A Multifaceted Talent

I would like to commend you for publishing Paul Brownfield’s incredible piece on “NYPD Blue’s” Paris Barclay (“Laying Down His Own Law,” Jan. 31). How very refreshing to see this man given his long-overdue recognition. Not because of his race, not because of his sexuality, but because of his actual accomplishments.

By recounting the many negative obstacles as well as positive hurdles in Barclay’s path to television show creator, Brownfield clearly illustrated his subject’s humanity and humility: “Barclay says his ultimate goal is television show creator power. Not black show creator, not gay show creator power. Just show creator power.”

As co-chair of the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation’s Monitoring & Response Team, I join others in applauding your continuing inclusion of quality articles on political, social and financial issues affecting the diverse lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community. Accurate and fair depictions of lesbians and gay men are always crucial toward helping eradicate homophobia.

GIL KAAN

Los Angeles

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Paris Barclay is a talented director . . . and he’s a good guy. I did, however, have to laugh at John Wells’ recollection of why he was hired to direct an episode of “Angel Street.”

We pretty much hired him because his mother lived in Chicago, where we were shooting, and therefore we wouldn’t have to pay airfare, hotel and per diem. The fact that he turned out to be a really talented guy was just gravy. I don’t recall what our budget was, but my guess is that it was somewhere below $13 million per episode.

FRED GERBER

Former Supervising Producer,

“Angel Street,” Topanga

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Barclay sends the wrong message, especially to black youngsters, when he says, “Stephen Sondheim is Stephen Sondheim because he’s never had to work a day in his life. He never had to have a job; his family was always wealthy.”

Barclay is dead wrong. Like any brilliant success, Sondheim’s achievements on Broadway as a composer and lyricist have come from honing his talents with ferociously hard work. A good case can be made that inherited wealth could even deprive one of the spur to work that relentlessly and inventively.

Cole Porter, born with a silver spoon, was once asked why he never wrote music quite as glorious as George Gershwin. Porter replied, “I didn’t have the advantage of being born poor on New York’s Lower East Side.”

AL RAMRUS

Pacific Palisades