Rich Burns dishes on The Disappointments Season 2, fitness tips & why he doesn’t want you to call him “daddy”
Rich Burns is back with more of his original series 'The Disappointments,' and the new season does not disappoint!
Mark
It took over 50 years for Rich Burns to make his dream show The Disappointments—which he created, writes, directs & stars in—a reality. So what’s a few more years of waiting for Season 2?
An original comedy about three friends of a certain age, the indie series originally debuted on YouTube back in 2021, but had been in the works since 2018. Now it’s back, bigger & better than ever, and Burns is even more confident in front of and behind the camera, eager to shine a spotlight on the experiences of queer men in their 60s, which we rarely see on screen.
How about we take this to the next level?
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Reuniting co-stars Gedde Watanabe (Sixteen Candles) and James Matthew Campbell with plenty of returning fan-favorite characters The Disappointments‘ brand-new season proves you’re never too old for new experiences as the guys pursue new romances (some of which get kinkier than you might expect!) and new career opportunities.
For Burns’ Ray, that means finally trying to move on from his younger ex Dwight (Trevor LaPaglia), who’s already ready to say “I Do” to another man. That also means taking his chances on an unexpected new gig: writing on an animated television show aimed at young girls—a fun development inspired by the creator’s own life, having racked up credits writing for shows like She-Ra And The Princesses Of Power.
But don’t worry: The Disappointments is a decidedly adult affair, one with a refreshingly frank approach to life, love, and all the “disappointments” those entail.
With Season 2 premiering today on YouTube (you can also get caught up on the recently released Director’s Cut episodes of Season 1!), we thought it was the perfect time to catch up with Burns and have him sit in the hot seat for our long-running Q&A series, Dishin’ It. In our conversation, the multi-hyphenate hunk opens up how the new episodes deepen our understanding of these fabulous characters, why he’s so good at writing for teenaged girls, and why he’d prefer if you didn’t call him daddy.
Is there a piece of media—whether a movie, TV series, book, album, theater, video game, etc…—that has played an important role in your understanding of queerness and the queer community, or your own identity? Why does it stand out to you?
Coming of age in the ’80s, I personally didn’t see positive representation of the LGBTQ+ community in the media. Queer people were presented as sad, lonely, victims, or killers. There was near to zero exploration of our people shown living happy, self-fulfilled lives, and what I did see stoked the shame I had around my sexuality. I had to develop my own healthy understanding of queerness and the community through personal experiences and seeking out people who had been out longer, with more knowledge of queer life.
However, that changed for me when I saw the production of both parts of Angels In America at the Mark Taper Forum in 1992. That was revelatory. Here was queerness as an epic, with queer characters portrayed as flawed individuals, but human and relatable. And the language was Shakespearean. Suddenly queer media had the potential to change minds and the world and showed us as real people.
Since that time, each generation seems to have had more and more material to help them navigate and embrace their true identity. I did come to realize something was missing though. There has been plenty of material covering coming out, or the early stages of life as a queer person, but very little on what it’s like as we move into the later stages of life. The focus has been mostly on youth. The whole point of my making The Disappointments was to shine a light on this little serviced demographic; to depict queer characters who are in their 60s dealing with life and navigating the problems, joys and sorrows that come from being queer and getting older.
We know you began working on & crowdfunding for Season 1 of The Disappointments as far back as 2018, at least. Eight years later, what’s changed for you and what new perspective were you able to bring to Season 2?
Season One literally taught me how to make a show, from finishing the scripts to overcoming the first day jitters on set as director to lighting and shooting the final shot. In the Season One editing process, I honed in more on the type of stories I wanted to tell, leaning into the awkward situations the three main characters face as they try to turn their disappointing lives around. Season Two is the realization of that learning. It’s a bigger show in every measure but also more focused.
This season sees your character, Ray, getting a job writing for a girls’ animated series, which I understand is inspired by your own experience. What’s something you’ve learned about yourself from working in this world, and what’s your favorite part of the process?
