astro
July 14, 2003, 11:56pm
1
Is this show dissing gays by mixing in straights as a tease to increase straight viewership, but breaking gay men’s hearts?
‘Boy Meets Boy’
You’re watching that old standby of all reality-TV matchmaking shows, the “group date,” and the star and his suitors are line-dancing in tight jeans. But there’s the de rigueur twist: this is Bravo’s “Boy Meets Boy,” a gay variant of “The Bachelor,” and all the dancers are guys. And a further twist: the star doesn’t know it, but some of these guys aren’t gay at all.
Unlike contestants on “The Bachelor,” the “Boy Meets Boy” suitors have a strong potential to fall for each other which is exactly what happened in one instance. The crushee was one of the closet straight men, and he felt so bad about the situation that he went to the producers. The gay mate says that when he learned the truth, “it hurt. A whole relationship that could have happened was just immediately taken away.” Is “Boy Meets Boy” in part a cruel practical joke at gays’ expense? Ross scoffs at the idea. “Why do gay people need to be protected from participating in reality shows with twists?” he says. “I don’t see us as a victimized minority. We’re capable of handling this.”
Bravo seems to be making a jump to capture the gay market, before the new gay-oriented television network being set up by Showtime hits the bird. Consider “Queer Eye for the Straight Guy,” various shows dealing with live theater, and so on. Smart move on their part, really, although they seem to be capitalizing on stereotypes.
Lamia
July 15, 2003, 5:05am
3
You have no idea how disappointed I was when I read the OP…I would totally watch a show that had dancing gay puppets! You’re just a big tease, astro !
Tansu
July 15, 2003, 11:07am
4
I’m going to stand in the corner with Lamia and pout. I wanted dancing gay puppets, dammit.