There’s not a lot of gay programming on TV. We wanted to create a show with gay men where they weren’t tragic figures or the comedic relief or sexually sensationalized but just multi-dimensional human beings. So, I feel sad that it was canceled but grateful for the time that we had. That was amazing to see that sort of outpouring of love and support for the show. I think that speaks to just the need and desire for more gay stories to be told. … Hopefully it maybe paved the way for other people to create [more] gay stories. Hopefully someday there won’t be just one gay show on the air but multiple shows. I remember being a kid and feeling like when somebody mentioned in a moment that they were gay or [saw someone gay] on TV, it was like an exciting sense of relief to see someone talk about being gay, so I try to do that as often as I can. It sort of goes back to that Harvey Milk thing of, ‘Tell your friends, tell everyone. I always try to wear that on my sleeve.”
— Jonathan Groff speaking about the cancellation of HBO’s Looking with People magazine
stanhope
Multidimensional? Ah so he’s going to try comedy now. OK
VampDC
It is upsetting. Regardless if you liked it or not you watched, and the reason why is because groff is right, there isn’t a lot out there where gay men aren’t just a side character.
Ryan Major
I signed it 🙂
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/555/751/323/hbo-honor-our-stories-renew-looking-for-3rd-season/
Salv Granada
Podrian venderla a otra cadena si HBo no la quiere, pero que haya mas temporadas
MarionPaige
Groff gets to now brag that he was the star of a tv series for two seasons. It seemed very important to somebody on the Looking production that Groff be THE STAR of Looking, in that Groff’s character remained the center of Looking even after everyone expressed dismay over the character’s behavior.
Looking Starring Jonathan Groff. Groff gets to wear that badge around for the rest of his career. They say God punishes people by giving them what they wished for.
As difficult at it is to get a tv production green lighted and to get a stage like HBO, I just can’t imagine the logic of betting all on Jonathan Groff.
Larry Desolier
Hmmm hopefully one that is better cast and that the secondary characters are not more interesting than the primary characters.
Cam
Wow, I put in a post saying that a number of other gay stories aren’t covered, but we got yet another post about Looking and Queerty actually deleted it.
What is going on here? No name of the author, and somebody who makes a comment about the number of posts about a cancelled show has their comment pulled?
Seriously?! Please explain the rational Queerty Editors.
Cam
@Cam:
DAMMIT! Ok, Queerty ran two of the stories I was bitching at them for not running, one even before I posted here. Siiiiiiigh, I guess I should apologize for my sanctimonious outrage.
I should……but maybe I won’t. So there! 😉
enlightenone
This guy is as dense as a Log Cabin Republican! A Gay, Black/Latino couple (with or without kids) in a Cheerios commercial would do more for gays, than a TV show that shoots blanks.
Wilberforce
It may be that the show bombed because it was about life in the ghetto, where being gay is so all important. Most of the issues were about relationships, who’s doing whom and why, how, and where. That’s a pretty thin pancake for a dramatic series.
NG22
Jonathan, of course, is right. The irony of “Looking” is that its ethos — presenting gay men who were not caricatures — is what so many gay people disliked about the show. Many found the program and its characters dull.
For those of us who are “Looking” loyalists, the sad part was the show’s lack of a constituency. Gay audiences would rather watch “Ru Paul’s Drag Race,” and straight audiences would rather watch programs that weren’t about gay people.
But for viewers like me, and critics from outlets like The New York Times and The New Yorker, the show was special, and will be missed.
Kathukid
Looking was so bad, it won’t inspire anything.
Beez3eez
^NG, You’ve summed up my thoughts pretty accurately. It seems that there are a lot of people out there who think that melodramatic overacting is acting and think that subtlety means boring. I think “reality” I also would venture to guess most of the jealous bitchiness I’ve seen on these boards comes from people who didn’t even watch the show, because the venomous bile I’ve read just leaves me scratching my head. Apparently we weren’t watching the same show.
I wish Looking could have continued into the future. Sorta felt like I went through a bad breakup after I read that it had been cancelled. I hope the best for the talented cast and crew. I hope to see more from all of them in the future.
I am Gay (just like you), Black, HIV-Positive, and Back Bitches!!!
