Created by Kit Williamson, EastSiders started out as an independently-funded web series that was released on YouTube in 2012. Essentially, this is an unapologetic LGBTQ dramedy that follows the lives of complex characters navigating romantic, professional, and familial obstacles. Despite some of the gut-wrenching storylines in the series, EastSiders still manages to be absolutely hilarious more often than not.
Season 4 of EastSiders is now here, allowing the series to wave its goodbye on a very high note. With so many hilarious actors, actresses, and drag queens in the mix, it comes as no surprise that season 4 has some of the funniest moments in the history of the show.
SPOILER ALERT: The following article contains spoilers from EastSiders season 4.
“GOT ANYTHING SLUTIER?”
Season 4 of EastSiders starts out with Douglas (Willam Belli), whose drag name is now Amber Alert, trying on what is supposed to be a wedding dress. The dress may already be quite revealing in comparison to the more traditional dresses that most brides wear. However, that doesn’t stop Douglas from asking the salesperson, “Got anything slutier?”
In many ways, the final season of EastSiders is centered around Quincy (Stephen Guarino) and Douglas’ wedding. Thus, it’s only fitting for Douglas to kick things off and set up the season-long conflict between he and Quincy regarding what their wedding party should be.
“THAT’S SUPER OFFENSIVE, BUT I KNOW WHAT YOU MEAN.”
To the surprise of no one, Jeremy (Matthew McKelligon) is confused yet again about which direction his love life should take. When season 4 of EastSiders starts, Jeremy has finally found a commitment that he feels comfortable with: he is living with boyfriend Derrick (Leith M. Burke) and fostering a little girl. However, he still feels uneasy about dating a very busy doctor and performing the day-to-day tasks related to fostering a little girl.
In the first episode of season 4, we see Jeremy telling Bri (Brea Grant) about his relationship woes. When she points out that he signed up for this, he compares the situation to a soldier who signed up for war but still gets mad when his leg is blown off. This is followed by a hilarious line from Bri that really illustrates the friendship between these two: “That’s super offensive, but I know what you mean.”
“ME AND QUINCY ARE IN OPPOSITE CORNERS – DING DING DING – LIKE GAY MMA.”
Between Willam’s great performance and the fantastic lines that were written for Douglas, many of the funniest moments on season 4 of EastSiders came from the drag queen now known as Amber Alert.
During the second episode of the season, we see Douglas talking to Cal (Kit Williamson) as they work on a photoshoot for Amber Alert. The pair is mostly talking about Cal’s open relationship with Thom (Van Hansis), but Douglas also opens up about how things are going between him and Quincy.
The whole interaction has several funny moments, but one line from Douglas stands out: “Me and Quincy are in opposite corners – ding ding ding – like gay MMA.”
“WHY DOES IT LOOK LIKE THE WERQ THE WORLD TOUR IS HAVING AN ONLYFANS ORGY UP IN HERE?”
It is during the second episode of EastSiders season 4 that Quincy finds out what Douglas has planned for their wedding party. Essentially, Douglas is transforming this into a brand-sponsored, digital influencer-attended event that will be live-streamed and sell merchandise.
As he goes around the gay bar (where the wedding will take place) for what is supposed to be a rehearsal, Quincy faces drag queens complaining about mistreatment, semi-naked models, digital influencers he has never heard of, and camera operators making sure they get footage for Amber Alert’s YouTube channel. This overwhelming surprise prompts Quincy to angrily ask Jimmy, “Why does it look like the Werq The World tour is having an OnlyFans orgy up in here?”
“YOU’RE MEETING YOUR MAN AND I’M EATING SOME HAM.”
Season 4 of EastSiders was packed with hilarious interactions between Derrick and his team at the clinic, which is composed of Collin (Tom Lenk) and Marta (Pose actress Hailie Sahar). One of their funniest interactions takes place on episode 2 when Collin compares his dating life to Derrick’s: “You’re meeting your man and I’m eating some ham.”
This unexpected rhyme sneaks up on Derrick and Collin, making that particular moment a very funny one to watch. In truth, however, a lot of the lines from Collin and Marta are great this season, layering Derrick’s side of his relationship with Jeremy.
“I LIKE LYING FOR ATTENTION.”
Karl Westerberg (the drag queen known as Manila Luzon) plays Barbie on EastSiders, and she’s better than ever on season 4. Ultimately, it is this season that we get to see a completely fleshed-out Barbie, who is really just a Booger queen that couldn’t be more opposite to Manila Luzon’s Heather-ness in real life.
During a hilarious interaction with Summer Clearance (played by Brian McCook, a.k.a. Katya), Barbie is frantically trying to get in drag for Douglas’ wedding rehearsal. Their back and forth has a lot of funny moments, but nothing is more iconic than Summer saying: “I like lying for attention.”
“APPARENTLY I’M VELCRO WHEN I FIND THE RIGHT FIT.”
A lot of growth and character development happens for Jeremy on season 4 of EastSiders. By the fourth episode of the season, Jeremy has done a lot of soul searching and is ready to admit to Derrick that he wants their relationship to work, which includes adopting their foster child Sam.
Given everything that Jeremy has gone through in the series, hearing “Apparently I’m Velcro when I find the right fit” from him is absolutely hilarious. This hilarious but very true statement resonates not only with Derrick, but also with fans of the show who are seeing Jeremy understand himself better.
“YOU COULDN’T TOP TROYE SIVAN IF HE SPECIFICALLY BLOOMED FOR YOU.”
In the fifth episode of the season, we see yet another hilarious moment between Cal and Douglas/Amber Alert. This time, Cal is advising Amber to give Quincy a really good time that night (in order to resolve some of their issues). However, this ends up turning into Amber questioning whether Cal could actually be a top.
Cal pushes back and tells Amber that he is a versatile man, but the queen doesn’t seem entirely convinced. And just when we think that the shade of it all is over, Amber tells Cal: “You couldn’t top Troye Sivan if the specifically bloomed for you.” Of course, the queen is referencing the song “Bloom” by Troye Sivan, which is about the singer’s first time bottoming during sex.
“THAT’S PROFOUND. YOU’RE A WRITER, WRITE THAT DOWN.”
One of the big treats we get on season 4 of EastSiders is seeing Bryan Batt (of Mad Men fame) playing Cal’s father, Richard. After the revelation from Valerie (Traci Lords) that she intends on getting back with her ex-husband, Cal spirals into a drinking binge. Next thing you know, Richard and Valerie end up in Cal and Thom’s apartment.
While Cal and Valerie reconcile their differences in the bedroom, Richard hangs out with Thom in the living room. The conversation prompts Thom to recite the famous RuPaul’s Drag Racequote that concludes every episode: “If you can’t love yourself, how in the hell can you love somebody else?” However, Richard is apparently unfamiliar with that quote, and has a first-time reaction to it: “That’s profound. You’re a writer, write that down.”
“YEP, ALL THE BUTT STUFF.”
On season 4, Ian (John Halbach) wrestles with his sexuality, which is at times defined by others as bisexuality or pansexuality. In reality, however, Ian does not have a label for what he feels.
Ian dates both men and women throughout the final season of EastSiders but ends up developing something deeper with Vardan (Adam Ramzi). By the series finale, Ian even takes Vardan to Douglas and Quincy’s wedding, which means coming out to his friends. During the wedding party, Douglas asks the couple how far they’ve gone, to which Vardan replies, “Yep, all the butt stuff.”
