That said, Noah's Arc is genuinely groundbreaking television. Patrik Ian-Polk, Noah's creator, filmed the pilot thinking it would go straight to DVD. After all, what network was going to air a show about four gay African-American friends? But the Human Rights Campaign paid for the pilot to air at various film festivals around the country, which is where Logo saw it and decided to pick it up.
Good intentions, of course, do not necessarily make a good show. But production issues aside, it's impossible to ignore the fact that this is a show with heart, about a world I know very little about. The four leads are all very appealing. And despite its frothy tone, Noah's Arc doesn't shy away from real issues: safer sex, stereotypes in the African-American community, fidelity, AIDS. The show has actual substance.
Oh, and did I mention Jensen Atwood? Atwood plays Noah's boyfriend, a “straight” boy who falls in love with Noah. This guy is a major hunk with a very appealing twinkle in his eye. Alas, Atwood is reportedly straight, but plays a gay very convincingly.
I was disappointed that with the premiere of its second season as the show still suffers from occasional amateurism. But appealing actors and entertaining storylines makes this show absolutely infectious. I say give it a watch. I hope it succeeds.
(Full disclosure: Logo, which airs Noah's Arc, now owns AfterElton).
THIS WEEK ON DVD
The pickings DVD-wise have been rather slim of late, but this week has quite a few flicks of interest. The comedy Adam and Steve hits stores on August 8th right alongside the first season of Noah's Arc. Also out on the 8th is Here!TV's Third Man Out starring Chad Allen as gay detective Donald Strachey.
Speaking of Chad's role as Strachey, Here!TV is releasing the sequel to Third Man Out—Shock to the System—this Friday both in theaters and on their network. Check out our review of Shock here.
Also in theaters on Friday is Quinceaneara, which won both the Audience and Grand Jury Award at this year's Sundance Film Festival. Produced by the openly gay couple Richard Glatzer and Wash Westmoreland, Quinceaneara tells the story of fifteen-year old Magdalena as well as her gay cousin Carlos. Check back next week for our review.
There is no need to wait to see what we thought of Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby starring Will Ferrell and Sacha Baron Cohen as the gay race car driver who bedevils Ricky Bobby, as our very own Karman Kregloe reviewed the surprisingly gay-friendly summer blockbuster.
If you feel like hanging out at home this week, you can not only catch Tim Gunn on Project Runway, but you can also see him tonight on Late Night with Conan O'Brien. Or you can watch Celebrity Fit Club's ANT visit Jay Leno to hype the new season of his reality show. When does the new season of Celebrity Fit Club air, you might ask? That would be Sunday night at 9 PM, but if I were you I'd check out Sunday night's Entourage which not only features the out Rex Lee, but Johnny Drama (Matt Dillon) ending up in an awkward situation when he too enthusiastically expresses his appreciation of his masseur.
Now I'll shut up so you can have the BEST.GAY.WEEK.EVER!
That's it for this week! Check back next Friday for a new installment of Best. Gay. Week. Ever., or read previous installments here.
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