The cln of gay characters mastream televisn and film has been an ongog procs for the dtry — one that has ma the the current generatn of TV shows some of the most progrsive to date. As such, the goln age of TV is also a…
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- TE DETECTIVE DIRECTOR DEBUNKS A POPULAR NEW SEASON 3 THEORYDANIEL SACKHEIM CLEARS UP A FEW THGS.BY JOANNA ROBSONFEBARY 17, 2019BY WARRICK PAGE / HBOSAVE THIS STORYSAVESAVE THIS STORYSAVEAS WE HEAD TO THE HOMTRETCH OF TE DETECTIVE SEASON 3, DIRECTOR DANIEL SACKHEIM JOS VANY FAIR’S STILL WATCHG PODST TO REFLECT ON THE SEASON’S MANY TWISTS AND TURNS. A VETERAN OF MASSIVE H SHOWS LIKE THE X-FIL, THE WALKG DEAD, AND GAME OF THRON, SACKHEIM TOOK OVER SOME DIRECTG DUTI AFTER JEREMY SLNIER—WHO WAS ORIGALLY SUPPOSED TO HELM THE WHOLE SEASON—LEFT THE PROJECT. ALL TOLD, SACKHEIM DIRECTED FOUR OUT OF THE EIGHT EPISOS, CLUDG THIS WEEK’S EPISO, “THE FAL COUNTRY,” AND NEXT WEEK’S FALE, “NOW AM FOUND.” THE ENTIRETY OF SACKHEIM’S TERVIEW WILL BE AVAILABLE TO DOWNLOAD AFTER EPISO 7 AIRS, BUT ADVANCE OF TONIGHT’S STALLMENT, THE DIRECTOR IS HERE TO CLEAR UP A H BUT ACCURATE THEORY. IN EPISO 6, TE DETECTIVE REVEALED THAT SOT MCNAIRY’S CHARACTER, TOM PURCELL, WAS A CLOSETED HOMOSEXUAL WHO LEANED HARD ON THE CHURCH ORR TO TRY TO STIFLE SIR THAT WOULD HAVE MA LIFE RAL 1980S AND 90S ARKANSAS DIFFICULT. WHAT DO THIS NEW RMATN MEAN ABOUT TOM’S CLOSE RELATNSHIP WH STEPHEN DORFF’S DETECTIVE ROLAND WT? NOT WHAT SOME MAY THK.FANS EAGER TO FD CLU ANY GIVEN RNER OF THE MYSTER HBO SERI WONRED IF ROLAND’S ABILY TO SETTLE DOWN WH POULTRY SCIENTIST LORI (JODI BALFOUR) MEANT THAT HIS STRONG ATTACHMENT TO TOM WAS MORE THAN PLATONIC. THE FACT THAT HIS PARTNER, WAYNE HAYS (MAHERSHALA ALI), IS VOLLY NSERVATIVE, AS WELL AS ROLAND’S FENSIVENS AROUND WILL AND JULIE’S DAD, LED SOME TO NCLU THAT ROLAND WAS HIDG A KEY ASPECT OF HIMSELF OM HIS IEND/FELLOW TECTIVE. “ROLAND WAS NEVER ABLE TO SUCCSFULLY HAVE A LONG-TERM RELATNSHIP WH A WOMAN,” SACKHEIM NCES. “THAT, SENCE, IS THE ROLE THAT TOM FULFILLS. I THK THAT’S HIS LOVE AFFAIR.” BUT SACKHEIM FURTHER EXPLAS THAT THIS DON’T MEAN THE TWO ARE ROMANTILLY LKED.“I FEEL PRETTY FORTABLE SAYG THAT NJECTURE THAT’S OUT THERE DON’T HOLD ANY WATER,” SACKHEIM SAYS. “THEY HAVE A CLOSE RELATNSHIP AND THAT NTU TO PLAY OUT FOR THE RT OF THE SEASON. NOT ANY WAY IS A ROMANTIC RELATNSHIP.” SERI CREATOR NIC PIZZOLATTO RROBORATED SACKHEIM’S MENTS AN INSTAGRAM POST OVER THE WEEKEND, RPONDG WH A SIMPLE “NO” TO A MENT READG: “ROLAND’S GAY !!!” IN THE SAME POST, PIZZOLATTO ALSO CLEARED UP ANY QUTNS AROUND THE SEXUALY OF HARRIS JAM (STT SHEPHERD), WHO LEERGLY PLIMENTED WAYNE ON HIS BODY EPISO 6: “HARRIS IS NOT GAY. HE WAS MSG WH WAYNE (EFFECTIVELY) BEE WAYNE WAS MSG WH HIM.”AS STILL WATCHG -HOST RICHARD LAWSON POTED OUT ON THE PODST LAST WEEK, SEXUALY AS “PLOT TWIST” IS NOT EXACTLY A GOOD LOOK FOR A TV SERI 2019, SO WE’RE RELIEVED TO REPORT THAT TE DETECTIVE ISN’T PEPPERED WH SECRET GAY CHARACTERS. BUT SACKHEIM POTS OUT THAT TOM AND ROLAND’S NNECTN IS STILL CREDIBLY IMPORTANT. “THAT NNECTN TO TOM IS A PORT BY WHICH WE VIEW ROLAND’S HUMANY,” HE EXPLAS. “IT’S NOT SOMETHG WE GET A CHANCE TO SEE A LOT. [ROLAND’S] A CYNIL GUY BY NATURE. AS THE STORY PROGRS, HE BE MORE AND MORE CYNIL.”WE’LL SEE ROLAND’S CYNICISM POTENTIALLY REACH A BOILG POT THE FAL TWO EPISOS OF TE DETECTIVE. TUNE TO STILL WATCHG: TE DETECTIVE” AFTER EPISO 7 FOR MORE DISCSN OF THE EPISO AND SIGHTS OM SACKHEIM ON WHAT TO EXPECT OM THE FALE.MOST POPULARVANY FAIR’S “IT’S RAG TEENS” COVER AT 20: WHERE ARE THEY NOW?BY SAVANNAH WALSHJSI CHASTA BET ON HERSELF. NOW SHE’S READY FOR THE BIGGER FIGHTBY DAVID CANFIELDZENDAYA PAYS TRIBUTE TO “BROTHER” ANG CLOUD: “I’LL CHERISH EVERY MOMENT”BY SAVANNAH WALSHJOANNA ROBSON
- 7 HBO TV SHOWS THAT FEATURE PROMENT GAY CHARACTERS
- CAN TAYLOR KSCH'S CHARACTER 'TE DETECTIVE' PLEASE NOT BE A SELF-HATG GAY STEREOTYPE?
