When we were making it we just focused on story and character, never really thought about what we were representing and if we were representing the gay community or anything. But now that it’s come out and people are seeing it and reviewing it and starting to have opinions about it, it’s sort of become this conversation piece, which at the end of the day is, for us working on the show, really exciting, that people are engaging with it, whether they like it or not. I think for me, personally, I believe in this more than anything I’ve worked on. So to hear people saying negative things about it, it’s a little hard because it feels like your baby is out there in the world. But I sort of have to put those feelings aside and enjoy the fact that it is a conversation, and it is engaging people and making people talk.”— Jonathan Groff addressing how the HBO series has polarized some gay viewers, during an interview with Huffington Post
TinoTurner
The show IS boring and I’ll eat my shoe if it gets renewed for a second season. I was discussing this show with my friend and we both agree that todays gays are horribly boring and uninteresting…just like this show….so maybe they’re onto something.
NG22
@TinoTurner: Boo, you’re dating yourself. I appreciate your perspective, but I also don’t understand it. Don’t watch the show. It’s that simple. Don’t be angry if it’s renewed. There are other people who want it to be renewed. Just treat it like you treat all the hundreds of other random shows on cable–don’t watch it. It’s that simple.
robho3
Yes it is boring.
Stache1
This show is turning out to be great and I’ll eat my shoe if it doesn’t get renewed for a second season.
Ok really I won’t but still think this show is going to be good. It’s more real life and if that’s not your thing then change the channel.
tohe
Three episodes in and nothing. I feel like the episodes need to be longer for anything meaningful to happen.
Stache1
@tohe: I agree that they need to be longer. If you’re reading this Jonathan please talk to your producers about this stat.
KittyLitter
@TinoTurner: If girls managed to make it to s3, I’d be shocked if this doesnt get renewed.
I enjoy this series but it comes off as more of a drama than comedy. Nurse Jackie was pretty slow during it’s first season and now it’s all slapstick humor.
Ron Jackson
Good grief people! They just now got all the characters introduced. Yeah, it took too long; I blame the thirty minute format, but whatever.
Let’s just hope it isn’t one of those 7 episodes and it’s done for the season series.
I am “looking” forward to seeing how it all plays out. I would really like to see more of Tanner Cohen though; he is adorable.
NG22
I believe the season is only 8 episodes. I agree I’d rather the show was an hour, but that’s because it intrigues me so much I want to see what happens next. I really like the show. Really. Really really. And the role is perfect for Jonathan Groff. I’m thrilled they chose him to lead and not some straight jackass who spends all his time promoting it by saying how different he is from his character. Furthermore, I’m happy Jonathan is proud of this work, and connected to it. I also feel connected to ‘Looking,’ even though I don’t live in San Francisco. And I feel like Jonathan embodies the role of Patrick, even though rumor has it he’s quite different in his own love life.
This show is a character study. And so it’s character-based, not plot-based. It’s a slow rom-com/drama. And I like that about it. The third episode is my favorite. Russell Tovey is perfect. And I want to know how Patrick’s relationship with his boss will evolve. I want to know if Dom will start a restaurant, or if he can have a real relationship with Lynn. I want to know if Augustin will become a prostitute, and if his relationship with his boyfriend will last. I like that this show has a natural, indie feel. I like that it’s not about HIV. I like that it’s not about the persecution of the LGBT community. And I like that it’s not a soapy, sex-fueled romp like ‘Queer As Folk.’ I like that it speaks to my generation of the LGBT community. The characters are a bit older, but overall, the show is more Millennial to QAF’s Gen X.
You don’t have to love this show. Just like you don’t have to love Girls, or True Detective. But you should know that some of us do love it.
MarionPaige
As boring as Looking really is, HBO obviously has space to fill and it has to fill that space with something. People pay for the service, they don’t pay for Looking.
“Looking” looks cheap enough to produce that it might actually be “economical” for HBO to keep it on for another little eight episodes, until HBO comes up with something else cheap to fill Looking’s spot. CASE IN POINT,
Bill Maher was booted off of network television and HE’S STILL ON HBO.
dmcclin
I found it fascinating that Netflix started to run the American version of “Queer as Folk” this week. I re-watched the first episode. After not seeing it after 14 years, I was shocked at how well it has held up. I forgot how provocative the Brian Kinney character was and the attraction many viewers had of him at the time. After watching QAF again, I feel like I’m watching a high school theatre production when I view “Looking.” Johnathon Groff can’t hold his own against Gale Harold.
MK Ultra
@NG22: Completely agree!
the other Greg
Boring? Some of you must lead really exciting lives!
Stache1
@dmcclin: I loved QAF too. Not to mention it was a ground breaking series. Gale Harold was a very one dimensional kind of actor though. Not at all the best of the show.
Stache1
@the other Greg: I get the feeling they want a QAF show or something similar.
stranded
Now that the show is starting to hit facets of their lives that don’t deal with their sexuality, i find it more interesting. It’s starting to be more or less what i wanted. A show focusing on gay men, without their sexuality being the focus of the show just a part of their character. Still, i’d like to find a character i can identify with or root for, but none of them are that relate-able/ likable.
SteveDenver
It’s disheartening to read so many disparaging comments from so many who are excited to be disappointed. What shitty bitches queers can be.
For those of us enjoying it and wishing for longer episodes, I hope we represent the majority. Just watched the third episode and loved it!
NG22
@SteveDenver: +1, boo boo
Mel
@SteveDenver: It’s disheartening to read so many disparaging comments from so many who are excited to be disappointed.
Nobody is excited to be disappointed. The show got good publicity but it’s a snooze fest. Get over it.
Cam
It just seems like they picked up a book from the 1970’s and decided to make a dated show, and Groff’s character acts like he just moved there and came out, not that he has been out and hanging with jaded friends for 10 years.
viveutvivas
How dare they make a show with characters who are not entirely post-gay and over it all?
xzall
@SteveDenver: It’s par for the course. If it’s a gay themed show and especially if it stars actual gay people, then there’s a group of gay people who will always trash it or actively root for it to be cancelled. It’s always either too Boring, or Effeminate or Stereotypical or whatever the buzz word is at the moment. The gay critics who write for different outlets are usually the loudest with the criticisms too. They make sure to especially pour on the hate for the out gay actors. I’m expecting if there’s any praise, it’ll be for the straight actors in the show.
That’s why there’s more lesbian drama/comedy shows now. They bitch a lot less and don’t expect every lesbian show to represent all the lesbians in the world.
Then later when GLAAD comes out with their list showing a lack of Gay themed show they can’t figure out why.
CCTR
@xzall: I couldn’t agree with you more! You are so right.
All the harsh critics are really saying more about themselves than the show when they bash it. From lots of the negative comments I suspect some have not even watched any episodes of the show.
balehead
It’s a good show…”Hate Queens” need to find lives….
barkomatic
It’s a great show and all my friends of all ages (roughly 22-45) are watching and enjoying it. If you dare to put a show about gay men on TV then no matter what there will be haters in the gay community.