Archive through September 03, 2003
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TV ClubHouse: Archive: Boy meets Boy (ARCHIVES): Archive through September 03, 2003

Seamonkey

Wednesday, August 27, 2003 - 11:41 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Because she sees herself as his protector and best friend. I think she does feel all those emotions for him and somehow takes some of the blame on herself for letting a straight guy (and they had no idea any were str8, I'm guessing) through to the final three.. but then as SanFran analyzed so well, they had to guarantee a str8 guy in the finals and if this is true, Franklin would have to be that guy.

Sanfranjoshfan

Wednesday, August 27, 2003 - 12:10 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
When I watched Andra's high drama over the twist and saw how she took it so personally....I got the impression that she might have talked James into doing this show or something. I think she actually *was* feeling bad for James, but at the same time she seemed to act as if it was her fault for the situation. I don't know if I'm just reading too much into that scene....but it just looked like a lot of guilt was fueling that frustration. (At one point when they hugged, James did tell her "I'd do it all over again...for you" and she replied "I wouldn't"....this is what gave me the feeling that he did this for her in the first place)

Hippyt

Wednesday, August 27, 2003 - 12:26 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Well,I've been taping this for a friend,and haven't been watching it. But,I just saw Andra and her fit. This show makes me sad to watch,it's kinda cruel to me. I mean,well,I guess ya know what I mean.Playing with people's emotions for cheap entertainment,without their knowledge,it's not cool.

Fluffybbw

Wednesday, August 27, 2003 - 04:23 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Sanfranjoshfan, I think you are right, in the previews last night they showed a segment where Andra is talking to James and saying something about if you pick the straight guy you'll blame me because I talked you into doing the show, I'm sorry that's not an exact quote, but that's the impression I was left with after hearing it.

I much prefer Queer Eye Five to this show, I thought this would be a great trend setting show, a reality dating show for gay people, just like the bachelor, but no it's just a very, very, mean spirited trick!

Unfortunately I think James will pick Franklin, (who I really believe is straight) and he will be very disappointed. I read an article in Newsweek that quoted James and he said how disappointed and upset he was about the show and that America will be able to see him cry and feel bad.

Kappy

Wednesday, August 27, 2003 - 06:01 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
The saddest part is seeing the happiness gone from James eyes. He was so enjoying all of this until finding out that the producers had been playing games with him. And while the 'straight evictees' have said that this has really changed their own perception about gays as people, the reality is they did it hoping to win a prize of what. . $25,000? And for that amount of money, I do think Wes is cabable of being a very good actor. And I still say that I've seen him somewhere before - perhaps as an ACTOR? I hope I'm really wrong. I keep seeing Franklin as just being much younger and more shy about making advances towards James where as Wes, who seems much older to me, has been right in there since day one with no hesitancy. Maybe it's because he reminds me too much of Dan. And then not wanting to talk about his last relationship . . I don't know . . guess we'll find out next week.

But that said, I really feel for James. His heart is not in it like it was before the big revelation. I'm just sorry the producers felt the need for a twist of this sort.

And I agree that I think Andra is feeling especially bad for feeling like she is the reason he is even there.

Madelane

Wednesday, August 27, 2003 - 06:19 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
I think there's no question it's Franklin who's straight, but only because of the numbers. I can't scroll up to see who belabored over all of the statistics but whoever it was is right - it can only be Franklin. The producers did the groups to ENSURE that a straight man would make it into the finals. I didn't crunch the numbers but it was obvious at the last elimination that they put Franklin with the other straight guy in a group. There is literally no way they would have allowed James to eliminate both straight guys so they grouped the two together and made him pick one.

That's why they haven't told him other guys were straight and which ones they were. It would be too easy for him to figure out it's Franklin from the groups.

I keep second-guessing it like Kappy but then I remember it MUST be Franklin. Not that I'm saying the show is "rigged," like some conspiracy theory, just that they grouped for a reason and it was to preserve the purpose of the show.

