It’s a not-so-beautiful day in the Thornton Park neighborhood. The potential reality series Thornton Park centers around a 40-something group of straight and gay friends, including series creator Randy Ross. According to Ross, Thornton Park was pitched to Bravo earlier this month. [Calls to Bravo were not returned by press time.]
Shortly after a pilot preview with the network, rumors began circulating that most of the original cast members had left the project. It appears that the conflict stems from creative and professional differences between Ross and the other five original cast members.
Daniel Moore is one of those original cast members. He confirmed that all cast members except Ross and his mother quit.
“You can see the common denominator,” Moore said. ”I don’t have anything good to say about [the situation], so I’d rather not say anything at all.”
Ron Andreau, another former cast member, would only comment briefly on why he departed Thornton Park.
“The five of us cast members decided to walk away from any future association [with] the show,” Andreau said. “We haven’t spoken to Randy since then and we would all rather not.”
Ross contradicted Moore and Andreau, saying the cast was cut because of the pilot results.
“That’s television,” Ross said. “It’s always challenging when you are negotiating friends’ contracts. In the coming weeks the picture will become much clearer.”
There was additional speculation that cast members were angry over a fundraiser that was filmed for the pilot. The event was a pool party at Ross’s home benefitting Hope & Help of Central Florida. In August, Ross told Watermark the event raised more than $500, but Julie Noda with Hope & Help said it only received $85 from Ross.
When asked about the discrepancy, Ross repeatedly refused to comment on the pool party fundraiser specifically, and would not clarify the amount raised vs. the amount donated.
According to Ross, the show is still moving forward. He says he is excited to follow a dream and creating/producing a show that truly will make a difference about the way people perceive gay men.
