Netflix released the trailer for Special, the first-ever TV series centred a gay man with cerebral palsy yesterday (25 March).
Series creator Ryan O’Connell plays the leading character in the semi-autobiographical 15-minute comedy.
The streaming service ordered eight episodes of the show based on O’Connelll’s menoir, I’m Special: And Other Lies We Tell Oursevles.
What’s the show about?
It will follow O’Connell’s life growing up and living as a gay man living with cerebral palsy.
In it, he pretends to be the victim of an accident in order to grab what he believes is the life he wants.
Ryan O’Connell wrote, executive produced, and stars in Special — a semi-autobiographical series about a gay man with mild cerebral palsy. pic.twitter.com/mDbSIe9N9p
— See What’s Next (@seewhatsnext) March 25, 2019
Green-lit in March last year, O’Connell began his writing career on MTV’s Awkward and since went onto write on shows such as Will & Grace.
He’ll also star in the show, alongside Jessica Hect, Punam Patel, Marla Mindelle, Augustus Prew, and Patrick Fabian.
O’Connell’s book, published by Simon & Schuster in 2015, won critical acclaim for its witty breakdowns of modern life and acerbic observations of millennial culture.
‘We. Need. This.’
LGBTI twitter users poured in to show their love for the series, due to drop on 12 April.
‘As a gay man with muscular dystrophy I wasn’t prepared for this but I’m so happy it exists and I can’t wait,’ one said.
Another user said: ‘We need this. LGBT people come in all different shapes, sizes, and forms, we’re not all the same person.’
‘I hope it doesn’t get cancelled like other similar shows,’ a user warned.
What is cerebral palsy?
Cerebral palsy is the name given to a group of lifelong conditions affecting movement and co-ordination.
It’s often due to a problem with the brain, occurring before, during or after birth.
The severity of symptoms vary on case-to-case. While some are severely impaired, others manifest in minor ways.
See also
Netflix’s new reality dating show features LGBTI couples and people of color
Netflix confirms Sex Education will come back for a second season
Netflix’s LGBTQ Film section is mostly gay men and people aren’t happy