Cowlip's intentions about Brian and Justin

[nightvision55.livejournal.com]

Hi, this is the first time I've posted here so please forgive any mistakes ...

I was just wondering; in the UK original, the focus of the series was the Brian/Michael relationship, and they were the ones who ended up together. So, did Cowlip originally intend that in the US version, and did they just go with the Brian/Justin pairing because they realised how hot the chemistry between Gale and Randy was?

Does anybody know?

Comments

[mmmorpheusq.livejournal.com]

I watched QAF from Day One in real time, and I also remember that Cowlip ORIGINALLY intended to break up Brian and Justin at the end. One theory (which I believe) is that Cowlip was disappointed that their biggest fanbase was hetero females, and they intended "one in the eye" to us, by setting up the fake marriage storyline.

They made it fairly clear in the very beginning that Hal/Michael was intended to be the star. I'm sure Hal thought so too, which could explain some of his later bitterness toward Gale.

Revisionist history is what I call Cowlips' later rationalizations.

[vlredreign.livejournal.com]

I don't know that I buy that interview, tbh. It's way too...pat, don't you think?

It wouldn't surprise me that that was the original intention, especially when paired with Shawn Postoff's interview. Which was also bullshit, not to mention the fact that he was pretty much saying, "Oh, all that stuff you saw? Figment of your imagination." So...yeah.

It's too bad they won't go on the record ON VIDEO OR TV and say what they intended, good or bad. We're always gonna believe that they were together at the end, even if they were in different cities.

[mmmorpheusq.livejournal.com]

I wouldn't believe a word Cowlip said at this point.

Postoff should have been stoned. With real rocks. Real big, heavy rocks.

[vlredreign.livejournal.com]

IKR!?!?!

Asshole.

[natkinnat.livejournal.com]

*their biggest fanbase was hetero females*

I can understand that Cowlip (being gay and not into women) could be disappointed of that fact. But, really, hetero females hold very much of subtle power in this men's world. They really can influence the general public opinion on the gay's acceptance subject.

And it's enough to see the pilot to know that in that script Michael/Brian are an obvious focus couple. It's not so in ep 103 already. I think after the pilot Cowlip took the turn to Brian/Justin centered story.

anything but Hal

[ljtilford.livejournal.com]

I was a day one fan couldn't stand Michael and his constant whining. From the begging it was obvious that Brian/Gale was sex on a stick. Justin/Randy quickly grew on me and I was cheering for the ballsy teen. The fact that Randy was a great actor and Hal showed no early hints of acting ability was part of the reason. The remaining cast was awesome.

Icon by Arness

Re: anything but Hal

[natkinnat.livejournal.com]

I don't think that Hal is bad actor, I think that Gale/Hal wouldn't match much for the purposes of the romantic relationship on the show as a characters couple

Re: anything but Hal

[highd.livejournal.com]

Hal is a mediocre actor at best, but worse than that he is a for shit co-worker.

Re: anything but Hal

[eileen-donovan.livejournal.com]

he is a for shit co-worker.

Duly reflected in the fact that you almost never see him with the rest of the gang when they get together. Barbeque, anyone? :)

Re: anything but Hal

[ipitydaf00l.livejournal.com]

I've been sort of enjoying watching random clips of him in Celebracadabra (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cSs9-xW5IA8) on youtube.... *coughs*

Then again, I didn't like Hal Sparks years before I ever saw QAF....

Re: anything but Hal

[eileen-donovan.livejournal.com]

I never liked him. From the first ep of QAF, long before I had any idea who he was, not to mention any idea what QAF was about, he grated on my nerves. I don't think he's a good actor and I don't find him funny. And given some of the things he's said about Gale, well, let's just say he should not ever expect a birthday present from me! :)

Re: anything but Hal

[ipitydaf00l.livejournal.com]

Well, mine stemmed from earlier than that, but even to this day I can't even catch a glimpse of him in any of the VH1 music video countdowns and have him pop up without wanting to chuck the remote at the TV.

So when I first watched QAF my first thoughts were, "Good fucking God it's that asshole." and I almost stopped watching it. Then Gale walked in...and all was right in my world and I tried hard to tune Hal out after that point. I tried later to get an idea on his character, but still...there are a lot of times I wished that Michael/Hal could just go the f away.

