GAY MUST-SEE TV

The explosion of so-called “gay TV” has been seen as damaging by some as it is empowering for others. Indeed, Will & Grace‘s swishy, neutered males have about as much sex-appeal as a marshmallow, while the not so “fab five” of Queer Eye for the Straight Guy do everything in their power to reinforce stereotypes about gay men that activists have been railing against for years. Controversial Steven Cojocaru, style correspondent for Entertainment Tonight, is adored by straight middle-America, yet reviled by many gays for his effete, surgically enhanced visage and queeny mincing. Queer as Folk serves up a bevy of brain-dead, self-involved beauties only concerned with their next bed partner.

Are these the only kind of gay images straight America wants to see: Shallow, callow, safe and ultimately white-washed?

Perhaps, but gay viewers and filmmakers have different ideas. Already, two very different TV series you may not have heard of are coming to DVD, bringing with them a very distinct set of characters, lives and issues.

Bravo Network’s “docu-soap” Fire Island details the trials & tribulations of two sets of gay vacationers, one male and the other female. Shot reality-TV style and featuring a cast of 30- and 40-something gay friends and couples, Fire Island rips away the glamorous fantasy most of us have of summers at the Pines, instead painting a gritty portrait of shaky relationships, body issues and sex in the AIDS era. But of course, what reality show worth its salt would be complete without a battle of wills between housemates?

Punks‘ writer, director and producer Patrik-Ian Polk brings us Noah’s Arc, a night-time soaper attempting to blend a Sex and the City sensibilty with the whiny angst of Queer As Folk. Importantly, it features an all-black cast, aiming right for an audience that has been shamelessly underserved by the media, the all-but-invisible gay black man.

The first season of Noah’s Arc will be available for purchase on DVD/VHS beginning Tuesday, June 22 at a video store near you. Look for Fire Island on May 25 from Win Media Direct.

Lastly, here! TV, the nation’s first programming service appealing to gay and lesbian audiences is planning to launch a 24/7 schedule of movies, new original series, classic films and television series and other general entertainment content.