Connect with us

ATV Today

Flashback: Queer as Folk

Flashback: Queer as Folk

Verbotene-Liebe-gaykiss-2This month our Flashback strand takes a look at the American version of Queer as Folk.

While originally closely resembling the British series created by Russell T. Davies for Channel 4 the remake quickly developed its own identity – spinning off into a very different direction from its British counterpart as it explored a wide variety of issues. While often dismissed by fans of the British series for being “soapy” and “glamorous” rather than gritty the American series covered issues such as HIV, Cancer, adoption, queer bashing and homophobia across its five year run. Here we remember Queer as Folk (USA) and celebrate its five year run.

In 1999 Russell T. Davies virtually rewrote the rule book in regards as to what was acceptable on television when covering gay storylines. Despite homosexuality being de-criminalised in the UK in the 1960s the topic was still considered highly sensitive and taboo – rarely covered on television in soaps or dramas. While soaps such as Brookside, Emmerdale and EastEnders had featured Lesbian/Gay characters throughout the 1980s/1990s their introduction had always met with press attention.

Indeed when EastEnders introduced a gay storyline in the 1980s it was met with headlines such as “EastBenders” while the lesbian kiss in Brookside in the early 1990s also met with negative reactions. Because of the outspoken nature of the press and elements within the Church soaps and dramas typically took a soft approach towards such headlines – not wishing to offend their audiences.

In 1999 all the changed when Queer as Folk blasted on British screens via Channel Four. It was a drama that primarily revolved around three gay men; Vince (Craig Kelly), Nathan (Charlie Hunnam) and Stuart (Aidan Gillen) in Manchester’s gay district.

The series followed the love lives and sex lives of the three in explicit detail – explicit gay sex scenes on British television, a first. The series, of course, was hugely controversial with widespread pieces on the press attacking it but it was also a ratings success; not just with gay audiences but also heterosexual women.

The series brook a lot of taboos and paved the way for future dramas and soaps to cover gay storylines/gay characters – such as in The Bill, Casualty, Holby City and Hollyoaks. A sequel was commissioned and a spin-off planned but the spin-off never made it passed the storyline stage – Channel Four pulled the plug. But the success of the British series did lead to something else – a remake in America.

Ron Cowen and Daniel Lipman adapted the series for America/Canada for the cable channel Showtime. The basic format of the series remained the same in fact it revolved primarily around three gay men however, some of the details were changed. For example in the British series Nathan is just 15 but in the American version Justin (Randy Harrison) is 17 while Michael (Hal Sparks) is a comic book fan rather than a Doctor Who fan, as in the case of Venice in the British series.

Other changes to the series included the more prominent inclusion of a lesbian couple Mel (Michelle Clunie) and Lindsay (Thea Gill). While the British series had featured a Lesbian couple there were secondary characters rather than central to many of the plots as they were in the American series – and as such had their own storylines.

The first four episodes of the American version closely resemble that of the original series but after that it began to develop its own identity while still drawing inspiration from the original.

The biggest change to come at this point is in the form of Ted (Scott Lowell) who takes drugs and nearly dies as a result. In the original series Phil (Jason Merrells) does die as a result of a drugs overdose. The fact that the storylines changed at this point marks the first big break between the two shows as the American series changed direction and headed off on its own path.

As stated it still was inspired by the British series and the romance between Michael and David (Chris Potter) is similar to the one featured in the original series. Especially as Michael isn’t out at work and a female colleague fancies him until he is forcibly outted by Brian (Gale Harold) at a birthday party.

The relationship between Michael and David is also strained by the constant presence of Briana and Michael’s unresolved feelings for him. The relationship between Brian and Justin also develops differently from the British series – it is made quite clear during the course of the first season that Brian does have feelings for Justin even if he is reluctant to show them. This theme of Brian’s incapability of showing his feelings for Justin is a recurring theme over the five years of the show which is revisited at several points with significant importance.

Other major characters to feature in Queer as Folk include Michael’s overbearing but loving mother Debbie (Sharon Gless), her brother Vic (Jack Wetherall), Justin’s friend Daphne (Makyla Smith) and Justin’s mother Jennifer (Sherry Miller) all of whom have their own individual storylines. Debbie especially becomes an important character being a surrogate mother to all the boys including Justin who she takers under her wing.

