because we’re all very different people. … But as a group, we operate very well because we all sort of compliment each other," says Paige.
- Bobby Gant is incredibly detail oriented. He was a lawyer and he has a real mind for detail and clarity. He’s always the one saying, ‘No, no, no, what about this?’
- Michelle Clunie is a real emotional tigress. To her the vibe of the group is incredibly important and whenever it gets too out of whack, she’s all, ‘Everybody needs to get in a room!’
- Thea Gill is this little angel walking among us. She probably has more of Emmett’s openness than I do. She’s just the most genuine person you’ll ever, ever meet.
- Randy Harrison is pretty much incapable of telling a lie both on camera and off. He’s shy and reserved, but his work is so truthful. I watch him and just think, ‘He will not lie. If he doesn’t believe it, he can’t do it.’ That’s really inspiring.
- Sharon Gless, my god, there’s so much to learn from Sharon, she’s phenomenal. She’s not a mom the way Debbie’s a mom; she’s a mom in the way she has so much more experience than the rest of us. She’s a leader, but she’s also just a light. She’s just a wonderful funny, joyous, irreverent person.
- Gale’s incredible.
- And Scott and I are probably more alike than other people on the show, which is odd because we sort of play two sides of the coin: self-loving, self-loathing. In real life we’re both equal parts of both and we’re both theater trained, and we really demand professionalism." [more]
More updates for Dean-Armstrong.com:
A wonderful interview with Dean Armstrong from the show Daytime Toronto has been added to the media page (under video - interviews). Screencaps from the interview have also been added to the gallery (under the "personal & publicity" album), including some teaser screencaps from the bonus cooking segment from Daytime Toronto on which Dean also appeared (look for this portion of the show to be added to his site in the future). If you've never had an opportunity to see what Dean is like in person, this interview is a must-see. An audio file of Dean and Carla Bianco singing "Symphony For Two," from Carla's musical Kaleidoscope, has also been added to the media page (under "audio - recordings"). Finally, in anticipation of the season premiere of Queer As Folk, several QAF-themed LiveJournal icons and wallpapers have been added to the fansite.
Hal Sparks' offical website is now up and running. Lots to see and do... you can even listen to audio clips of Hal's band, and sign up for the newsletter. There is a photo gallery with some QAF set pictures and other projects of Hal's. He is scheduled to appear on the Sharon Osbourne show tomorrow (Monday, April 12), and his guest spot on the NBC sitcom "Frasier" is repeating on Wednesday, April 14.
Pictures are available online from the Motorola Presents Showtime's "Queer as Folk" Season Four - San Francisco Screening, April 7, 2004 at the Castro Theater and the Clift Hotel, at filmmagic.com and GettyImages.com.
Don't forget to keep an eye on the Party 93.1 radio website for the archive of this weekend's interview with MarkyG and the QAF cast on "Issues Over the Rainbow".
Thanks to the interest from fans, the movie WAKE (featuring Gale Harold) has received a domestic, theatrical release. As reported previously, there will be a limited, exclusive run for this film in both Los Angeles and New York City. Cast members will be attending the screenings in both cities, along with writer/directory Henry LeRoy Finch and Susie Landau Finch. A 'Q&A' will be held in each of the cities the first weekend. Sneak previews will be held in Oklahoma and in San Francisco in late April and early May. Please see the official website for more information.
US magazine gives QAF three stars in its review on page 74 of this week's issue. Entertainment Weekly mentions the Season Premiere on page 74 and features a full page ad on page 66.
Leah Garchik at SFGate.com writes: "Showtime celebrated the season starter of 'Queer as Folk'' and the season ender of 'The L Word'' Wednesday night at the Castro Theatre and afterward at the Clift, in a party co-sponsored by Motorola. Stars of both shows (including Jennifer Beals, Hal Sparks, Gale Harold and Katherine Moennig -- one of them, naughty naughty, smoking in the ladies' room) were there, and all the newly married same-sex couples had been invited. (About 10 percent took up the offer.)"
From RockyMountainNews.com: Teddy bears lend a paw
"A caveful of cute and cuddly brown bears brought in big bucks at the third annual "Bear To Make a Difference" celebrity teddy-bear auction to benefit the Matthew Shepard Foundation. Judy, the foundation's executive director, was thrilled with the success of this year's fete at the Westin Tabor Center, which netted more than $25,000 for the organization. Most of the funds from the sale of celebrity bears will be used to launch the Diversity Education Project, which is intended to help educators convey the concept of respect for everyone." Scott Lowell contributed custom toys that were made and personalized by the actors themselves. Scott donated a stuffed teddy bear [picture]; he wrote a note on the pad in the bear's briefcase, and recorded a special message found in the bears paw. Peter Paige donated a custom plush puppy dog [picture], which also had a message recorded in his paw, and came with an autographed birth certificate.
