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Groundbreaking
Shows Created by Groundbreaking Men
by Kris Scott Marti, May 5, 2005
A March 14 article in Time Magazine features an exposè-style opening quote of “They’re gay. But these writers are producing some of today’s most compelling, and popular, series about heterosexuals.” Not only is it somehow a major scoop that there are gay folks in the entertainment industry, but apparently it is big news that gay men don’t live in some alternate universe full of circuit parties and rainbow striped speedos, but can successfully tell a story about the people they interact with on a daily basis.Recently on Loveline, a night time radio talk show about sexual health and sexuality, host Adam Carolla was riffing on gangs made up of gay men. He quipped “Yeah, it’s called musical theater.” The funny thing is that maybe he isn’t far off. Now I don’t want to conjure up shadowy images of a pink mafia, but there are six out gay men in the prime of their life consistently writing and producing some of the best shows on television. And in case you’re thinking it’s not a big deal to be an openly gay man in Hollywood, name ten living, working gay actors out by their own choice. Or even five. Without a formal networking organization like Power Up, most of these men are connected professionally through one person--Michael Patrick King of Sex and the City fame. The oldest of the group, King started out in New York in the 1980s pursuing an acting career. He soon transitioned into playwriting and stand up comedy before heading west to Los Angeles. Some of the television shows he has contributed to as a writer are Cybil, a show that Alan Ball wrote and co-executive produced; The Five Mrs. Buchanans, written, created and exectuive produced by Marc Cherry; and Will & Grace, co-created, written and executive produced by Max Mutchnick. If that wasn’t enough of a game of gay "Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon," King was also a writer and co-executive producer on Sex and the City with Darren Star. In a nutshell, King has worked in close proximity to more than his share of successful out gay men creating groundbreaking television in Los Angeles. |
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