Netflix Developing New Installment of ‘Armistead Maupin’s Tales of the City’

Olympia Dukakis and Laura Linney are signed on.

Its welcome

They should try to get as much of the original cast as possible, especially Chloe Webb and Paul Gross. I can see them wanting a name or someone with a higher profile than Marcus D'Amico as Mouse, but I'd prefer D'Amico over the initial recast.

Maupin hates D'amico and was instrumental in getting him removed from more tales. I believe it was partly due to d'amico claiming he was gay and later denying it?

Chloe Webb wanted to be paid more than the other cast members, it was claimed. But that was a lifetime ago. The recasts, even when some of the actors were competent, didn't work.

Who's in the right age range to play opposite Linney etc? I'd like as many out actors as possible. I don't see Denis O'Hare or John Benjamin Hickey as Mouse. I'm blanking on cute, boyish types in their range - I guess because of the dearth of out actors.

I wonder where they'll pick up the story.

I can see Rupert Graves as Mouse. Can he play American?

25 years later Mary Ann returns

R7 - Rupert would be fantastic. Did he play an American in that Joan Allen series The Family a couple of years ago? He played her husband.

So they'll skip over Mary Ann's TV career, Mona's relocation to England etc.?

Thank you, R9. I was just going to google that.

[quote]I'd prefer D'Amico over the initial recast.

How many recasts were there?

Is Beauchamp part of the new book?

Andy Cohen for Mouse! Kidding, though he does look a bit like Marcus D'Amico.

Sound like this is going to be based on Maupin's book "Mary Ann in Autumn," which is more or less set in the present day. Mary Ann Singleton and Mouse are both late-50s to early-60s, and Mrs. Madrigal is in her 90s. (Linney is 53 in real life.) Chloe Webb's character Mona is dead.

Not sure how I feel about this -- "Autumn" wasn't exactly a fun book. A number of characters are old and ill.

Marcus D'Amico was SO not the Mouse I'd seen in my head since 1978. He was more "Moose."

Just one recast. I was anticipating a recast for Netflix. I wonder if they'll go for "Michael Tolliver Lives" to adapt.

I loved Marcus D'Amico. The guy who replaced him was terrible.

What about Billy Campbell? Is his character in the book?

Didn't Jon die?

Oh, and yes, Rupert Graves played A,Eric an in that Joan Allen thing, and his accent was excellent. But if Maupin was mad that D'Amico wasn't gay, would he mind about Graves? Although Graves has played gay so often he's practically an honorary gay.

Jon dies in one of the books, yes, from AIDS.

I think may have wanted D'Amico to be out and maybe D'Amico reneged on that angle once the publicity time came. I believe that he's married to a woman, so perhaps he's bisexual.

*I think Maupin

It's Netflix. How long before the trannies take front and center stage?

R24 - Hence Olympia Dukakis returning.

Laura Linney has aged beautifully and looks fantastic off her age.

Marcus D'Amico, two years younger than Linney at 51, has not been as lucky.

Moose, not Mouse

Quote from Armistad Maupin re Marcus D'Amico:

"Despite the rumors, it is not true that Marcus D'Amico wasn't invited back because of issues surrounding his sexuality. The production team met Marcus and he expressed 'ambivalence' about returning to the role of Mouse. The director felt it was important to find someone who would enthusiastically embrace the role."

Can they really get away with telling a story about a San Francisco full of Tech Bros?

I mean, I read his present-day books, but once everybody moved away from Barbary Lane, it just wasn't as good.

R29: If I recall correctly, Maupin does address how S.F. has changed in his more recent books, and introduces a set of younger characters -- but they're just not that interesting.

I thought the book was cutesy and unreadable. I couldn't watch much of the tv series, it gave me twee hives!

Was "twee" a word then, R31?

Oh I just loved Marcus d'Amico as Mouse but it's sad how he's aged!

[quote][R29]: If I recall correctly, Maupin does address how S.F. has changed in his more recent books, and introduces a set of younger characters -- but they're just not that interesting.

