Pride Month 2020: Archie Coleman in 'Hollywood' might be fictional, but his representation is everything
One of the most pivotal moments of Ryan Murphy's 'Hollywood' is 1940's Oscars where the film 'Meg' starring the first African American actress as its lead was up for pretty much all the big awards. Still, what stole the red carpet is that then aspiring actor Rock Hudson, arrived hand in hand with his openly gay lover, the African-American scriptwriter of the same movie. Bold and provocative, their absolute disregard for societal norms earned them a string of boos, but the real hero here is our Archie Coleman (Jeremy Pope). And the way he climbs up the ladder of the racist, primarily white industry is also worth a prominent nod.
When we meet Archie, he is a struggling screenwriter, moonlighting as a sex worker at a local gas station. His suffering comes from the racist overlords of the existing Hollywood industry. He is one of the many people of color and LGBTQ members of Murphy's reimagined Hollywood at a time when gay couples were a taboo, let alone gay interracial couples.
Archie comes in touch with aspiring director Ray Ainsley (Darren Criss), who has bagged a deal with ACE Studios — one of the fictional big shots back then. But even with scoring such a major deal, Archie continues to suffer because the studio just isn't ready to have an African American person's name on the credits. They even offer to pay him for using his inspiring story as long as he lets them replace his name with that of a white person.
In all of this, Archie's only respite is his blooming romance with then closeted struggling actor Rock Hudson, still known as Roy Fitzgerald (played by Jake Picking). We all know Roy-turned-Rock went on to become a legendary actor, whose life was marred with conflicts and controversies alike. But in Murphy's revisit, his life as a struggling actor is made easier by the loving, caring Archie whom he meets on a trip to 'Wonderland' — aka the gas station where Archie begins working as a male prostitute. Initially uncertain of how far they would be able to take this relationship forward, Archie's mind is changed by this very same white fella promising him everything life has to offer and more at a time when people won't even allow his name on a film's credits.
One of the most poignant episodes in Archie's life shows him stating — not requesting, not asking — but asserting that when the red carpet finally happens for 'Meg', he will make that statement appearance with Roy. He tells the new ACE studios boss Avis Amberg (Patty LuPone) that he will be there with matching white suits, holding the hand of his beloved Roy and nothing less. And when he finally wins the Oscar for Meg's script, he doesn't shy away from mentioning his boyfriend either: he names him and applauds him, right after sharing a giant kiss.
While none of this would have been possible back in the 40s, and most of us know of how shamed Rock Hudson was when his secret AIDS diagnosis was outed, everything Murphy tries to represent through Archie is groundbreaking and has made the masses wish that was the jubilant reality, instead of Hattie McDaniel not even being allowed inside the auditorium for an Oscar she was first nominated for, and then also won. And what better way to honor a month celebrating people for who they are — especially at a time when the Black Lives Matter movement is at its peak — than a fictional screenwriter who has the guts to do the unthinkable. Here's to more Archie Colemans out there — Pope's avatar sees you, shows you and sends you love.
'Hollywood' is available for streaming on Netflix.