- TE DETECTIVE: FAR OM BEG GAY, ’S REMARKABLE JT HOW MANY FICTNAL LGBT CHARACTERS ARE MISERABLE
- 'TE DETECTIVE' REP: GAY CLUBS, GOLD GRILLZ AND E-CIGARETT
- TAYLOR KSCH ON ‘TE DETECTIVE,’ MCCONGHEY’S WORDS OF WISDOM, AND PL’S BIG SECRETDEEP COVERTHE STAR OF THE HBO POTBOILER OPENS UP ABOUT HIS MYSTER VIAGRA-POPPG CHARACTER, HOW HE GOT ST ON THE SHOW, AND HIS BROMANCE WH CREATOR NIC PIZZOLATTO. MARLOW STERNUPDATED JUL. 12, 2017 4:25PM EDT / PUBLISHED JUN. 29, 2015 1:05AM EDT HBONOT LONG AFTER PLAYG THE CLOSETED LAWYER/GAY RIGHTS CSAR BCE NIL HBO’S THE NORMAL HEART, TAYLOR KSCH LEARNED THAT HE’D LAND THE ROLE OF PL WOODGH, A TROUBLED MOTORCYCLE P FOR THE CALIFORNIA HIGHWAY PATROL, ON THE SEND SEASON OF TE DETECTIVE. HE WAS SUCH A BIG FAN OF THE SHOW—AND S CREATOR NIC PIZZOLATTO—THAT HE PUT HIS REER ON HOLD FOR ALMOST A YEAR TO WA UNTIL FILMG BEGAN.“I WANTED TO BE A PART OF TE DETECTIVE WHATEVER MANNER POSSIBLE,” KSCH TELLS THE DAILY BEAST. “LUCKILY, NIC HAD A GUY PL WHO WAS SUCH A RICH CHARACTER TO DIVE TO, WHICH IS SUCH A TREAT AS AN ACTOR.”DURG THE FIRST FEW EPISOS OF TE DETECTIVE, WE’RE GRANTED GLIMPS TO WOODGH’S MYSTER PAST. HE HAS SRS ACROSS HALF HIS BODY, PRUMABLY OM HIS TIME OVERSEAS WORKG FOR A SHADY BLACKWATER-LIKE OUTF DUBBED BLACK MOUNTA SECURY; HE NEEDS TO POP VIAGRA TO HAVE SEX WH HIS GIRLIEND AND LOOKS PAED WHEN SHE PERFORMS ORAL ON HIM; AND HE’S SUICIDAL.IN EPISO 2, WE LEARN THAT WOODGH HAS A PENCHANT FOR OVERPENSATN. “OH, AND THIS ONE FAG, AT THE BANK? TRIED HT’ ON ME. ALMOST CLOCKED THE GUY,” HE TELLS A FELLOW P. THE P, PERPLEXED, RPONDS WH, “WHY?” AND WOODGH HAS NOTHG TO SAY. LATER, HE BREAKS UP WH HIS GIRLIEND, EXCLAIMG, “FUCK OFF! WHO THE FUCK AM I SUPPOSED TO BE? THERE’S NOTHG WRONG WH ME,” AND THEN HEADS TO HIS L.A. APARTMENT, WHERE HE STAR LONGGLY AT A GAY HTLER OM HIS BALNY. NEEDLS TO SAY, WE HAD A LOT OF QUTNS FOR KSCH—WHOM YOU MAY REGNIZE AS RIGGS OM FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS AND MURPH OM LONE SURVIVOR—AND HE DID HIS BT TO TRY TO ANSWER THEM.HOW WERE YOU ST ON TE DETECTIVE? IT’S SO SECRETIVE. I’M PICTURG A LTLE PERSON MEETG YOU AT THE TOP OF A HILL OVERLOOKG L.A. WH A BRIEFSE NTAG A SCRIPT.[LGHS] NIC LIV OJAI, AND I FLEW TO L.A. OM AT AND THEN DROVE UP THERE ABOUT AN HOUR AND A HALF AND MET NIC AT A DIVE BAR OUT THERE. THIS WAS EIGHT-PL MONTHS BEFORE WE EVEN H MERA. I GUS I WAS ONE OF A FEW GUYS HE WAS TERTED , AND WE LEREALLY SAT THERE FOR EIGHT HOURS TALKG. WE SPOKE ABOUT TE DETECTIVE FOR MAYBE A TENTH OF . HE’S BEE ONE OF MY CLOST IENDS.WHO WERE YOU UP AGAST FOR THE ROLE? I DON’T EVEN WANT TO KNOW. BUT HE’S BEEN MY RNER EVER SCE THAT MEETG.YOU AND NIC A DIVE BAR FOR EIGHT HOURS SOUNDS LIKE PLENTY OF DRKG HAPPENED. IT’S BASILLY AN EPISO OF TE DETECTIVE. WE MAY HAVE THROWN A UPLE BACK. WE HAD FOOD, THEN EVEN ORRED DNER LATER. I HAD ONE OF MY BT MAT E UP WH ME TO JT SEE OJAI, AND I SAID, “YEAH, ’S GOG TO BE A 45-MUTE MEETG.” IT ME DOWN TO THE FOURTH HOUR AND I LLED HIM AND JT SAID, “HEY, MAN, YOU MIGHT WANT TO JT E AND HAVE A UPLE WH .” WE END UP LEAVG JT BEFORE MIDNIGHT. IT WAS A GOOD TIME. WE TEND TO DO THAT, NIC AND I. HE HAD JT DONE A B OF PRS L.A., AND I MISSED ONE OF MY BT IENDS’ BIRTHDAYS BEE WE WERE HUNKERED DOWN THE HOTEL BAR OM 2 TO MIDNIGHT.ARE WE TALKG WHISKEY HERE, OR WHAT’S THE DRK OF CHOICE? I HAD TO DRK LIGHT BEE IF I’M DRKG WHISKEY FOR EIGHT OR 10 HOURS I’LL BE THAT GUY, YOU KNOW? I THK WAS VODKA.YOU LIVE AT, AND [SEASON 1 STAR MATTHEW] MCCONGHEY IS A TEXAS BOY AND THERE PRETTY OFTEN. DID HE GIVE YOU ANY ADVICE?IT’S SO FUNNY. I’D NEVER TALKED TO HIM UNTIL WE SAT NEXT TO ONE ANOTHER BY CHANCE ON A FLIGHT OM AT TO NEW YORK. WE TALKED THE ENTIRE THREE-AND-A-QUARTER HOURS. I DON’T THK THERE WAS ANY ADVICE. HE JT DISCSED HIS EXPERIENCE AND HOW MUCH HE ENJOYED WORKG WH PIZZOLATTO. HE WAS TERTED TO SEE WHAT I WAS GOG TO DO, AND HE SAID HE’D STOP BY THE SET—WHICH HE DID, WHICH WAS AWOME. WE WERE JT PICKG EACH OTHER’S BRAS AND DISCSG WHAT HE HAD G UP. THE GUY’S JT DOG AMAZG WORK. YOUR CHARACTER, PL, IS SUCH AN ENIGMA.IT’S REALLY A CRED TO NIC. IN THE FIRST EPISO, HOPEFULLY I GAVE YOU A TASTE OF WHAT THIS GUY IS, AND THE BETY OF THIS EIGHT HOURS IS WE N REALLY LET HIS STORY UNFOLD NATURALLY. IT’S GREAT BEE THE WRG IS SO GOOD THAT CHALLENG YOU ON HOW EPLY YOU WANT TO GO AS AN ACTOR. WAS THAT TROUBLED STARLET WH THE ANKLE BRACELET SUPPOSED TO BE LDSAY LOHAN WHO YOU PULL OVER THE PREMIERE EPISO?I MEAN, I GUS, YEAH. [LGHS] IT’S SOMETHG THAT PL WOULDN’T BE IMPRSED BY AT ALL. IT’S THE FIRST TIME YOU MEET HIM, SO HE’S PLUGGED AND WORKG.HE HAS A VERY PLITED RELATNSHIP WH HIS GIRLIEND. THERE’S THE FIRST SEQUENCE WHERE HE HOME AND SHE’S READY TO GO, AND HE HAS TO GO TO THE BATHROOM. HE IS POPPG VIAGRA ORR TO GET WORKED UP ENOUGH TO HAVE SEX, RIGHT?YEAH.EVERY CHARACTER ON THIS SHOW IS MASKG SOME MONS, BUT SEEMS LIKE PL HAS MORE THAN PERHAPS ANYONE ELSE. AND HE’S GONE TO VERY LONG LENGTHS TO PASS AS A STRAIGHT GUY.RIGHT. I THK THAT’S SOMETHG THAT’S JT HIMSELF. WHO WE ARE OM OUR PAST—OUR UPBRGG (OR LACK THEREOF), AND FATHERHOOD, AND WHAT IS TO BE A MAN. WH PL, YOU REALLY DO SEE HOW MUCH SHAME HE RRI, AND SLOWLY UNFOLDS THROUGHOUT. I WILL SAY THAT EPISOS 4 AND 5, YOU REALLY SEE THIS GUY FALL. AND THE EPER WE GET TO THE SEASON, THE MORE SPERATE PL GETS FOR HAVG TO HOLD THAT SECRET AND HI WHO HE REALLY IS. IT’S PRETTY FUCKG TRAGIC TO NOT BE ABLE TO BE EE, OR TO HOLD SHAME ABOUT SOMETHG LIKE THAT.HE HAS SRS ALONG THE LEFT SI OF HIS BODY WHICH WE’RE LED TO BELIEVE ARE ASSOCIATED WH HIS TIME OVERSEAS A BLACKWATER-LIKE OUTF LLED BLACK MOUNTA SECURY.RIGHT. SOME OF THEM ARE. THE SRS OM HIS HIP UP TO HIS SHOULR ARE SHRAPNEL SRS. THERE’S ALSO A STRANGE RELATNSHIP BETWEEN PL AND HIS MOTHER THAT WE SEE EPISO 2. SHE’S VERY TOUCHY-FEELY, AND JT PLAYS AS