If you have ever read English author Jane Austen (“Pride and Prejudice,” “Sense and Sensibility” and “Emma”), you might remember dissecting her literary works line by line in an effort to discover all of the hidden symbolism and metaphors. You find the common ties that bind the story together and radiate an important message to the reader.
Austen’s verbiage suddenly becomes more than just words on paper but rather something intriguing and compelling that takes readers on both a personal and a literary journey. The words and their syntax allow one to vicariously live through the author and become an active participant in the story.
Of course, the digital drama world has the potential to draw all of the same parallels with the added benefits of our visual and auditory senses. That was what the 23-time Emmy award-winning digital series “The Bay,” created by showrunner Gregori J. Martin, was able to accomplish in its sixth (and most recent) season with its first-ever same-sex marriage storyline, that was set during the COVID-19 pandemic and helmed by actors Eric Nelsen and Mike Manning.
American entrepreneur Sam Altman once said: “Young people willing to push super hard to make something happen are among the most powerful forces in the world.” Actors Eric Nelsen and Mike Manning of the Emmy award-winning series “The Bay” are such inspiring young individuals, actors, and storytellers.
Nelsen and Manning both earned 2021 Daytime Emmy nominations in the category for “Outstanding Performance by a Supporting Actor in a Daytime Fiction Program” for their captivating performances as Daniel Garrett and Caleb McKinnon, a same-sex couple in “The Bay,” which is available on Popstar! TV and Amazon Prime Video.
Caleb McKinnon is a new school teacher in Bay City, and Daniel Garrett is the cousin of “The Bay” protagonist Pete Garrett, who is portrayed by Emmy winner Kristos Andrews. Daniel is a character that a lot of people can relate to because he consistently finds himself at the wrong place at the wrong time for all of the wrong reasons. Daniel comes to a startling realization that he needs to be true to himself, all while he continues to struggle with the consequences of his sexuality.
Their characters were old friends from the past, but when they reunited, their bond and love for each other grew stronger than ever as they came to terms with their sexual orientation. They moved in together, fostered their relationship and love, and ultimately, tied the knot as part of the show’s first-ever same-sex marriage. They were presented with a conflict, where Daniel’s former love interest Matthew Johnson (played by 2021 Daytime Emmy nominee Randy Wayne) is back in the picture and he expressed his feelings for him.
“The wedding storyline was incredible because you finally see my character, Daniel, the happiest he has ever been,” Nelsen said. “Daniel has struggled so much over the last few seasons. He has endured heartache and coming to terms with who he is and with acceptance, from not only himself but the world around him.”
“Finally, we see him fall in love with Caleb and that love is reciprocated, and for it to end with this beautiful marriage was a magical moment for me because it got to come full circle for Daniel’s journey. Where he started was so drastically different from where we see him at the wedding. It really was beautiful, not only from a performance standpoint but from a personal standpoint to complete that journey. I am so happy that we got to make that happen,” Nelsen elaborated.
Particularly impressive was the fact that this poignant storyline, and the entire sixth season of the hit digital series “The Bay,” was filmed under strict COVID-19 protocols while quarantining in a massive ranch in Santa Ynez, California.
Nelsen and Manning were nominated for the Daytime Emmy alongside such veteran actors as Tristan Rogers (“Studio City”), Neil Crone (“Endlings”), and Cheyenne Jackson (“Julie and the Phantoms”). On July 18, Manning bested the stiff competition and was proclaimed the winner, thus taking home the coveted Daytime Emmy Award.
Manning, who is openly bisexual, was hailed by Digital Journal for being “Emmy-worthy” for his dynamic portrayal of Caleb that truly ran the gamut. Caleb was honest and the voice of reason when Daniel needed it the most, as well as his pillar of comfort, when Daniel discovered that his former lover, Matthew was battling for his life against COVID-19.
