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There was no doubt in my mind after viewing Queer As Folk for the first time that this show was going to break down barriers and shake things up. I had heard about the recreation of the Russel T. Davies series long before it premiered on Showcase in Canada, and remembered seeing an article about it in US Magazine. When a friend encouraged me to tune in, I did -- mostly out of voyeuristic curiosity -- and was rewarded with an eyeful of Brian and Justin, portrayed brilliantly by Gale Harold and Randy Harrison, respectively. Before I knew it, I found myself caring about all of the characters and their relationships, and anxious to know what would happen next. For me, it became a guilty pleasure to watch Brian be deliciously unapologetic every week, and yet root for him at the same time. Gale brings a quality to his character whereby the audience sees elements of a confident, cocky man as well as those of a scared, vulnerable individual... sometimes within minutes of each other. I was witness to this incredible range once again when Gale took on the role of Josh in the Off-Broadway production of Uncle Bob. One minute his character would be spouting insults with bravado, and the next he'd be shivering like a leaf. At times, he took my breath away, and I was transfixed. As one might expect, the previously unknown actors on Queer As Folk had to deal with a certain level of celebrity, which can be a double-edged sword. Starring on a popular television series no doubt provided them with the opportunity to take on more challenging projects and to work with highly talented people; but at the same time, they risked losing their relative anonymity. This is especially true when one considers how quickly news travels over the Internet. Certainly there is an abundance of information (and misinformation) out there. For those of us who deeply admire our favourite artists' creative talents and naturally want to learn more about them, the search for detailed information online is often unrewarding, particularly if no officially sanctioned Web site exists to provide current and accurate information about the subject in question. Gale Harold does not have an official website, nor does he appear to actively contribute to or endorse any of the unofficial sites I have come across in my Internet travels. The initial goal of the QAF Addiction Web site was to create a venue on the Internet that would be not only a tribute to the show and its achievements, but also a reference point for other fans of Queer As Folk and of Gale Harold. I wanted to create a repository of information that is presented in a fun and light-hearted manner, but that would not be a disservice to the actors themselves. Ironically, some of the most significant contributions to this site have come when I was doing very little searching at all. To my amazement, many generous individuals have actually sought me out, offering their expertise, anecdotes and gems of information, asking nothing in return but that I continue to do what I have been doing all along with QAF Addiction. I would like to thank these individuals for their contributions and express my sincerest appreciation for the support they have shown. I hope that this site provides even a modicum of entertainment for everyone who has paid a visit. While the self-effacing, tall drink of water from Decatur, Georgia may not always enjoy being in the spotlight, I applaud his continued dedication to the craft of acting and as always, anxiously await his next project.
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