APPROPRIATE AND STRAED.WE SEE BEATS WH MY MOM OF WHERE PL HAS E OM, AND WHERE THE WOUNDS STARTED. IT’S PRETTY DIABOLIL, MAN—LIVG AND GROWG UP WH A WOMAN A ONE-BEDROOM TRAILER WHO WAS A DANCER VEGAS. THERE’S A SCENE EPISO 5 THAT PLETELY UNWDS EVERYTHG, CLUDG HIS ENTIRE RELATNSHIP WH HIS MOM. HE’S LIKE A 10-YEAR-OLD KID THAT SCENE, THOUGH, IF YOU THK ABOUT . IT’S A BETIFUL THG WHEN YOU SEE WHAT HAPPENS WHEN HE GO BACK TO HIS MOM AND TRI TO TELL HER CERTA THGS, AND HER REACTN IS BASILLY WHAT HE’S BEEN ALG WH FOR THE PAST 30 YEARS.SEASON 2 OF TE DETECTIVE DID SEEM LIKE A RPONSE TO THE CRICISMS OF SEASON 1 THAT FEATUR A BADASS WOMAN THE LEAD, AND ALL OF THE MEN HAVE SER SEXUAL HANG-UPS AND ARE ALSO PRETTY EMASCULATED.I DIDN’T GET THAT. SPEAKG FOR WOODGH, I THK THIS GUY IS PABLE OF BEG CREDIBLY MASCULE AND IS ALWAYS ON EDGE, BUT I THK THE CHARACTERS ARE JT SO DIFFERENT, AND ’S DOWN TO THE BETY OF HIS WRG. WH SEASON 1, HAD S OWN ENERGY WH THOSE TWO GUYS AND THEY DID AMAZG WORK, AND HOPEFULLY THEY’RE SEEG THE WORK WE’RE DOG A DIFFERENT LIGHT. WE’RE OUR OWN ENTI.DID YOU BOND WH YOUR FELLOW CANADIAN RACHEL MCADAMS ON SET?YEAH, WE DID. SHE’S RAD. PL’S SORT OF DOG HIS OWN THG ON THE SE, AND I WISH I’D SHARED MORE SCEN WH HER, AND WH COL. JT ONE-ON-ONE WOULD’VE BEEN GREAT. THERE ARE SOME FUN DRIVG SCEN I HAVE WH RACH, BUT WHEN WOODGH IS WORKG, HE’S PRETTY SOLARY. THERE’S A SCENE EPISO 4 WHERE PL JT MELTS DOWN ONT OF FARRELL’S CHARACTER, AND I ME OUT OF THAT WISHG WE HAD MORE SCEN LIKE THAT BETWEEN THE CHARACTERS BEE THEY’RE BOTH SO FUCKED UP AND ULD SEEK HELP WH ONE ANOTHER. THERE’S A RELATABILY FACTOR THERE THAT’S REALLY FUCK’ TENSE.ARE THE MORS THE NEWS ABOUT TENSN BETWEEN YOU AND VCE VGHN ON SET TE?REMEMBER WHEN I SAID NIC AND I WERE DRKG THAT HOTEL BAR? I SAW VCE THAT DAY WHILE WE WERE DOG PRS L.A., AND ULDN’T BE MORE UNTE. ALL VCE AND I DO IS LGH WHEN WE HANG OUT—QUE LERALLY, WE JT LGH. I THK SOMEONE’S JT TRYG TO GRAB STRAWS OR HEADL BEE THERE AREN’T ANY FUCKED UP, NEGATIVE STORI ABOUT THE MAKG OF THIS SHOW. VCE AND I ACTUALLY HAD A GOOD LGH OVER HOW MUCH HORSH THAT IS. MARLOW STERN
- MARLOW STERNUPDATED JUL. 12, 2017 4:30PM EDT / PUBLISHED JUL. 06, 2015 12:09AM EDT HBOTAYLOR KSCH. FOR WOMEN—AND MEN—OF A CERTA AGE, THE NAME NJUR UP AN IMAGE OF A BROODG FOOTBALL STUD, HIS LONG, GREASY LOCKS OBSCURG GOALPOST-HIGH CHEEKBON AND PERATG EY. Y, KSCH’S TIM RIGGS ON FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS REMAS ONE OF THE MOST SWOON-WORTHY TV CHARACTERS RECENT MEMORY. AND, FOLLOWG A FILM REER FILLED WH HS (LONE SURVIVOR) AND MISS (JOHN CARTER), THE CANADIAN EX-MOL, WHO ONCE GAVE A WHOLE NEW MEANG TO DERELICTE WHEN HE SPENT SEVERAL WEEKS HOMELS NEW YORK, HAS RETURNED TO THE SMALL SCREEN AS ONE OF THE TORTURED PS ON NIC PIZZOLATTO’S TE DETECTIVE.AND KSCH’S HIGHWAY PATROLMAN PL WOODGH MIGHT BE THE MOST TORTURED CHARACTER THE HBO POTBOILER’S SEND SEASON (WHICH IS REALLY SAYG SOMETHG). HALF HIS BODY IS SRRED OM HIS EXPERIENCE OVERSEAS A BLACKWATER-LIKE OPERATN LLED BLACK MOUNTA; HE NEEDS TO POP VIAGRA TO HAVE SEX WH HIS RANDY GIRLIEND; AND HIS TRAILER-TRASH MOTHER IS TOUCHY-FEELY A CREEPY WAY.LAST EPISO, WOODGH BROKE UP WH HIS GIRLIEND A F OF RAGE—“THIS IS ON YOU,” HE CLAIMED—BEFORE HEADG TO HIS BACHELOR PAD DOWNTOWN L.A., WHERE HE GAZED LONGGLY AT A GAY PROSTUTE OM HIS BALNY. IN EPISO 3, ’S REVEALED THAT ALL THIS ODD SEXUAL BEHAVR IS A ONT FOR WOODGH’S BEG EP THE CLOSET, AS HE’S NONTED BY AN EX-ARY PAL AND FORMER LOVER.“I THK ABOUT YOU, MAN…WHAT IF I DON’T WANT TO FET, HUH?” THE EX-LOVER SAYS. WOODGH TELLS HIM TO CHILL OUT, THEN SNAPS, THROWG HIM ON THE GROUND, AND YELLG, “FUCK YOU, ASSHOLE!” WHEN THE MAN TRI TO TELL THE REPRSED P ABOUT HIS FEELGS. WOODGH IS LATER LED THROUGH THE PROSTUTE UNRWORLD BY A GAY HTLER WHO—LIKE WOODGH—POPPED VIAGRA TO HAVE SEX WH WOMEN, ONLY HIS SEXY TIM WERE FOR THE ENTERTAMENT OF THE MURRED CY MANAGER OF VCI, BEN CASPER. THE DAILY BEAST SPOKE TO KSCH ABOUT WOODGH’S REVEAL, WHY HE LASH OUT, AND MUCH MORE.DID YOU SEE PARALLELS BETWEEN WOODGH AND YOUR CHARACTER BCE NIL THE NORMAL HEART, ANOTHER GAY MAN WHO HAD TO HI WHO HE WAS BY DAY?TOTALLY, MAN. THERE’S A THROUGH LE THAT SENSE OF NOT BEG ABLE TO BE THE GUY THAT HE IS, WHAT THAT MEANS TO HIM, AND HOW EP THAT NS. IT GO BACK TO THE SPERATN, AND HOW TRAGIC THAT IS. WHEN WE REALLY SEE HOW SPERATE THIS GUY IS, ’S HEARTBREAKG. IT’S SO SAD. GOD KNOWS HOW MUCH FUCKG ENERGY TAK TO HI BEHD ALL THAT. THIS SE IS REALLY A BACKDROP FOR EXPOSG WHO THE GUYS REALLY ARE. WHAT’S SO ENTHRALLG IS THE WDG UP AND WDG DOWN OF WHO THE GUYS REALLY ARE, AND EXPOSG THAT.WHY DO YOU THK PL LASH OUT SO VLENTLY AGAST HIS EX-ARY BUDDY/LOVER?I THK WHEN YOU’RE LIVG WH SOMETHG SO LONG, AND NS THAT EP WHERE FEELS THAT’S WHAT’S WH HIMSELF, THEN REALLY WOULD BE THE END OF HIM. THERE IS NO REAL ANSWER TO WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF [’S REVEALED], AND I THK THAT SHAME IS SO STRONG WH HIMSELF THAT IF HE DO ANSWER TO , THEN ’S, “OK, NOW WHAT? WHAT THE FUCK AM I GOG TO DO NOW?” I WILL SAY THAT SOME OF MY BT WORK MY REER IS EPISOS 4 AND 5—THE REPERCSNS OF HIM ANSWERG TO THAT LL WH HIMSELF. YOU’LL SEE THE HEARTBREAK AND THE WEIGHT THAT HE RRI, AND WHAT HAPPENS IF HE DO ANSWER TO THAT.THERE ARE PARALLELS BETWEEN WOODGH AND THE GAY PROSTUTE HE SPEAKS WH AT THE CLUB, SCE THEY BOTH NEED TO POP VIAGRA TO HAVE SEX WH WOMEN. AND JT PRR TO THAT, WE SEE WOODGH LOCK EY WH VCE VGHN’S CHARACTER THE CLUB AND GIVE A KNOWG LOOK. DO THE SIGNS POT TO WOODGH BEG AN EX-HTLER?NO, I THK ’S STORYTELLG EXPOSG HIS NEEDS AND WANTS A CERTA WAY. EVEN PUTTG HIM SUATNS—ALBE “WORKG” ON—BUT HE’S BEG EXPOSED THROUGH THE BEATS. THERE’S SOMETHG THAT HE’S VTIGATG—NO PUN TEND—WH HIMSELF. IT’S THAT “WHAT IF?” AND ’S RIGHT ONT OF HIM. I THK PL SE THIS HTLER AND HE