Web Series for the Adult Viewer

Almost a year ago, I gave you a glimpse of three popular web comedies that were enthralling fans with their bold and hilarious stories. In this follow-up, I’m offering a glimpse of three web series, including the second season of the bawdy comedy Where the Bears Are and the return of two iconic soap operas that have found new life after their television cancellations.

Where the Bears Are follows the lives of four hirsute friends who become embroiled in a murder mystery when a political candidate ends up shot to death during a poolside party. The series stars Rick Copp, who wrote episodes of The Golden Girls; Joe Dietl, who guested on Nickelodeon’s iCarly; Ben Zook, who appeared on Comedy Central’s Reno 911; and Ian Parks as the hunky Hot Toddy. Joining the series in season two is popular comedian Margaret Cho as a dominatrix. Be forewarned: Where the Bears Are is for adults only and hardly politically correct. Yet, it’s a blast to watch.

The world of daytime dramas was rocked by the cancellations in September 2011 and January 2012 of the long-running soap operas All My Children and One Life to Live. Production company Prospect Park licensed the rights to both soaps with the intent to launch new episodes online in January 2012. However, Prospect Park suspended its efforts in November 2011. Fast forward to a little over a year later and the announcement from Prospect Park that All My Kids and One Life would be revived on iTunes and Hulu starting on April 29, 2013.

Two months have passed since both series began airing new episodes. At present, All My Kids airs new episodes on Mondays and Wednesdays with new eppies of One Life airing on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The revivals have not been without drama: replacement of the head writers of both shows, a lawsuit between Prospect Park and ABC, and a labor dispute. But the bottom line is both serials are back, racking in large numbers of viewers, and enthralling fans with classic storytelling but with a more adult, more risqué touch (for example, a married couple embarking on an open relationship; the regular use of foul language, which has since been dropped).

While One Life to Live, which has regularly featured GLBT characters in the past, has yet to tackle a queer story, All My Children features lesbian Bianca Montgomery, the daughter of the legendary Erica Kane (Susan Lucci, who has not yet reprised her famous role). All My Kids is set five years after the last episode aired on ABC in September 2011, meaning Bianca’s daughter Miranda (played by Denise Tontz) is now a teenager, coping with her own angst, dealing with disparaging insults about her mother’s sexuality, and about to learn that she is the product of a brutal rape.

Are you watching any of these series, or planning to tune in? If so, which one(s)? And what are your thoughts? I’d love to hear!

Major update: Lots happened since I posted this on Monday. First, effective July 1, fans of All My Children and One Life to Live can view two new episodes of both series each Monday. Second, both series will join the OWN (Oprah Winfrey Network) line-up starting on July 15. Each series will air Monday through Thursday, with All My Children airing at 1:00 p.m. and One Life to Live at 3:00 p.m.