Watch Neil Patrick Harris Get Dumped in Netflix's 'Uncoupled'

 

As I've previously reported, Neil Patrick Harris returns to television later this month in the series "Uncoupled" -- and now you can watch the first trailer, below: 

In it, Harris plays Michael Lawson, a 40something real-estate broker whose partner of 17 years, Colin, played by dreamy Tuc Watkins, leaves him as Michael is throwing his man a surprise 50th birthday party. 

I've watched the first season and came away impressed. The supporting cast made up of Michael's friends is an organically diverse bunch -- his work best pal is a black single mom (Tisha Campbell); and his two best gays are a schlubby-American who doesn't get much action (Brooks Ashmanskas) and a narcissistic weatherwhore (Emerson Brooks) -- while the storylines are well-written and topical, without feeling forced. 

Co-creators Darren Star and Jeffrey Richman seem at home with the “suddenly single” middle-age gay man theme -- debut dick pics, PreP, barebacking 20somethings with daddy fetishes, etc. -- which was certainly something I can relate to having re-entered the dating scene at 47 after 12 years in a committed relationship with someone I met in an AOL chat room.

As the only gay man who doesn't know what a Neil Patrick Harris is -- I've never seen a single episode of "Doogie Howser M.D." or "How I Met Your Mother," nor would I have ever gone to White Castle with Harold or Kumar -- I wasn't sure what to expect. But he quickly won me over with his performance that was the perfect blend of vulnerability without fake humility, which tracks with his character's reality. (He may have been dumped, but he’s not exactly dumpy.) My biggest concern now is that "Uncoupled" will become another "Looking," HBO's criminally underappreciated series about gay men from a few years ago. I can already hear Gen-Z viewers whining about the show "revolving around a cis white man" while mindlessly not taking into account that A) There haven't exactly been any shows about gay men, cis white or otherwise; and B) You need a name to get a show on television -- and NPH and his gang of friends aren't exactly turn-of-the-century Carrie Bradshaw & Co. My rating: A-

"Uncoupled" arrives July 29 on Netflix. 

Why Aren't Benedict Cumberbatch and Neil Patrick Harris Starring in a Live Action 'Beavis and Butt-head' Movie?

Huh-huh. I'm up for this, although I always assumed it would be me and Greg!

Song of the Day: '52 Girls' by the B-52s

No interest in "Best Time Ever," but the B girls sure look great in this photo with host Neil Patrick Harris they posted on Facebook!

Limp Noodle

Call me an old-fashioned gay, but Neil Patrick Harris and his hubby's reenactment of "Lady and the Tramp" would have been far more interesting with Ben Wa Balls.

I Now Pronounce You Husband and Strife

I think my friend Peter summed up the wedding of Neil Patrick Harris and David Burtka best.

Doogie Style

Go inside Neil Patrick Harris and David Burtka’s $3 million (Valley!) home HERE.

Rolling Stone Exposes Neil Patrick Harris

I wouldn't exactly same I'm immune to Neil Patrick Harris' charms -- I've never seen a single episode of "How I Met Your Mother" or watched the Tony Awards, but when I've seen him interviewed he seems like a doll -- but am I the only one who liked him and Jason Bateman better when they were the "cute child actor who is back making fun guest appearances" -- think NHP as the ex-gay on "Will & Grace"! -- than as leading men? Ditto for Amy Poehler. Great in the occasional "Saturday Night Live" sketch, but a television or film lead? A little goes a long with some people. Read highlights from Hedwig's interview with Rolling Stone HERE.

Neil Patrick Harris as 'Hedwig (and the Angry Inch)'

OK, Broadway queens: Are you ready for THIS?

Neil Patrick Harris Does the Harlem Shuffle

The New York Post reports:

Tony Award show host and TV star Neil Patrick Harris has a lot to celebrate. He and fiancé David Burtka are fresh back from a trip to St. Tropez with their adorable 2-year-old twins, Harper and Gideon. Now the clan is returning to a new home — in Harlem. Harris just bought a stunning $3.6 million townhouse at 2036 Fifth Ave., between West 125th and 126th streets. The five-story stunner has five bedrooms, five bathrooms and measures a sprawling 8,000 square feet. The sun-filled home includes two terraces, a backyard, chef’s kitchen and lots of space for a playroom and gym. The home is significantly bigger than the couple’s previous home, which was also in Harlem.

The place looks beautiful ...

Get the full tour HERE.

Harris Poll

I've never seen this show once -- my brother swears by it -- but it's sure been on forever. Bruce LaBruce recently described Nail Patrick Harris as being "bad gay camp," a description that made me laugh:

 [He's] the poster boy for the new assimilationist gay, so that probably amounts to bad gay camp. She's like an episode of "Will & Grace."

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