The series was created by Rich Burns, who also writes, co-directs, and stars. The inspiration for the show came from a sobering conversation with a friend about a colleague who had taken his own life after facing numerous setbacks. Burns recognized a common thread of struggle among his peers and decided to channel those observations into a creative project.
"The Disappointments" centers on three best friends: Ray Russo (Burns), Gary Chen (Gedde Watanabe), and James Caldwell (James Matthew Campbell). The first season, which premiered in 2021, was produced on a modest budget of $30,000 and found its audience through crowdfunding, ending on a cliffhanger that left viewers eager for more.
Gap in Representation
A core motivation for Burns was the lack of authentic representation for older gay men in media. He noted that when characters of his age do appear, they are often relegated to stereotypical, secondary roles.
"So much of the representation of LGBTQ characters tends to be of a certain age group," Burns explained. "I don’t see myself as a 64-year-old man on screen that often. When I do see someone in my age group, they tend to be like the friend or the sad character who’s lonely, who’s lost people."
The series directly confronts this by placing the complex lives of its older characters at the forefront. The second season, with a significantly larger budget of over $100,000, expands on these themes with greater production scope, even including a full Broadway-style musical number.
Exploring Universal Themes of Aging
The show does not shy away from the physical and financial challenges that can accompany aging. Gary, played by Gedde Watanabe (known for his role in the 1984 film "Sixteen Candles"), is a character recovering from rectal cancer. Watanabe, now 70, noted that the role reflects real-world concerns. "In spite of everything he is living with, he is a bit Pollyanna-ish. He goes and flows through it and does what he can," Watanabe said of his character.
Actor Chuck Saculla, 58, who plays a mentor and love interest to one of the main characters, also spoke to the show's realism. "Life happens and all of a sudden your savings [are] gone, and you’re almost 60 years old, and you can’t get a job... Those are the struggles," he commented.
Following a positive reception to its first season, "The Disappointments" continues to build its narrative with new episodes released weekly. The project serves as a platform for stories that, while specific to a generation of gay men, touch on universal questions of purpose, resilience, and friendship in the second half of life.
New episodes of "The Disappointments" are available every Sunday on their official YouTube channel. A director's cut of the first season with additional scenes is also available.