I sort of felt bad for the character of Michael, I just instantly hated him and could never give him a chance. Some fanfic out there has helped with that....a bit... ;)

Re: anything but Hal

[ipitydaf00l.livejournal.com]

I should add that I've never really seen any of the things he's said, I've heard a few things...but that's it. So I can't even base my dislike on that. I almost asked on highd's entry not too long ago what she was talking about but was afraid that people would get upset by even remembering it.

Re: anything but Hal

[natkinnat.livejournal.com]

I have no complaints about his acting in QAF, in fact I liked it. And as for a *for shit co-worker*, many people suck in that way, but if it doesn't spoil the team work at the time when people work together, I have no complaints about that either. As a fan, I'm interested at the product be made as good as possible. The rest is not that much relevant.

Re: anything but Hal

[highd.livejournal.com]

But it did ruin the team. It ruined Michael for me completely even if Hal was ok in his scenes, it's hard to put all the nastiness he spewed aside and enjoy his work on the show.

I am glad you can look past this and be zen about him, but if the current state of the cast isn't a clue on just how horrible of a co-worker he was then I don't think there is any way to convince you that I am right.

Re: anything but Hal

[natkinnat.livejournal.com]

I don't think that the current state of cast can be taken as an indication that Hal was a bad actor (or ruining something) during the filming. I think that personal feelings towards what actors might have said according to somebody are only personal feelings and nothing else. If you are happy with those feelings, it's ok, I don't mind. It's hard to control feelings zen or no zen.

Re: anything but Hal

[ipitydaf00l.livejournal.com]

I think the fact that the rest of the cast don't talk to Hal, see Hal, or spend time with Hal but all get together as a group minus Hal says something. My personal issues aside, I don't need those to realize hey there's an issue there if they can all happily get together yet avoid Hal at every opportunity....

I didn't mean to butt into your comment, but I had this moment of "what?" that I just couldn't ignore.

Re: anything but Hal

[natkinnat.livejournal.com]

Ok, does it say to you that Hal was bad as an actor or ruined team work during filming? It doesn't to me. Current situation is a current situation, 6 years after the closing of the show filming.

Re: anything but Hal

[ipitydaf00l.livejournal.com]

Yes, yes it does because he not only said awful things that put a strain between them during filming, he continued to do so even years later....so yes it does affect the way they act around him and reasons why they would not make attempts to see him like most do for the others. *scratches head* I guess I view it this way the people I was friends with from previous jobs I still talk to when I get the chance even though some I haven't worked with in a decade....yet the people that treated me like shit...well....

I think we are going to have to agree to disagree I doubt I can change your mind to something you've set in stone and that's the vibe I'm getting.

Re: anything but Hal

[vasilikii.livejournal.com]

To be fair, there are only a few things we know Hal said, as fact, 99% of the worst of things are only hearsay, via fans. That interview and his few comments on Twitter are the only real proof out there, and neither are that bad. Stupid & petty, but no where near slanderous.

He didnt ruin filming or strain anything on set. Every single person asked (extras, etc) state that Hal was the most outgoing and made the set very comfortable for everyone. The strain was Randy Vs Cowlip. Hal didnt do that interview until years after the show ended.

Lord knows the producers and sundry people havent been closed lipped on the matter, and not one of them has ever mentioned Hal as a problem or a negative while filming, its always Randy.

Some fans claim Hal told them much worse things about Gale, but unless you heard or read it, via the original source, its just hearsay.

He is obviously not close knit with the cast, but they dont avoid him either. He worked with Thea a few months back and he did 2 gay charity events this past year, one with Michelle and one with Peter. He's friendly with Scott on Twitter.

He claims to do lunch with Bobby often and Harris is in touch with him. And he did make up with Randy a year or so back. Note the QAF reunion video, he is there and very much part of the group.

If the cast has to make a choice between gale or Hal to be included at family events, well, we know that outcome, but I think some fans take it way too far. Hal may be a big mouthed ass, but he certainly didnt ruin filming.

Re: anything but Hal

[ipitydaf00l.livejournal.com]

Well, most of the things I've seen/read have been negative on his part. Maybe that's just the way I viewed things.

