TELEVISION
POSITIVELY GLEEFUL Merce, the HIV+ musical comedy series, returns for a second hilarious season By Sean Larkin
Charles Sanchez keeps a framed Wheaties box featuring Greg Louganis in a Speedo above his desk. It includes an autograph by the Olympian that reads, “Charles, believe in yourself! Greg Louganis.” “Believing in yourself sounds cheesy, but it’s a must as a creative artist,” Sanchez reflects.
with potty mouth humor. Most notably, although its main character is HIV-positive, he is not depicted as sad, sick or dying. In fact, Merce sings, dances and laughs his way through a candy-coloured, musical comedy life.
MARCH / APRIL 2020
“I’m a person living with HIV,” Charles Sanchez reveals. “I wanted to show a character who was living with HIV and wasn’t an evil He should know. It took courage for him to create Merce, a musical pariah out to infect the world and didn’t have a sad cloud hanging comedy series that he not only stars in, but also writes and produces. over him. That’s certainly not been my experience.” He recalls being told over and over again that it couldn’t be done, but he knew he had to because the world needed a show like Merce. He explains that as he and his creative partner, Tyne Firmin, developed the idea for Merce, they quickly decided to go completely opposite Merce is about a middle-aged, super-gay, HIV-positive dude living of what viewers would expect. Make it a comedy! Make it a musical! in New York City, surrounded by a crazy cast of friends and family. Make it totally silly and fun! Maybe that way, they could change It’s Glee meets Pee Wee’s Playhouse with a little side eye, filled peoples’ minds about what someone living with HIV looks like.
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