Several years ago. I heard about this “black, gay” Sex and the City that was in development and thought that sounds cool. Eventually, it was named (Noah’s Arc), written, cast, produced and started airing on MTV’s new network, LOGO. Unfortunately, I didn’t have cable and didn’t get to see it. I forgot about it. Then, I was at a friend’s home one night and caught an episode. I was so unimpressed. And mad. Mad that such a great idea had been squandered with poor writing and poorer acting, with over-the-top stories that embraced every stereotype that as a gay man, I abhor. I never saw another episode while it was on the air.
A couple of months ago, my roommate came home with the complete first season of Noah’s Arc and wanted to watch it. I vehemently argued against it and we settled on something else instead. Then, one night I was home alone, with nothing to do, no deadlines, no place to be, etc. and I decided to put the disc in and give the show another chance. A friend came over and we sat back on the sofa, merlot in hand, and pushed play. I watched the whole season that night. As with many shows, when an outsider catches a single episode, without really knowing the background, things can seem wacky and lame. My perception of Noah’s Arc, based on that single episode from years ago, was biased and I immediately started to understand the dynamic of this cast. Truth be told, I still felt that the writing was a little flat at times and the acting was often hammy, but in terms of it being a show about gay men, it seemed on-point. Gay men are hammy. And over-the-top. And I often forget that stereotypes don’t fall from trees.
Most TV shows start out with archetypes. The good ones allow their archetypes to evolve. Look at how Carrie and crew grew as the series did. Noah’s Arc didn’t have the time-span to truly grow, but the characters did become more fleshed out as the series continued. It ran for two seasons on LOGO and was abruptly canceled. This past weekend, in a very few select cities (NYC, L.A., etc.), the movie got the SATC treatment with the appropriately titled: Noah’s Arc: Jumping the Broom, in which the two main characters, Noah (the effeminate, eccentric Carrie Bradshaw of the group) and Wade (Mr. Bigg, natch), travel from their home in L.A. to Martha’s Vineyard to get married. All of their friends (Alex, think: the controlling Miranda; Chance, the professor and sometimes sexually cold Charlotte; and Ricky, the slut. Sounds like Samantha to me.) come along for the ride. Additionally, Chance’s husband Eddie and Ricky’s new boyfriend Brandon (who he’s known for a week) tag along.
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