In Here! TV's side-splitting new comedy series From Here On Out, hot T.J. Hoban plays Sam, an actor cast as the lead in a new gay TV show being produced by a gay network. In order to keep the role, Sam has to come out as gay, even though he's straight. Hilarious hijinks follow.
"It's really a funny show," Hoban said, speaking to the B.A.R. by phone. "I believe in the project. I love the idea of playing secretly straight but being openly gay. I enjoy making people laugh at my own expense."
Part of the show's humor comes from the frustrating, real-life, often over-the-top situations that can go into putting a TV series together, and in being an actor in Hollywood. "I believe that I'm a talented actor," Hoban said. "I'd never had a contract role before, that's the Holy Grail. At the end of the day, it's hustle and a grind." These words could have been spoken by the character of Sam.
From Here On Out's storylines include laugh-out-loud sequences in which Jimmy, the creator of the show within the show, has to put up with ridiculously unreasonable demands from network executives. Openly gay Terry Ray, From Here On Out 's writer/creator, plays Jimmy. He says that these scenes are autobiographical.
"It's a weird world," Ray said. "The sofa set where Jimmy gets the job is the actual sofa at Here! studios where I got the job!"
Director Sam Irvin, who worked on Here!'s horror-themed series Dante's Cove and has directed feature films, agreed. "OMG, this is my life!" he said with a laugh. "I've been to those meetings, I went through this directing Dante ."
Irvin described From Here On Out . "It's a very sexy gay 30 Rock. 30 Rock spoofs NBC, and we spoof Here! TV. Our show is all about the shenanigans of producing a low-budget series. The show has no political agenda. We're trying to make a fun show that will make people laugh. It's not politically correct: everyone's a target."
"I want people to have a good time," said Terry Ray. "Be entertained. Forget that it's a gay show. There's no message other than it's entertaining."
There will be much disrobing from various male cast members, which Ray said wasn't as distracting as people might think. "There were so many naked men on set, it plateaus out," he said. "It's all the same amount of hotness, so it cancels itself out. I was glad to get hot guys who could be funny."
Juliet Mills, beloved by TV viewers for her roles on Nanny and the Professor and as the lovably evil witch Tabitha on the daytime drama satire Passions, signed on to play Dottie, the receptionist at the TV studio. Mills is part of theater royalty. Her father was Sir John Mills, a legendary British actor. Her sister, Hayley Mills, starred in many Disney film classics. Her godparents were actress Vivien Leigh and the great gay playwright/actor Noel Coward.
"We wanted to get somebody famous," said Ray. "She thought it was risque, but said OK as long as there were no naked guys in her scenes! She laughed and was really funny."
"It took a little persuading," said Irvin. "She said, 'As long as I don't have to be naked!' But she came on board."
Here! produced six 30-minute episodes for the show's freshman season. The first three episodes can now be seen at Here! TV Premium, the network's paid subscription channel at You Tube. ($7.99 per month for unlimited access to many Here! programs.)
Episodes will begin airing on the Here! cable network on March 28.