If you haven't realized it yet, for now we're just recapping Noah's Arc, and will hold off our critique for another episode or two. But there has been substantial discussion around the characterizations in comments here, at Keith's site, at J's Theater, and on Bernie's lgbt-poc list serv.
Darryl Stephens (Noah) answers some critics in the brand new issue of Gay Chicago (Go White Sox!). In an interview by Dana Caprina, Stephens makes an interesting observation about the show's impact:
Who do you think you will get the most flack from—the gay or the black community?
It's on a gay network and on cable. I don't know how many black people are going to see it. I think LOGO is geared toward gay people and people who like gay people, so I feel that people who are going to watch the show are already over that hump. I think black people will have some issues with it if they happen to see it, but I hope they enjoy the show.
It's somewhat ironic that Darryl employs the terms "black" and "gay" as mutually exclusive; it's probably more the fault of an inexperienced interviewer, or, semantics. In any event, there was no follow-up to that question, so you really can't be sure what's Darryl is trying to say. (The interview is not online at Gay Chicago's website, but we have scanned and uploaded the interview as a jpeg here.) When Stephens says "black", it would appear that he meant straight or non-gay; but emphasizing "I don't know how many black people are going to see it" unwittingly gives ammunition to critics who charge that the show is merely a black veneer of standard gay fare. Our immediate question was, well, how many non-blacks are watching? because it's barely made a ripple across the many gay- and gayish blogs that are obsessed with the boys of Smallville, The O.C. or alleged Colin Farrell sex tapes. Let's hope Darryl's mis-speak is more an issue of semantics; in the meantime, we'll be watching and wishing the show the best ... but still providing a Paul Lynde-sque recap every Thursday morning and hopefully some clips.
Noah's Arc airs Wednesdays at 2200/est on Logo.
Noah, Noah, Noah (Rod 2.0) Three Reviews (J's Theater) Noah's Arc Sets Sail (Keith Boykin) More in the Noah's Arc Index
It's annoying (but, sadly, not in the least bIt surprising) how blogs by gay white guys have ignored Noah's Arc. Meanwhile Aquaman's on Smallville, and they cover that shit on endless repeat like it's the biggest story ever. Gear yourself up for their collective heads to explode over Real World Key West.
Love the show. Didn't like it at first, but I dvr-ed it and watched it again last night, and really like it. Give it time; it will be a hit. I suspect straight people --especially women--and the straight nmsm will be make this succeed.
Posted by: a | 26 October 2005 at 07:08
It's annoying (but, sadly, not in the least bIt surprising) how blogs by gay white guys have ignored Noah's Arc. Meanwhile Aquaman's on Smallville, and they cover that shit on endless repeat like it's the biggest story ever. Gear yourself up for their collective heads to explode over Real World Key West.
Love the show. Didn't like it at first, but I dvr-ed it and watched it again last night, and really like it. Give it time; it will be a hit. I suspect straight people --especially women--and the straight nmsm will be make this succeed.
Posted by: a | 26 October 2005 at 07:10
I think the most annoying criticism of this show is that everyone is looking for themselves in it. A show about 4 men cannot represent everyone. Am I annoyed that Noah no longer embodies the same balance he did in the original version? Yes. But attacking the show because it's not ALL things to ALL people is completely out-of-line. Furthermore, if this show did go leaps and bounds to be more "realistic", to be more "masculine", would we not still find a reason to complain about it?
Posted by: nOva | 26 October 2005 at 09:38
Sad that he didn't correct the interviewer on that naive question.
Posted by: Bernie | 26 October 2005 at 09:53
SGL PEOPLE OF COLOR ARE SURPRISED THAT WHITE GAY MEDIA AND BLOGS AREN'T TALKING ABOUT THE SHOW? YOU GOT TO BE KIDDING. DID U EXPECT THEM TO DO SO? I HOPE NOT, THERE IS A REASON WHY WE HAVE BLK BLOGS, WEB PAGES, AND PUBLICATIONS PEOPLE. IT'S BECAUSE OUR VOICE ISN'T BEING HEARD OR PUBLISHED.
FURTHERMORE, WHY CANT WE, WHO ARE MASCULINE VOICE OUR OPINIONS, SGL ARE DIVERSE AND TO ASSUME THAT I AM GOING TO GO ALONG WITH A SHOW WHOSE MAIN CHARACTERS AS STEREOTYPICAL "SNAP QUEENS" IS RIDICULOUS. WITH ALL THE CONTROVERSY OVER NOAH, I HOPE POLK BRINGS IN SOME MASCULINE MEN SO I WONT HAVE TO TURN AWAY AND WATCH SOUTH PARK OR LAW & ORDER.
Posted by: naturalblkluv | 26 October 2005 at 12:06
it's been brought to my attention that there is some controversy about an interview i gave to a gay chicago paper. i'll try and clarify my thoughts as the interviewer seems to have missed some of my original points... when asked if i thought the general black population would enjoy a show about four fabulous gay men, i answered that the show is on a gay network which is geared to gay people and their friends. obviously, the characters are all BLACK and GAY, but hopefully EVERYBODY will be able to relate and enjoy the show. the interviewer didn't seem satisfied that i had answered her question about how the general black population. i went on to say that black people are not as homophobic as we are made out to be. i haven't seen the actual interview, but i'm assuming that point didn't make the final cut. i see now that my attempts at being diplomatic--because in all honesty, i had no idea how ANYONE would react to the show at that point--came off as vague and a few choice omissions on the part of the writer made it seem that i was more confident in a general "gay" community than in a general "black" community. but it was the writer who made a point to separate those two communities, not me. let me state now that my hope is that GAY BLACK PEOPLE will be the first to enjoy the show and that their families and friends (gay, straight, whatever ethnicity) will follow their lead. thank you all for watching. d.
Posted by: darryl | 02 November 2005 at 12:43
noah arc is a good show but i think the show should have all types of gay lifestyles this show needs a transsexual on it whose sexy, wild and slutty like blanche
on the golden girls or jackee' on 227. and also i think this show need to stay on for 1 hr its 30 minutes is not enough time to get into enjoying this show
Posted by: kistoria robinosn | 08 June 2006 at 18:12
i think we need more black gay men on tv. i think it intrigues the white mans taboo for black meat and also im really tired of seeing the same o boring white people doing the same on boring things we need something diffrent and more of it. and more puerto rican men and a transsexual to intrigue the downlow straight men that are into transgender especially afro american transgender. i thik the producer is doing a great job so far but neds more time for this show 30 minutes is just not enough time to get the point across.
Posted by: kistoria robinosn | 08 June 2006 at 18:18
hi darryl I love you as darryl first and then as noah .I am so glad that noah's arc is coming back because I was one of the ones who kept on writting to logo .of course I was the sister you we can beee .I went off ..no one will keep my black brothers down .the show is above the rest you guys are the bomb .jensen[wade]rodney[alex]christian[ricky]doug[chance].no I am not gay but I found the show to be very interesting .and patrik is the greatest for bring you guys on the screen the show to me deseves 4 million plus stars .you are my favorite on the show Ijust love your character he is so sexxxxxy and smart and in the long run noah gets his man noah and wade deserves to be together you guys make the show. darryl please know that you are a very special person .I wish I could meet you in person .I would pass out .you are the greatest.no matter what people may say about you and your work I love you and god loves you remember that you have a fan first and a friend second .your number 1 Fan .ms marie.
Posted by: ms,marie | 07 May 2007 at 20:11