Two public programs are being held this month to provide information on how to identify suspicious and possibly terrorist activities in neighborhoods and communities. Sharon Gless narrates a feature film on terrorism which will be shown on Tuesday, April 13, at Countryside High School, 2000 State Road 580, St. Petersburg/Clearwater, Florida.
"No Limits: A Look at Queer as Folk and The L Word" takes place Monday, May 24, from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Museum of Television & Radio's New York City branch at 25 West 52nd Street. Here's the write-up from the MT&R website (look under "Seminars"):
Television has played an influential role in bringing greater visibility and mainstream acceptance to the gay and lesbian community. From programs of the 1960s and '70s that touched cautiously on the subject to current prime-time series featuring gay characters in leading roles, the medium has taken great strides with each passing decade. In conjunction with the screening series Not That There's Anything Wrong With That (March 26 to June 27, 2004), featuring key moments in the history of gay and lesbian images on television, the Museum will hold a seminar with a special emphasis on Showtime's groundbreaking programs Queer as Folk and The L Word. In Person: Steven Capsuto (Author, Alternate Channels), Ilene Chaiken (Creator/Executive Producer/Writer, The L Word), Katherine Moennig ("Shane McCutheon", The L Word), Ron Cowen (Executive Producer/Writer, Queer as Folk), Robert Gant, ("Professor Ben Bruckner," Queer as Folk), Robert Greenblatt (President of Entertainment, Showtime Networks Inc.), Daniel Lipman (Executive Producer/Writer, Queer as Folk). Additional panelists to be announced.
From Boston.com News: Nighttime TV awash in quality soaps, by Matthew Gilbert:
"Along with Nip/Tuck and its diva doctors, The Sopranos and Six Feet Under are psych operas. In the less artsy homo-novelas category, which has been championed by Showtime, we find The L Word, which finishes its first season on Sunday, and Queer as Folk, which returns on April 18. Both of these gay-oriented series rely on the soap-opera convention of turning on a family axis, but their featured families are families of friends. On Dallas we had the Ewings, and on The O.C. we have the Cohens; on The L Word and Queer as Folk we have an extended family of choice that exhibits all the dynamic tensions, grudges, and loyalties of blood relations.
The homo-novelas rely on timeworn plot twists of adultery and workplace predicaments, but they're also quite cutting-edge, as their gay and lesbian characters struggle with ordinary human pathologies and issues -- and not with being gay. These shows are not as artfully written as The Sopranos, Six Feet Under, and Nip/Tuck, but they create engaging and elaborate worlds of their own. During its three seasons so far, Queer as Folk has been notably successful in building a family of best friends, ex-lovers, and gay parents with Sharon Gless's Debbie as its fierce matriarch.
April 7, 2004
For an advance look at the VH1 special airing tomorrow, "VH1 Goes Inside: Queer As Folk", I've posted a transcript here.
April 6, 2004
 Get a look at what's coming up on QAF with exclusive video clips at sho.com. Watch the season four teaser, and see a preview of "VH1 Goes Inside QAF" as well. For those outside the USA, as always, you can use the-cloak.com as an anonymous browswer to get in (just click on "start surfing" and enter the URL in the space near the bottom of the page).
The new "La Dolce Musto" column is up at the villagevoice.com, and Michael Musto writes about the QAF premiere party at the Gramercy Park Hotel last week. Interesting tidbits from Randy Harrison, Peter Page, and Robert Gant, as well as some amusing observations by the Musto himself.
April 5, 2004
Sharon Gless' interview with MarkyG on Party 93.1 radio is now available online in the Issues Over the Rainbow archives (click on April 4, 2004 to listen to the archived show in Windows Media Player). I've posted a summary of the Sharon Gless interview and an editorial that MarkyG gave about 'coming out' here. At the beginning of this week's show, MarkyG talks about QAF and the Showtime party that was held last month at the Delano hotel, when the cast joined the IOR crew in the studio and spent the night chatting with them. Sharon's interview begins at about 37 minutes into the show. MarkyG goes on to say that Issues Over the Rainbow is now the official radio show for QAF this season, and April is QAF month at the station. In addition to the cast interviews on April 11th and 18th, Michelle and Thea will be speaking with the "Chick Chat" girls (Scott also joins them on April 25th).
In addition to Sharon's interview, there are two 'commercials' for the Issues Over the Rainbow program in the April 4th show, featuring the cast members. The first is Hal Sparks saying "Who cares if it's early? It's a gay show, get over it!" (this is at about 48:30 into the program). Then, at the end of the show, a few minutes later, the other actors who were there introduce themselves and encourage listeners to tune in to Issues Over the Rainbow each week: "Hi I'm Sharon Gless... Thea Gill... Michelle Clunie... Scott Lowell... Randy Harrison...." with one of the cast (Sharon, I think?) saying, "and you better get your asses up every Sunday!"
