Starstruck Interview

Thank Warner Brothers’ highest-rated show and Hollywood’s hottest gay director/writer, Kevin Williamson, for the most popular gay teenager on TV, “Dawson’s Creek”‘s Jack McPhee.

While other fans swoon over the lead stars, gay guys (and a lot of young women) are going for Kerr Smith, the twenty-something actor whose character may be involved in the most talked-about first kiss on TV, amid controversy over the show’s teen sexuality and family crises.

Smith discussed the development of his character’s love life at the GLAAD Media Awards in Los Angeles. In past episodes we witnessed Jack’s fumbled attempts at turning his friendship with Ethan into something more. In the season finale, in a much-anticipated television moment, Jack shares a romantic kiss. Previously on network shows, gay male kisses have either been played for laughs or shot to avoid showing an actual smooch.

Kevin Williamson, who no longer directly works on the show, has remarked that Jack’s experience is closest to his own as a teenager. For his part, Smith, who is not gay himself (his girlfriend, actress Ali Hillis, appears on “Felicity”), seems genuinely surprised by the sensation his character has caused among gay viewers.

PlanetOut’s Jim Provenzano talked with Smith at the GLAAD Media Awards in Los Angeles.

So, how Jack’s love life?

Kerr Smith: There’s another attempted relationship with Ethan. He’s failed at that after trying to go to the prom with him. At the end of the season he gives it another shot. He doesn’t fail, but he doesn’t win. We shot a couple scenes a couple different ways. I’m not sure which version they’re going to air.

What about there being an onscreen kiss?

You’ll find out. [Grins]

Have you talked to gay teens who watch the show?

Not really, and I can’t answer fan mail, due to the volume. Some of them have written saying how it’s helped them come out, though.

Do you feel like a role model for queer youth?

I think if you take on a certain role you’re a role model. But I’m not going to hand out advice. I’m just an actor. I simply take the words that Kevin writes off the page. I mean, hats off to those people going through this. It’s got to be tough.

How did you prepare for the gut-wrenching poetry-reading scene, in which Jack is forced by a cruel English teacher to read aloud a poem he’s written about another boy?

That was hard. It was the first time I had to deal with those issues.

What’s been the reaction personally?

I have many gay and lesbian friends. They’re happy with what we’re doing.