THKS, “WELL, IF I BRG THIS GUY WH ME THEN I’M GOG ONE STEP CLOSER TO THE PATH,” AND THAT’S WHAT HAPPENS. BUT PL DO E TO A PLACE THE ROAD WHERE HE DO REACT TO THAT LONGG FOR , AND THE BETY OF THAT AS AN ACTOR IS THE REPERCSN OF THAT CISN. WERE YOU AT ALL APPREHENSIVE ABOUT PLAYG THIS CHARACTER? IT’S A POTENTIALLY PROBLEMATIC ROLE IF NOT HANDLED RRECTLY—A CLOSETED GAY MAN WHO LASH OUT VLENTLY AGAST THOSE WHO SEEK TO EXPOSE HIS SECRET.I DON’T KNOW IF I EVEN THOUGHT ABOUT THAT WAY. OBVLY YOU’RE SRED ABOUT GOG TO THE EPT PARTS OF THE GUYS, BUT I GET MORE OF A HIGH OM THAT—OF TRYG TO SEE IF I N PULL OFF AND SEE HOW EP I N GO. I THK THAT’S SUCH A TRIBUTE TO THE WRG, HOW EP PL IS. EVERY ACTOR IS ALWAYS LOOKG FOR THE GUYS TO PLAY. I DON’T KNOW. I FUCKG LOVED PLAYG THIS GUY. IT SORT OF FUCKED ME UP TO E OUT OF , BUT ’S SO FULFILLG, AS WELL, WHEN YOU FEEL YOU’RE DOG YOUR BT WORK.HOW LONG DID FUCK YOU UP? JT A FEW WEEKS. I’M NSC OF WHEN I AM , BUT WHAT’S TOUGH IS YOU’RE LIVG THIS BUBBLE AND THIS EP, PRSG STATE. THIS GUY’S BEEN THROUGH SO MUCH, AND SOME NIGHTS YOU N’T HELP BUT TAKE HOME WH YOU. I’VE GOTTA ASK: IN EPISO 3, IS THAT SUPPOSED TO BE CARY FUNAGA—THE DIRECTOR WH THE PONYTAIL ON THE FILM SET?OH, NO WAY, I HAVEN’T SEEN ANY OF THAT YET!THE FIRST TIME A LOT OF PEOPLE SAW YOU—WH, PERHAPS, THE EXCEPTN OF YOUR AWOME SNAKE FATALY SNAK ON A PLANE—WAS ON FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS. THERE IS STILL THIS MAJOR CULT OF FNL WORSHIP.I MEAN, I’M WALKG AROUND THE STREETS OF NEW YORK AND A BUNCH OF PEOPLE ME UP TO ME TODAY. PEOPLE WILL SAY HOW MUCH THEY LOVE THE SHOW, AND HOW THEY LIKE RIGGS, AND KYLE CHANDLER, AND ALL THAT. IT FEELS LIKE FOREVER AGO, PERSONALLY, BUT ’S ALWAYS FLATTERG NOHELS.JOHN CACK ONCE SAID THAT WHEN PEOPLE DATE HIM, THEY EXPECT LLOYD DOBLER, DO YOU EVER N TO PROBLEMS WHERE WHEN PEOPLE DATE YOU, THEY EXPECT BROODG RIGGS AND GET SG KSCH?I THK WHEN YOU’RE A BAR OR SOMETHG—WHEN I’M AT A BAR AT, GUYS WILL E UP. THE BETY OF RIGGS, TOO, IS ’S GUYS AND GIRLS, SO ’S THE ULTIMATE FLATTERY. THERE WAS A GUY AT THE GYM L.A. AND MY HAIR IS REALLY SHORT NOW. HE HAD THIS LONG HAIR AND HE SAID, “DU, I FUCKG GREW MY HAIR FOR YOU.” AND I WAS LIKE, “UHHHH…WHAT?” AND HE SAID, “OH…UH…I MEAN I GREW BEE RIGGS HAD LONG HAIR, AND HE WAS GETTG LAID ALL THE TIME.” AND I WAS LIKE, “HOW’S THAT GOG FOR YA?” AND HE SAID, “YOU KNOW, I THK FUCK’ WORKS!” I THOUGHT THAT WAS PRETTY FUNNY. HAVE YOU EVER GOTTEN NFED WH TOM BRADY? YOU GUYS KD OF LOOK ALIKE WH THE SHORT HAIR.MAYBE ONCE OR TWICE! BUT NOT A LOT.THEY RECENTLY ANNOUNCED THE NEW GAMB FILM WH CHANNG TATUM PLAYG THE CAJUN SUPERHERO. YOU, OF URSE, ORIGATED THE CHARACTER X-MEN ORIGS: WOLVERE. DID YOU GET A CRACK AT THE PART BEFORE THEY ST CHANNG?UM…NO, I DIDN’T HAVE A GO. EVER SCE WE FISHED THE MOVIE, ’S NEVER REALLY BEEN AN OPTN. BUT NO, I WISH [CHANNG] NOTHG BUT THE BT. IT WAS A FUN CHARACTER TO PLAY, AND I LEARNED A LOT WORKG WH HUGH [JACKMAN] AND HAD AN AMAZG TIME ATRALIA. I’M SURE THEY’RE DOG THEIR OWN THG WH , AND I’M SURE CHANNG WILL BE GREAT.WHAT ELSE DO YOU HAVE G UP AFTER TE DETECTIVE?WE’RE JT KD OF TAKG A BEAT. I WAED A FULL YEAR FOR TE DETECTIVE TO BE GREEN-L, AND I HAVE NO PROBLEM WAG FOR THAT NEXT ONE. WE LOVE THE TRACK THAT WE’RE ON, AND ’S ALL ABOUT WAG OUT FOR THAT NEXT GIG THAT YOU JT HAVE TO DO. IT’S BEEN FLATTERG WH A LOT OF GOOD MATERIAL G OUR WAY. DID YOU BEE MORE PATIENT WH YOUR CHOIC OF ROL AFTER JOHN CARTER AND BATTLHIP?A LOT OF THOSE WERE NO-BRAERS TO ME, TOO—ALL THE FIGHTS THAT ME AND [ANDREW] STANTON HAD TO TRY AND GET JOHN CARTER MA. AND PETE BERG, TOO. I WAS TALKG TO PETE LERALLY A UPLE OF HOURS AGO AND WE’RE LOOKG TO DO SOMETHG TOGETHER SOONER RATHER THAN LATER. WE HAD SUCH AN AMAZG TIME ON BATTLHIP AND LONE SURVIVOR, AND THE SHORTHAND ME AND PETE HAVE AND THE RELATNSHIP WE HAVE OFF-MERA IS REALLY GOOD. IT WAS A STRG OF REALLY GOOD OPPORTUNI THAT WERE NO-BRAERS. AND SAVAG, TOO. I WOULD DO ALL OF THOSE ALL OVER AGA. IN THE SENSE OF PATIENCE, THE GAME IS A LOT DIFFERENT NOW THAN WAS EVEN FOUR YEARS AGO. A LOT OF THE GOOD MATERIAL IS GOG TO BLE SHOWS, AND THE LAST TWO YEARS I’VE BEEN WORKG WH HBO. IT’S ABOUT TRYG TO FD THAT GOOD MATERIAL, AND A LOT OF TIM ’S NOT BEG MA TO FILMS. THE GAME HAS FELY CHANGED. MARLOW STERN
TE DETECTIVE DIRECTOR DEBUNKS A POPULAR NEW SEASON 3 THEORYDANIEL SACKHEIM CLEARS UP A FEW THGS.BY JOANNA ROBSONFEBARY 17, 2019BY WARRICK PAGE / HBOSAVE THIS STORYSAVESAVE THIS STORYSAVEAS WE HEAD TO THE HOMTRETCH OF TE DETECTIVE SEASON 3, DIRECTOR DANIEL SACKHEIM JOS VANY FAIR’S STILL WATCHG PODST TO REFLECT ON THE SEASON’S MANY TWISTS AND TURNS. A VETERAN OF MASSIVE H SHOWS LIKE THE X-FIL, THE WALKG DEAD, AND GAME OF THRON, SACKHEIM TOOK OVER SOME DIRECTG DUTI AFTER JEREMY SLNIER—WHO WAS ORIGALLY SUPPOSED TO HELM THE WHOLE SEASON—LEFT THE PROJECT. ALL TOLD, SACKHEIM DIRECTED FOUR OUT OF THE EIGHT EPISOS, CLUDG THIS WEEK’S EPISO, “THE FAL COUNTRY,” AND NEXT WEEK’S FALE, “NOW AM FOUND.” THE ENTIRETY OF SACKHEIM’S TERVIEW WILL BE AVAILABLE TO DOWNLOAD AFTER EPISO 7 AIRS, BUT ADVANCE OF TONIGHT’S STALLMENT, THE DIRECTOR IS HERE TO CLEAR UP A H BUT ACCURATE THEORY. IN EPISO 6, TE DETECTIVE REVEALED THAT SOT MCNAIRY’S CHARACTER, TOM PURCELL, WAS A CLOSETED HOMOSEXUAL WHO LEANED HARD ON THE CHURCH ORR TO TRY TO STIFLE SIR THAT WOULD HAVE MA LIFE RAL 1980S AND 90S ARKANSAS DIFFICULT. WHAT DO THIS NEW RMATN MEAN ABOUT TOM’S CLOSE RELATNSHIP WH STEPHEN DORFF’S DETECTIVE ROLAND WT? NOT WHAT SOME MAY THK.FANS EAGER TO FD CLU ANY GIVEN RNER OF THE MYSTER HBO SERI WONRED IF ROLAND’S ABILY TO SETTLE DOWN WH POULTRY SCIENTIST LORI (JODI BALFOUR) MEANT THAT HIS STRONG ATTACHMENT TO TOM WAS MORE THAN PLATONIC. THE FACT THAT HIS PARTNER, WAYNE HAYS (MAHERSHALA ALI), IS VOLLY NSERVATIVE, AS WELL AS ROLAND’S FENSIVENS AROUND WILL AND JULIE’S DAD, LED SOME TO NCLU THAT ROLAND WAS HIDG A KEY ASPECT OF HIMSELF OM HIS IEND/FELLOW TECTIVE. “ROLAND WAS NEVER ABLE TO SUCCSFULLY HAVE A LONG-TERM RELATNSHIP WH A WOMAN,” SACKHEIM NCES. “THAT, SENCE, IS THE ROLE THAT TOM FULFILLS. I THK THAT’S HIS LOVE AFFAIR.” BUT SACKHEIM FURTHER EXPLAS THAT THIS DON’T MEAN THE TWO ARE ROMANTILLY LKED.