Noah's Arc

It really bugs me that with all the hype surrounding BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN and the performances of Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal, very little love is being shown the landmark series that is NOAH'S ARC. Not to take anything away from the performances of the cast, Ang Lee's note-perfect direction or the milestone that this movie represents, but hey, NOAH "ain't nuthin' to sneeze at", either!

So, "what's the 'T', gurl?" as one of the livelier characters says as his trademark catchphrase. The "T" is a funny, silly, sometimes slap-sticky and very soapy, yet remarkable series for presenting something that mainstream TV (and the media in general) has yet to realize: black gay men not only do exist, (=GASP!=), but the foibles, failings, flings and frenetic friendships that they have are universal - not just to other gay men, but to everyone in general!

Presenting the lives of BGM's in a positive light NEVER seen before on television, NOAH bids us watch as the story of four friends unfolds. Noah (Darryl Stephens), is a cute screenwriter living and working in Santa Monica, CA., crushing heavily on the straight-but-curious hunk Wade (Jensen Atwood), who is also a writer. This raises the eyebrows and the concern of his three closest friends: Chance (Doug Spearman), a buttoned-down English lit professor who is just entering into a monogamous relationship (or so he thinks); Alex (Rodney Chester), the sassy, brassy, divalicious group "mother hen" who works as an AIDS counselor at a local clinic and has been in a LTR with his impossibly gorgeous bodybuilder hubby, Trey (Gregory Keith) for seven years, and finally, hard-bodied and hard-partying Ricky, (Christian Vincent), who considers the concept of monogamy about as necessary in his life as a bad case of leprosy, and sleeps with different men about as fast as Anna Nicole Smith plows through a bag of Lay's potato chips. (Think a black counterpart of Brian on QAF, but with a better body and a bigger...LIBIDO, and you're there!)

Okay, so the 411 on Season One: it has a tendency to lean towards melodramatic exaggeration, but no more or less than any prime-time soap does. The remarkable thing, besides having an all-black cast playing gay black characters as (mostly) positive role models, is that even after all these episodes, I still LIKE them all immensely, for all their faults...even Ricky, who at the end of Season One is nursing a broken heart for maybe the first time in his life, (but you'll have to watch the reruns for the "how" and "why".)

And just getting back to the BROKEBACK accolades for a moment...where's the back-slapping and congrats for THIS cast? True, most of these actors have limited credits, though are definitely not limited in the talent department, and most of them are STRAIGHT! So why aren't they being lauded for their "bravery," for keeping it real in every scene they play, ESPECIALLY the love scenes? It could be said that because NOAH is the first major project for many of them, that they have nothing to lose in giving it their all for these characters. So, what was the excuse for the actors on QAF? For me, the thrill was gone when I reached the end of Season Two for that show. Not only could I not get enough of spending time with Noah and his friends, but I can't WAIT to see what will happen to them next! Being a GBM myself, I have to admit to some bias, but I still think that no one has achieved what writer/director/creator/producer Patrik-Ian Polk has here, and that's even with a non-black cast!

In other words, if you've been waiting for the "black" QUEER AS FOLK, it's here, it's most definitely queer, but you won't mind "getting used to it." Because in a lot of aspects where QAF failed, NOAH succeeds with flying colors. Now I hope that the cast, crew and creator can take the surplus of goodwill and the rep they've built, and run with it right into Season Two!

This show is a great show for not only the black gay community but the gay community. I have never seen such a positive depiction of black gay men EVER!!!! The only thing you here about black gay men is the two letters DL. In this diverse sexually alternative saga, we meet Noah (Darryl Stephens), the main character, is a struggling screenwriter who resides in lovely Santa Monica, CA and acquires a crush on another screenwriter Wade(Jensen Atwood). Wade is a newly out man who appears to be heterosexual.

