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getithereHi, 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?
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?
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Re: anything but Hal
Date: 2011-06-16 03:21 pm (UTC)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
Date: 2011-06-17 05:57 am (UTC)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
Date: 2011-06-17 06:06 am (UTC)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
Date: 2011-06-17 06:52 am (UTC)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
Date: 2011-06-17 07:01 am (UTC)I just don't want you to think that I'm blowing you off, I'll get back to you at some point. Maybe there are others on this same thread that can offer you more information and easily.
Re: anything but Hal
Date: 2011-06-17 07:13 am (UTC)Last year, it was pretty much the same people commenting on the topic, and alas, no one could come up with any actual proof, so my linked list was very small.
I've tried to read and watch every QAF article, fan or extra report, con story, etc, so I would be thrilled to read what you have, when you are in the mood to share.
:)
Re: anything but Hal
Date: 2011-06-17 01:41 pm (UTC)Some Randy's interview or some C/L interview's, not some pathetic not requested hint to some bad things done from Gale and Randy to the "poor" producters, because this is only Hal's words and frankly I don't trust him a bit:(
Oh, and if you don't have these links, well I'm sorry but it's hearsay this one too.
Re: anything but Hal
Date: 2011-06-17 08:41 pm (UTC)No, its not hearsay, its well known & documented within the fandom about the battles between Randy & Cowlip. Starting when Randy ranted to the media about his issues with Justin.
already been linked in this thread... the transcript from the Toronto QAF where Shawn Postoff (producer) talks about the Randy vs Cowlip issue.
Del Shores (writer & producer) take on Randy, at about the 2 min mark:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0OsEWVKKwHQ
If you go through the tags for discussions, you will be linked to even more and see huge discussions on the matter.
Didnt you ever wonder how Randy's diatribe on Justin in the press ended up, verbatim, in S5 thrown in his face, as a speech Jennifer gave Justin? Or the 'off, off, off broadway' snobby actors that bitch about tv, but still cash the checks and Simon the cunt.
I am not bashing Randy and the subject has been well discussed since 2004, but he certainly pissed of TPTB.
Re: anything but Hal
Date: 2011-06-18 06:11 am (UTC)But I'm not angry with you, the fact that Randy was quite bitter (and Gale with him) in five season because they thought the authors were ruining the series, well I totally agree and the facts are the proof, five season was for shit, pod-Brian and cold Justin bleahhhhh, it shows only that both Gale and Randy loved the series much more than the authors and maybe being them the heart of Qaf it would be honest and smart listen to them, but this is only my opinion.
And sorry but I think (and with me a lot of fans) that Shawn Postoff's interview was only a bunch of bullshit feed to the fans, a totally back up from the lot of other interviews with the various producers at the times.
About Del Shores
“Randy Harrison (Justin Taylor) was an ungrateful little shit. He trashed the show’s writing all the time in the media,” Shores said. “I don’t know where he is today… but I know he’s not working.” I prefer to not speak, people like that makes me only puke:(
About Hal Sparks, he spoke evil (talking about passive-aggressive) about other two Qaf actors not about the series itself, and excuse me but neither Gale or Randy has ever done a shit thing like that, neither Gale almost in every interview has had the "urge" to say that he's NOT gay, or Scott or Thea or Michelle.....duh
Anyway I don't want to keep on off topic in my fav comm on Lj, so if you agree we can stop our little discussion here (after your answer if you want) and simply agree to disagree;);
I could never make you change idea and suddenly make you discover you love Randy Harrison, the same goes for me and Hal Sparks, eheheh;)
Re: anything but Hal
Date: 2011-06-18 12:34 pm (UTC)You totally misconstrued things...I adore Randy and am counting down days till I see Tommy.
I said multiple times that Hal was an ass, but fans tend to make up bad shit he said about Gale, cause the actual proof we have, is pretty minimal...and if someone has more, link it.
Hal was never a problem on set though, as the person I responded to said. The only tension was the Randy melee with the producers.
You asked for proof and you got it....2 producers talking about Randy causing problems. You do not have to agree with it or like it, neither do I, but its fact that Randy pissed off the producers and that was what you asked for. You really seem to be comingling things. The Postoff transcript pissed off fans in regard to what he said about b/j, not for what he said about Randy pissing off Cowlip, et al, and how the affected the show.
You are being defensive for no reason, like I said, I am not bashing Randy, I LOVE him, but the producers did NOT. You asked for non Hal proof of that and you got it.
Re: anything but Hal
Date: 2011-06-18 01:00 pm (UTC)Blame this to my bad comrehension of your language, most of the times I miss something in grammar and the whole meaning change for me making me seems like a moron:(
And I'm happy and a little bit envious (but in a good way) that you're going to see Randy in "Tommy"....awwwww, iIhope you will do a full report, forgive me once again^^
Re: anything but Hal
Date: 2011-06-19 07:49 am (UTC)I'd like to say for the record that Simon Dumenco is a jerk. Why? Simple. You don't talk shit about the people paying your boyfriend.
As far as Randy goes, I can understand the issues he had, like saying that he'd never have had Justin and Brian get back together (S3), but I think he was projecting. Yeah, in real life, I don't think anyone would go back to an emotionally stunted partner. Sometimes words are important. Actions, of course, but words...gotta use those. And we all know that Brian wouldn't if he could get away with it. Still, from what I understood, C/L had a very set "bible" that they were working with, and they intended to tell that story and that story only. Good writers listen to their stars and their fans, to a point. Hell, Supernatural loves messing with their fans - they did a whole episode casting Sam and Dean as Jared and Jensen, and did one in a previous season where they had the boys show up at an SPN comm. That's fan synergy, and it worked for them.
As far as C/L being pissed off with their fanbase...obviously they weren't paying attention to the AfterElton/AfterEllen polls, because gay men were NOT happy with the show.
Hal...I don't like him, but I did like Michael, for the most part. I thought he did a good job for the most part. I don't hate him nearly as much as I did/do Chris Potter (Dr David).
Re: anything but Hal
Date: 2011-06-19 04:11 am (UTC)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
Date: 2011-06-19 05:48 am (UTC)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
Date: 2011-06-19 03:32 pm (UTC)