Adam Pally is Ready For His "Happy Ending"

If there is one thing you can say for certain about the current crop of gay characters on U.S. television, it’s that teenagers rule the roost. From Kurt Hummel, Blaine Anderson and Dave Karofksy on Glee, to Teddy Montgomery on 90210, to Ian Gallagher on Shameless, to Marshall Gregson and Lionel Trane on United States of Tara, gay teen characters are sucking up most of the pop culture oxygen these days.

Fortunately for those interested in more adult gay characters, last week ABC debuted their new sitcom Happy Endings, which includes Max, a gay guy in his late twenties. Even better, Max isn’t your typical TV gay character. Let's just say Marc St. James from Ugly Betty   probably wouldn't be having Max over to brunch anytime soon.

Adam Pally

Indeed, "fabulous" is the last word that comes to mind when describing Max. Ditto “fashionable” or most any other “stereotypical” description of a gay character. Max loves sports, doesn’t want to be anyone’s “gay husband, and is described by one character as looking like Paul Rudd “if he stopped caring.” In other words, this gay guy has much more in common with Brian and Steve from The Sarah Silverman Program than he does with Kevin and Scotty from Brothers & Sisters.

Twenty-eight-old Adam Pally stars as Max, and he’s nearly as irreverent and unconventional as the character he plays. AfterElton.com recently had the chance to talk with Pally about playing Max, smoking weed, and why he never uses the word "gay" when describing his character.

AfterElton: So tell us a little about Max.
Adam Pally: Max is one of those guys who loves when everything goes wrong for people. I think he revels in chaos. It’s a really fun and easy job to play. So that’s kind of my take on Max.

AE: There has got to be a nice side to him too.
AP: He is endearing. I have a couple friends like that. People our age tend to plan so much, everything is planned and you’re kind of following this life expectancy thing and then the best thing that can happen is it can get messed up because the unexpected happens. I think that Max always wants that to happen.

Casey Williams and Pally in Happy Endings

AE: So when you read for the role how was the character described to you?
AP: He was described pretty much the way he was written. The fact that he was gay was pretty much a non-issue for everybody involved as it is in the plot when you see it. Which I think it actually is really good and refreshing. Even now when I’m describing Max I never say “gay character” because I never really think it’s important.

AE: It’s 2011 so it’s nice to have that attitude. Have a gay character and having the gay just be part of who he is.
AP: Yeah. When he starts dating a dude then that will be that episode, but until then he’ll just be sardonic which is fun to play.