The ladies aren't getting all the action on "Sex and the City" this season. As we'll see in an episode premiering on HBO Sunday, August 11 at 9 p.m. ET, Carrie's (Sarah Jessica Parker) gay best buddy Stanford Blatch has met his match: a handsome dancer by the name of Marcus (Sean Palmer).Willie Garson -- the actor who plays Stanford -- was thrilled when he learned his alter ego would be getting a beau. "As bitchy and judgmental as Stanford can be, we all know he has a really good heart and deserves a great guy," says Garson, who has played the character since "Sex and the City" debuted five years ago.
While Garson is well known for the role, it isn't his only claim to fame. The 37-year-old New Jersey native has had guest spots and recurring roles on various hit TV shows, including "NYPD Blue," "Friends," "The X-Files," "The Practice," "Ally McBeal" and "Melrose Place." Actually, Garson has seemingly appeared in just about every hit show on TV since the mid-1980s. "My agent and I sat down and tried to figure out how many appearances I'd made, and we stopped counting at about 200 episodes."
But of course, these days we're loving him on "Sex and the City." Gaywatch chatted with Garson about his upcoming storyline, his real-life friendship with Sarah Jessica Parker and more.
Is this the first time Stanford has had an actual boyfriend -- a real relationship -- on the show?
Depending on the interpretation. There was some guy -- I think it was the second season -- at a perfume launch party. I don't remember the lines or anything, but there was some very handsome black dancer. I remember introducing him as my boyfriend, and he came up and kissed me. But it was never really referred to again. So this is the first. This is a real, mature relationship that we'll see over upcoming episodes.
It's about time. Stanford's earned a boyfriend.
Exactly. As our producer [Michael Patrick King] said earlier this year, "Sometimes our characters get what they deserve to get." That's one of the reasons the show works.
What can you tell us about Stanford's boyfriend?
He might not be what you expect.
Stanford is a one-of-a-kind guy.
Another publication wrote that one of the reasons my character in particular works is because I'm so unattractive. I understood the point the writer was trying to make, but he could have made it a little more eloquently. [He laughs.]
Was he trying to say that Stanford's not a gym queen, or like other gay stereotypes we see on TV?
Yeah. If you're going to have a homosexual man on television, he's going to be ripped and gorgeous and only be concerned with his body, and he's going to have beautiful hair and beautiful teeth -- and I don't. And that is, I think, one of the reasons it works really nicely.
Stanford has a style all his own. Do you have any say as to how he dresses?
[Costume designer] Patricia Field does that. As far as wardrobe and look is concerned, [the producers] left it alone, because Pat is a genius, and they told her she could have fun. Pat has created a character. He has a very specific look. Stanford very much likes to wear a jacket and tie. It's kind of a Carnaby Street, English dandy kind of look. We try other things: We'll open the collar and put on a jaunty scarf or something, but it doesn't work. It's not Stanford. It can be what's considered a gay look, but it's not Stanford's gay look.
So it isn't just the women they're making a fuss over in terms of look?
No, no, no. That's the genius of Pat Field. Everyone gives her praise for that crazy outfit on Sarah, and those crazy sexy dresses on Kim [Cattrall, who plays Samantha]. They're forgetting she also dressed the lawyers, the delivery guys -- everyone -- and they're all brilliant.
When you accepted this role five years ago, were you at all hesitant about playing a gay character?
No. I am the true definition of a character actor. It's never an issue. The big joke I always make is that when I was on "NYPD Blue," no one ever asked me if I was a murderer.
Are you a murderer?
I actually am. I become everything I play. But the thing [about Stanford being gay] is, it means so much more to other people than it does to me. And, certainly, when a show goes on a for a while it very quickly (hopefully) jumps off of "that's the gay character," and it becomes about who that person is. He shouldn't be a stick figure. ... He comes in and says something sassy and walks out. You should know about him: He's a talent agent. He has one client. He's rich. He's friends with Carrie. He likes to drink. He smokes. He is well read -- whatever -- and he's gay. That's hopefully what happens in good television. In bad television, I'm not so sure.
Has playing this role affected you in terms of dating? I'm wondering if women who watch the show may just assume you are gay.
Yes and no. I do a lot of other work. But yes, a lot of women approach me, and they want to talk to me like I'm their best friend, and then I start to come on to them, and they're like, "Whoa! You're supposed to be a safe haven!"
If you were able to date one of the fictional women on "Sex and the City" in real life, which would you choose?
I'm biased, but it's Sarah -- Carrie. There's not even a discussion. Carrie is very real and in touch with herself.
I understand that you and Sarah Jessica Parker have been close friends for years. How did you two meet?
We met in '86 at a dinner party. Our mutual friend thought that we would enjoy each other's company -- whether relationshipwise or otherwise -- and sat us next to each other, and we hit if off and became fast friends. At the time, she was living here [in Los Angeles], and ... she's one of my oldest and closest friends now.
Watching you and Sarah together on screen, it seems like you really are friends. It must be fun working together.
I have made Sarah literally have to get up and go to the bathroom immediately, or there would be a big disaster. That's what we do: We laugh, especially in the later episodes we taped for this season. We had such an abbreviated season this year. Not to be too corny, but our moments were really precious. Every day of work was that much closer to us being done this year, and when we got toward the end of shooting, we were delirious.
I've heard there is a great atmosphere on the set.
Yeah. It comes straight from Sarah. Our show is run in a way that we decided: let's not have a bad day at work. And we don't have them.
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