According to Dean-Armstrong.com, Dean is back in toronto, where he's been busy doing interviews and publicity for QAF and the Armstrong Acting Studio. He will be appearing in several print and television interviews in the near future, including the Toronto Star, Maclean's magazine, the Toronto TV Guide, and Star TV. He recently appeared on an episode of Daytime Toronto to discuss QAF; the interview will be posted on his official website soon. New headshots of Dean are available in the photo gallery. Such a cutie! ;)
There are a few new photo additions in the gallery at ScottLowell.com.
Rhinoceros Eyes opens at Madstone Theaters across the United States on April 30th. Visit the website to find listings for a theater in your area.
The newest season 4 promo is available on Sandstorm's clip page; click here to download the .zip file now (thanks, Andrea and lexii314).
April 4, 2004
In her column today, Liz Smith writes about the QAF premiere party in New York:
"I don't know any of the boys in the cast, but I do know all the girls," purred Jackie Collins provocatively, as she sauntered into Showtime's big fourth season launch of its edgy, sexy series "Queer as Folk." Prior to Jackie's appearance, the glamour-puss of the night had been the towering drag performer Lady Bunny. But when it comes to old-fashioned, still-potent show-biz glitz, Jackie's in a class by herself. The writer of a gazillion roman a clef bestsellers had the ear of one of the network execs: "I love Showtime! You guys should do a miniseries of my 'Hollywood Kids' book. That way, you'd get in all the really hot stuff."
The good-looking cast of "QAF," plus Jackie, were at the Gramercy Park Hotel's Cobalt Room - Gale Harold, Randy Harrison, Michelle Clunie, Thea Gill, Peter Paige, Scott Lowell, Robert Gant and the fabled Sharon Gless. Sharon has lost weight and looks sensational, much like her original "Cagney & Lacey" self. She told me that after this column wrote that she had bought the rights to Jane Juska's "A Round-Heeled Woman," with hopes to present it onstage, something wonderful happened. Tony-winning producer Anita Waxman ("Bombay Dreams") called, met with Sharon and agreed "in principal" to develop the property for her.
I told Sharon she should insist to the "QAF" producers that she appear in the series as she does in life. The outfits and wig they put on her are, frankly, ridiculous. You can love your gay son and not look as if you're ready for the circus.
Matt Blank, Showtime's chief executive says, "QAF is better, deeper and will tackle real issues ... it's not just about the sex scenes." But the gaggle of giggling teenage girls waiting for on-screen lovers Randy Harrison and Gale Harold in the lobby of the Gramercy don't want issues! They want these guys. (Straight women love this show, as straight men admire the network's lesbian series, "The L Word.") Showtime will have "launch parties" in Atlanta, Chicago, San Francisco and L.A.
April 3, 2004
According to Susan Landau Finch, WAKE will be screened in New York and Los Angeles at the Quad Cinema and at the Regent Showcase, respectively, on May 28th, 2004 (this date is subject to change). There will likely be a sneak preview the last week of April at the San Francisco Art Institute (the same school where Gale studied photography and screen printing in the early 90s). More information on the film is available at the official website, and at Echelon Entertainment (from the left-hand side menu, click on "Catalogue" then "New Films." Use the drop-down menu to select "Drama", then scroll down for WAKE).
Both Thea Gill's website and the Melanie Loves Lindsay sites have been updated. Thea and Michelle will be presenters at Women's Night 2004 in L.A. at the Beverly Hilton Hotel. Women's Night has been widely known as one of the premier events for women in California and the nation. It continues to fulfill the purpose of its founder, Jean O'Leary, by inspiring women to participate in civil rights and social service causes, by showcasing the accomplishments of women leaders, and by offering women a joyous occasion to simply have fun. Visit womensnight.com for details and to purchase tickets.
Pictures are up at filmmagic.com of last night's QAF premiere party in Chicago. Hal Sparks was there, along with reps Betty Uchima and Carol Mechanic from Showtime.
Reports from those who've seen the new opening credits say that they include black and white images, as well as a rainbow flag; there are both moving pictures and still photos on a white background, showcasing the cast members both in pairs and in larger groups, with a final image of Brian (Gale) walking away from the camera.
If you just can't take waiting a couple more weeks until the new season premieres, there are recaps of the first three episodes on the "What Love Means" site, and clips of episode 401 on Andrea's site. Go to town!! ;)
Peter Paige is gearing up to direct and star in the independent film DONUT HOLE based on a script he wrote. In December, Peter posted a message to his official website about this new project, saying, "I'm so excited I could puke." LOL! Kathy Najimy is in negotiations to costar. DONUT HOLE is described as "a satirical comedy centering on a young artist (Paige) who goes on a desperate search to replace his relationship with his godson, who has moved to Japan with his family. He tries a babysitting business, works in a toy store, and spends his free time playing with kids at nearby playgrounds before catching the attention of a neighborhood mom (Najimy) who determines that he is a danger to the community." Shooting is scheduled to start in May in Portland, Oregon. The film is being produced by Full Paige Productions (clever name!) and Archer Productions.