However, hey kudos to you for actually talking to me on here. :) I had so many send me PMs about it to the point of silliness. :D

Re: anything but Hal

[vasilikii.livejournal.com]

Care to share the things you have read or seen that point him in the negative?

Last year when this came up in here, I linked every known or possible even implied pissy comment Hal said, and really there was not much fact. I would be very interested in reading what you have seen.

Even in the Mile High article, Hal was defended to no end in comments by a slew of people who worked on the set and said Hal was great, there was no drama. The drama was between Randy and the writers, but since the writers were rarely around, the set was fine.

That is the one and only article Hal mouths off on. When he made up with Randy and tweeted about it, it was backhanded slap to to Gale and that is it.

Everyone keeps talking about the awful things he said, but in reality, he didnt say much and it wasnt that awful. Fans exagerate it and even worse, so many on here have taken up the charge and freely admit, they never read anything for themselves, just heard from another person.

Please add links to the bad things you have seen and heard and we can make a master copy of the facts vs rumors.

I think Hal is a tool, but I also think the fandom LOVES drama and if it casts Gale in the helpless victim role, the fandom squees all over itself.

Re: anything but Hal

[biku-desires.livejournal.com]

Well, for me, the interview is bad enough. Very, very, very unprofessional of him. You don't talk about your co-workers like that. You just don't. Can't help but notice that neither Gale nor Randy have ever said anything against him, neither on the record, nor off the record. I'm not going to talk about the things that Hal supposedly said off the record, but the interview and some nasty comments are enough for me.

On top of that, he said those things five years after the end of the show, when everything was already buried and done with. He should have let things be. What was the point?

By the way, him being in the QAF reunion video was to be expected. He was a character, after all. I wouldn't use that as an example of his togetherness with the rest of the cast. I wouldn't use the working stuff or the charity events either. After all, those aren't done just to enjoy the company, are they?

The fact remains that he's NEVER there when the cast get together for fun or for support. I'm not going to go as far as to say that it's because they don't want him there, but it's obvious there's something wrong. When two of my friends argue I never take sides. It's obvious they HAVE taken sides. I can't help but wonder about that.

Oh, and I didn't know Hal from before QAF (I'm from Spain, he wasn't known here). But one of the reasons why I never liked Michael was that I didn't like Hal's performance. I didn't like him as an actor. I'm sorry if this offends anyone, but that's my opinion. ;-)

Re: anything but Hal

[vasilikii.livejournal.com]

Biku, I agree, that interview was totally unprofessional and petty. But It wasnt 5 years after the show ended, it was done in 2008, and it was right when all the reunion buzz was getting started and they were all being asked about it. Regardless, it was among the stupidiest and just bitchiest things I have ever seen and yep, that is reason enough to dislike him.

But no, Hal still has a friendly rapport with most the cast. The charity thing is very social, he and Michelle went out to dinner before, drinks after, all fun and jokes. That was social and they bragged about it on FB, all their NY fun.

Thea posted last month a overly sappy lovefest to how great Hal is as a friend and actor.

Peter just called into Hal's show last week for a gigglefest of just friends being goofy.

So he isnt shunned or hated, but he caused a riff, which is more than obvious and if its a Gale or Hal choice, its clear who they are going to pick.

Its really funny, because when the reunion video came out, every one was talking about how Randy & Gale were not there because of their issues with how it ended and they were the black sheep of the family. Its funny how time & opinion is changing things.

I liked Hal as the Talk Soup host, pre QAF and I wanted to like him on the show, but I cant stand his personality and the character was annoying too, so I share your opinion.

I think he is the most interesting to keep tabs on though, because he has a big mouth and he spews it all over the place. Just the other day he tweeted that he would LOVE to do a QAF movie, but unfortunately, he is in the minority. It was very interesting to see him play the martyr, when really, the only person who has really come out and said a reunion would be bad, is Peter, and Scott and cowlip then agreed with his logic.

There are just so many wonderful reasons not to like the guy, I just think its important that people base their opinion on real stuff, not rumor, thats all. :)

Re: anything but Hal

[masterglory.livejournal.com]

This is perfect, I swear you can read my mind, THANKS!!!!!♥