Here!TV: August 2008 Archives

I'm happy to report that the fourth installment of the "A Donald Strachey Mystery" series starring Chad Allen will premiere on here!TV on Friday, Sept. 5. This one is called "Ice Blues" and I'm very exctited for people to see it. I think the third movie, "In the Other Hand, Death" is better than "Ice" but that's mostly because of Margot Kidder's standout performance.

Chad Allen plays a gay private investigator in this franchise and "Ice" gives the most screen time yet to his character's relationship with his husband, New York State Senate staffer Tim Callahan (Sebastian Spence). The relationship has been a part of all the movies but Tim is integral to the plot in this one. He asks Donald to uncover the source of an anonymous and generous donation to the Albany youth center that leads to a young man's death.

As events begin to spin out of control, Donald and Tim join forces in a violent showdown between the dangerous kiddie-porn ring leader Frank Zaillian, his cold-blooded associates and the wealthy and deceitful Lenigan family. Tim finds himself waist-deep in Donald's mystery and the couple unites to fight against big business, personal demons and family betrayal.

It's all pretty engrossing but the really great thing is how there are little bits of comedy that come through as Donald and Tim are on the run and the rapport between the actors has grown stronger with each film.

Well, this certainly sounds interesting: here! TV has announced a new series called: "Everything You Wanted To Know About Gay Porn Stars ... but were afraid to ask." The series, directed by John Roecker, will make its debut on the network in the winter and will consist of six 30-minute episodes and a one-hour special. It takes viewers on a behind-the-scenes look at the lives of some of gay adult cinema's current and former stars including Johnny Hazzard, Brad Benton, Nick Capra, Jason Hawke, Nick Piston and Jason Ridge (pictured above).

Says Roecker: "I interviewed sixteen men that perform in gay porn and asked them what makes them tick. This is their forum and their voice. When I spoke to these men, I wanted to know what their parents thought, how they got into the industry and what their ultimate goals were. I found them incredibly bright, sensitive and inspiring."

Topics covered in the series include the impact of drugs on the industry, the dangers behind unprotected sex, depression, and the stigmas and drawbacks when starring in the gay porn industry. The series also promises to show us the lighter sides of these guys.