Happy Hunting (Webseries Thoughts: Hunting Season)

Since Looking ended, I have been searching for a gay show fix ("Real Housewives Of New York," though gayer than Gay Gayerson, just can't fit that bill)  Guess what, I think I found it through "Hunting Season," which started its second season on Vimeo. But first, I caught up with it by binge watching the first season, and it was an easy task: most of the episodes were just over ten minutes. I met the main character Alex, Ben Baur. The show purports to be an unashamed gay version of "Sex And The City." (But wait - isn't SATC already the gay version of SATC?) It even copies the format - single guy in the city writing a blog about his sexcapades - right to the voice-over which frame the episodes. The first season was more a parade of sexual partners for Ben, and it was fun and titillating, if I want to be honest. (the full frontal nudity did not hurt at all)

As the second season starts, we see some series expansion. Aside from the fact that each episode now clocks over twenty minutes, we get more stories: Ben by the second episode loses his day job at Gawker - which opens the series up, storyline wise - and he ruminates about something more. In case you are confused, that would be falling in love, looking for a husband. The series becomes more soap-y (even the cast of characters around him get their own individual arcs) and it's addictive. It's mindless fun - the kind that you can't stop watching, and will make you a little guilty the morning after. So you know, like sex. Needless to say, I am hooked. 

...But It's All Good (Webseries Review: It Could Be Worse)

I know there are a zillion webseries out there, but I have never really followed any. I sometimes can be very impatient, and more often than not, my attention goes somewhere else when I am on the computer. But I recently started watching "It Could Be Worse" and it's so good that it has me hooked. (The website is http://itcouldbeworse.tv/ ) What initially lured me to watch it was Wesley Taylor. I think he is very cute, and saw him in the original casts of 'Rock Of Ages," and 'The Addams Family' on Broadway.  Even though I wasn't the biggest fan of both shows, I thought Tayor was a stand-out in each, and of course, it doesn't really hurt that he is cute. He is part of my beloved "Smash," of course, and steals scenes whenever he is on. So, here he is, aptly cast as a young actor in New York City. He plays Jacob Gordon and the series chronicles his trials and tribulations as a working actor in the city. He has a needy boyfriend, a mother who is having a cougar crisis, and a father who is staying with him temporarily because of that.The writing is spot-on, and the series is beautifully shot. And the casting is tops: Mitchell Jarvis (who co-created the series with Taylor) is funny as his drugged agent, and Nancy Opel is wonderfully funny as his mother. It's a minefield for spotting huge Broadway stars in cameo roles. I spotted Audra McDonald (hilarious as his therapist) , Kyle Dean Massey, Laura Osnes, among others.  I eagerly await every new episode which comes out Fridays.