One thing I never understood in the Ian McKellan episode...

His character is homo-phobic.

No cash here!! Here, no cash!!! Cash, no!!!! Robbo? No Cash!

Andy didn't have what it took to become a serious actor. It was one of the rare moments where his agent was bang on the money for a change. Darren advised Andy that taking a gay role would show a different side to him and demonstrate his versatility as an actor, but Andy ultimately wasn't able to put aside his insecurities for the sake of theatre.

And why were those four guys permitted backstage in the area where the dressing rooms were?

It just demonstrates that Andy isn't as high-minded and principled about his integrity as an actor as he likes to think he is.

For all his whining about artistic integrity, it appears all Andy really wants is the approval of others, including a bunch of bigoted numbskulls from highschool. Perhaps his thirst for approval and validation dates back to that very highschool peer pressure and desperation to fit in with the 'cool kids'.

It's an interesting development because in most other episodes we're almost led to feel sorry for Andy and believe he is some type of hapless comic-Kafkaesque character who's being constantly hard done by, and yet there are various hints throughout the entire series that he's as capable of selfishness and pettiness as anyone else, and of course his insecurity and desire for respect has always been his Archilles Heel.


Clinton/Kaine 2016

Andy would have been to school in the 70’s and 80’s when being called ‘gay’ was the deepest insult to a male, his generation still carried that forward so performing ‘gay stuff’ in front of his disapproving schoolmates was intolerably embarrassing for him.

It’s only in the West that homosexuality has become acceptable, most of the world still abhors it, and indeed many areas of the West aren’t comfortable with it. It will always clash with masculinity.

He just wants to be accepted.