Fuck that rascist piece of crap! Who wrote the script, Saint Law?
Paco
I think most people’s lives are mundane and subtle enough that they really don’t have much interest in watching fictional characters being just as mundane and subtle. There is nothing wrong with expecting to be entertained when taking time out of your life to watch television. Why is it that straight characters get to be every type of unrealistic character imaginable, but gay characters must be “real” and boring or risk being accused of being a stereotype?
I have enough real life and boring conversations. I don’t need to watch fictional people do the same. And sorry Mr. Groff, but your character was not “multi-dimensional”. Get over yourself sweetie.
Saint Law
@I am Gay (just like you), Black, HIV-Positive, and Back Bitches!!!: Hi, honkey! Long time no miss!
oregonduckbrad
Oh, please, Mary. “Paved the way”? Don’t you have to be somewhat controversial or speak to the outer fringes of an experience to pave the way and push things forward?? Queer as Folk paved the way. The only think Looking provided was ample nap material…
Cam
@NG22: said…. “Jonathan, of course, is right. The irony of “Looking” is that its ethos — presenting gay men who were not caricatures — is what so many gay people disliked about the show.”
_____________________________
Is this a joke? The Pseudo Artist exploring B.S. Sex Positive Art? The man-child still doing one night hook-ups as his professional life is stagnant waiting tables? The Groff Character, which, if played by a 1 year old would have been ore realistic but that said….the young, new to the scene kid freaking out over maybe seeing a foreskin, making stupid decisions like doing his boss, home-wrecking etc…
The Outrageous Fag Hag who always has a quip and a sarcastic comment?
The HIV Positive Bear who works at the homeless Shelter?
Are you kidding? They went with so many stereotypes they may as well have had an Aleutian Native as a roommate who carried a harpoon with him everywhere and a foreign exchange student from Burma with her neck stretched by the metal rings.
SteveDenver
I really enjoyed LOOKING, precisely because of the characters’ flaws and frequent poor decisions.
But it wasn’t good enough for some and there was a lot of bitching. Thankfully BBC and Channel 4 (UK) continue to produce excellent gay programs, as well as several primetime soaps with major gay and lesbian storylines. Too bad HBO doesn’t pick up some of those.
kayakriver
The commenters here are the reason I just can’t with snobby bitchy annoying queens. You don’t like anything, and you don’t know good tv. Go back to your housewives of whatever…. Looking was a great, refreshing, and real show.
Cam
@kayakriver:
And yet your comment was far more bitchy than the ones you are supposedly complaining about. Incredibly un-self aware.
tchuy03
Looking was a mediocre show and that is why HBO canceled it after 2 season. I am not being snobby, just think that is was bad. The story lines were everywhere and the actors were ‘B’ at best.
sportyguy1983
The show just plain sucked so get over it.
Cagnazzo82
@SteveDenver: The British gay shows will always be superior to the American ones. Always have been, always will be.
Why, don’t ask me.
Glad I have access to the internet though so I can check them out.
Ryan Major
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/555/751/323/hbo-honor-our-stories-renew-looking-for-3rd-season/
mz.sam
Its time for that special creator/writer(s) who can produce and maintain a commercially viable and successful gay-themed TV series. Empire’s Lee Daniels is the only sole prime example.
Pete
Groff’s whiny Patrick made Looking painful to watch — Larry David awkward without the yucks.
Way back at the beginning the idea that a sexually active 28 year-old gay man (living in San Francisco no less!) should never have been with an uncut guy is simply ridiculous! Jeez, I think I was seventeen when I was with my first. Increasing numbers of American parents are choosing not to mutilate their sons, so the unsnipped doesn’t have to be some kind of exotic (mine was a native-born American)
I am Gay (just like you), Black, HIV-Positive, and Back Bitches!!!
@Saint Law: I’m not the honkey fag, but since you don’t mind the usage of word then allow me to indulge myself Nazi-fag!
You’re calling me a honkey hoping that we forgot that you used to blatently use the word nig*er? Stupid Nazi-coward! And nobody did miss your honkey-ass bitch!
Like the way I referenced you here? Just stay hidden next time then! A ha ha ha! Mad again? Nazi-bitch wanna-be! A ha ha ha!