Ask the Flying Monkey! (March 03, 2009)

Q: What was the real reason given for the series cancellation of Queer as Folk? I read in an interview by Hal Sparks that there were egos flying around the room from some of the actors. Why didn't they just write them off, or at least create a spin-off series like The Cosby Show did with A Different World? -- Kitty, Knoxville, TN

A: Another good question, Kitty.

Ultimately, these are all financial decisions. Shows are so often cancelled after five years (if they last that long), because the talent usually signs five-year contracts. For a show to continue after that, even in a spin-off, the actors have to want to stay, and the producers have to pay them more – often much more, because actors who were “unknown” when the series began are now well-known celebrities. 

At the time of QAF’s cancellation, there were all the usual excuses given about having told all the possible stories, and about the cost of the dollar in Canada (where the show was filmed) versus the U.S. (The actors had originally signed six-year contracts, but they re-negotiated them into five-year ones in the first year.)

But the real reason?  It’s hard not to conclude that ego didn’t have a lot to do with it. As you suggest, there was extremely bad blood on the set of the show.

“There ended up being a lot of negativity in kind of just trying to get loving storylines done, and it was a tall order,” Hal Sparks recently told MileHighGayGuy.com. “I have a really low tolerance, personally, for anybody who would interrupt that process of people trying to do good work just because of ego and bullshit. So those two people [one gay cast member and one straight one], and I’m sure the people out there in Queer as Folkland have some idea who I’m talking about, I wouldn’t work with them again in any capacity.”

Former QAF castmates Gale Harold, Hal Sparks, and Randy Harrison

Not surprisingly, when I spoke with Showtime and the Canadian producers of Queer as Folk last fall, both were very clear that there are no plans whatsoever to do a QAF movie or spin-off.

Truthfully? I never liked the show even as a guilty pleasure. But QAF’s shock-sexuality already seems kind of dated to me.

Q: How true is it that gay actors don't come out of the closet because then it's harder to find jobs? Which famous movie actors have come out as gay and then their careers have become dead in the water as a direct result? I ask because I know Neil Patrick Harris (How I met Your Mother), Wilson Cruz (He's Just Not That Into You), and many others might say otherwise. I mean it's 2009 already! -- Kitty, Knoxville, TN

A: Wow, Kitty, you have a lot of questions, don’t you?

I’ve written before that I really think it depends on the kind of roles an actor plays. If he’s up for Nathan Lane roles, well, coming out probably won’t hurt as much as if he’s up for Tom Cruise roles.

The character at left would be easier for an out actor to play

Obviously, coming out doesn’t mean your career is immediately over, but it can definitely be something that works against your career. Making an ongoing living as an actor is much harder than you’d think, and it’s all about not giving casting directors a reason to reject you.

Interesting, Hal Sparks touched on this in that Instinct interview I mentioned above:

“I think the gay actors on [Queer as Folk] have had a harder time working after the show than the straight ones have. That’s a fact, and it’s a shameful one. I think it points to gay casting directors in Los Angeles who are unable to look past the job they did more than anything else. It’s one of my pet peeves. I’ve read in front of casting directors knowing full well they’re gay and knowing they wouldn’t let other gay actors get past them.”

But, er, Kitty, don’t you think you’ve asked enough questions? How about we give someone else a chance?

Q: How justified do you think actors are in saying that they don't disclose their sexuality for the sake of their art? Do you honestly think that they want you to believe whatever character they might be playing, or they simply don't want to come out of the closet? And really, how much business is it of ours? -- Kitty, Knoxville, TN

A: Uh, yeah, thanks, Kitty. Um, can someone please take the microphone away from Kitty? How about you there? Yes, you there. Brian? Is that your name?

Kitty? Please? Do you–? Oh, no, Brian, I didn’t mean for you–! Well, as long as you–! That’s it, just wrest it away!

Next page! Jackman teeters on gay-baiting while giving Langella a lap dance.