Michael of "Queer as Folk"

Showtime presents

February 11, 2001

Page 2 of 7

Nicky: Hey Hal, someone told me that you kissed your dog to practice for the show. Here is the question… Who kisses better Chris Potter or Spot?

Hal Sparks: Spot's name is Scooter, and Scooter and I would like to announce our engagement. But don't get me wrong, Scooter and Potter have a lot in common in the kissing department - whiskers, and Alpo.

Jenn Jenn: Hello Hal, Great show! Did you expect the show to take off in America as it has and how do you see the show's future?

Hal Sparks: I hoped that it would do well and open peoples' minds. Part of me also feared that my house would be firebombed and my parents would be drummed out of Rotary. As for the show's future, I don't know. I hope it continues to do well for quite some tie, and I hope I'm involved. Right now, I'm focused on doing the show as best I can today, or tomorrow as it were, at 6:15 when I have to get up!

Todd724: Hal, do you think this show is the breaking ground for other gay-related shows?

Hal Sparks: I think it's breaking ground for everyone in one essential way, and this was mentioned in Village Voice recently, and I thought it was a good way to express it. This is my first experience playing a sexualized character, a person who is both human and sexual. It's usually either/or. I'm sure it will be. Every step along the way has made it easier for shows to genuinely portray gay relationships. I think personally the ability to do the show comes from Scott Thomson on "Kids in the Hall" because all the kids that watched him and accepted him in straight and gay roles are now older and more accepting, and allow us into their homes.

Jackie: Hal, hello from Tennessee, I sure do enjoy watching your role with your mother. It reminds me of my mother, who has been dead for three years now. It's great to see a positive role between a gay son and his mother. Great work, hats off to you!

Hal Sparks: Thanks so much. Sharon and I have a really strong bond, and we have since the beginning. She's very easy to love, and just as supportive of me as an actor as Debbie is of me as a gay man. She's a treasure. She also smacks pretty hard, which I like!

Envoi: Hal: What are your feelings about the nature of the relationship between Brian and Michael? I'm sure many of us have been "in love" with our best friends, but do you feel it's reached a point where Michael needs to let the fantasy of Brian go (as opposed to Brian letting Michael go, as Dr. David suggested)?

Hal Sparks: There are so many layers to the relationship between Michael and Brian that the audience isn't getting a chance to see yet, that will make people understand the depth and longsuffering style of Michael, and the loveableness of Brian. And as opposed to one or the other letting go, it will be about why these people love each other so deeply in their own way. I think we're all in for some surprises.

Lou: Hi Hal, do you think you will be able to use your knowledge of martial arts with the character Michael?

Hal Sparks: No. Michael has about as much chance of being a martial arts expert as I do of, well, being a professional figure skater! There's just no interest. And it goes against Michael's norm. He's not the kind of person who'd take it up. We may have a fantasy sequence where Michael dreams he's a superhero, but that would be it. I have to be able to keep something for myself as Hal.

Page 2 of 7