Happy Endgs’ Max: not “gay enough?” | CliqueClack TV

Contents:

• WHY HAPPY ENDGS’ MAX BLUM WAS THE MOST IMPORTANT GAY CHARACTER ON TV
• EXCLIVE CLIP: MAX IS COACHED BEG ‘GAY GAY’ A NEW EPISO OF ‘HAPPY ENDGS’
• WHAT WE LOVE: THE GAY GUY ON HAPPY ENDGS
• WHERE IS THE CLOSET? ON THE “STRAIGHT-ACTG” GAY MAX OM “HAPPY ENDGS”
• HAPPY ENDGS’ MAX: NOT “GAY ENOUGH?”
• HAPPY ENDGS’ ADAM PALLY, ON PLAYG TV’S LEAST STEREOTYPIL GAY GUY
• ADAM PALLY, MAX GREENFIELD GAY KISS ON 'HAPPY ENDGS' CUT
• REVIEW: "HAPPY ENDGS" OFFERS UP A LEAD GAY {FONT:NORMAL 800 1.2REM/1.2 "D BOLD",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NORMAL;LOR:HER;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;PADDG-BOTTOM:6PX;POSN:RELATIVE;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;}{BACKGROUND:#89308A;BOTTOM:0;NTENT:'';DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:2PX;LEFT:0;POSN:ABSOLUTE;RIGHT:0;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;WIDTH:100%;}{LEFT:51%;RIGHT:51%;WIDTH:0;}{FONT:NORMAL 800 1.2REM/1.2 "D BOLD",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NORMAL;LOR:HER;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;PADDG-BOTTOM:6PX;POSN:RELATIVE;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;}{BACKGROUND:#89308A;BOTTOM:0;NTENT:'';DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:2PX;LEFT:0;POSN:ABSOLUTE;RIGHT:0;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;WIDTH:100%;}{LEFT:51%;RIGHT:51%;WIDTH:0;}TVBY BRENT HARTGERAPRIL 12, 2011/11:08 AMBY BRENT HARTGERAPRIL 12, 2011 / 11:08 AM{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"NEWSARTICLE","HEADLE":"REVIEW: \"HAPPY ENDGS\" OFFERS UP A LEAD GAY CHARACTER","DATEPUBLISHED":"2011-04-12T15:08:47.000+0000","DATEMODIFIED":"2011-04-12T15:08:47.000+0000","IMAGE":{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT","WIDTH":1920,"HEIGHT":1080},"URL":","THOR":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","NAME":"LOGO TV"},"MAENTYOFPAGE":{"@TYPE":"WEBPAGE","@ID":"},"PUBLISHER":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","@ID":","NAME":"LOGO TV","URL":","LOGO":{"@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT"}},"CREATOR":"BRENT HARTGER","KEYWORDS":"THE BACKLOT","ARTICLESECTN":"TV"}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THE MEN OF HAPPY ENDGS: DAMON WAYANS, JR., ZACHARY KNIGHTON, ADAM {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}IT'S LONG BEEN TELLG THAT SO FEW LEADG CHARACTERS SS ARE GAY — SPE THE FACT THAT MOST SS ARE SET AMONG HIP TWENTYSOMETHGS URBAN AREAS, PRECISELY WHERE OUT GAY PEOPLE TEND TO {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}BUT ALL THAT'S ABOUT TO CHANGE WH HAPPY ENDGS, WHICH BUTS WEDNDAY, APRIL 13TH ON ABC WH TWO BACK-TO-BACK EPISOS. THE SIX-PERSON MA ST CLUS MAX, PLAYED BY ADAM PALLY, AN OUT GAY GUY (WHO'S NOT YET OUT TO HIS PARENTS, WE LEARN THE THIRD EPISO).{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}HE'S NVCGLY GAY: HIS SEXUALY UP OM TIME-TO-TIME, AND HE HAS AN OUTSIR'S PERSPECTIVE, BUT HE'S NOT A PARTICULARLY GOOD DRSER, OK, OR RATOR, AND HE'S GOT WEIGHT AND SELF-TEEM ISSU. HIS SEXUALY IS TRODUCED WH THE LE: "EVEN I THK ROLLER SKAT ARE GAY, AND I HAD SEX WH A GUY LAST NIGHT."