Queer As Folk

There's Nothing Noble About Being Poor

Season 3, Episode 5, Aired 4/6/03

Episode Summary

Debbie tries hard to sign up new gay voters on Liberty Avenue to defeat anti-gay Police Chief Stockwell, who's running for mayor. Brian wins the chief's campaign as an advertising account, telling the candidate that he needs to find an issue to make the second-place contender "pop" in the minds of the voters. Stockwell agrees to introduce Brian to some of his rich and powerful friends if the chief triumphs. After some teenage Babylon patrons die from bad drugs, Stockwell tells Brian he's found his issue.

Ethan loses the Heifetz competition, but a talent agent offers to represent him—if he leaves Justin and his gay identity behind. Ethan refuses at first, but Brian tells him that there's nothing noble about being poor and suggests Ethan find a way to make the situation work.

Ted and Emmett cannot agree on a house to purchase. Ted likes a new, modern house, while Emmett falls in love with a charming older house that needs many repairs. They argue back and forth until a frustrated Emmett tells Ted to make the decision. Ted surprises Emmett by buying the fixer-upper.

After suffering much anxiety and guilt over his failure to produce sperm to father Melanie and Lindsay's second child, Michael finally succeeds. Meanwhile, steroids are making Ben extremely short-tempered, and Michael finally catches him injecting steroids.

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Cast & Crew

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Sharon Gless

Deborah 'Debbie' Jane Grassi Novotny
Robert Gant

Professor Benjamin 'Ben' Novotny-Bruckner (Season 2-5)
Michelle Clunie

Melanie 'Mel' Marcus

Fan Episode Reviews (4)

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Ethen performs a violin solo that could make or break him. Ted and Emmett struggle to agree on what house to buy. Deb tries to rally people to vote for the mayor. Mike tries to find out what's going on with Ben while rising to the occasion for the girls.moreless

10

"Perfect"

By breezy2281, Nov 10, 2008 Report Abuse

Mike winds up at the sperm bank for the big day to deposit his donation so Mel can be inseminated. The woman at the office wasn't very accommodating and in fact practically rushed Mike out the door because she wants to leave. Mike can't get the job done and is angry when Brian tells Deb. Mike then makes a fool of himself at the diner by saying he's going to go home and please himself. Seeking advice from Ted, he finds a new character at Ted's site that is imitating Rage, the comic book character equivalent to Brian. This turns Mike on and he runs his donation all the way to Mel and Linze's house. I thought it was a little wrong that the only way Mike could get the job done was by fantasizing about Brian. I wonder if those two will ever just do it an get it over with so Mike can move on. On the other hand Brian sleeps with Mr. Stockwell, one of the candidates running for mayor. Deb, Jenn and Vic are trying to get people to register to vote for mayor, and Mr. Stockwell is against the gays, but he is one himself, or at least he's bisexual. Clear case of homophobia. This could be Chris in about a decade. That's another one we haven't heard about lately, i wonder if Justin will run into him again. Anyway, Brian offers to help Mr. Stockwell with a new ad campaign while helping himself in the process. The only problem is all his friends are against this man for the obvious reason that he is against them. I can't wait to see what happens when they find out Brian is helping him. However, you know if it's something that no one likes, Brian will probably not be far behind. Brian also puts a bug in Ethen's ear when an artist manager wants to sign him for a record deal. However, this man gives Ethen one stipulation; he has to portray himself as straight because he is young and sexy and that sells. Ethen tells Justin he's going to turn it down because he doesn't want to deny his relationship, but after Brian talks to him he reconsiders signing. I wonder if this is a genius ploy for Brian to keep trying to get Justin back, even though Ethen said the same thing to which Brian responded that he didn't want Justin. Ethen tells Justin who doesn't want to be back in the closet. When Justin showed up at Babylon i thought he was going to try to get back with Brian. Instead he confronts him and tells Brian that he should basically mind his own business. In the meantime, Jenn offers her real estate services to Emmett and Ted who are looking for a house to buy. After many battles and arguments over which one they should get, Emmett says they can settle on the practical one if it will make Ted happy. Ted decides to get the house that Emmett wanted, since it was his dream house. Also, after encountering several of Ben's mood swings and being confused about it, Mike isn't sure what's going on. When Ben shows up at Babylon wanting sex at his convenience, Mike turns him down for the moment because he is doing this favor for Mel and Linze and it's important to stick to the schedule. Ben freaks out and takes off. Later that night Mike sees Ben shooting up the steroids. I can't wait to see that confrontation. Another great episode as usual, looking forward to the next.moreless

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There is nothing noble about being poor.

10

"Perfect"

By luv4brian, Jul 08, 2007 Report Abuse

Brian continues on his quest to get back Justin. And the only thing that is stopping him from doing so, is Ethan. So he must figure a way to expose Ethan's true priorities and his one true love which is music. Brian knows that Ethan will sell out, even at the cost of Justin, and in turn make Justin mad enough to want to get out of the relationship. Though Brian's plan doesn't completely work because he stays with Ethan until he finds out he's cheating on him, it still is the first move towards the downfall of their relationship. And of course Brian is right, Ethan does sell out and tells Justin that there is nothing noble about being poor, a quote that Justin knows surely didn't come from Ethan.moreless

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Brian goes out of his way to prove to Justin that his relationship with Ethan isn't true love.

8.3

"Great"

By rewindyourtime, Apr 10, 2007 Report Abuse

I adore Brian. I was sort of worried that he'd eventually give up on Justin, but this episode proved just the opposite. Brian goes out of his way to convince Ethan to sign the contract because he knows that by doing so, he'll prove to Justin that Ethan isn't all he's cracked up to be. I love the way Brian contradicts himself: He tells Ethan that he deserves to be heard and that he doesn't want Justin back, but then he tells Justin that violin music sounds like a cat being tortured. Brian obviously doesn't care about Ethan or his music, so the only reason he'd want to help further Ethan's career is to win Justin back. It's so sweet! Brian's the one who opens Justin's eyes to the flaws of his and Ethan's relationship, exposing all of Ethan's bull. Brian wouldn't go to all this trouble if he didn't care about Justin. He wants him back so badly--I love it!moreless

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Every time Brian and Ethan cross paths I always worry that Brian is going to clock Ethan.

7.8

"Good"

By SMGslayer97, Jan 01, 2007 Report Abuse

After Ethan loses a prestigious musical competition a talent agent offers to sign him to an impressive record deal but only if he goes back into the closet so to speak, dragging Justin with him. At first Ethan protests and turns down the offer but Brian, of all people, convinces him to go for claiming there is nothing noble about being poor. Justin senses that this is not Ethan's thought instantly and goes to confront Brian. Every time I see Brian end up around Ethan I always worry that Brian is going to pound him square into the ground, I mean he hasn't done it yet but....moreless

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Trivia
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Notes
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Quotes
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- Debbie: When's the last time you voted?
  Brian: Let's see, that would have to be the Big Basket Contest at Woody's.
  Edit
- Lindsay: How could you sell your soul to the devil? Brian: I haven't sold my soul, I'm just billing for time and expenses. Edit
- Brian: Whether it's the democrat who pretends to like you or the republican who hates you and lets you know it, either way once they're in office they're not gonna do a God damn thing. So, I say, may the best self-serving son of a bitch win. Edit
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