Ask the Flying Monkey (January 08, 2009)

Have a question about gay male entertainment? Ask the Monkey!

Q: In early November it was announced that Stan Lee would be bringing Perry Moore's novel Hero to Showtime as a series. Do you know if the project is still moving forward or has it hit a stumbling block? – Matt, Jackson, MS

Perry Moore

Photo credit Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images

A: It’s definitely on, but it’s still very early in the process. “As part of our Showtime deal, we were sworn to secrecy,” Perry tells the Flying Monkey. “We were dying – it was hard to keep the news inside!”

Perry did bring Stan Lee onto the GLBT panel at the San Diego ComicCon as a “surprise guest,” but all they were able to say is that they’d worked out a “partnership” — which resulted in much speculation that that might mean a movie or a graphic novel.

“So when the news finally broke [about the potential Showtime series] on the cover of Variety, we were just as surprised as anyone else,” Perry says. “Showtime called us to apologize: their PR department had to announce their upcoming slate before they had a chance to inform us — and all this time we'd been keeping it a secret. What's great was that the news of the show spread like wildfire. Suddenly, we're the show to watch. And I'm happy to say, the network is happy with our work so far. They've greenlit us from the detailed treatment phase to the next stage: writing the pilot script.”

Incidentally, they’re very interested in casting suggestions, so if you have any bright ideas, feel free to drop Perry an email.

Q: Will 24 ever have a gay character? – Erkkel, New Haven, CT

A: In July, we were told that, yes, 24 will finally have a gay character. The Monkey got all excited, because he thought it might be new cast member, Rhys Coiro, who is a total hottie (especially in buttoned-down mode, after playing insane slacker-director Billy Walsh on Entourage).

Alas, it is not to be. We've just been told there won't be a gay character this season after all.

Rhys Coiro on Entourage (left) and on 24 (right)

That said, in the new season, which debuts this Sunday, President Taylor is played by the wonderful Cherry Jones, an out lesbian who is partners with Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip’s Sarah Paulson.

Q: Are there any out gay skateboarders? – Ryan, New Orleans, LA

A: As in any professional sport, gay skateboarders often worry — probably correctly — that they’ll lose sponsorships and face discrimination by being out. But there are a few exceptions like Tim Von Werne and Jarret Berry, who are both refreshingly matter-of-fact about being gay.

This question gives the Monkey a good excuse to show this amazing 2007 PSA from MTV (don’t worry — it’s only 15 seconds long):

Next page! Whither Milk? Also, Ugly Betty's junior high bromance.