Tim And Hawk’s Love Story in “Fellow Travelers” Earns Emmy Nominations For Ron Nyswaner
“It’ll never be like this again,” says star Jonathan Bailey of the powerful Showtime series
Ron Nyswaner, the brilliant mind behind the Oscar-nominated film Philadelphia, has done it again with Fellow Travelers. This groundbreaking Showtime series, which also streams on Paramount+, has captured the hearts of viewers and critics alike, earning an impressive three Emmy nominations.
In an emotional interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Nyswaner reflects on the sacred mission behind Fellow Travelers: to honour those who suffered and lost their lives during the Lavender Scare and the AIDS crisis. “There was a mission to what we were doing,” he says, fighting back tears.
The series stars an all-star cast of openly gay actors, including Matt Bomer and Jonathan Bailey as Tim and Hawk, two male political staffers who fall in love in the 1950s when being gay was considered a national security risk. Alongside them are Jelani Alladin as reporter Marcus Gaines and Noah J Ricketts as drag performer Frankie Hines.
“[Tim and Hawk] might be one of the first gay couples to have a television love story played by two out gay actors,” Nyswaner says proudly. And audiences have embraced them wholeheartedly, with the show earning Emmy nods for both Bomer and Bailey.
“Part of their lives was revealed in a way that they’d never experienced before”
Viewers have shared deeply personal stories with Nyswaner, from a woman forgiving her father for leaving her mother for a man to another who felt her son’s grief was perfectly captured by Bomer’s performance. “Those are the things that really move me,” Nyswaner says.
The show’s Black love story between Marcus and Frankie has also resonated deeply. Nyswaner worked closely with Black collaborators to bring these characters to life, and their impact has been recognised with an award from the African American Film Critics Association.
A spinoff in the works?
Fans are clamoring for more, and Nyswaner is pitching a spinoff centered on Jelani and Noah’s characters. “We’ve been pitching it,” he reveals. “They haven’t come through yet, so let’s put the pressure on them.”
As Fellow Travelers continues to make waves, Nyswaner reflects on his own journey, documented in his memoir Blue Days, Black Nights. The book, which Bomer has written a new introduction for, chronicles a dark period in Nyswaner’s life when he nearly destroyed himself with drugs and alcohol.
But Nyswaner has emerged stronger, and this series is a testament to his resilience and talent. “I am glad I am no longer that person,” he says. “I wouldn’t be here. I didn’t have much longer to live if I hadn’t stopped when I did.”
With its powerful performances, moving storylines, and groundbreaking representation, Fellow Travelers is a must-watch series that has earned its place in television history. And with Nyswaner at the helm, we can’t wait to see what he creates next.
