Reality TV: August 2008 Archives
It's official! ABC announced today out performer Lance Bass will be a celebrity competitor on the new season of Dancing with the Stars. Bass is the first openly gay contestant featured in the show's seven-season history.“ABC continues to demonstrate a commitment to inclusion of the LGBT community in its programming," says GLAAD President Neil G. Giuliano, "and selecting Lance Bass to compete on Dancing with the Stars presents a great opportunity for audiences to see gay people included in pop culture in a matter-of-fact kind of way."
The seventh season premiere of Dancing with the Stars is Monday, September 22 at 8/7c.
The last TV Gayed posting has descended nearly out of view, so we thought you might like a gentle reminder of the two new shows debuting tonight:
When real estate guru Jeff Lewis gave his beloved housekeeper Zoila Chavez a portrait of herself for her birthday on Bravo's Flipping Out, she recoiled in horror. She thought no one would want such an ugly painting. 
Now is the time to ACT!
As previously reported, Fox News Channel aired a crude and obnoxious segment concerning the recent announcement of America’s Next Top Model’s
first-ever transgender contestant. Isis, who will begin appearing on
the new cycle of the popular CW program when it premieres on September
3, was interviewed exclusively in the current issue of Us Weekly.
Fox News anchor Gregg Jarrett and Us Weekly Editor-at-Large Ian Drew spent the segment gratuitously insulting the America's Next Top Model contestant, using dehumanizing terminology, inaccurate and inappropriate pronouns and offensive references to her anatomy.
While laughing and joking, Jarrett mocked Isis’ description of herself as a woman whose “cards were dealt differently,” and said, “That’s an understatement!” Drew referred to recent instances of transgender visibility on reality television as “The Crying Game ’08,” going on to call the show “America’s Next Top Tranny.” Drew then said that she doesn’t look any different from other contestants because “they are not exactly the most high-class group of women.” Throughout the segment, Jarrett switched back and forth between male and female pronouns, and both Jarrett and Drew suggested that Isis “fooled” people by “blending in.” They went on to make crude remarks about her genitalia and the pitch of her voice.
Soon after the segment aired, GLAAD contacted both Fox News Channel and Us Weekly, calling on both to apologize. Us Weekly issued
the following statement: “We apologize if any group was offended by our
editor’s comments as it was by no means his intention.” Fox News did
not respond.
Please contact Fox News Channel and call on them to apologize for these obnoxious, insulting and dehumanizing comments.
Fox News Channel
Gregg Jarrett - Anchor
(212) 301-3000
gregg.jarrett@foxnews.com
Jay Wallace - Executive Producer
(212) 301-5168
jay.wallace@foxnews.com
Tom Lowell - Senior Producer
(212) 301-3000 (outlet)
tom.lowell@foxnews.com
On August 14, Fox News Channel aired a crude and obnoxious segment concerning the recent announcement of America’s Next Top Model’s first-ever transgender contestant. Isis, who will begin appearing on the popular CW program when it premieres on September 3, was interviewed exclusively in the current issue of Us Weekly.
Fox News anchor Gregg Jarrett and Us Weekly Editor-at-Large Ian Drew spent the segment gratuitously insulting the America's Next Top Model contestant, using dehumanizing terminology, inaccurate and inappropriate pronouns and offensive references to her anatomy.
GLAAD has reached out to both Fox News Channel and Us Weekly to address the matter and will have an update available shortly.
In the meantime, watch the offensive clip below:
Unfortunately, drag a cappella quartet The Kinsey Sicks never made it to broadcast. Though the the group was in nearly every promo for the show -- those huge wigs and bright dresses are hard to miss -- they were noticeably absent from the bi-weekly airings. GLAAD lobbied NBC to air their "The Dragapella Chorus" audition song, a number set to the "Hallelujah Chorus" from Handel's Messiah, which showcases the men's vocal range.