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THAT SAID, HE IS FELY YET ANOTHER TWENTYSOMETHG SLACKER-CUM-ARRTED ADOLCENT WHICH I GUS IS RIGUR ROMANTIC EDI THE DAYS, WHETHER THEY'RE THE MOVI OR ON {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}AND SHOULD BE NOTED THAT THE FIRST THREE EPISOS MA AVAILABLE FOR PREVIEW BY THE WORK, MAX IS THE ONLY MA CHARACTER TO HAVE NO ON-SCREEN LOVE OR ROMANTIC LIFE WHATSOEVER. (IT'S HARD FOR ME TO TAKE THE WORK OR THE PRODUCERS TO TASK FOR THIS, HOWEVER, SCE (A) ABC HAS THE BT "GAY" RERD ON TELEVISN WHEN TO SCRIPTED CHARACTERS AND IS THE ONLY WORK WH THE GUTS TO CLU A LEADG GAY CHARACTER ONE OF S NEW ROMANTIC EDI AT ALL, AND (B) THE PRODUCERS AND THE WORK ARE CLEARLY ATTEMPTG TO "TRODUCE" THE CHARACTER BEFORE GOG TO TAIL ABOUT HIS POTENTIALLY-ALIENATG LOVE LIFE. TALK TO ME AGA AFTER SIX OR SO EPISOS.){BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THE BAD NEWS IS THAT HAPPY ENDGS IS G AT THE TAIL END OF THIS MAJOR TV ROMANTIC EDY S WAVE — AFTER MOST OF THOSE OTHER SHOWS HAVE BASILLY {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}AND THEY ACTUALLY FAILED FOR GOOD REASON: NONE OF THEM WERE PARTICULARLY GOOD. WORSE, THEY MOSTLY SORT OF ALL BLURRED TOGETHER, WH THEIR YOUNG, ATTRACTIVE STS, QUIRKY (BUT NOT TOO QUIRKY) SENSIBILI, AND CHARACTERS WHO ALL SHARE EXACTLY THE SAME DROLL, IRONIC SENSE OF {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}BASILLY, NONE OF THEM WAS MORN FAY, NOT BY A LONG {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}IN THAT RPECT, HAPPY ENDGS IS LIKE MOST OF THE OTHERS — OR, AT BT, ONLY A CUT ABOVE. IT'S WELL DONE, BUT 'S BEEN DONE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THE GIMMICK IS THAT DAVE, ALEX, JANE, MAX, PENNY, AND BRAD HAVE BEEN IENDS FOREVER. IN THE OPENG TO THE PILOT, LONGTIME LOVERS DAVE AND ALEX ARE GETTG MARRIED — AT LEAST UNTIL A SURFER HUNK SHOWS UP MID-CEREMONY, A LA THE GRADUATE, TO DRAG ALEX {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}I'M SURE THIS FELT VERY EDGY THE PCH SSN, BUT WHAT'S WEIRD IS HOW LTLE THIS ACTUALLY HAS TO DO WH THE SHOW SELF. IN THE END, 'S STILL A SHOW ABOUT SIX IENDS (AND THEY ALL STAY IENDS) AND THEIR WACKY HIJKS AND IRONIC {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}BUT TO THE SHOW'S CRED, SOME OF IS AMG. WHEN THEY'RE TEASG MAX ABOUT HIS WEIGHT ISSU, JANE SAYS, "IT'S LIKE IF PL RUDD GAVE UP," WHICH IS A SOMEWHAT ACCURATE, IF EXTREMELY CEL ASSSMENT OF HIS LOOKS. AND WHEN MAX PREPAR TO GO BACK TO THE CLOSET WH THE IMPENDG ARRIVAL OF HIS PARENTS, SHE NOT, AGA SURPRISGLY ACCURATELY, "FOR SOMEONE WHO BEHAV NOTHG LIKE A GAY GUY, YOU HAVE EVEN LS OF AN IA HOW TO ACT LIKE A STRAIGHT GUY."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THERE'S A FUNNY NNG JOKE THE PILOT EPISO ABOUT HOW MAX HAS TERRIBLE GAYDAR — A JOKE I REALLY APPRECIATE SCE TOO OFTEN ROMANTIC EDI GAY MEN ARE PORTRAYED LIKE SOME KD OF ALL-KNOWG AND MYSTER SAVANTS (AND BEE I THK, GENERAL, THE NUMBER OF GAY GUYS WH BAD GAYDAR BUT DON'T KNOW IS ACTUALLY MUCH HIGHER THAN THE NUMBER OF GAY GUYS WHO ACTUALLY HAVE GOOD GAYDAR).{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}AND FOR WHAT 'S WORTH, DAMON WAYANS, JR. (THE SON OF EDIAN DAMON WAYANS), WHO PLAYS BRAD, IS EXTREMELY EASY ON THE EY. WHO KNEW?{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}I DOUBT HAPPY ENDGS WILL HAVE A HAPPY ENDG AS A SHOW, BUT I HOPE DO. I'D LOVE TO SEE WHAT THEY END UP DOG WH {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;CLEAR:BOTH;}THE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;MARG:0 TO;WIDTH:90%;M-WIDTH:288PX;MAX-WIDTH:1440PX;M-HEIGHT:194PX;}LATT NEWS

