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

Interview with Mario Cantone

AE: Anything you can tell us about Sex and the City, or will Darren Star have you killed?
MC:
I can’t tell you anything. Just look at the trailers. I think it’s going to be fantastic. I really do. I mean, it was a blast to make. I did my ten days on it.. I’m just glad I was in it. Michael Patrick King gave me a lot of funny stuff to do. It’s gonna be fun and the girls were fantastic.

AE: Are your scenes with Kristin Davis mostly?
MC:
I have some scenes with Willie [Garson], and some with Kim [Cattrall] and with Kristin, of course. I’ve got some fun stuff to do. I’m psyched, I really am.

AE: What can you tell me about your next project. Dirty Movie?
MC:
Dirty Movie is a National Lampoon movie directed by Chris Meloni and starring Chris Meloni and me and Robert Klein. It’s one of the most irreverent movies, just filthy.

AE: You've been in a relationship for sixteen years, correct? What's the secret to your success?
MC:
Yeah. Giving each other space and freedom and backing each other up all the time and just loving each other. And he’s not a jealous person when it comes to this business. He’s an actor, but he’s also much more of a director and a writer at this point. He’s kind of moving into that area. He wrote all the original music to my one-man show, Laugh Whore. He’s always had the mind of a director and a writer. He’s not the attention whore that I am.

AE: What’s his name?
MC:
His name is Jerry Dixon. He’s like, you can have all the attention you want – go ahead. Enjoy yourself. He’s never had a stitch of jealousy in that area.

Cantone with Jerry Dixon

AE: What do you see as the next step in your career? What are you shooting for?
MC:
I have a deal in the works with Lion’s Gate for a series I hope works out. That would be great. And I’d like to do some more film. And I’d really like to go back to Broadway again – not a one-man show, but I really love doing theater.

AE: I’ll keep my fingers crossed for that deal coming through. Anything else?
MC:
I think I’m good. I just went to Bora Bora and now I’m in Hawaii. I went to Bora Bora and did things I’ve never done in my life I jet-skied, I swam with stingrays, I swam with sharks and I coral reef snorkeled. I’ve never done that in my life. I was like 007. It was bizarre.

AE: I did that in Fiji years ago.
MC:
Did you do it? I gotta go back. It was beautiful. It really was. Tomorrow I’m flying over Hawaii in a helicopter, which I’m more horrified about than anything. Well, this is my last interview if it’s over. “I fell into the volcano – tell everyone I love them, and good night. I had a great time with everybody. I’m covered with lava.”

AE: That’s too morbid. I’m not even gonna go there.
MC:
No – I’ll be back!

Men in Trees airs at 10 PM on ABC. 

Brent Hartinger's picture

Great Interview!

I heard your half when you were conducting it, so now it's nice to read the other half! Truthfully, I wouldn't have expected Mario to be that interesting. Read my books! Explore "Brent's Brain" at http://www.brenthartinger.com
Evan's picture

My View

Mario should consider himself lucky.  I don't believe the stuff Barbara Walters puts out especially that she is a caring individual.  Barbara stabbed Rosie in the back as soon as she realized Rosie was popular and could connect with the audience in a way she never could.  Then after Rosie left Barbara repeatedly lied about the ratings saying that they went up when in fact they went down.  She appeared on Ryan Seacrest's radio show and said they no longer had to talk about lesbian sex.  Once again Barbara flat out lied.  Rosie only once talked about lesbian sex.  Barbara has no problem with straight people judging what gay people are and are not or what we can and can not do on a weekly basis.  Barbara suggested Ellen could be a panelist on The View.  Ellen has her own show.  Did she think because Ellen is a lesbian she would do anything she says like a pet?  It shows her complete lack of respect for Ellen and what she does.  Suzie Orman was savagely attacked when she guest hosted last May.   

Rosie was used by the media to increase ratings and web traffic.  Media people know that anything involving gay people will increase ratings because people want to judge gay people's humanity and dehumanize us for sport. 

As far as Elisabeth Hasselback changing, that's wishful thinking.  All "her" opinions are her husband's.  According to her, she was raised by a liberal hippie family and when she met her husband her views changed. 

Gay characters and gay people on tv are used for dramatic effect.  The writers and producers have no intention of humanizing the gay characters and gay people.  This pattern will continue until gay people stop accepting crumbs. 

Have a great trip, Mario and Jerry.

KylesBnB's picture

Mario Rocks!

Give this man a sitcom. Or a talk show! We need intelligent, funny, out gay men like him to flood the media with their brilliance!
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matthew's picture

Mario's choice not to be on the view.

I think it was wise of Mario to decide not to be on the view. Because he said even though he's gay he's still a man, I think that shows some real poise and I respect him for not totally eating up the gay stereotype.