“I FEEL PRETTY FORTABLE SAYG THAT NJECTURE THAT’S OUT THERE DON’T HOLD ANY WATER,” SACKHEIM SAYS. “THEY HAVE A CLOSE RELATNSHIP AND THAT NTU TO PLAY OUT FOR THE RT OF THE SEASON. NOT ANY WAY IS A ROMANTIC RELATNSHIP.” SERI CREATOR NIC PIZZOLATTO RROBORATED SACKHEIM’S MENTS AN INSTAGRAM POST OVER THE WEEKEND, RPONDG WH A SIMPLE “NO” TO A MENT READG: “ROLAND’S GAY !!!” IN THE SAME POST, PIZZOLATTO ALSO CLEARED UP ANY QUTNS AROUND THE SEXUALY OF HARRIS JAM (STT SHEPHERD), WHO LEERGLY PLIMENTED WAYNE ON HIS BODY EPISO 6: “HARRIS IS NOT GAY. HE WAS MSG WH WAYNE (EFFECTIVELY) BEE WAYNE WAS MSG WH HIM.”AS STILL WATCHG -HOST RICHARD LAWSON POTED OUT ON THE PODST LAST WEEK, SEXUALY AS “PLOT TWIST” IS NOT EXACTLY A GOOD LOOK FOR A TV SERI 2019, SO WE’RE RELIEVED TO REPORT THAT TE DETECTIVE ISN’T PEPPERED WH SECRET GAY CHARACTERS. BUT SACKHEIM POTS OUT THAT TOM AND ROLAND’S NNECTN IS STILL CREDIBLY IMPORTANT. “THAT NNECTN TO TOM IS A PORT BY WHICH WE VIEW ROLAND’S HUMANY,” HE EXPLAS. “IT’S NOT SOMETHG WE GET A CHANCE TO SEE A LOT. [ROLAND’S] A CYNIL GUY BY NATURE. AS THE STORY PROGRS, HE BE MORE AND MORE CYNIL.”WE’LL SEE ROLAND’S CYNICISM POTENTIALLY REACH A BOILG POT THE FAL TWO EPISOS OF TE DETECTIVE. TUNE TO STILL WATCHG: TE DETECTIVE” AFTER EPISO 7 FOR MORE DISCSN OF THE EPISO AND SIGHTS OM SACKHEIM ON WHAT TO EXPECT OM THE FALE.MOST POPULARVANY FAIR’S “IT’S RAG TEENS” COVER AT 20: WHERE ARE THEY NOW?BY SAVANNAH WALSHJSI CHASTA BET ON HERSELF. NOW SHE’S READY FOR THE BIGGER FIGHTBY DAVID CANFIELDZENDAYA PAYS TRIBUTE TO “BROTHER” ANG CLOUD: “I’LL CHERISH EVERY MOMENT”BY SAVANNAH WALSHJOANNA ROBSON
In Episo 6, Te Detective revealed that Sot McNairy’s character, Tom Purcell, was a closeted homosexual who leaned hard on the church orr to try to stifle sir that would have ma life ral 1980s and 90s Arkansas difficult. ” Seri creator Nic Pizzolatto rroborated Sackheim’s ments an Instagram post over the weekend, rpondg wh a simple “No” to a ment readg: “Roland’s Gay!!! ” In the same post, Pizzolatto also cleared up any qutns around the sexualy of Harris Jam (Stt Shepherd), who leergly plimented Wayne on his body Episo 6: “Harris is not gay.
”As Still Watchg -host Richard Lawson poted out on the podst last week, sexualy as “plot twist” is not exactly a good look for a TV seri 2019, so we’re relieved to report that Te Detective isn’t peppered wh secret gay characters. I have to adm, I was trigued when I heard that there was a gay subplot Te Detective’s send season. Do I fd a tad ironic that we end this year-long LGBT project wh a closet storyle that ends the vlent ath of a gay character?
7 HBO TV SHOWS THAT FEATURE PROMENT GAY CHARACTERS
Even jt this one episo ’s hard to fathom what is that fueled Woodgh’s self-hatred—are we really prentg a closeted gay character as someone self-evintly ashamed of his sexualy 2016? Thankfully, Pl Woodgh enters a media landspe where he need not be a shg bean of acceptance and tolerance—the burn of reprentatn (which I touched on a lot this past year, and which was the drivg ia behd this lumn after seeg howLookg was received) is perhaps a b lighter than might have been a ago when our screens were riddled wh gay characters whose sole purpose was to overe their own self-hatred and prejudice—at least Pl gets a great heroic actn sequence and a whole lot of character velopment that was rmed but not rced to his sexualy. When I created DS Adam Tyler for Firewatchg, I did so partly bee I wanted to create a fictnal tective who was gay.
There were gay protagonists (rare, but they did exist), and there were gay police officers (often send or third tier the hierarchy of characters), but I uld not thk of a sgle queer protagonist.
CAN TAYLOR KSCH'S CHARACTER 'TE DETECTIVE' PLEASE NOT BE A SELF-HATG GAY STEREOTYPE?
He explicly stat that he isn’t homosexual, but his obssn wh Dickie Greenleaf, and his tenncy towards unreliable narratn more than suggt otherwise.
I fd almost nceivable that there was one gay character at the helm of a mystery seri for over twenty years, and I only very recently disvered him!
He’s openly gay, or homosexual (Hansen apparently hated the term gay), and though he feels no need to announce to everyone he meets, he’s not ashamed of eher. Firstly, like his ntemporary Delafield, he’s an actual p, an LAPD reer police officer (there seem to be far fewer male gay tectiv than female).
TE DETECTIVE: FAR OM BEG GAY, ’S REMARKABLE JT HOW MANY FICTNAL LGBT CHARACTERS ARE MISERABLE
He’s also a big bear of a man who breaks a lot of the earlier stereotyp (so often mysteri and thrillers the gay man is portrayed as a sleazy, sadistic baddie wh unwholome sexual predilectns). So far, Sturgis has steadfastly avoid beg killed off (a rare skill for a gay supportg st member), which mt make him the longt nng gay character a mystery seri ever.
'TE DETECTIVE' REP: GAY CLUBS, GOLD GRILLZ AND E-CIGARETT
Set 1980s San Francis, he’s unashamed to tackle the thornier issu of gay life—dgs, alhol and the AIDS crisis.
Hap Colls is the sensive, broodg workg-class labourer who avoids vlence at almost any st, while Leonard Pe is a gay black Vietnam veteran wh a vlent streak, who’s more than happy to shoot any man who unrtimat him. But ’s Leonard Pe who stands out as somethg special, a gay protagonist the mystery genre who breaks every stereotype the book. If there are few gay protagonists crime fictn, there are fewer still the annals of historil crime.
