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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.