Hello, serious crayons. Long time no see.
Guys, have you checked out the new gay TV series "Looking" on HBO? At least it is new in Canada. It is set in San Francisco, and traces the lives of a group of gay men--the usual TV series format. It is interesting to compare the way gay life was treated on cable in QAF in 2000-2005, and now in 2014 in Looking. I have seen only 2 episodes so far, but have noticed a few things. Marriage, boyfriends, relationship problems, etc., are now treated more like the straight equivalent, that is, are taken for granted. The sex is remarkably restrained. QAF was wall-to-wall sex exquisitely filmed, the really well done scenes quite complete from beginning play through climax to cuddling after, were usually love scenes, and the actual sex was the appropriate conclusion of love-making. In Looking we see far less sex, and so far, not much distinction between casual sex and love sex. One thing there IS in Looking is fur. Practically everyone has a beard, and most guys have chest and body hair--the show is filled with otters and bears. That's fine with me. There was little fur on QAF; in fact the sex-god character Brian frequently commented disparagingly about men shaving their chests.
Irritatingly the episodes are only 1/2 hour long. It is hard to generate much plot complexity in so short a time Still, maybe complexity is not what you're after. The acting is good. You may recognize Murray Bartlett, the reappearing ex-boyfriend in "August." The situations are believable, and it is funny. Some of the in-jokes and bits of business may go passed straight people, but not to where they would not understand what is going on.
Gay-theme programs on general release television seem to me to buy into very inaccurate sexual stereotyping of gay men which drives me beserk. Looking does not do this at all. Neither did QAF, but it was glossier, and the world was not then nor now so filled with drop-dead gorgeous men. Looking is more realistic, but it's men are nice to look at too. Check it out. Your half hour will not be wasted.
I addressed this posting to "Guys" because I suspect women will not be too interested; it is really all-male oriented. I know QAF's audience was half women, but I doubt that will happen with Looking. If women disagree, please say so.