"The Other Two, Season 2": More Gay, Less Teen Idol

 

On March 2, 2019, I reviewed the first season of The Other Two, a Comedy Central sitcom about 30-ish closeted gay actor Cary Dubek (Drew Carver) and his sister, failed dancer Brooke (Helene Yorke), adjusting to the sudden pop star mega-fame of their 13-year old brother, Chase (Case Walker, left and below).  Rounding out the cast were their Hollywood stage mother Pat (Molly Shannon), and Chase's manager Streeter (Ken Marino).   

Episodes involved Chase trying to adjust to a life where everyone wants to date him or exploit him, or both, and depending on his siblings for emotional support.  I praised the show for depicting Chase as a genuinely nice kid, not a spoiled pop star jerk, and for depicting the siblings as genuinely caring, not jealous or spiteful.  I didn't care much for Cary, who is horrified when his brother outs him in his new song ("My Brother's Gay, and That's Ok,") and responds to someone telling him "I thought you were straight" with "Thank you."

Seasons change, COVID delays filming, and Season 2 finally appears 2 1/2 years later, in August 2021 (I'm just watching now because I just signed up for HBO Max).  Chase isn't a dreamy teen idol  anymore, he's an 18-year old hunk with muscles and a sultry gaze.  Retired from pop stardom, he tries to go to college, but it's hard to pay attention in class when everyone is gawking at you.  So he moves into fashion and then buys a sports team.  But mostly he is sidelined as episodes concentrate on the siblings.

Mom Pat is now married to Chase's former manager, and starring in an Ellen-like talk show, Pat!   Sister Brooke works as her publicist.  Cary continues his faltering acting career; with a podcast called The Gay Minute and a job doing cameos (bottom-level celebrities hired to send people personalized video greetings). And he continues to struggle with coming out..

In the episode I reviewed, Mom Pat! has a newly-out Kansas farmboy (Noah Galvin, left) and his conservative father (Tuc Watkins) on the show ("I'm having trouble understanding it, but he's still my son.").  She awards them $30,000.   Turns out that they are actually scammers, a gay couple, and rather...um...advanced: "Dad" complains that he can't take Molly during their Grindr Hookup, or he won't be able to perform, so "Son" suggests that they both bottom.  

Cary and his boyfriend  Jess (Gideon Glick) notice them in a coffee shop, think that the Kansas farmboy knows nothing about gay life, and offer to show him Gay New York.  The Fake Dad and Son know that Cary is Pat's son, so they have to play along. At that moment the Grindr Hookup (Noam Ash, left) arrives, and is introduced as a straight brother from Kansas ("I'm straight.  I have a girlfriend.  She... um...has long hair.  Straight guys like girls with long hair, right?").  

Instead of a three-way, Fake Dad, Son, and Grindr Hookup are  subjected to an afternoon of ultra-boring activities that Cary and Jess promise are "hot!"  Like getting frozen yogurt.  Finally they convince them to go to a gay bar,  where Fake Dad says "In order to understand my son's lifestyle, I'm going to dance with that guy."

They realize that the Grindr Hookup is actually gay, and congratulate themselves on helping Fake Dad accept his two gay sons.  He claims that he needs more research, and kisses Cary before returning to the dance floor.  The clueless Cary still doesn't realize that they are scammers.

Later, at home, Boyfriend Jess goes a bit overboard: "You're my everything.  You're my universe.  You're what gives my life meaning.  I would die without you." Uh-oh.  The end.

Beefcake: None.

Gay Characters: Everybody in the B plot.  

Cary: He's newly out, with his first boyfriend.  At age 34? In New York?

My Grade:  I'm actually more interested in the retired teen idol than in Cary's adventures.  Maybe because I already know what Gay New York is like; I lived there for four years.  B.

See also: The Other Two