WHY HAPPY ENDGS’ MAX BLUM WAS THE MOST IMPORTANT GAY CHARACTER ON TV

For far too long, as a gay man, I’ve been subjected to borg, annoyg and borrle homophobic gay ritur on TV, characters that are supposed to reprent me and my gay bros.

A charmg slacker and the anthis of almost every gay stereotype that’s been phed onto dienc by work TV for the past two s (see: Jack and Will om Will & Grace, Kurt om Glee, Bryan om The New Normal, etc), Max (played by Adam Pally) ma a missn to eat pizza bed and avoid havg a real job.

And y, there are a few other non-stereotypil gay guys on TV, but how many of them are ma characters mastream edi? I mean, if you’re a Mch or a Cam, that’s ol too, but Max reprents a wir spectm of gay guys who are sick of beg stereotyped.

EXCLIVE CLIP: MAX IS COACHED BEG ‘GAY GAY’ A NEW EPISO OF ‘HAPPY ENDGS’

Early on  Happy Endgs, Max’s lack of “gayns” is brought to the foreont by his bt iend (and ex-girliend) Penny, who clar him a “terrible gay hband”. The episo perfectly skewered the s trope of g homosexual characters as a female character’s wisecrackg “gay bt iend”.

To drive home the pot, the show even troduced Derek, the overly flamboyant and stereotypil gay character (he’s pretty fabulo) who was basilly the anti-Max. By the end of the episo, Penny realis that she don’t need a “gay hband” and se, wh the help of Max, that she’s actually his ‘gay hband’ — dramatic, loud, and over-the-top. It’s at this pot that every misjudged gay guy watchg at home solemnly agre wh Max and realis they’ve had this moment their liv.

), and helped him out his love life whout any of the homophobic squirmg or hang-ups you often see when straight bros al wh gays on TV.

WHAT WE LOVE: THE GAY GUY ON HAPPY ENDGS

One memorable episo found him retirg om beg gay, before searchg for his very own gay subculture to f to (note: there are a lot of them). After Jane and Derrick take him on an epic tour of Chigo’s gay bars whout succs, Max ends the episo by havg to create his own subculture — “optimistic red velvet wals” — and leavg the rt to fate (spoiler alert: a cute guy shows up at the end and naawww! Between all the silly, ma-up gay subculture gags, the episo perfectly explored how out of the norm Max was pared to most other gay characters on TV.

He’s the example that young teens need to see when they start qutng their sexualy, only to realise they don’t f to what’s typilly thought of gay. He’s the character that people wh no gay iends need to see and unrstand, so they don’t terpret all gay people through the filter of Will & Grace.