This was a timely story in and of itself, which illuminated the direct and indirect effects of the Coronavirus on LGBTQ people and those who love them, at a time when an HRC and PSB study found members of the LGBTQ community are more resistant than the general population to the vaccine effort.
In Season 6, Nelsen was able to extend his acting muscles even further than the previous seasons in a subtle, raw, and unflinching fashion as the world was plagued with various social and cultural issues. Nelsen delivered an authentic and brave acting performance that was described accordingly as a “quiet storm,” where he conveyed a wide spectrum of emotions, that hit viewers like a shot in the heart. They both deserve to be commended for accurately portraying the loving relationship between a same-sex couple.
“I thought that Gregori gave us a masterpiece storyline to work with,” Nelsen said. “Although we are at the height of our love story, there is still a tragedy that gets thrown in there. My character finds out about the death of his former boyfriend all while Daniel is madly in love with Caleb. To play these opposing stories was difficult but also so rewarding to see it all come together on TV, and it worked really well. Getting to work with actors such as Mike Manning and Randy Wayne heightened my journey as an actor and an individual because they are giving so much, as well as they are taking.”
“I am so happy and proud of Mike [Manning] for winning the Emmy Award this year, and I told him that if it wasn’t me, I would pray it would be him, and I really meant that, I am so happy that it was him. I am sure this is just the beginning for both of us, I don’t see this storyline stopping anytime soon,” Nelsen added.
The same-sex marriage storyline in Season 6 was written in a bold, original, and refreshing manner, and it stood out to Manning for several reasons. “The thing I appreciated most about the way the LGBTQ storyline was written was that it was simply ‘about the love’ between the two characters,” Manning said.
Executive producer, writer, and executive story editor Wendy Riche stated, “When Gregori and I write, we always think about the emotional honesty of each character. If we are true to them, then the audience will be able to relate and take the journey with them Love is not defined by gender or sexuality. Love is love. That is what we hoped to bring the viewers in Season 6 of ‘The Bay’.”
Creator, head writer, director, and executive producer Gregori J. Martin shared that he is “hoping Daniel and Caleb’s love story had and will continue to have a major impact on viewers, in the sense where more folks around the world, by watching the series, understand that love is love, no matter what gender they identify as.”
“When I wrote the Daniel and Caleb love story I didn’t write an LGBTQ storyline,” Martin said. “I wrote a true honest love affair between two men and it’s one of my favorite stories to write. Eric Nelsen and Mike Manning are always so authentic in their delivery as childhood best friends who fall in love. It’s absolutely beautiful to see these two very talented Emmy-winning actors bring their characters to life so flawlessly.”
Martin continued, “It’s an honest story of two young men, who once had a forbidden attraction toward one another, now be able to break free of their chains built on fear and finally live a life together. Will there be bumps in their road ahead? Certainly, or you wouldn’t keep the audience entertained, but if watching Daniel and Caleb’s love story helps any viewer break their own chains of living a life of fear, or growing up with a primitive mindset, then I’ve done my part, if only a little, in making this world a better place, routed in honest true love, and not false judgment.”
“The writing didn’t play into the (sometimes harmful) LGBTQ stereotypes,” Manning said. “The story could have been about any relationship, and it just so happened to be about two guys. You saw these people move in together, get closer, and then get married. It was about celebrating love, family, and commitment. I think that’s important for people to see, that this relationship is just as ‘normal’ as any other relationship.”
Manning felt extremely privileged to be nominated in that Emmy category along with his luminous on-screen acting partner Eric Nelsen, who is an Emmy award-winning actor and producer in his own right. “I am really grateful that I got to work with Eric on this particular storyline in Season 6. He’s an incredibly talented actor and I think between the two of us, we were able to bring authenticity to the relationship. We joked before the Emmys, ‘if I don’t get it, I hope you do’,” he said.
“There is nobody I would rather work with like that on the show… except maybe Dave Franco,” Manning said with a sweet laugh.
