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| Partners stars (l-r): Brandon Routh, Michael Urie, David Krumholtz, Sophia Bush |
ByDavid Kohan’s estimation, he and Max Mutchnick have been friends for over 35years, and writing partners for more than 20. Such a multi-purpose relationship can have its challenges, but Kohan andMutchnick’s has yielded impressive results; in 1998, drawing on Max’s ownreal-life experiences, the creative duo brought us TV’s first gay leading man inthe landmark sitcom Will & Grace.
Now, much like that long-running hit was the first tocapture the age-old relationship between a gay man and his devoted best galpal,the writers’ new, equally autobiographical comedy Partners corners the market on friendship between two men ofdiffering sexual orientations.
Of course, as Kohan notes, their real-life relationship –and thus the one between their Partnersalter egos Louis (Ugly Betty’sMichael Urie) and Joe (Numb3rs’ DavidKrumholtz) – can be muddied by much more than just that one superficial distinction. “The fact is, our sensibilities abouteverything are really different.” True to stereotype, Kohan admits, he lovessports, whereas Mutchnick’s tastes run more towards clothes and design. But their true spark comes more fromdifferences in temperament. “Max hasnever met a boundary that he didn’t want to smash, and I deal with my resentmentpassive-aggressively. It makes for aninteresting contrast. And so the factthat one of us is straight and one is gay is part of our deal, but it’s not theessential factor.”
As the writer explains, he and Mutchnick were motivated toturn the mirror on themselves in recent years, as they have suddenly found themselvesseriously romantically involved with other people. “For us, it raised a lot of questions aboutwhat makes for a great partnership,” Kohan says. “Where are the pressures? What are the best forms ofcommunication? What are the lies that wetell each other? What are the truthsthat we tell each other? And where dothe conflicts arise?” In parsing all ofthis out in their own real lives, “we realized this seemed like a rich, fertilearea for comedy.”
In all, Partnersdepicts the dynamics of three relationships -- not just between New York architecturaldesign firm partners Louis and Joe, but also those of Louis and his nurseboyfriend Wyatt (Brandon Routh) and of Joe and his now-fiancée Ali (Sophia Bush)– and shows how the multiple couplings both cross-pollenate and complicate. As meddlesome Louis, “I get to be MaxMutchnick,” enthuses Urie. The part, hewas pleased to discover, “comes with a lot of inspiration, because these twoguys, in their real-life dynamic together, are so entertaining.”
“It’ll be interesting to mine their relationship further asthe show goes forward, because they put on a show,” Krumholtz agrees. “Max and David don’t know it -- or maybe theydo -- but their working relationship is very out there for everyone to see, andit’s hilarious. It’s really just amatter of capturing it on paper, and there’s a lot more there. I don’t think we’ve scratched the surfacewith them yet.”
Indeed, Kohan says the nicest surprise so far for him hasbeen to witness how Urie and Krumholtz effortlessly come off as bickering oldfriends. But neither actor is surprisedby the instant chemistry. “Any greatbromance I’ve ever had is with someone who makes me laugh,” Urie says. And, Krumholtz adds, “We have the same headfor funny.”
PartnersPremieres Monday, September 248:30 PM Eastern / 7:30 PM CentralCBS
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