When Justin moves out of his home because of his father’s homophobic attack on Brian he moves in with Debbie. When his parents marriage finally breaks down his mother Jennifer becomes more accepting of her son’s sexuality and while initially un-approving of Brian she begins to accept him and even turns to him for support at several points. The first season of Queer as Folk lasted for 22 episodes and by the end of the season Brian and Justin were a couple in all but name while Michael was prepared to move away with David. The events of the season finale though have a devastating affect on both relationships; Justin is viciously queer bashed by fellow student Chris Hobbs while Michael’s relationship with David breaks down completely.

The second series saw Justin attempt to recover from the vicious attack while the perpetrator, Chris, is given a light sentence much to the anger of Justin’s friends. Justin channels his frustration at his slow recovery into developing a new comic book with Michael focusing on two gay superheroes.

A new boyfriend for Michael was introduced in the form of HIV Positive Ben (Robert Gant) while a boyfriend for Debbie was also introduced Carl Hovarth (Peter MacNeill) who is assigned to a murder investigation case when a dead body is found. Also introduced during the second season was Ethan (Fabrizio Flippo) an music student at the same college as Justin. The two have an affair as Justin becomes increasingly frustrated at Brian’s life style and lack of commitment towards him. His relationship with Brian briefly ends when he leaves to be with Ethan but quickly regrets his actions when he discovers Ethan cheating on him.

While the British series had to deal with a negative backlash the American version was lucky enough to escape this perhaps because it was on Showtime – a per to view channel. However, the series was criticised by some within the gay community who felt it played to stereotypes and portrayed gay men as sex obsessed.

This criticism was referred to within the show itself and sent up when a bland soap “Gay as Blazes” is watched by some of characters but criticised by Brian for having no sex. The series also received criticisms from British fans who felt the remake lost the edge of its counter-part and was “glossy” and “soapy” rather than “gritty”. It was also criticised on using sex scenes to pad out episodes. These criticisms though were minor compared to what they could have been and the producers of the series stated the drama was never meant to be an accurate reflection of the gay community but a celebration of it.

While it may have been more soapy and glossy in its approach it never-the-less tackled a wide range of important subjects. From the homophobia experience by Justin (and other characters such as Mel, Ted and Emmett) to gay marriages, adoption, HIV/AIDS and cancer. The queer bashing of Justin in the first season is a truly shocking moment and the consequences of it are re-explored throughout the series.

The homophobia in wider society, such as by politicians and police, is also touched upon especially in the third season. In the fifth season the issue once again it dealt with when a bomb goes off in the gay club Babylon killing several people. The fourth season introduces a HIV gay-teen Hunter (Harris Allan) who caught the disease because he was forced to work as a rent-boy. While Hunter is adopted by Ben and Michael the fact he has HIVS and people’s misconceptions and ignorance regarding it are explored in some detail.

The series was set in Pittsburgh on Liberty Avenue, the gay district there, but was actually filmed in Toronto, Canada. In the final episode of the series the characters of Mel and Lindsay decide to leave Pittsburgh and move to Canada which is considered more tolerant – a reference to the series being produced there.

The first three seasons featured the song “Spunk” as the show’s opening theme but this was dropped for the last two seasons. Instead “Cue the Pulse to Begin” by the Burnside Project was used. The title sequence was also revamped for the final two seasons with the main characters from the series featuring within them. There was some speculation that a sixth season of the drama would be produced due to its success but actor Randy Harrison indicated he wouldn’t have returned for it. The possibility of an additional year was just that and wasn’t developed any further because most of those working on Queer as Folk felt the series had reached its natural conclusion. Fans have held out hope though of a reunion movie or a big-screen film ala Sex and the City but the changes are slim.

In the UK Season One was broadcast on BBC Choice before it was re-branded as BBC Three. The BBC did hold the rights to the second series but following the re-branding and its change in remit, and target audience, the corporation decided not to air it. Seasons Three and Four were shown on E4 in an advertised late night slot. The fifth season  has not been shown on UK television.

However, all five seasons of Queer as Folk have now been released on DVD with the boxsets for One and Two being exclusively released through high-street retailer HMV. All the boxsets are still widely available to buy online or on the high-street.

Continue Reading
Advertisement

More in

To Top