WHERE IS THE CLOSET? ON THE “STRAIGHT-ACTG” GAY MAX OM “HAPPY ENDGS”

As much as the show flew unr the radar, serv to be regnised for featurg a funny du who told sweet jok and jt happened to be gay.

HAPPY ENDGS’ MAX: NOT “GAY ENOUGH?”

Max do not nform to typil gay stereotyp, beg more to typilly mascule thgs like sports, guns, and vio gam. Take the character of Max (Adam Pally), who is gay, and, fiance of a long tradn of TV stereotyp, also a slovenly, sports-lovg slacker — somethg the show has even jokgly ngratulated self on. Gay Gay Chigo” pageant, though he has to enlist Alex (Elisha Cuthbert) and Dave (Zachary Knighton) as his ach actg, well, “gay gay” enough.

Max Blum is played by Adam Pally on Happy Endgs (urty of ABC)Max Blum isn’t like a lot of gay characters you see on televisn.

HAPPY ENDGS’ ADAM PALLY, ON PLAYG TV’S LEAST STEREOTYPIL GAY GUY

And while we fell love wh “Jt Jack” on Will & Grace way back when, ’s nice to see a smatterg of more diverse gay characters on TV – and that Hollywood is startg to take notice of the muny’s diversy – the days (hello, Morn Fay). Not every gay man, after all, has a thg for leather chaps or showtun – not that there’s anythg wrong wh, a character on the Gen X-spired TV show Happy Endgs on ABC, is played by Adam Pally, a New School grad and character actor who’s appeared a handful of shows and films, ually takg on unnamed characters like “douchey guy” and “bookstore crier, ” so says IMBD. ” Aptly – playg Blum – don’t spend a lot of time pullg gay male stereotyp out of his hat, and the character himself don’t really discs gay issu a ser way.

ADAM PALLY, MAX GREENFIELD GAY KISS ON 'HAPPY ENDGS' CUT

It n take awhile to figure out he’s even gay – even if sually flirtg wh another guy a bar scene pretty much gave while the show self stggl wh tryg too hard, g overly snappy dialogue between the 20 and 30 somethgs – sexualy isn’t a big al for any of the characters wrten to the show, pecially Blum. And they all have their share of issu – not jt the gay that sure seems to mirror what go on many of our everyday and – dare we say – sometim borg this week’s “very special” Halloween episo, two of the straight characters were mistaken for beg gay and, yep, they were fe wh .

In fact, when one of the women was mistaken for beg not only gay, but also a drag queen, she embraced her ner diva and entered a drag ntt, g a close send to, you gused , Blum. He was wearg an ugly red women’s bathg su, an abundance of cht hair and not a sgle fake show self may not be long for this world (the upsi: at least don’t have an awful lgh track like Whney), but we’ll enjoy seeg Max Blum for as long as he stumbl to our livg room each Wednday as a sometim unaware, mostly jt ordary, gay guy we swear we knew the latt Halloween episo by clickg here.