Drumroll please... The Sicks' audition is now online! Jerry Springer declares, "They are GREAT!" and the audience gives the group a standing ovation. Though the guys made it to the semi-finals in Las Vegas, they unfortunately did not make it through to the finals in Hollywood. However, this much is clear: The Kinsey Sicks certainly has talent! Check out their audition on the official site or in the video below. It is certainly a treat to watch!
America's Got Talent returns to NBC after the Olympics on August 26.
Openly gay director, choreographer and part time So You Think You Can Dance judge Adam Shankman was recently interviewed by TVGuide.com as to the rumors swirling about Lance Bass competing on Dancing with the Stars -- and being paired up with a male ballroom dancer. "I would be thrilled to see something like that," he said. "It would be so new and it would break so many barriers and just crash through walls. I would love that."
But Shankman worries that DWTS producers wouldn't take that step.
"They're trying to keep people in their comfort zone," he said. "But at the same time, they're trying to create new ways to keep the shows fresh, so that would be a way."
We don't even know if Lance Bass is competing this year, let alone as to whether any man is being paired with a male dancer next season. We will, however, be watching.
The seventh season premiere of Dancing with the Stars is Monday, September 22 at 8/7c.
Check out the video here.
THIS JUST IN: The gorgeous Isis, seen here, is one of the 14 models competing to win over Tyra, Mr. Jay, Ms. J and all the other judges in the upcoming cycle of America's Next Top Model. What's so fab about her, other than the fact that she has legs for days and will surely give the other girls a run for their money? She's the first-ever transgender contestant in Top Model history. Us Weekly provided the exclusive scoop, so read it directly from the source, or check out featured highlights below:
Hailing from Prince George's County, Maryland, Isis identifies herself as "a woman born physically male."Will she be a role model?
"I like to help people, but I'm here to follow my dreams," she tells Us.
The inclusion of Isis is being hailed by GLAAD president Neil Giuliano as "an unprecedented opportunity for a community that is underrepresented on television.
"We applaud Tyra Banks and The CW for making this historic visibility of transgender people possible," Giuliano said.
Here, here! America's Next Top Model kicks off September 3 on The CW.
All within the first ten minutes.
Is this show LGBT-inclusive, or what?!
See for yourself! I won't tell you who goes home, but I will recommend you watch 'til the bitter end. A certain contestant compares herself to Martin Luther King. It's pretty remarkable. And by that, I mean, shockingly inappropriate.
Got no time for tube? Read Rob's hilarious recap of the episode on AfterElton.com.
Chris March, the lovable finalist (remember his super-fun laugh?!) from season four of Project Runway, has just signed on to cohost a Web series on TVGuide.com! He'll kick off his new job with critiques of this season's Runway, offering unique insight as to what the crazed contestants are going through with each passing challenge.But besides this entertainment gig, what else is Chris up to these days? Just ask TVGuide.com:
"In addition to teaming up with TVGuide.com and blogging for Bravo and Elle's websites, March has been a very busy bee. Now in a relationship with a 'super-fabulous' boyfriend, the fashion man still found time to film and design a garment (with human hair, course) for Bravo's A-List Awards."Congratulations on your newfound success, Chris. I guess nice guys finish first, after all.
I'm happy to see that Mr. Jay and Ms. J. are back for another season. I'm also happy that Tyra has put them in the ad for the first time in eleven seasons -- looks like she has finally learned she is nothing without gay men by her side. The series made its debut last night, and it looks like transgender contestant Laverne and gay contestant Rob will both be in it for the long haul.
After reviewing episode one, Laverne stands out as a strong leader, a woman who stays calm under pressure and also possesses the rare ability to run in heels for 24 hours.
Rob is a welcome presence on reality television: a competent, even-tempered person who acts as the "voice of reason" while others lose their heads. (Be sure to read his great recaps of each episode, exclusively on AfterElton.com.)
Laverne is upfront about her gender identity from the get-go. Check out her intro below:
And you can watch the first episode in its entirety here. Thanks, VH1, for allowing millions to avoid work for a full hour!
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