Noah's Arc: In the Press

Check out the Noah's crew on the current cover of Clik!

Noah’s Arc fans are in luck, as there are some very good interviews out there right focusing on the show’s upcoming season (which debuts on Logo next Wednesday, August 9th at 10pm EST, and it starts streaming at LogoOnline starting next Tuesday, August 8th). All of the articles below feature smart talk from the show’s creator Patrick-Ian Polk, and lots of juicy stuff about the future.

Check out the new issue of Clik Magazine (pictured above), the killer Florida-based magazine for gay African-American men, as the men of Noah’s Arc grace the cover (cute!) and inside there are 10+ pages of gorgeous photos and a lengthy interview with Polk, and there are also interviews with season two newcomers Keith Hamilton Cobb and Raz B. It rocks!

Here's the table of contents from Clik, to get you primed...

In the newsy weekly paper, the Washington Blade, writer Ryan Lee has a great feature about the new season of the show, and he also digs a bit deeper, discussing the public’s reception of the show, the characters’ outrageous fashion sense, and what kind of imagery the show is putting out there. Lee also has some great exchanges with Polk, Rodney Chester, who plays Alex, and Darryl Stephens—Noah himself!

In the Blade, Stephens says of Noah in season two: “I have decided in hindsight that he can talk a little more like me, and his voice is a little bit less distracting in season two,” Stephens says. “[With fashion,] I feel like we’ve toned it down quite a bit for the second season. However, Polk makes no apologies for the show’s wildly experimental fashion sense: “When I watch TV, I just don’t want to watch what I could go on the corner and see every Joe Schmo wearing,” Polk tells the Blade. “I want him to be in the stuff you can’t just walk to the local mall and buy. My thing is — love it or hate it — you noticed it, and you’re talking about it, so we’ve succeeded.”

And in the cover story this week in New York’s Next Magazine, Polk gets dishy about the show, and about the media response to the show. In particular he, talks about the gay press coverage of the show. Here’s part of what he has to say:

“I’m annoyed with the gay press in general. We finally have a gay network started by MTV and Viacom—this is big sh*t, you know? And this is their flagship show, their first original series. There’s no reason we shouldn’t have been covered by all of the gay press and had a ton of covers, but we don’t have them and the only reason I can think of is that the skin on these guys happens to be brown… We’ve got a ton of hot guys, publicity photos, eye candy—why aren’t these guys on the cover of Genre and Instinct and Out?

It’s a great interview. Read it online, or pick it up if you’re in NYC!

Comments

[Trent]

Until NOAH'ARC, there were very few images showing one black gay man desiring and loving another black gay man. Such a show of affection seemed somehow "ugly, wrong, impossible." It seemed as if there was some unwritten rule in the maintstream gay media forbidding a show of affection between black men. Even in the advertisement sections of the popular mainstream gay magazines, it is rare to see to black men coupled together.

Patrik Ian-Polk and his television creation changed this widespred misperception and injustice. Finally, a program where gay black men are open, proud, and showing desire, love, and respect to one another. Finally, a program where men of African descent are able to witness their own handsome diversity absent of playing up to fetishtic stereotypes and desires lusting after black or brown bodies of African descent.

I am just afraid all this will be taken away. As much as I enjoy NOAH'S ARC, I fear the powers that be will come in and say "no more brothers loving brothers" anymore to appeal to that special larger audience who want the usual black man on white man action.

The reporter in the interview above questioned Polk on the legitimacy of Black Pride events. That reporter has never drowned in a sea of ......white is better, black get back....but black is just a beautiful as white.

[B. Taylor]

First off I would like to say to Trent...WONDERFUL POST. Also to logo tv is he right, will the powers that be come on and decide enough is enough?

[noah]

Polk is right in that racism is the reason why gay media haven't covered Noah's Arc. Look at Out, which would rather have a straight woman named Paris Hilton than a gay or lesbian of color. It's just pathetic.

As for Genre, I don't think I've ever seen any person of color on its cover. No Asian, African, Latino, or mixed person. Zippo. Nada!

[Paul Young]

I know that Noah's Arch is the first black gay sitcom that's taken america by storm. Keep up the great work guys. I love wade character and I love wade he is my dream man. I watch the show just to see wade i love his smile and the way he moves his head, he is a cutie pie.

[Mahlatse Kgoale]

Why has the show been cancelled it was the only thing that kept me going what is there to live for now!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Mahlatse Kgoale]

Why has the show been cancelled it was the only thing that kept me going what is there to live for now!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!