Tonight, Logo will premiere its animated new comedy series Rick & Steve: The Happiest Gay Couple in All the World. The series is politically incorrect, the plots are ridiculously subversive and the writing hilarious. Rick & Steve is like South Park on crack. Just gayer.
Rick & Steve was created by the delightful Q. Allan Brocka (Boy Culture) who developed his characters from into plastic action figures with movable parts. Rick and Steve are "the happiest gay couple in West Lahunga Beach" which is exactly the sort of gay-friendly alternate reality suggested by the double-entendre. Actually, they're not quite the happiest lately—their sex life is on the skids and Steve wants a threesome. "It'll make us closer!" he whines. "Our relationship deserves a threesome!"
Rick is 30 years old, nerdy, a member of Mensa (called here "Men-zuh") and Filipino-American. The self-described "insatiable bottom" cooks, cleans and handles the domestic chores while boyfriend Steve is at the gym and hanging with the boys. Steve is another stereotype, supposed to embody the ideal of Chelsea boy hotness whose magnetism is almost irresistible.
The supporting characters make the show. Best friends Chuck and Evan (voiced by Alan Cumming and Wilson Cruz) are also polar opposites: The former is an older, wheelchair-bound HIV positive former circuit boy who quite possibly is a drug dealer. On the other hand Evan is a 19 year old twink who is the personification of a young, dumb and full of ____. Kristin and Dana are also stereotypes: The first is the cute, boyish lesbian and Dana is the typical man-hater who drives a pick-up truck-up.
Rick & Steve: The Happiest Gay Couple in All the World premieres tonight at 10pm est. (The site has videos, photos and more exclusives.) It has the all the trappings of a breakout hit and is precisely the branding Logo craves to gain some much-needed traction.
And they got rid of Noah's Arc for this? Makes me glad I don't have Logo and that it isn't even offered here.
Posted by: 'dre | 10 July 2007 at 21:58
Noah's Arc wasn't that great, dre. let's be honest...
I think this is going to be a VERY edgy show. the talented lined up for it: Alan Cumming, Wilson Cruz, the animation, etc.
Plus, as foul and raunchy as South Park is, it still remains very edgy to this day...
I can't wait to see it when I get cable again this fall
Posted by: Ryan | 11 July 2007 at 07:07
This Rick & Steve series is actually a rehash of the filmmakers previous work that was on G & L festival circuit some years back. It was creative back then.
Posted by: Barton | 11 July 2007 at 08:27
it's actually not a rehash. Allan has been working on updating the script and changing the characters slightly for almost a year now. It should be pretty good.
Though I do believe it sucks that Noah's Arc is off the air.
Posted by: tekay | 11 July 2007 at 13:42
You know Ryan, I agree, NA wasn't the best, but, it was something! I guess I can't get into the blond Chelsea gym guy which is what every white gay man seems to be depicted as, only different hood in different city and the stereotypical Asian "power bottom" had the roles been reversed, maybe it would be something I would have thought about watching, well calling my cable company to request Logo!
Posted by: 'dre | 11 July 2007 at 16:13
This was not a "rehash." Q. Allan Brocka made a short animated film and this is a series based upon that short. It's very funny and well-written.
Posted by: Alan T | 11 July 2007 at 18:31
I wasn't offended by this in any way but I didn't laugh once either.
Did I miss the memo that says having a cartoon character say something adult-like automatically qualifies as "funny"?
Posted by: kenneth | 12 July 2007 at 04:06
thanks logo for more junk programming like rick .steve WE need mre great shows like noahs arc
Posted by: scott | 14 July 2007 at 13:35
we need more great shows like noahs arc
Posted by: scott | 14 July 2007 at 13:37
Well they did put a Black character in it... even though he is a trollopy, gold-diggin, nellie, bug-chasing, circuit queen into men in wheelchairs.
But hey... beggars can't be choosers, aye?!?!
Posted by: IsleZeus | 15 July 2007 at 15:43
hot chelsea boy and asian bottom?? i thought the 90s were over...
Posted by: jason | 17 July 2007 at 19:40