Queer as Folk : Pilot (2000)

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The premiere episode of Showtime's groundbreaking series Queer As Folk opens at Babylon, a gay dance club loaded with half-naked gyrating go-go boys, where Michael (Hal Sparks, best known previously as the man who replaced Greg Kinnear as the host of E!'s Talk Soup) and his motley crew hang out. Michael narrates the show, introducing us to his friends. Ted (Scott Lowell) is smart and self-deprecating, and he complains a lot about the lack of attention he gets from the buff young men in the club. Emmett (Peter Paige) "can be a little campy," as Michael affectionately puts it, with his transparent pink shirts and loud and proud attitude. Brian (Gale Harold) is the player of the group. He parties all night, every night, with no apologies. He occasionally takes his friends for granted, particularly Michael, who obviously harbors a painful crush on him. When Brian spots young Justin (Randy Harrison) standing outside the club, he ditches his plans to drive his friends home, and makes his move. Justin nervously accompanies Brian back to his apartment, where they have sex. Their evening is interrupted when Brian gets word that Lindsay (Thea Gill) is at the hospital giving birth to his child. They rush to the hospital, where they meet Michael. Lindsay's partner, Melanie (Michelle Clunie), isn't exactly thrilled to see the father of their child, and Brian doesn't seem quite ready for fatherhood. The next morning, he wakes up next to Justin, but he doesn't remember much of the night before. He's somewhat surprised to find out that he's deflowered Justin, who is still in high school. Michael shows up with his car, which has been vandalized by local kids, and they drive Justin to school. This episode was directed by Russell Mulcahy (Highlander).