TAYLOR KSCH ON ‘TE DETECTIVE,’ MCCONGHEY’S WORDS OF WISDOM, AND PL’S BIG SECRETDEEP COVERTHE STAR OF THE HBO POTBOILER OPENS UP ABOUT HIS MYSTER VIAGRA-POPPG CHARACTER, HOW HE GOT ST ON THE SHOW, AND HIS BROMANCE WH CREATOR NIC PIZZOLATTO. MARLOW STERNUPDATED JUL. 12, 2017 4:25PM EDT / PUBLISHED JUN. 29, 2015 1:05AM EDT HBONOT LONG AFTER PLAYG THE CLOSETED LAWYER/GAY RIGHTS CSAR BCE NIL HBO’S THE NORMAL HEART, TAYLOR KSCH LEARNED THAT HE’D LAND THE ROLE OF PL WOODGH, A TROUBLED MOTORCYCLE P FOR THE CALIFORNIA HIGHWAY PATROL, ON THE SEND SEASON OF TE DETECTIVE. HE WAS SUCH A BIG FAN OF THE SHOW—AND S CREATOR NIC PIZZOLATTO—THAT HE PUT HIS REER ON HOLD FOR ALMOST A YEAR TO WA UNTIL FILMG BEGAN.“I WANTED TO BE A PART OF TE DETECTIVE WHATEVER MANNER POSSIBLE,” KSCH TELLS THE DAILY BEAST. “LUCKILY, NIC HAD A GUY PL WHO WAS SUCH A RICH CHARACTER TO DIVE TO, WHICH IS SUCH A TREAT AS AN ACTOR.”DURG THE FIRST FEW EPISOS OF TE DETECTIVE, WE’RE GRANTED GLIMPS TO WOODGH’S MYSTER PAST. HE HAS SRS ACROSS HALF HIS BODY, PRUMABLY OM HIS TIME OVERSEAS WORKG FOR A SHADY BLACKWATER-LIKE OUTF DUBBED BLACK MOUNTA SECURY; HE NEEDS TO POP VIAGRA TO HAVE SEX WH HIS GIRLIEND AND LOOKS PAED WHEN SHE PERFORMS ORAL ON HIM; AND HE’S SUICIDAL.IN EPISO 2, WE LEARN THAT WOODGH HAS A PENCHANT FOR OVERPENSATN. “OH, AND THIS ONE FAG, AT THE BANK? TRIED HT’ ON ME. ALMOST CLOCKED THE GUY,” HE TELLS A FELLOW P. THE P, PERPLEXED, RPONDS WH, “WHY?” AND WOODGH HAS NOTHG TO SAY. LATER, HE BREAKS UP WH HIS GIRLIEND, EXCLAIMG, “FUCK OFF! WHO THE FUCK AM I SUPPOSED TO BE? THERE’S NOTHG WRONG WH ME,” AND THEN HEADS TO HIS L.A. APARTMENT, WHERE HE STAR LONGGLY AT A GAY HTLER OM HIS BALNY. NEEDLS TO SAY, WE HAD A LOT OF QUTNS FOR KSCH—WHOM YOU MAY REGNIZE AS RIGGS OM FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS AND MURPH OM LONE SURVIVOR—AND HE DID HIS BT TO TRY TO ANSWER THEM.HOW WERE YOU ST ON TE DETECTIVE? IT’S SO SECRETIVE. I’M PICTURG A LTLE PERSON MEETG YOU AT THE TOP OF A HILL OVERLOOKG L.A. WH A BRIEFSE NTAG A SCRIPT.[LGHS] NIC LIV OJAI, AND I FLEW TO L.A. OM AT AND THEN DROVE UP THERE ABOUT AN HOUR AND A HALF AND MET NIC AT A DIVE BAR OUT THERE. THIS WAS EIGHT-PL MONTHS BEFORE WE EVEN H MERA. I GUS I WAS ONE OF A FEW GUYS HE WAS TERTED , AND WE LEREALLY SAT THERE FOR EIGHT HOURS TALKG. WE SPOKE ABOUT TE DETECTIVE FOR MAYBE A TENTH OF . HE’S BEE ONE OF MY CLOST IENDS.WHO WERE YOU UP AGAST FOR THE ROLE? I DON’T EVEN WANT TO KNOW. BUT HE’S BEEN MY RNER EVER SCE THAT MEETG.YOU AND NIC A DIVE BAR FOR EIGHT HOURS SOUNDS LIKE PLENTY OF DRKG HAPPENED. IT’S BASILLY AN EPISO OF TE DETECTIVE. WE MAY HAVE THROWN A UPLE BACK. WE HAD FOOD, THEN EVEN ORRED DNER LATER. I HAD ONE OF MY BT MAT E UP WH ME TO JT SEE OJAI, AND I SAID, “YEAH, ’S GOG TO BE A 45-MUTE MEETG.” IT ME DOWN TO THE FOURTH HOUR AND I LLED HIM AND JT SAID, “HEY, MAN, YOU MIGHT WANT TO JT E AND HAVE A UPLE WH .” WE END UP LEAVG JT BEFORE MIDNIGHT. IT WAS A GOOD TIME. WE TEND TO DO THAT, NIC AND I. HE HAD JT DONE A B OF PRS L.A., AND I MISSED ONE OF MY BT IENDS’ BIRTHDAYS BEE WE WERE HUNKERED DOWN THE HOTEL BAR OM 2 TO MIDNIGHT.ARE WE TALKG WHISKEY HERE, OR WHAT’S THE DRK OF CHOICE? I HAD TO DRK LIGHT BEE IF I’M DRKG WHISKEY FOR EIGHT OR 10 HOURS I’LL BE THAT GUY, YOU KNOW? I THK WAS VODKA.YOU LIVE AT, AND [SEASON 1 STAR MATTHEW] MCCONGHEY IS A TEXAS BOY AND THERE PRETTY OFTEN. DID HE GIVE YOU ANY ADVICE?IT’S SO FUNNY. I’D NEVER TALKED TO HIM UNTIL WE SAT NEXT TO ONE ANOTHER BY CHANCE ON A FLIGHT OM AT TO NEW YORK. WE TALKED THE ENTIRE THREE-AND-A-QUARTER HOURS. I DON’T THK THERE WAS ANY ADVICE. HE JT DISCSED HIS EXPERIENCE AND HOW MUCH HE ENJOYED WORKG WH PIZZOLATTO. HE WAS TERTED TO SEE WHAT I WAS GOG TO DO, AND HE SAID HE’D STOP BY THE SET—WHICH HE DID, WHICH WAS AWOME. WE WERE JT PICKG EACH OTHER’S BRAS AND DISCSG WHAT HE HAD G UP. THE GUY’S JT DOG AMAZG WORK. YOUR CHARACTER, PL, IS SUCH AN ENIGMA.IT’S REALLY A CRED TO NIC. IN THE FIRST EPISO, HOPEFULLY I GAVE YOU A TASTE OF WHAT THIS GUY IS, AND THE BETY OF THIS EIGHT HOURS IS WE N REALLY LET HIS STORY UNFOLD NATURALLY. IT’S GREAT BEE THE WRG IS SO GOOD THAT CHALLENG YOU ON HOW EPLY YOU WANT TO GO AS AN ACTOR. WAS THAT TROUBLED STARLET WH THE ANKLE BRACELET SUPPOSED TO BE LDSAY LOHAN WHO YOU PULL OVER THE PREMIERE EPISO?I MEAN, I GUS, YEAH. [LGHS] IT’S SOMETHG THAT PL WOULDN’T BE IMPRSED BY AT ALL. IT’S THE FIRST TIME YOU MEET HIM, SO HE’S PLUGGED AND WORKG.HE HAS A VERY PLITED RELATNSHIP WH HIS GIRLIEND. THERE’S THE FIRST SEQUENCE WHERE HE HOME AND SHE’S READY TO GO, AND HE HAS TO GO TO THE BATHROOM. HE IS POPPG VIAGRA ORR TO GET WORKED UP ENOUGH TO HAVE SEX, RIGHT?YEAH.EVERY CHARACTER ON THIS SHOW IS MASKG SOME MONS, BUT SEEMS LIKE PL HAS MORE THAN PERHAPS ANYONE ELSE. AND HE’S GONE TO VERY LONG LENGTHS TO PASS AS A STRAIGHT GUY.RIGHT. I THK THAT’S SOMETHG THAT’S JT HIMSELF. WHO WE ARE OM OUR PAST—OUR UPBRGG (OR LACK THEREOF), AND FATHERHOOD, AND WHAT IS TO BE A MAN. WH PL, YOU REALLY DO SEE HOW MUCH SHAME HE RRI, AND SLOWLY UNFOLDS THROUGHOUT. I WILL SAY THAT EPISOS 4 AND 5, YOU REALLY SEE THIS GUY FALL. AND THE EPER WE GET TO THE SEASON, THE MORE SPERATE PL GETS FOR HAVG TO HOLD THAT SECRET AND HI WHO HE REALLY IS. IT’S PRETTY FUCKG TRAGIC TO NOT BE ABLE TO BE EE, OR TO HOLD SHAME ABOUT SOMETHG LIKE THAT.HE HAS SRS ALONG THE LEFT SI OF HIS BODY WHICH WE’RE LED TO BELIEVE ARE ASSOCIATED WH HIS TIME OVERSEAS A BLACKWATER-LIKE OUTF LLED BLACK MOUNTA SECURY.RIGHT. SOME OF THEM ARE. THE SRS