The only new characters I really remember were Brian and Mary Ann's daughter and Jake, the trans guy. And I think we can guess DL's reaction to the latter.

I do remember really liking Mary Ann in Autumn.

And I remember finding something in my eye in Michael Tolliver Lives when it was revealed, almost off-handedly, that Mona had died ten years ago, and that Michael was kind of glad, because he didn't think her big, warm, liberal heart could have lived in a post-9/11 world.

I adored this series!!! So happy to see it come alive again.

The second guy as Mouse wasn't as good an actor, but he did do some nice full-frontal nudity. More nudity for the new Mouse, please!

The second Mouse, Paul Hopkins, has also aged better. But he had this big leery grin that was not right for Mouse.

Whip Hubley, Paul Gross' replacement was probably hotter - he was at least more built IIRC. But I can't remember a single thing about his performance. I remember his jerkoff B-plot with Swoosie Kurtz, that's all.

Can they involve Mary Kay Place somehow?

Ooh, Paul Hopkins HAS aged well!

And Billy Campbell is aging nicely too. He's almost 60 now.

So I guess it's just Marcus D'Amico who hasn't aged well.

Too bad Billy Campbell's character died..I'd love to see him play gay again.

I want the DVD set of the first film version but I don't know which one to get. There was a "Collector's Edition" that came out in like 2003, I think? Then a "20th Anniversary" version which must have been from 2013 I would assume, this one's on amazon. Some of the reviews of the 2013 one are pretty bad, saying that the picture quality sucks, and I'm wondering if there's much of a difference between the two. Also I have read that there are scenes that were cut from the original PBS broadcast that some people taped on their VCRs, like some of the nudity I would assume. Does anybody have either (or both) of the DVD sets and can review them? If I get this it would have to bee the US version, or at least compatible with North American players. Thanks.

Someone from the Midwest must be in charge of Netflix programming, because their original content is the schlockiest shit imaginable.

Funny r44 because I love most of the Netflix series and I am originally from Michigan.

I admire your candor, r45.

I used to know a crazy frau on Usenet who insisted she was the basis for Mary Ann. Kinda wish I knew where she was now so I could see if she was still pulling the same shit.

More on topic: I also remember almost nothing from the PBS show except the Swoosie Kurtz subplot. Weird.

The original series was ground breaking. Was the first gay TV show many people watched. I remember my elderly Midwestern mother liking it very much.

Did they show dick on PBS?

It seems this is a reboot instead of a continuation. Laura Linney and Olympia Dukakis are playing different characters, like how Bill Murray and the original cast played different characters in the new Ghostbusters.

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[quote]The only new characters I really remember were Brian and Mary Ann's daughter and Jake, the trans guy. And I think we can guess DL's reaction to the latter.

There is a difference between DL and the trolls. Just because the trolls are loud and vicious doesn't mean that they represent Datalounge as a whole.

R49, I think there were two versions originally produced, one that did contain some nudity and then a second with any naughty bits pixelated or cropped out. PBS stations had the option of airing either one, and a number of stations in more conservative parts of the US chose the tamer one. I think there were a few good shots when Mouse and Mona went to the nude beach, not Michael himself unfortunately but a few guys in the background. As well as some other parts. This is why I want to know what's missing on the different sets if I want a physical copy.

Billy Campbell was at his peak hotness during the original show. Sigh... where has the time gone?

[quote]Did they show dick on PBS?

I watched uncensored "More tales of the City" on Bravo on regular broadcast tv in 1999. Back in the day, cable channels would often be shown free on regular broadcast tv.

Imagine my shock when full frontal nudity and gay sex scenes were shown. The first time I had seen a gay sex scene as a teenager.

let me repeat it, male nudity and gay sex scenes on broadcast tv. Darn, I miss the Clinton years.

I was in love with Paul Hopkins.

The current-day actor who most closely resembles my mental picture of Mouse as I read the books is Tom Holland.

I had always envisioned Katherine Helmond as Mrs. Madrigal. Such a light spirit.

