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‘Noah’s Arc’ stars celebrate at Atlanta festival
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
It’s been lazily compared to “Sex and the City.” But in its two seasons, “Noah’s Arc” became not only the first original scripted series on the fledgling gay and lesbian-centric cable channel Logo, it was also the first TV drama to center on the lives of gay male African-Americans living in Los Angeles. And the show managed to delve into subjects that would surely stump even Carrie Bradshaw and Co.
The series blended comedy and high drama as budding screenwriter Noah and his friends Alex, Ricky and Chance dealt with brothers “on the down low,” dating HIV-positive partners, gay bashing, “thug loving” and the societal stigma involving masculine men dating more feminine guys.
And like “Sex and the City,” fans are rabid for more quality time with the characters. “Noah” actors Darryl Stephens and Jensen Atwood and series creator Patrik-Ian Polk were in town over the holiday weekend to attend the city’s annual Black Gay Pride celebration.
Oh, and to introduce fans to a sample of “Noah’s Arc: Jumping the Broom,” the feature film due in theaters Oct. 24.
“Everyone was so excited,” Stephens told Buzz Tuesday morning. “It’s been over a year [since the last original TV episode aired on Logo]. I didn’t know if people would still care about these characters or not.”
Polk says that in lieu of a third season, Logo approached him about a theatrical extension of the franchise that has attracted female fans like Janet Jackson, Wanda Sykes and Phoebe Snow (who has a cameo in and contributed a song for “Broom”).
Explains Polk: “We’re hopeful that ‘Noah’s’ fans will be as dedicated as the ‘Sex and the City’ fans who made that film a priority. I’ve heard from guys who look like your typical thug from South Central Los Angeles who’s got his grandmother watching ‘Noah!’ For a lot of families, watching it together creates an opportunity for dialogue.”
Atwood’s character of Wade, who began in the series as a successful Hollywood screenwriter questioning his sexuality, is back for the feature film as well.
Says Atwood: “We’d been away from each other for over a year but when the cast got back together for the film, it all came back. The ‘Noah’s Arc’ cast just has an energy of its own. We spark off each other.”
BUILDING HIS BRAND TO A ‘BOWL’?
Like the NFL teams beginning their new seasons, Usher is hoping to go all the way to the Super Bowl.
The Atlanta R&B singer will perform the season’s kickoff concert on Thursday in New York’s Columbus Circle along with Keith Urban and Natasha Bedingfield. The 3 p.m. concert will take place just before the season opener, when the Washington Redskins take on the Super Bowl champion New York Giants.
Like the Redskins and Giants, Usher is aiming for the big game in February. The Super Bowl is one of the most sought-after gigs in music.
“I don’t think it’s too early to consider it,” said Usher, speaking from Atlanta. “Certainly being associated with the organization makes that a lot more possible. There have been conversations for a lot of years about me being part of a performance at a Super Bowl. I’m hoping that this leads, definitely, to that. This whole process is basically you scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours.”
Usher feels that he’s sufficiently built up his “brand” during the past decade (sometimes it’s easy to forget that the 29-year-old singer has been around that long). Recent Super Bowl performers include Prince and Tom Petty.
BREAKING THE ‘BAR’
Mark-Paul Gosselaar’s scraggly hair didn’t scare away curious viewers of Atlanta-based TNT’s new drama “Raising the Bar.”
On Labor Day, the Steve Bochco (“NYPD Blue”) production opened at 7.7 million viewers, the biggest series debut ever for an ad-supported cable network. That excludes the likes of HBO, Disney and the broadcast networks but is still impressive.
Two factors helped the drama, which is about lawyers in the district attorney’s office and public defenders’ office: coming on after TNT’s biggest show “The Closer”; and the fact the broadcast networks were airing political and hurricane-related news and no scripted dramas at 10 p.m.
CELEBRITY BIRTHDAYS
“Beetle Bailey” creator Mort Walker is 85. Singer-guitarist Al Jardine (Beach Boys) is 66. Guitarist Steve Jones of the Sex Pistols is 53. Actor Charlie Sheen is 43.
OVERSCENE
Taking in the Atlanta Dream-Connecticut Sun basketball game at Philips Arena downtown: WNBA President Donna Orender; rapper/ restaurateur Ludacris; R&B artist Jarvis, NBA legend Julius “Dr. J” Erving; 76er Royal Ivey; Atlanta Hawk Solomon Jones; Q of the musical group 112; V103’s Ryan Cameron; WXIA anchor Karyn Greer; and Atlanta City Council president Lisa Borders.
Contributing: Rodney Ho and news services
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