Situational comedy involving gay African-American men in Southern California...and it's a hugely enjoyable, happy surprise. Having fun with stereotypes, and thankfully ignoring political issues, "Noah's Arc" just wants to tease and have fun, and the results are sweetly giddy. A subplot about a cheating lover (handled with surprising skill and taste) is about as serious as it gets. The show, running on the Logo Network, has enough heart to change perceptions and enough wit to make each new episode worth finding. The cast is uniformly excellent; it's probably always the case with a show like this to wonder if these talented men are, in fact, homosexual (and if not, how much training does it take for straight actors to fit so comfortably into this no-holds-barred gay atmosphere?). The scenario doesn't dwell much in their work-a-day lives (husky Trey, played by Gregory Kieth, is the only one who seems to work on a regular basis), so there's more than an element of fantasy here, with plush digs and lots of money going around. Yet, if "Noah's Arc" isn't exactly a gritty or realistic show about the gay black man's struggle in today's world, it is a pleasurable outing that treats its characters with heart, smarts, comic sensitivity, and courage.