Ruth Gordon would also have made a splendid Mrs. Madrigal for the same reason. Olympia was fine, I guess, but she never would have been my first choice.

r55 R56 I don't think you understand what "broadcast TV" is. Bravo is a CABLE channel.

They had trannies before they were trendy.

I remember seeing dick on the PBS version.

What is going on with Billy Campbell's dick. Does he have a vagina?

It's official!

I hope they bring d'Amico back. He's had enough time to eat humble pie. I suspect Maupin would still hold a grudge.

Beauchamp (Thomas Gibson) walking around the bathhouse and later fucking the doctor was such a turn-on when I was a kid.

I remember watching the second mini-series when I was a closeted teenager. I should re watch them.

What I remember most about the second season is the nudity (loved Paul Hopkins for that) and the mystery plot about that human flesh eating cult with the cute reporter and his amnesia.

Jamie Dornan as Mouse. He always looked something like that as I read the books.

Jamie Dornan can't play Mouse with Laura Linney as Mary Ann. Ellen is playing Linney's daughter, not Mona.

I loved the first show. I'm excited for this.

Jake is F2M but still has his vagina, which all the gay men want to fuck.

This perplexes Anna, "When did gay men become preoccupied with vaginas?"

I only ever saw the first PBS series - didn't have Showtime and never caught up on it.

I think this will work, but wonder if the 10 episodes are meant to encompass all three of the final books. Maupin wrote Michael Tolliver Lives, Mary Ann in Autumn and the Anna Madrigal book, which truly and completely ends the series.

Will be interesting to see who plays Mouse. Glad that Barbara Garrick is back as DeDe.

One of the things that made Tales great initially is Maupin's ability to poke fun at and yet make warm figures out of people like DeDe and Beauchamp....and compare them to more salt of the earth types like Mary Ann. His later books weren't as successful at doing that, hope the scriptwriters land it better than he did.

[quote] I suspect Maupin would still hold a grudge.

Like you wouldn't believe.

Just call her Petty LaBelle.

Anyone know why so many characters were recast in More Tales of The City?

Marcus D'Amico either didn't want to come back or pissed Maupin off by stating in several interviews that he was straight - which Maupin saw as a homophobic move. (I tend to believe that version, as it was true back in the day - Maupin claining otherwise is revisionist history.)

Chloe Webb wanted considerably more money - a trick she pulled and failed on many shows (may have been her representation).

The other roles, I believe it was just availability issues. It had been at least a year or two since the first filmed and some of them had obligations elsewhere.

Billy Campbell is now a silver lion. As a teenager in the late 90's I was in love with him.

[quote]Beauchamp (Thomas Gibson) walking around the bathhouse and later fucking the doctor was such a turn-on when I was a kid.

Did you see Gibson's cock?

[quote]Jamie Dornan can't play Mouse with Laura Linney as Mary Ann.

Right you are. Bring Paul Hopkins back, then. Anyone but Marcus D'Amico. He was dreadful, and looked nothing like Mouse.

Is Beauchamp still alive? I know someone who could play him.

R75 There were a couple of reasons behind the recasts in More Tales of the City. R76 is likely right about Marcus D'Amico as there was most definitely bad blood between him and Maupin. Yes D'Amico asserted several times during interviews that he was straight, but he playrf several more gay roles after Tales of the City. I personally don't think he was overtly homophobic.

Another reason for the casting changes was that both More Tales of the City and Further Tales of the City were produced by a Canadian company and with the exception of some outdoor scenes, they were actually filmed in Montreal. In order to secure funding, a certain percentage of the cast had to be Canadian actors. Paul Gross (who is Canadian) was in the first film but was unavailable for More Tales because he was filming Due South by that point.

The Daddy Queens would love this version of Mouse.

R73, how did he make Beauchamp a warmer person? Seeing him in that bathhouse scene, I figured he was a sociopath.

R80, OMG why post that? Depressing.

Beauchamp "warm"? In which volume?

Post a better shot of Beauchamp, R84. Are you one of those queens who think people don't age?

What's up with the Nostalgia for the 1970s with gay guys?