REVIEW: "HAPPY ENDGS" OFFERS UP A LEAD GAY {FONT:NORMAL 800 1.2REM/1.2 "D BOLD",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NORMAL;LOR:HER;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;PADDG-BOTTOM:6PX;POSN:RELATIVE;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;}{BACKGROUND:#89308A;BOTTOM:0;NTENT:'';DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:2PX;LEFT:0;POSN:ABSOLUTE;RIGHT:0;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;WIDTH:100%;}{LEFT:51%;RIGHT:51%;WIDTH:0;}{FONT:NORMAL 800 1.2REM/1.2 "D BOLD",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NORMAL;LOR:HER;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;PADDG-BOTTOM:6PX;POSN:RELATIVE;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;}{BACKGROUND:#89308A;BOTTOM:0;NTENT:'';DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:2PX;LEFT:0;POSN:ABSOLUTE;RIGHT:0;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;WIDTH:100%;}{LEFT:51%;RIGHT:51%;WIDTH:0;}TVBY BRENT HARTGERAPRIL 12, 2011/11:08 AMBY BRENT HARTGERAPRIL 12, 2011 / 11:08 AM{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"NEWSARTICLE","HEADLE":"REVIEW: \"HAPPY ENDGS\" OFFERS UP A LEAD GAY CHARACTER","DATEPUBLISHED":"2011-04-12T15:08:47.000+0000","DATEMODIFIED":"2011-04-12T15:08:47.000+0000","IMAGE":{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT","WIDTH":1920,"HEIGHT":1080},"URL":","THOR":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","NAME":"LOGO TV"},"MAENTYOFPAGE":{"@TYPE":"WEBPAGE","@ID":"},"PUBLISHER":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","@ID":","NAME":"LOGO TV","URL":","LOGO":{"@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT"}},"CREATOR":"BRENT HARTGER","KEYWORDS":"THE BACKLOT","ARTICLESECTN":"TV"}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THE MEN OF HAPPY ENDGS: DAMON WAYANS, JR., ZACHARY KNIGHTON, ADAM {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}IT'S LONG BEEN TELLG THAT SO FEW LEADG CHARACTERS SS ARE GAY — SPE THE FACT THAT MOST SS ARE SET AMONG HIP TWENTYSOMETHGS URBAN AREAS, PRECISELY WHERE OUT GAY PEOPLE TEND TO {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}BUT ALL THAT'S ABOUT TO CHANGE WH HAPPY ENDGS, WHICH BUTS WEDNDAY, APRIL 13TH ON ABC WH TWO BACK-TO-BACK EPISOS. THE SIX-PERSON MA ST CLUS MAX, PLAYED BY ADAM PALLY, AN OUT GAY GUY (WHO'S NOT YET OUT TO HIS PARENTS, WE LEARN THE THIRD EPISO).{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}HE'S NVCGLY GAY: HIS SEXUALY UP OM TIME-TO-TIME, AND HE HAS AN OUTSIR'S PERSPECTIVE, BUT HE'S NOT A PARTICULARLY GOOD DRSER, OK, OR RATOR, AND HE'S GOT WEIGHT AND SELF-TEEM ISSU. HIS SEXUALY IS TRODUCED WH THE LE: "EVEN I THK ROLLER SKAT ARE GAY, AND I HAD SEX WH A GUY LAST NIGHT."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THAT SAID, HE IS FELY YET ANOTHER TWENTYSOMETHG SLACKER-CUM-ARRTED ADOLCENT WHICH I GUS IS RIGUR ROMANTIC EDI THE DAYS, WHETHER THEY'RE THE MOVI OR ON {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}AND SHOULD BE NOTED THAT THE FIRST THREE EPISOS MA AVAILABLE FOR PREVIEW BY THE WORK, MAX IS THE ONLY MA CHARACTER TO HAVE NO ON-SCREEN LOVE OR ROMANTIC LIFE WHATSOEVER. (IT'S HARD FOR ME TO TAKE THE WORK OR THE PRODUCERS TO TASK FOR THIS, HOWEVER, SCE (A) ABC HAS THE BT "GAY" RERD ON TELEVISN WHEN TO SCRIPTED CHARACTERS AND IS THE ONLY WORK WH THE GUTS TO CLU A LEADG GAY CHARACTER ONE OF S NEW ROMANTIC EDI AT ALL, AND (B) THE PRODUCERS AND THE WORK ARE CLEARLY ATTEMPTG TO "TRODUCE" THE