“Looking” looks to live on for a second season – knows it can’t be all things to all gays

Last night I attended a terrific event centered around HBO’s Looking held at the Writers Guild of America.

Creator Mike Lannan was there, HBO exec Nick Hall and three of the show’s writers. They treated us to a lively panel discussion about the show after we watched episode six ahead of everyone else! (It airs Sunday).

Anyway, after it was over and people were making their way over to the next room for dessert, I chatted up Lannan and Hall about the question on a lot of people’s minds as they get hooked on this terrific show: will we see a second season?

To read what they said, go over to Gay Star News and see the story I’ve posted there.

During the panel, there was discussion about some of the bashing the show has taken from some critics and from some gays.

Hall said that while there have been positive reviews and other pieces on the show, he acknowledged ‘there have been those that have been scathing.’

‘It’s interesting to read those and try to digest those and walk away with really what the central issues are,’ Hall said. ‘Usually it is one issue that is used to eviscerate the entire show.’

Said writer Tanya Saracho: ‘There’s one view of gayness that they have and we’re not meeting it.’

Lannan (pictured)  said: ‘I feel like it’s the minority trap so often when you have a piece that showcases a community, there is this sort of idendity trap you’re in where if you’re not showing like a certain kind of queerness, you’re not honoring what queerness is. But if you were to show that very specific view of queerness, you would be perpetuating stereotypes.’