Since 2011, Old Dogs & New Tricks has been one of the web’s more popular gay offerings. The “dramedy” follows the mad adventures of four gay men living in the enclave of West Hollywood California.
The series has amassed quite a following throughout its first two seasons, and for season 3, the guys all turned 50 in a town where 30 is considered over the hill. Undaunted, they continued to look for love in all the wrong places, just like their younger counterparts.
Celebrate their 10th anniversary with this behind-the-scenes look at the creation of Old Dogs & New Tricks' Pilot, with series creator/star Leon Acord and exec-producer/director Arvin Bautista! Buy or rent Old Dogs & New Tricks on digital from Amazon Prime Video:
As a result, Old Dogs earned overwhelmingly positive, especially among many older gay men who say the show speaks to them. And, as the acclaim spread to mainstream Hollywood circles, the series attracted a star-studded list of celebrity guest cameos, including Kathryn Leigh Scott who is best known for her role as Maggie Evans on the classic TV series Dark Shadows.
“Kathryn Leigh Scott appears in our season 3 finale,” Acord said. “She was such a pleasure to work with. She is so down to earth and a total pro. Her performance is amazing, so true and moving. I can’t wait for folks to see it.”
Scott plays Lily Anne, mom to Al “Muscles” Carter (Jeffrey Patrick Olson), who needs some motherly advice while going through a personal crisis. As a Dark Shadows fan, Olson said working with Scott was a delight.
“The scenes with her were so real and tangible and show how we all turn back into little boys and girls, falling into family patterns once that threshold is crossed,” Olson said. “I can’t wait to see them.”
This wasn’t the first time the two actors met. “We actually have a mutual friend and after the casting announcement we all went out on a double date in Beverly Hills for happy hour,” Olson said. “She is elegant, poised and considerate. We formed a fast comfortability with each other which of course helped our onscreen relationship with each other as mother [and] son.”
Other season 3 guest stars included Rutanya Alda, beloved by gay audiences for her role as Carol Ann in Mommie Dearest.
“I loved working on the set because everyone was so friendly and supportive,” Alda said. “They were well organized and the crew had all worked together before so they were all in sync. Leon wears many hats, as writer, actor and producer. He is supportive and happy to have people there — he was lovely to work with.”
I
t’s a mutual admiration society.
“Rutanya is amazing,” Acord said. “Not only did she fly herself out and put herself up to do our show, but apparently she put a lot of work into her character before she even arrived. I think her fans will love seeing her in such a change-of-pace role.”
Acord promised the third season, which also features comedy icon Mo Gaffney, will delight viewers. “If season two was a soufflé, season 3 is a rich, sweet pound cake,” he said. “Episodes run a little longer. The season is very story driven, and delves into the guy’s professional lives as well as their love lives.”
Plot twists, including a sex tape scandal, a gay divorce, a surprisingly new partnership, a professional comeback and a financial crisis, will keep viewers coming back for more.
“I hate to use the word blessed, because it’s used way too much,” Acord said. “But that’s exactly how I feel.”Get the winning gay sitcom here.
— By David-Elijah Nahmod