April 2, 2004
New upcoming shows have been listed on Party 93.1. April is QAF month on "Issues Over the Rainbow" (yay!), and here are the dates (subject to change):
Sunday April 4, 2004 - Sharon Gless Interview
Sunday April 11, 2004 - Part 1 of an Exclusive Cast Interview
Sunday April 18, 2004 - Part 2 of an Exclusive Cast Interview
Sunday April 25, 2004 - Scott Lowell, Michelle Clunie and Thea Gill stop by the IOR studios.
You can listen to these interviews online by clicking on the "on air broadcast" link on the left-hand menu at the 93.1 site. Issues Over the Rainbow airs at 8:00am (Eastern) on Sunday mornings.
From the Washington Blade Online:
"It’s Showtime, again: Premium cable’s Showtime rides gay series to the top, just in time for the return of ‘Queer As Folk’ and ‘VH1 Divas.’"
The article talks about how Showtime might be looking to add to its stable of gay programming with a commentary show on gay-themed movies: "The future is unclear for "Movies for Guys Who Like Guys," but QAF is definitely returning on April 18 at 10 p.m., for a fourth season. The show is seriously hyping the impending return, with its stars appearing on the covers of national magazines and just about everywhere else Showtime can land them. They will all be present for 'VH1 Goes Inside Queer As Folk,' a special on the music channel that takes a behind-the-scenes look at the Showtime program and its impact. The VH1 show about QAF premieres on Thursday, April 8, at 11 p.m., and will include conversations with producers, directors, and stars about their personal 'Queer' experiences (probably lots of questions to straight actors about kissing other men). It also will include commentary with television and culture critics about the quality and importance of QAF."
April 1, 2004
Okay, here is the REAL news for today... thanks to those who took my April Fool's joke in stride, and didn't give me any grief, LOL! (If you missed my little prank, it's archived here).
Take a peek at a preview clip from VH1 goes inside QAF which shows how QAF tackles the issue of sex while breaking grounds for homosexuals on TV (airing next week; check the calendar for air times). Critic Sean Smith of Newsweek magazine says, "QUEER AS FOLK is going to go down as a really pivotal moment in television. More than WILL AND GRACE, more than QUEER EYE FOR THE STRAIGHT GUY, more than any of those shows, it has had a huge, huge impact on making straight people see gay people as they are. It continues to run ahead of its time. It still amazes me that they did it! I still can't believe it's on television!"
Showtime's Screening Room has the Season 4 promo "The original comes of age" available for viewing.
Pictures are up at Wireimage, Getty Images, and Filmmagic from last night's premiere party in NYC. Gale, Randy, Sharon, Peter, Scott, Bobby, Michelle, Thea and Dan were there, along with some other famous faces like Kyan Douglas and Ted Allen from Queer Eye for the Straight Guy, and Michael Musto (keep an eye on his Village Voice column for some probable tidbits next week).
If you want to hear more about the QAF media events this past week, check out the Season 4 Premiere Parties thread on Bobby Gant's board. There are a couple of very detailed posts that will make you feel like you were there.
Hal Sparks is on Hollywood Squares this week (which is likely why he wasn't at the event in NY last night). Seems that the website needs to update their bio info, however: This Week's Stars.
We've been hearing about the Babylon Tour for a while now, but this is newly added to the Events page on the Showtime QAF site: Experience the famous Queer As Folk Babylon nightclub first hand! This summer we recreate Babylon in the year 2050 throughout America's hottest nightclubs:
May 2 ~ Chicago ~ Crobar Nightclub
May 7 ~ Indianapolis ~ Talbott Street
May 8 ~ Orlando ~ Firestone
May 9 ~ New York City ~ Avalon
May 15 ~ Philadelphia ~ Pure Nightclub
May 16 ~ Boston ~ Avalon
May 21 ~ Toronto ~ Kool Haus
May 22 ~ Montreal ~ Stereo
May 29 ~ Washington ~ Velvet Nation
May 30 ~ Miami ~ Club Space
June 12 ~ Flagstaff, AZ ~ TBA
June 20 ~ Los Angeles ~ TBA
June 26 ~ Atlanta ~ Blu
June 27 ~ Houston ~ South Beach the Nightclub
July 3 ~ Ft. Lauderdale ~ Coliseum
July 4 ~ Dallas ~ Liquid Theatre
July 9 ~ Vancouver ~ Commodore Ballroom
July 10 ~ San Francisco ~ Mezzanine
(I'll add these dates to the calendar shortly).
|