OM HIS HIP UP TO HIS SHOULR ARE SHRAPNEL SRS. THERE’S ALSO A STRANGE RELATNSHIP BETWEEN PL AND HIS MOTHER THAT WE SEE EPISO 2. SHE’S VERY TOUCHY-FEELY, AND JT PLAYS AS APPROPRIATE AND STRAED.WE SEE BEATS WH MY MOM OF WHERE PL HAS E OM, AND WHERE THE WOUNDS STARTED. IT’S PRETTY DIABOLIL, MAN—LIVG AND GROWG UP WH A WOMAN A ONE-BEDROOM TRAILER WHO WAS A DANCER VEGAS. THERE’S A SCENE EPISO 5 THAT PLETELY UNWDS EVERYTHG, CLUDG HIS ENTIRE RELATNSHIP WH HIS MOM. HE’S LIKE A 10-YEAR-OLD KID THAT SCENE, THOUGH, IF YOU THK ABOUT . IT’S A BETIFUL THG WHEN YOU SEE WHAT HAPPENS WHEN HE GO BACK TO HIS MOM AND TRI TO TELL HER CERTA THGS, AND HER REACTN IS BASILLY WHAT HE’S BEEN ALG WH FOR THE PAST 30 YEARS.SEASON 2 OF TE DETECTIVE DID SEEM LIKE A RPONSE TO THE CRICISMS OF SEASON 1 THAT FEATUR A BADASS WOMAN THE LEAD, AND ALL OF THE MEN HAVE SER SEXUAL HANG-UPS AND ARE ALSO PRETTY EMASCULATED.I DIDN’T GET THAT. SPEAKG FOR WOODGH, I THK THIS GUY IS PABLE OF BEG CREDIBLY MASCULE AND IS ALWAYS ON EDGE, BUT I THK THE CHARACTERS ARE JT SO DIFFERENT, AND ’S DOWN TO THE BETY OF HIS WRG. WH SEASON 1, HAD S OWN ENERGY WH THOSE TWO GUYS AND THEY DID AMAZG WORK, AND HOPEFULLY THEY’RE SEEG THE WORK WE’RE DOG A DIFFERENT LIGHT. WE’RE OUR OWN ENTI.DID YOU BOND WH YOUR FELLOW CANADIAN RACHEL MCADAMS ON SET?YEAH, WE DID. SHE’S RAD. PL’S SORT OF DOG HIS OWN THG ON THE SE, AND I WISH I’D SHARED MORE SCEN WH HER, AND WH COL. JT ONE-ON-ONE WOULD’VE BEEN GREAT. THERE ARE SOME FUN DRIVG SCEN I HAVE WH RACH, BUT WHEN WOODGH IS WORKG, HE’S PRETTY SOLARY. THERE’S A SCENE EPISO 4 WHERE PL JT MELTS DOWN ONT OF FARRELL’S CHARACTER, AND I ME OUT OF THAT WISHG WE HAD MORE SCEN LIKE THAT BETWEEN THE CHARACTERS BEE THEY’RE BOTH SO FUCKED UP AND ULD SEEK HELP WH ONE ANOTHER. THERE’S A RELATABILY FACTOR THERE THAT’S REALLY FUCK’ TENSE.ARE THE MORS THE NEWS ABOUT TENSN BETWEEN YOU AND VCE VGHN ON SET TE?REMEMBER WHEN I SAID NIC AND I WERE DRKG THAT HOTEL BAR? I SAW VCE THAT DAY WHILE WE WERE DOG PRS L.A., AND ULDN’T BE MORE UNTE. ALL VCE AND I DO IS LGH WHEN WE HANG OUT—QUE LERALLY, WE JT LGH. I THK SOMEONE’S JT TRYG TO GRAB STRAWS OR HEADL BEE THERE AREN’T ANY FUCKED UP, NEGATIVE STORI ABOUT THE MAKG OF THIS SHOW. VCE AND I ACTUALLY HAD A GOOD LGH OVER HOW MUCH HORSH THAT IS. MARLOW STERN
The cln of gay characters mastream televisn and film has been an ongog procs for the dtry — one that has ma the the current generatn of TV shows some of the most progrsive to date.
As such, the goln age of TV is also a goln age for gay characters and televisn seri — wh gay-iendly work HBO leadg the work has featured proment gay characters several of s seri — though, admtedly, wh mixed rults th far.
MARLOW STERNUPDATED JUL. 12, 2017 4:30PM EDT / PUBLISHED JUL. 06, 2015 12:09AM EDT HBOTAYLOR KSCH. FOR WOMEN—AND MEN—OF A CERTA AGE, THE NAME NJUR UP AN IMAGE OF A BROODG FOOTBALL STUD, HIS LONG, GREASY LOCKS OBSCURG GOALPOST-HIGH CHEEKBON AND PERATG EY. Y, KSCH’S TIM RIGGS ON FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS REMAS ONE OF THE MOST SWOON-WORTHY TV CHARACTERS RECENT MEMORY. AND, FOLLOWG A FILM REER FILLED WH HS (LONE SURVIVOR) AND MISS (JOHN CARTER), THE CANADIAN EX-MOL, WHO ONCE GAVE A WHOLE NEW MEANG TO DERELICTE WHEN HE SPENT SEVERAL WEEKS HOMELS NEW YORK, HAS RETURNED TO THE SMALL SCREEN AS ONE OF THE TORTURED PS ON NIC PIZZOLATTO’S TE DETECTIVE.AND KSCH’S HIGHWAY PATROLMAN PL WOODGH MIGHT BE THE MOST TORTURED CHARACTER THE HBO POTBOILER’S SEND SEASON (WHICH IS REALLY SAYG SOMETHG). HALF HIS BODY IS SRRED OM HIS EXPERIENCE OVERSEAS A BLACKWATER-LIKE OPERATN LLED BLACK MOUNTA; HE NEEDS TO POP VIAGRA TO HAVE SEX WH HIS RANDY GIRLIEND; AND HIS TRAILER-TRASH MOTHER IS TOUCHY-FEELY A CREEPY WAY.LAST EPISO, WOODGH BROKE UP WH HIS GIRLIEND A F OF RAGE—“THIS IS ON YOU,” HE CLAIMED—BEFORE HEADG TO HIS BACHELOR PAD DOWNTOWN L.A., WHERE HE GAZED LONGGLY AT A GAY PROSTUTE OM HIS BALNY. IN EPISO 3, ’S REVEALED THAT ALL THIS ODD SEXUAL BEHAVR IS A ONT FOR WOODGH’S BEG EP THE CLOSET, AS HE’S NONTED BY AN EX-ARY PAL AND FORMER LOVER.“I THK ABOUT YOU, MAN…WHAT IF I DON’T WANT TO FET, HUH?” THE EX-LOVER SAYS. WOODGH TELLS HIM TO CHILL OUT, THEN SNAPS, THROWG HIM ON THE GROUND, AND YELLG, “FUCK YOU, ASSHOLE!” WHEN THE MAN TRI TO TELL THE REPRSED P ABOUT HIS FEELGS. WOODGH IS LATER LED THROUGH THE PROSTUTE UNRWORLD BY A GAY HTLER WHO—LIKE WOODGH—POPPED VIAGRA TO HAVE SEX WH WOMEN, ONLY HIS SEXY TIM WERE FOR THE ENTERTAMENT OF THE MURRED CY MANAGER OF VCI, BEN CASPER. THE DAILY BEAST SPOKE TO KSCH ABOUT WOODGH’S REVEAL, WHY HE LASH OUT, AND MUCH MORE.DID YOU SEE PARALLELS BETWEEN WOODGH AND YOUR CHARACTER BCE NIL THE NORMAL HEART, ANOTHER GAY MAN WHO HAD TO HI WHO HE WAS BY DAY?TOTALLY, MAN. THERE’S A THROUGH LE THAT SENSE OF NOT BEG ABLE TO BE THE GUY THAT HE IS, WHAT THAT MEANS TO HIM, AND HOW EP THAT NS. IT GO BACK TO THE SPERATN, AND HOW TRAGIC THAT IS. WHEN WE REALLY SEE HOW SPERATE THIS GUY IS, ’S HEARTBREAKG. IT’S SO SAD. GOD KNOWS HOW MUCH FUCKG ENERGY TAK TO HI BEHD ALL THAT. THIS SE IS REALLY A BACKDROP FOR EXPOSG WHO THE GUYS REALLY ARE. WHAT’S SO ENTHRALLG IS THE WDG UP AND WDG DOWN OF WHO THE GUYS REALLY ARE, AND EXPOSG THAT.WHY DO YOU THK PL LASH OUT SO VLENTLY AGAST HIS EX-ARY BUDDY/LOVER?I THK WHEN YOU’RE LIVG WH SOMETHG SO LONG, AND NS THAT EP WHERE FEELS THAT’S WHAT’S WH HIMSELF, THEN REALLY WOULD BE THE END OF HIM. THERE IS NO REAL ANSWER TO WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF [’S REVEALED], AND I