I'll watch it if it's based in 2018. Where are the characters now?

Such a turn-on.

Yum

No, R80, Beauchamp died in a fiery crash involving a manure truck, shortly after Mary Ann told him to "Eat shit and die."

Don't fuck with Mary Ann.

[quote] I'll watch it if it's based in 2018. Where are the characters now?

Yes, that's the point, dear. It's based on the more recent books, which are set (more or less) in present day.

[quote]What's up with the Nostalgia for the 1970s with gay guys?

r87 types "Born in '87."

Olympia better not drop before they film this. I can't believe she's pushing 90!

R75 This is from wikipedia:

Regarding the recasts of Brian, Mouse and Mona for the sequels, Maupin has said, "Paul Gross was committed to his own TV series, Due South. Chloe Webb had expressed enthusiasm about playing Mona again, but she backed out when the show's producers declined her request to be paid more than the rest of the cast (the show was operating under a 'favored nations agreement' that required leading cast members to be paid equally.) While everyone felt Chloe was important to Tales, she was not more important than Laura Linney, Thomas Gibson, Billy Campbell or Barbara Garrick. Despite the rumors, it is not true that Marcus D'Amico wasn't invited back because of issues surrounding his sexuality. The production team met with Marcus and he expressed 'ambivalence' about returning to the role of Mouse. The director felt it was important to find someone who would enthusiastically embrace the role.

Marcus d'Amico's career ambitions haven't worked out so I doubt he'd be ambivalent about returning this time around.

Paul Hopkins was a fine actor but too knowing as Mouse. I remember disliking his leering grin.

Allegedly this is opening scene of the new series.

I really liked Chloe Webb as Mona in the first mini-series. Nina Siemaszko was alright as Mona in More Tales but it was a much more subdued performance. It's too bad Mona won't be in the new series since the character was killed off.

I can't stand Chloe Webb's voice.

Following the first series it was more Montreal than San Francisco...Something did not work,,,maybe the scripts were not as good as the first one. All I know is that as much as I loved the first one, I was not impressed with the others. And some of the actors were just bland

I think ten parts covering all three books would be good. Olympia isn't a spring chicken anymore. Three hours a book is good enough.

You would need two casts, r101, of appropriate ages.

R102 Huh?

Well, if you mean where Anna's book goes back in time a bit, maybe.

I meant ten episodes, because that's what they were saying they'd do for Netflix. I want ten episodes, total, for all three books together as one season, and hopefully not ten episodes for each book, etc. Mainly because of Olympia's age.

I prefer paul gross and paul hopkins. I hope they come back. Paul hopkins was so sexy to me and i love the full frontal. The best thing about the last two series. The first is the best. I'll watch this new one of course since I've seen all the others.

You know what, R103? I read r101 wrong. You wrote "I think ten parts covering all three books," and what I saw was "I think ten parts covering all [bold]the[/bold] books," as in from 1976-present.

R105 Gotcha.

Yes, I meant the more recent batch of books. I know the three previous series covered earlier books (though I don't know if Babycakes or Sure of You were included) but they've said this new Netflix series is set in present day, so it likely covers the last three books of the series that Maupin just released in the last decade.

I just didn't want them to do ten episodes per book. Each of the three later books could be three-ish hours, that would be fine. The more episodes done the more risk that Olympia may not be up to the task of appearing.

I'm wondering how they're going to draw in viewers who aren't as familiar with the series already without a bunch of big expository dumps.

r107. Isn't that what flashbacks and prequels are for these days? Jump right into the action and worry about exposition later. Case in point: The recent release of Netflix's Lost In Space.

But Lost In Space was basically starting from scratch on the concept and started in medias res. This would be built on a 45 year old series of books and a 25 year old set of miniseries.

I still have to respect the hell of Laura Linney for getting this made. There aren't a lot of actresses who would be that eager to jump back into this kind of thing, even if it's the character who launched her career.

r109, I imagine the new installment will be no different by including some "best of" flashbacks of the early years. I mean it would be completely bonkers if they do something as silly as telling the story backwards and cover the recent books now and then go back to the earlier books in a future season, or seasons. Maybe I lack the imagination but the best way keeping the current, younger viewers in the loop would be newly filmed flashback scenes from the earlier books to give some background info about the characters.

