Some Views on ‘Folk’

Thank you, Howard Rosenberg, for reaffirming my decision of dropping cable and using the proceeds to subscribe to The Times instead (“Sex and the Steel City,” Dec. 2).

I can recall when cable outlets such as Showtime were supposed to be the last bastions of intelligent television, but with such titillating tripe like this, “Queer as Folk,” might as well be on Fox. Once again my gay brethren have presented Life as They Glamorously See It--for all the world to gawk at--and if there’s a moment I could possibly relate to, it would surely be regulated to a cameo appearance of some queer outcast.

My partner treats folk like these for sex and alcohol addiction--needless to say, he doesn’t find the show entertaining either. So I guess we’ll retire at the ungodly hour of 9 and read in bed . . . or do whatever else comes to our perverted little minds.

DANIEL NAUMAN

Long Beach

*

Rosenberg gave an unenthusiastic review to the American version of “Queer as Folk,” yet all the examples he gave of the cheapened events in the American version came directly from the British plot line. He states that the British version steps back and shows the humanity of its characters; after many viewings of the series, I cannot agree with him. It emphasizes the sexual behavior until well into the middle of the series.

And, shorn of intros and credits, the entire British series lasts less than four hours. The American series will last 23 hours in its season, so I would expect it to take somewhat longer to reach its “human” qualities.

JOSEPH COOPER

Santa Barbara

*

As a middle-aged gay man, I must take exception with Rosenberg’s take on “Queer as Folk.” My lover and I attended a lovely Thanksgiving dinner for 16 gay men. After the meal, our host surprised us with a videotape of the first six episodes of the new series. We sat riveted. We cheered, jeered, laughed and questioned whether straight America was ready for such a real and graphic look at what gay life is for many (particularly the young) among us. It’s not always pretty!

“Queer as Folk” may not depict the politically correct, fluffed-up “Will & Grace” version of gay life in America today, but it was far more real and believable to us, as it will most likely be to the majority of the gay community.

PHILIP HINDENACH

West Hollywood