This same-sex wedding storyline (and the Emmy recognition for Nelsen and Manning) is so much bigger than both of the actors involved. The storyline has made a substantial overall impression on viewers, fans, and it will certainly impact future generations in terms of accurate and inclusive LGBTQ representations.
Manning remarked, “I said this during my acceptance speech at the Emmys: ‘If there is one young person at home who watched Season 6 and realizes that they are capable of the type of love that these characters find and are celebrating, then the entire season for me was worth it.’ Visibility and representation matter.”
“Storylines like these on TV matter,” Manning admitted. “I am glad that the writers (Gregori J. Martin and Wendy Riche) gave Eric and me such an important storyline that I hope will help anyone in the LGBTQ+ community struggling with self-acceptance or self-love.”
Executive producer, co-director, and lead actor of “The Bay” Kristos Andrews expressed, “Acting is the art of being human. We are each greater and more expansive than life tends to condition us to believe.”
“There is an innate value to tap into within this craft, and whether it be pleasure, pain, or experiences beyond what’s verbally describable, finding the meaningful silence within the work begets a greater acceptance towards life, understanding toward others, and growth of our consciousness,” Andrews added.
“Love is love,” exclaimed Gregory Zarian, Emmy-nominated actor of the digital drama series “Venice: The Series.” “When told truthfully and honestly, race, color, shape, size, and sex, do not matter.”
Aside from the same-sex marriage, “The Bay” touched upon such relevant social issues as the COVID-19 pandemic, panic buying, police brutality, and the “Black Lives Matter” (BLM) movement that were simultaneously affecting our country.
Season 6 of “The Bay” was an acting and filmmaking work of art, which is a testament to the four Daytime Emmy Award wins (and 13 nominations in total) that it received in addition to their other previous wins and nominations that now total 23 Daytime Emmy wins and 56 nominations. “My heart is full right now for my beautiful and talented cast on their Emmy wins in the daytime fiction program categories. So well deserved and I love you all very much. Keep killing it,” expressed Gregori J. Martin.
This same-sex relationship storyline, in particular, was able to take people through multiple layers and levels that many digital series could only dream of. It was able to take viewers on a personal journey that was bumpy, raw, conflicting, exhilarating, and explosive.
The story further met the cultural moment at a time when GLAAD’s annual “Where We Are on TV” report found the representation of LGBTQ characters on television (including streaming shows) to be shrinking, down from 10.2 percent to 9.1 percent. Stories like the one scripted by Gregori J. Martin and the writing team for Nelsen and Manning, offered not just representation, but positive representation to their global audience, and it served as a powerful response to that unfortunate trend.
In the end, Eric Nelsen and Mike Manning tackled the storyline’s subject matter with much delicacy, authenticity, and sentimentalism. Their vulnerabilities as actors and performers were the audience’s reward since they were able to connect directly to the hearts of people.
“I think LGBTQ characters on television are still more sparse than they should be,” Nelsen acknowledged.
“To be a part of a journey of an individual who shows that struggle is real and that they are not alone meant a lot to me. I knew it was a part of a bigger picture, and to this day, there have been a lot of people writing to me that my storyline helped them in more ways than I will ever know. That alone makes it so much more worth it for me as an actor, especially to know that I can touch people who might be struggling with the same issues. When they see somebody else battle it and come through on the other side in such a beautiful way is quite inspiring,” Nelsen explained.
“I hope it inspires other people who struggle like Daniel to find their path and their light, and to know that it’s okay and that they will be accepted and loved. The beauty of showing this on television is that it is going to reach people, and that’s the most gratitude that I get from it,” Nelsen further added.
Most importantly, this same-sex marriage made a statement and reminded us that even if darkness and adversity are surrounding you, there is always light and hope within reach. It was like a trance that nobody wanted to come out of. Take that Jane Austen.
Season 6 of “The Bay” is available for streaming on Popstar! TV. To learn more about “The Bay,” check out its official website.
