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THE RAGE MONTHLY SPOKE RECENTLY WITH O’CONNELL ABOUT THE NEW SEASON OF HIS HIT SHOW.


How have things changed in your life or career since Season 1?


I guess the one thing is that whenever you want to make gay


shit, it’s an uphill climb, unless you’re Ryan Murphy (laugh). It has gotten a little easier for me. I’m at point one-and-a-half now instead of at the very beginning of my career.


there. Rob Schneider in Deuce Bigalow: Male Gigolo and Adam Sandler were who I aspired to be when I started out. And why not? They were hilarious and popular! You have to have confidence and be tenacious. It took four years to get Season 1 of Special together. The rejection was so demoralizing. It was a very painful process. But you have to keep at it because rejection is part of the process. You have to emotionally bottom to be a top, bitch, so put on that strap on and get to work (laugh)!


You and Max Jenkins (who plays Ryan’s new love interest, Tanner) create some sexy sparks this season! What was working with him like? Max is great! I discovered him when he did the original High Maintenance series back in like 2011. We became friends when he moved to L.A. I got so excited to give him a really juicy part on the show.


What are you working on now that Special is, sadly, ending? I’m finishing a novel, Just Be Looking at Him, and working on a movie of it with Greg Berlanti (the out producer of the CW’s multiple superhero series plus director of the 2018 Love, Simon movie). I also sold a show called Accessible to HBO and am waiting to hear if they›re going to film it.


Given your success, do you feel any pressure to be the spokesmodel for gay men with disabilities? (Pause) No (laugh). Of course, when you are representing a


historically marginalized group there is a responsibility to be truthful about it. I’ve learned I have to divorce myself from my fears about representing the community and be authentic. It’s true what they say, “Write what you know.” You have to write and speak your truth.


I understand Season 1 was pretty autobiographical. How much of Season 2 is based on your life? Season 2 is actually not autobiographical at all. I would say the themes are very true to my life experiences but not the actual experiences. I’ve always been more fully cooked than Ryan on the show. I moved out of my parents’ house when I was 18 and lost my virginity at a normal age (laugh). But the show is emotionally authentic to my life.


What do you recommend to people with CP or other dis- abilities who want to make it in the entertainment industry? First things first, you have to feel you have the right to be


18 ragemonthly.com | MAY 2021


Very exciting! We wish you continued best of luck in all your efforts. Thank you so much!


Special returns to Netflix on Thursday, May 20. Visit netflix.com.


Chris Carpenter has been writing about entertainment since 1996 and a member of Team Rage since 2012. He is a founding member and vice president emeritus of GALECA: The Society of LGBTQ Entertainment Critics.


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