CHARACTER BEFORE GOG TO TAIL ABOUT HIS POTENTIALLY-ALIENATG LOVE LIFE. TALK TO ME AGA AFTER SIX OR SO EPISOS.){BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THE BAD NEWS IS THAT HAPPY ENDGS IS G AT THE TAIL END OF THIS MAJOR TV ROMANTIC EDY S WAVE — AFTER MOST OF THOSE OTHER SHOWS HAVE BASILLY {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}AND THEY ACTUALLY FAILED FOR GOOD REASON: NONE OF THEM WERE PARTICULARLY GOOD. WORSE, THEY MOSTLY SORT OF ALL BLURRED TOGETHER, WH THEIR YOUNG, ATTRACTIVE STS, QUIRKY (BUT NOT TOO QUIRKY) SENSIBILI, AND CHARACTERS WHO ALL SHARE EXACTLY THE SAME DROLL, IRONIC SENSE OF {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}BASILLY, NONE OF THEM WAS MORN FAY, NOT BY A LONG {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}IN THAT RPECT, HAPPY ENDGS IS LIKE MOST OF THE OTHERS — OR, AT BT, ONLY A CUT ABOVE. IT'S WELL DONE, BUT 'S BEEN DONE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THE GIMMICK IS THAT DAVE, ALEX, JANE, MAX, PENNY, AND BRAD HAVE BEEN IENDS FOREVER. IN THE OPENG TO THE PILOT, LONGTIME LOVERS DAVE AND ALEX ARE GETTG MARRIED — AT LEAST UNTIL A SURFER HUNK SHOWS UP MID-CEREMONY, A LA THE GRADUATE, TO DRAG ALEX {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}I'M SURE THIS FELT VERY EDGY THE PCH SSN, BUT WHAT'S WEIRD IS HOW LTLE THIS ACTUALLY HAS TO DO WH THE SHOW SELF. IN THE END, 'S STILL A SHOW ABOUT SIX IENDS (AND THEY ALL STAY IENDS) AND THEIR WACKY HIJKS AND IRONIC {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}BUT TO THE SHOW'S CRED, SOME OF IS AMG. WHEN THEY'RE TEASG MAX ABOUT HIS WEIGHT ISSU, JANE SAYS, "IT'S LIKE IF PL RUDD GAVE UP," WHICH IS A SOMEWHAT ACCURATE, IF EXTREMELY CEL ASSSMENT OF HIS LOOKS. AND WHEN MAX PREPAR TO GO BACK TO THE CLOSET WH THE IMPENDG ARRIVAL OF HIS PARENTS, SHE NOT, AGA SURPRISGLY ACCURATELY, "FOR SOMEONE WHO BEHAV NOTHG LIKE A GAY GUY, YOU HAVE EVEN LS OF AN IA HOW TO ACT LIKE A STRAIGHT GUY."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THERE'S A FUNNY NNG JOKE THE PILOT EPISO ABOUT HOW MAX HAS TERRIBLE GAYDAR — A JOKE I REALLY APPRECIATE SCE TOO OFTEN ROMANTIC EDI GAY MEN ARE PORTRAYED LIKE SOME KD OF ALL-KNOWG AND MYSTER SAVANTS (AND BEE I THK, GENERAL, THE NUMBER OF GAY GUYS WH BAD GAYDAR BUT DON'T KNOW IS ACTUALLY MUCH HIGHER THAN THE NUMBER OF GAY GUYS WHO ACTUALLY HAVE GOOD GAYDAR).{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}AND FOR WHAT 'S WORTH, DAMON WAYANS, JR. (THE SON OF EDIAN DAMON WAYANS), WHO PLAYS BRAD, IS EXTREMELY EASY ON THE EY. WHO KNEW?{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}I DOUBT HAPPY ENDGS WILL HAVE A HAPPY ENDG AS A SHOW, BUT I HOPE DO. I'D LOVE TO SEE WHAT THEY END UP DOG WH {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;CLEAR:BOTH;}THE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;MARG:0 TO;WIDTH:90%;M-WIDTH:288PX;MAX-WIDTH:1440PX;M-HEIGHT:194PX;}LATT NEWS

As an veterate fan of the fortg formulaisms that mark the s genre, I was exced to enunter Happy Endgs, a show about late 20-somethg “buddi” that has clear affi to Friends ( last week’s Valente’s Day episo, a very high-on-Novoe Brad enters a limoe wh all five buddi and proceeds to assign each character wh a name om Friends) and which featur s “buddy st” a black man and a gay Jewish character. The other edge Happy Endgs has over Friends is s cln of a black character (played by Damon Wayans Jr., who is a ad-rger for his father), and a gay character (played by Adam Pally).