Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 1, 2000)
46 J“ ** ’ Hacembeí 1.2000 E tm m m m ) SHTIL, MAYN CORAZON b A Yiddish Tango Cabaret! DEC 13 M ITTLEM AN JEWISH COM M UNITY CENTER D EC 14,15,16,17 NORTH STAR BALLROOM E x perien ce the tango and its ric h and s u rp ris in g Je w ish h eritage. in f o 503-936-3482 o r www.tangomeydl.com t i c k e t s c a l l FASTIXX 503-224-8489 for SONG! DRAMA! DANCE! TANGO MEYDL PRODUCTIONS m ■ Art« A Caprial: Cooking for Friends Hang out in the kitchen with Portland's favorite TV chef. Sorry, no spoon licking! OPB It's Where You Belong J Th e fruited plains God bless America’s Queer a but England remains the home of the brave Folk, by J im R a d o s t a ¡he most notable U.K. import to hit the airwaves since Regis Philbin first asked, “Is that your final answer?” last year, the U.S. version of Queer as Folk debuts Dec. 3. Showtime has stretched 1999’s con troversial 5 1/2-hour cult Brit hit into a daring 22-episode series. Once again, those Limeys were way ahead of us. In the United States, for every Will & Grace that’s out there, we’re stuck with a Normal, Ohio. John Goodman’s new Fox sitcom is a particularly insidi ous scourge, for it pretends to be laughing with us, when in actuality it’s laughing AT us— of course, that _____ assumes it’s funny, which it’s not. To give you an idea of how radical Queer as Folk is, think back to what black entertainment was like circa 1975— The Jeffersons era. Now imagine if the networks skipped right over The Cosby Show transition and created a program along the lines of, say, Do the Right Thing. From left: Yanks Hal Sparks, Gale Harold and OK, so Queer as Folk lacks the political Randy Harrison take on roles originated (below) by punch of Spike Lee, hut you get the idea. This Brits Charlie Hunnam, Aidan Gillen and Craig Kelly is edgy, raunchy material. The title comes from the saying “There’s virginal Justin. “Do you like to rim?" naught so queer as folk.” In other words, there’s Still, a strong supporting cast rounds out the nothing as strange as people. ensemble. Sharon Gless of Cagney & Lacey The characters in Queer as Folk aren’t odd fame plays Michael’s beyond-open-minded so much as brutally honest. A wide array of mother, Debbie, who is part PFLAG poster politically incorrect gay faces are on full display parent, part fag hag. here— flamers, players and druggies among “I’ve always said it isn’t who you love, it’s them— with no shame. how you love,” she says. “Genitalia is simply Loser in love Michael (Hal Sparks, a former God’s way of accessorizing.” Talk Soup host) has an unrequited crush on his Her character, however, displays another best friend, Brian (newcomer Gale Harold), a script shortcoming: inconsistent quality. With promiscuous predator pushing 30. Justin (Randy Harrison, one of only two openly gay in the same scene, Debbie is uttering lines cast members) is a high school student who’s seemingly ripped right out of some made-for- television movie. completely new to the scene. Brian has plenty on his mind: He filled the “It’s not a joke, you know,” she says. “Gay turkey haster for Melanie (Michelle Clunie) teens have a very high suicide rate.” and Lindsay (Thea Gill), who just gave birth Giving two of the lead characters an underly to a baby boy, Gus. Can he mend his philan ing romantic subtext— the “blue balls” struc dering ways now that he’s a father? ture— is nothing new. It fueled the chemistry on Meanwhile, Michael is trying to stitch Moonlighting, The X-Files and even Who’s the Boss? together a social life while remaining hidden in But something is missing here. Gale Harold the closet at work. Will he break his love- portrays Brian with such a cold, steely exterior, struck female co-worker’s heart and endanger one wonders why all of his friends put up with his promotion? his shit. Justin has hooked up with Brian, who has “If he’s such a selfish prick, how come no idea he’s jailhait hut wouldn’t give a rat’s ass you’re always following him around?” Justin anyway. When will this kid realize it was noth asks Michael at one point. Good question. ing hut a one-night stand? In the U.K. version, Aidan Gillen was also The premiere episode immediately reveals a selfish prick, but he was able to let down his what was lost and gained in translating the setting guard long enough to prove some humanity from Manchester to Pittsburgh. The production existed underneath. Perhaps comparing the values are slicker; the lesbian subplot is beefier. two programs is unfair, but it’s hard to ignore Executive producers and co-writers Ron the original when it set such a high standard. Cowen and Daniel Lipman remain loyal to the Regardless, even a watered-down U.K. plot but sprinkle U.S. pop culture refer version of Queer as Folk is groundbreaking ences throughout: Tomb Raider, Dirty Dancing, television. j n Dawson’s Creek. At the same time, recognizing how prude Yanks can be, they aged Justin from The U.S. version of Q ueer AS F olk premieres at 15 to a more palatable 17. 10 p.m. Dec. 3 on Showtime. Call 800'883Q744, The words are a bit weak, too. Michael ext. 267, to order the premium channel. introduces us to all of his friends in an awk The U.K. version of Q ueer AS F olk can be ward voice-over that borders on cliché. seen censored on C I TV and can be purchased “Emmett can be a little campy—OK, a lot uncensored at the Internet site campy,” he says. “But you’ve gotta admit it takes www.planetout.com. real guts to be a queen in a world of commoners.” Some of the dialogue comes off like a Copy Editor J im R adosta gave proof through vocabulary lesson for straight viewers. the night that our fag was still there. He can be "Are you a top or a bottom?” Brian asks the reached at jhn@justout.com.