THK THAT SHAME IS SO STRONG WH HIMSELF THAT IF HE DO ANSWER TO , THEN ’S, “OK, NOW WHAT? WHAT THE FUCK AM I GOG TO DO NOW?” I WILL SAY THAT SOME OF MY BT WORK MY REER IS EPISOS 4 AND 5—THE REPERCSNS OF HIM ANSWERG TO THAT LL WH HIMSELF. YOU’LL SEE THE HEARTBREAK AND THE WEIGHT THAT HE RRI, AND WHAT HAPPENS IF HE DO ANSWER TO THAT.THERE ARE PARALLELS BETWEEN WOODGH AND THE GAY PROSTUTE HE SPEAKS WH AT THE CLUB, SCE THEY BOTH NEED TO POP VIAGRA TO HAVE SEX WH WOMEN. AND JT PRR TO THAT, WE SEE WOODGH LOCK EY WH VCE VGHN’S CHARACTER THE CLUB AND GIVE A KNOWG LOOK. DO THE SIGNS POT TO WOODGH BEG AN EX-HTLER?NO, I THK ’S STORYTELLG EXPOSG HIS NEEDS AND WANTS A CERTA WAY. EVEN PUTTG HIM SUATNS—ALBE “WORKG” ON—BUT HE’S BEG EXPOSED THROUGH THE BEATS. THERE’S SOMETHG THAT HE’S VTIGATG—NO PUN TEND—WH HIMSELF. IT’S THAT “WHAT IF?” AND ’S RIGHT ONT OF HIM. I THK PL SE THIS HTLER AND HE THKS, “WELL, IF I BRG THIS GUY WH ME THEN I’M GOG ONE STEP CLOSER TO THE PATH,” AND THAT’S WHAT HAPPENS. BUT PL DO E TO A PLACE THE ROAD WHERE HE DO REACT TO THAT LONGG FOR , AND THE BETY OF THAT AS AN ACTOR IS THE REPERCSN OF THAT CISN. WERE YOU AT ALL APPREHENSIVE ABOUT PLAYG THIS CHARACTER? IT’S A POTENTIALLY PROBLEMATIC ROLE IF NOT HANDLED RRECTLY—A CLOSETED GAY MAN WHO LASH OUT VLENTLY AGAST THOSE WHO SEEK TO EXPOSE HIS SECRET.I DON’T KNOW IF I EVEN THOUGHT ABOUT THAT WAY. OBVLY YOU’RE SRED ABOUT GOG TO THE EPT PARTS OF THE GUYS, BUT I GET MORE OF A HIGH OM THAT—OF TRYG TO SEE IF I N PULL OFF AND SEE HOW EP I N GO. I THK THAT’S SUCH A TRIBUTE TO THE WRG, HOW EP PL IS. EVERY ACTOR IS ALWAYS LOOKG FOR THE GUYS TO PLAY. I DON’T KNOW. I FUCKG LOVED PLAYG THIS GUY. IT SORT OF FUCKED ME UP TO E OUT OF , BUT ’S SO FULFILLG, AS WELL, WHEN YOU FEEL YOU’RE DOG YOUR BT WORK.HOW LONG DID FUCK YOU UP? JT A FEW WEEKS. I’M NSC OF WHEN I AM , BUT WHAT’S TOUGH IS YOU’RE LIVG THIS BUBBLE AND THIS EP, PRSG STATE. THIS GUY’S BEEN THROUGH SO MUCH, AND SOME NIGHTS YOU N’T HELP BUT TAKE HOME WH YOU. I’VE GOTTA ASK: IN EPISO 3, IS THAT SUPPOSED TO BE CARY FUNAGA—THE DIRECTOR WH THE PONYTAIL ON THE FILM SET?OH, NO WAY, I HAVEN’T SEEN ANY OF THAT YET!THE FIRST TIME A LOT OF PEOPLE SAW YOU—WH, PERHAPS, THE EXCEPTN OF YOUR AWOME SNAKE FATALY SNAK ON A PLANE—WAS ON FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS. THERE IS STILL THIS MAJOR CULT OF FNL WORSHIP.I MEAN, I’M WALKG AROUND THE STREETS OF NEW YORK AND A BUNCH OF PEOPLE ME UP TO ME TODAY. PEOPLE WILL SAY HOW MUCH THEY LOVE THE SHOW, AND HOW THEY LIKE RIGGS, AND KYLE CHANDLER, AND ALL THAT. IT FEELS LIKE FOREVER AGO, PERSONALLY, BUT ’S ALWAYS FLATTERG NOHELS.JOHN CACK ONCE SAID THAT WHEN PEOPLE DATE HIM, THEY EXPECT LLOYD DOBLER, DO YOU EVER N TO PROBLEMS WHERE WHEN PEOPLE DATE YOU, THEY EXPECT BROODG RIGGS AND GET SG KSCH?I THK WHEN YOU’RE A BAR OR SOMETHG—WHEN I’M AT A BAR AT, GUYS WILL E UP. THE BETY OF RIGGS, TOO, IS ’S GUYS AND GIRLS, SO ’S THE ULTIMATE FLATTERY. THERE WAS A GUY AT THE GYM L.A. AND MY HAIR IS REALLY SHORT NOW. HE HAD THIS LONG HAIR AND HE SAID, “DU, I FUCKG GREW MY HAIR FOR YOU.” AND I WAS LIKE, “UHHHH…WHAT?” AND HE SAID, “OH…UH…I MEAN I GREW BEE RIGGS HAD LONG HAIR, AND HE WAS GETTG LAID ALL THE TIME.” AND I WAS LIKE, “HOW’S THAT GOG FOR YA?” AND HE SAID, “YOU KNOW, I THK FUCK’ WORKS!” I THOUGHT THAT WAS PRETTY FUNNY. HAVE YOU EVER GOTTEN NFED WH TOM BRADY? YOU GUYS KD OF LOOK ALIKE WH THE SHORT HAIR.MAYBE ONCE OR TWICE! BUT NOT A LOT.THEY RECENTLY ANNOUNCED THE NEW GAMB FILM WH CHANNG TATUM PLAYG THE CAJUN SUPERHERO. YOU, OF URSE, ORIGATED THE CHARACTER X-MEN ORIGS: WOLVERE. DID YOU GET A CRACK AT THE PART BEFORE THEY ST CHANNG?UM…NO, I DIDN’T HAVE A GO. EVER SCE WE FISHED THE MOVIE, ’S NEVER REALLY BEEN AN OPTN. BUT NO, I WISH [CHANNG] NOTHG BUT THE BT. IT WAS A FUN CHARACTER TO PLAY, AND I LEARNED A LOT WORKG WH HUGH [JACKMAN] AND HAD AN AMAZG TIME ATRALIA. I’M SURE THEY’RE DOG THEIR OWN THG WH , AND I’M SURE CHANNG WILL BE GREAT.WHAT ELSE DO YOU HAVE G UP AFTER TE DETECTIVE?WE’RE JT KD OF TAKG A BEAT. I WAED A FULL YEAR FOR TE DETECTIVE TO BE GREEN-L, AND I HAVE NO PROBLEM WAG FOR THAT NEXT ONE. WE LOVE THE TRACK THAT WE’RE ON, AND ’S ALL ABOUT WAG OUT FOR THAT NEXT GIG THAT YOU JT HAVE TO DO. IT’S BEEN FLATTERG WH A LOT OF GOOD MATERIAL G OUR WAY. DID YOU BEE MORE PATIENT WH YOUR CHOIC OF ROL AFTER JOHN CARTER AND BATTLHIP?A LOT OF THOSE WERE NO-BRAERS TO ME, TOO—ALL THE FIGHTS THAT ME AND [ANDREW] STANTON HAD TO TRY AND GET JOHN CARTER MA. AND PETE BERG, TOO. I WAS TALKG TO PETE LERALLY A UPLE OF HOURS AGO AND WE’RE LOOKG TO DO SOMETHG TOGETHER SOONER RATHER THAN LATER. WE HAD SUCH AN AMAZG TIME ON BATTLHIP AND LONE SURVIVOR, AND THE SHORTHAND ME AND PETE HAVE AND THE RELATNSHIP WE HAVE OFF-MERA IS REALLY GOOD. IT WAS A STRG OF REALLY GOOD OPPORTUNI THAT WERE NO-BRAERS. AND SAVAG, TOO. I WOULD DO ALL OF THOSE ALL OVER AGA. IN THE SENSE OF PATIENCE, THE GAME IS A LOT DIFFERENT NOW THAN WAS EVEN FOUR YEARS AGO. A LOT OF THE GOOD MATERIAL IS GOG TO BLE SHOWS, AND THE LAST TWO YEARS I’VE BEEN WORKG WH HBO. IT’S ABOUT TRYG TO FD THAT GOOD MATERIAL, AND A LOT OF TIM ’S NOT BEG MA TO FILMS. THE GAME HAS FELY CHANGED. MARLOW STERN
Here are seven shows om HBO's lp, both prent and past, that promently feature gay characters their storyl. Read more: The Depictn of Gay Teens on 'Amerin Crime' Is Unprecented on TVSix Feet Unr: The premise is a b somber — a fay owns a funeral home — and morticians generally don't personify warm and fuzzy feelgs.