Noah has four friends: Alex (Rodney Chester), an AIDS educator, who Noah met during his first HIV test. Alex is a sassy divo who you can say is the matriarch of the group. He has been in a seven year relationship with Trey(Gregory Keith). Around his friends he masquerades a sense of confidence but inside feels distrust and low self esteem. Chance (Doug Spearman) is the Ivy Leaguer of the group who is a college professor at UCLA. He is moving into a new house with his husband Eddie (Johnathan Julian) and step-daugther Kenya. He struggles to commit to his marriage because of his rapid courtship but learns to live with it because of Eddie's charm and sensitivity.

Lastly, we have Ricky (Christian Vincent), the playa of the group who believes commitment is about as useful as chewed up flavorless gum. He shuns his confidantes for seeking commitment as he changes men like changing clothes. He is a successful owner of a clothing boutique on historical Melrose Avenue.

Sassy, Funny, Fabulous, Fierce, Noah's Arc has already made history as the first black gay series on television. Patrik Ian Polk, the creator, director, writer, producer of this groundbreaking pot-boiler, gives a unique and wonderful visionary of four fashionable and fabulous black friends who go through the ups and downs of the gay community. In Conclusion, you should watch this

A black QAF is how it was described to me by a good friend of mine who picked up the season on DVD. Unfortunately I do not get logo on my cable system and I couldn't find the DVD in any stores in my conservative section of the Midwest. I found it available for download to my iPod and did so. I watched the entire 1st season in one sitting. Unlike some of the opinions expressed hear, I find this better than QAF and think that it portrays gays in a more positive light.. I don't think I remember many episodes of QAF when they didn't show anonymous hook-ups in dark back rooms. I really adore this show... the characters AND actors! The drag show sequence in "Don't Make Me Over" choreographed by Frank Gatson was very well performed. I LOVED IT.

set design, lighting and wardrobe are outstanding! among the best on broadcast or cable. hopefully the production will submit for awards. hair and makeup should also be noted. the casting is oh so thoughtful but what else would be expected from a native mississippian? something about that part of the south breeds thoughtfulness in artistic expression, at least to me. content, as other commentators have noted is indeed groundbreaking and this show has the potential to build bridges and tolerance. most people who are uncomfortable with gay people don't know any, at least none who live in truth. let's hope logo holds onto it and gives it solid (and thoughtful!) marketing and pr support. everybody who's a fan take note of the show's advertisers and let them know you appreciate their courage and good taste.(well, i am watching the ads now...enzyte and guys gone wild...but still the courage part can still apply...)

...and for some odd reason, i think thats all the show is meant to do....entertain. I mean it does display some realities in the gay community but breaks away from reality and at the same time....and the writer should be allowed to do that with no penalty, charge, or scrutiny ...why...because its a TV SHOW!!!....not a documentary, not reality TV, but a fictional TV show which touches on realistic issues...(i.e. aids in the black gay community, gay marriage, raising a child in a gay relationship...etc.)

Yeah, I'm a straight black woman and like the straight white woman said, what am I doing watching a gay male show...LOL...like her, I ran into it by accident and it too reeled me in...I absolutely love the show, bought season 1 on DVD, and must say I've learned a lot about the gay community just by listening to the commentaries.

I've Never watched QAF or the L Word and don't intend to, not because I have issues with it, just not interested....so i can't do a comparison on the two. But, what I have noticed is some ppl look for TV shows to tell the story of THEIR reality and thats not what Noah's Arc was meant to do. It tells the story of Noah, Alex, Ricky, and Chance...4 black gay men in LA, not the story of Black gay men in America. Again, I'm a straight black woman and I thoroughly enjoy Girlfriends, Living Single, & Moesha and not one of those straight black female characters relate to me and because they don't, does that mean discredit and discount the show? Thats stupid. Its just television, and if people would stop looking for their life stories to be told via Noah's ARC, QAF, L Word, Girlfriends, Desperate Houswives, etc. and just take it for what it is, then it would be received much better.

If I want my life story to be told...I'll pick up a pen and begin to write, not wait on someone else to tell my story for me.