People who hire me in the animation world are always amazed at how well I write teenage girls and wonder how I do it. The answer is, I don’t write teenage girls—I write gay men. Gay men just happen to sound like teenage girls. I didn’t seek this sort of work. It found me. What it has taught me is that, if I can find the humanity in a character, no matter how different they are from me, I can write them.
Of course, it’s great to see Gedde, James, and Trevor all back for the season, too. What were some considerations for where you might take their character’s stories this season, and what sort of input did you get from the guys?
This whole new season is about expanding the show. I wanted to fill out the three main characters’ lives more in Season Two. To see them at work in whatever jobs they could land, interacting with their co-workers, navigating conflict, but also to have them each dealing with a challenging issue in their personal life. The actors seem content to trust me to come up with something meaty for them, so there was little input in the writing.
Gedde was the exception, with one simple request. He’s a lovely person and very easy to work with, but he let me know he would love Gary to have a man in his life. I obliged him in a way he was not expecting, but the end result made him happy.
Inspired by the title, what’s something from your life or career that you initially felt disappointed in, but you later came to realize was actually a blessing in disguise?
Personally, I’ve never experienced a disappointment that led to a dramatic blessing in disguise. My disappointments have instead led me to learn to practice acceptance and to find peace in the present and contentment with what I have now. But who knows, that big beautiful blessing in disguise could still be on its way. Check back in a few years.
In a lot of press for the series (including yours truly, we’ll admit!) we see you often referred to as a “daddy” or “silver fox”—what do labels like those mean to you? Is it something you own, that feels empowering? Or does it feel unfair to have yourself put in a box like that?
I love this question. I do not like to be called “daddy.” I find it unimaginative, but I do understand it. Still, people labeling me with that term on sight feels as if I’m being seen as a strict and limited type or fantasy for them, and as a result they are no longer capable of actually seeing me for who I am. The label has superseded any possibility of knowing me. Or if they spend a little time with me and I don’t meet their “daddy” fantasy criteria, all interest is lost. Which is okay, because there was never actually any interest in me to begin with. That said, I don’t lose sleep over this. As for “silver fox”, that’s a bit less restrictive and role-defining. It’s more outwardly a compliment, so have at it. 
You’re also not shy about sharing your fitness journey online, which can feel like a chore for so many people. What keeps you motivated, and do you have any advice for people out there who want to take their fitness seriously but don’t know how to start?
One of the positives about Instagram are the number of really smart trainers who post their routines online. This is a great place to begin for someone starting out in the gym. Follow a few. Find a trainer who really breaks down the exercises and explains what body part is working. Many of these fitness influencers post entire body part workouts videos. It’s also a good idea if possible to find a workout partner for mutual motivation. If you can afford it (this is not required; a luxury item you can manage without), find a trainer to help you get started. When I’ve wanted to change things up for myself, I observe the trainers in my gym, watch how they train themselves, how they interact with their clients… do they keep the focus or do they waste time in chatty conversations or get distracted by their phones. In general, if I see someone with a body that reflects the type of build I’d like to achieve, I’ll hire them. Because they clearly know how to get there.
As for the motivation factor, this I know: If I get my *ss out of bed to workout no later than 7 in the morning, I will have a much more effective day than if I keep hitting snooze and skip the gym altogether. The physical wellness that comes from starting the morning with a good workout carries through the day. I’m more energized and motivated and my mood is always better, too. This is the reason I go. Mental health and sense of well-being – it’s everything. The physical gains and maintenance is just a side benefit.
And, in closing: Who is an LGBTQ+ artist/performer/creator that you think is doing really cool work right now? Why are they someone we should all be paying attention to?
Besides all the actors in The Disappointments Season Two? Jonathan Bailey. Come on, People Magazine’s Sexiest Man Alive! I’m also a big fan of Trammell Tillman from Severance. Zane Phillips is great at comedy and drama. On the music side, why isn’t Bright Light Bright Light a superstar? Consistently great and instantly catchy music, year after year. And Tony Pops makes amazing music. I know, more than one artist. But there are SO MANY brilliant LGBTQ+ artists, aren’t there…
The Season 2 premiere of The Disappointments is now streaming on YouTube. Subscribe to the series’ channel & check back each Sunday for new episodes!
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