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News, Reviews & Commentary on Gay and Bisexual Men in Entertainment and the Media

Out "Night Shift" head writer Sri Rao to bring a new gay-inclusive teen series to The N

I know, I know. I'm bummed, too, that tonight's General Hospital: Night Shift means that one of my favorite shows is going away. But TV Guide Canada recently talked with the show's head writer, Sri Rao, who in discussing the origins of his Night Shift gig revealed that he's got another project in the works:

"I did an independent pilot, which was seen by The N, and they later ordered a series that I created titled What Goes On, about five teenagers growing up in a suburban neighborhood. It hasn’t aired yet, but after ABC saw the series, they approached me to head-write Night Shift."

From what little I've been able to Google, What Goes On follows five teens who live on the same Philadelphia street, including one gay kid. Rao says it'll have "the same tone and gravitas" as Six Feet Under, except with teens. Obviously, he's trying to our expectations low. Not.

Find out more about Rao after the break!

Rao also mentions that he's a huge fan of Degrassi: The Next Generation (which led him to pitch What Goes On to The N) as well as My So Called Life. Suddenly, my Night Shift love is bleeding over to Rao's new series ... too bad The N doesn't seem to be promoting it yet.

Marco and Dylan, one of Degrassi: The Next Generation's gay teen couples.

Unfortunately, if you're frustrated with the "Original Gangster" General Hospital and was hoping Rao would add daytime television to his resume, that doesn't sound likely:

"I don’t think I can do the pace of daytime. Night Shift is a daytime hybrid. Night Shift aired one day a week. I look at what they do over at GH and I’m just in awe of it. No hiatus after five episodes a week a year. It’s insane! I don’t know how they do it."

Still for those of you who like your men smart, creative and able to look good in a pinstriped suit, Rao mentioned he's single "and very looking," with his perfect man being Eric Whitlow, Chad Allen's role on Night Shift.

  • Lyle Masaki's blog
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  • Brock Savage's picture

    The Light of Day

    Just because the ABC and the N thought the indy pilot was good enough for them to offer Rao a writing gig doesn't mean the show is ever going to see the light of day.

    It was an indy pilot. No network green-lit the show or even asked for the pilot. It's pretty much just a super expensive spec script, which also never see the light of day.

    I don't think we'll be seeing this any time soon, unless Rao gets more than a writing gig, like an actual production/development deal, then we might see a version.

    www.thebittersuite.blogspot.com

    Lyle Masaki's picture

    Chances seem mixed...

    The series was filmed (IMDB says there were ten episodes made) and the words Rao uses -- "ordered a series" -- is one that usually indicates a show that has gone beyond the pilot stage.

    Still, it was filmed last year (it actually appears on GLAAD's 2007-2008 Where We Are on Cable) and there's no announced plans to air it... maybe with Rao's name getting better known, it'll finally air.

    parannoyed44's picture

    Beyond the pilot

    It's beyond the pilot stage, however since it was to be premiered last November it might not ever be available on the N.  There are a total of ten 30 minute episodes and I have been able to watch them all online.  They are really good.  I hope to see them on a network, though they might end up on a web-network like thewb.com.  It's almost like Skins in the UK where you experience the episode through one of the characters.
    loneranger's picture

    What Goes On........

    Well I have just watched this series on that website where you can watch such things.It was actually pretty good. Why the N hasn't aired it yet I do not know. And on a somewhat related not...Sri Roa is HOT!