I'm still quite convinced that I will marry Billy Campbell one day.

[quote]I'm wondering how they're going to draw in viewers who aren't as familiar with the series already without a bunch of big expository dumps.

I assume Netflix will acquire and promote the first three miniseries in advance of the new one.

Never saw the original series but I've read most of the books. I loved them. Didn't the rich girl go to something like the equivalent of Michfest?

OHMYGOD, will they do a Michfest ep with dialogue ripped straight from DL threads? I will die happy if they do.

[quote] What's up with the Nostalgia for the 1970s with gay guys?

Oh, I don't know...maybe it has something to do with AIDS epidemic of the 1980s.

Plus, for all the good things greater and greater assimilation has brought us, I can see being wistful for a time when our community was more of an actual community.

The AIDS crisis forced gay men and lesbians to unite and fight together. Gay men and women were fed up with being treated like shit and their gay friends dying while the rest of nation / world looked the other way and maybe cracked a few jokes, because the gays deserve what's happening to them.

R112 That's what I'm thinking....In Canada you can watch all three mini-series on OUTTV Go.

According the the summary, Brian and Michael will be in this but I wonder which actors they will use? I would prefer Paul Gross as Brian rather than Whip Hubley (I don't think Whip has worked in years). I'm guessing Paul Hopkins would be back as Michael given that there is bad blood between Marcus D'Amico and Armistead Maupin. Also I wonder if Mona will be in this? Maupin killed Mona off in his later novels stating she died of cancer in England.

I think it was when she'd seen the first one that my mother called to say she didn't know they had nuns like that, even in San Francisco.

(Sister Tori d'Afair, Sister Aria Inyette, Sister DeManda Tencion and so on...)

I really missed Chloe Webb in the sequels - she was fantastic as Mona and the replacement just wasn't very good. Same with the Mouse re-cast.

No to Marcus D'Amico. He was terrible. He looked nothing like the Mouse I imagined in the books all those years ago. Paul Hopkins is a much better Mouse.

This guy as Mouse? I think not.

Actually if Mouse is the Armistead Maupin character, the pic at R122 fits.

Yep. D'Amico favours Maupin much more than Hopkins does.

Why not have D'amico as Mouse? It would be interesting to see how a former pretty boy is coping with aging and a changed world from his peak of youthful glory. I think he looks fine,though apparently none of you bitches have aged a minute and look exactly like you did 40 years ago!

R120 Chole was fantastic as Mona but allegedly she was hard to work with during the filming of the first series and demanded a salary higher than Laura Linney's to appear in the second one. Her replacement was lackluster & I think that instead of recasting the role for a third time, the just excluded Mona from the third series.

If I recall correctly, Mona is not in the third book at all, so they wouldn't have needed to cast her in the third series.

Laura Linney looks like Evan Rachel Wood.

The recast had a negative effect but I'd venture that so did the loss of the original director, Alastair Reid. He directed the original TRAFFIC mini-series (TRAFFIK). His succesor directed both sequels.

Count me as someone who also missed Chloe Webb. The most annoying recast for me, though, was Mrs Halcyon. Nina Foch was perfect in the original - a demanding old bitch who was really quite sad underneath. Her successor brought nothing but "simpering ninny" to the character.

Yes, the mona recast was terrible. Chloe webb was perfect. But she didn't deserve higher pay than laura. R129 i agree. The part where she was calling out for the maid is HILARIOUS.

R127 Mona is in the novel Further Tales of the City although with a pretty small role (it mostly sets up her final departure from the novels). Out of the three mini-series, Further Tales of the City is the least close to the novel it originated from. For example, Anna's love story wasn't in the novel at all and the mini-series and Mother Mucca was written into the mini-series due her popularity but she doesn't appear in the novel. I suspect that had Chloe Webb continued to have played Mona they would have written her into Further Tales......