Kiersten_Love

Thursday, August 28, 2003 - 11:49 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
I, believe that Wes is the straight guy...100%. , and I am sticking to it...LOL

Bastable

Friday, August 29, 2003 - 04:34 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
This show is a step forward for no one except the producers. It's not breaking down stereotypes at all. It's another case of having a gay man falling in love with a straight man he can't have. It's emasculating.

Having an all-gay "Bachelor" would have been groundbreaking. This is just cruel, cynical, and greedy. One gay man has already turned his life upside-down and been discharged from his job. He risked that because he thought he was on a show that presented gay romance as normalized. So already, this decpetive show has damaged someone's life.

It's the worst of TV. The producers have a carnivorous mentality, a gleeful schadenfreude that has no place in an area that is meant to be (and that has been SOLD as) groundbreaking.

Gay people have suffered all their lives--hiding in the closet, denying themselves, risking relationships with family and friends when they finally come out. To come up with a show like this is just another cruelty--another obstacle, another trial--piled on top of that. This coldhearted charade is supposed to be entertaining? Hee-hee! Watch the gay guy fall in love with a "normal" guy who would never dare turn gay! Hee-hee! It's wrong!

A show like this could only truly entertain someone who has no concept of how many gay people live as oppressed minorities who are conditioned to hide, self-hate, and to be mistrustful of "straight" motives. To them, having the promise of a normal romantic treatment get pulled out from under them constitutes one of the most heartless and backward-looking things I've ever seen on TV.

Seamonkey

Saturday, August 30, 2003 - 07:10 am EditMoveDeleteIP
I have to agree, Bastable. This concept is just WRONG. Andra's reaction was completely appropriate and I'm almost surprised they didn't censor that, but maybe they are too wrapped up in their misbegotten motives to even "get" that she wasn't just being dramatic. In less than a minute, Andra expressed what is wrong here.

Kitt

Saturday, August 30, 2003 - 01:51 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
I'm not sure what to say with that. I agree with everything you say Bastable except for your sweeping condemnation of everyone who watches the show.

The concept of the show is horrible, I don't think anyone's denying that, even with the show's assurances that they wanted to push boundaries of people's perceptions of gay and straight it's clear they wanted to make as dramatic a show as possible, even at the expense of James' feelings. But what if it has changed a few people's perceptions? It's novel enough for some people to see gay men on tv, at least the gay guys here were allowed to be themselves and portrayed a reasonably varied spectrum of personalities. It's just a horrific shame they put a load of straight guys in there too.

Basically I agree with you, but I think some good will come out of this show and the other gay based shows that are on at the moment. A lot of people still have virtually zero experience of people who are different from them, and I think the more they see gay people the more likely they are to be open when they meet them in real life. And no harm can come out of a few more open minds.

Sanfranjoshfan

Tuesday, September 02, 2003 - 03:54 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Heads up - the finale of Boy Meets Boy is tonight!

Puttergirl

Tuesday, September 02, 2003 - 04:24 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
SPOILER:

From http://www.realityblurred.com/realitytv/archives/2003_08_31_index.shtml#003829

Boy Meets Boy concludes tonight; did ABC News radio give away the ending? ... D'Andrea points out that an ABC News radio special over the weekend included a quote from one of the three finalists, who said ... (go to link if you want to read the spoiler) ... spoiler

Fluffybbw

Tuesday, September 02, 2003 - 04:40 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Poor James I am afraid he is going to be so broken hearted! I really wanted him to choose Marc or Robb, I think they seem wonderful, they're good looking, funny and intelligent, what more could you ask for in a lover?

Seamonkey

Tuesday, September 02, 2003 - 04:43 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
So the spoiler is about which of the three remaining is gay, not who was chosen..

Fluffybbw

Tuesday, September 02, 2003 - 05:06 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
I'm really afraid it's the straight man that was named, I think James has had a thing for this particular man from the very beginning. I know if this is true I am going to be so sad at the end of the show I am so glad Queer Eye Five comes on after, that show always cheers me up, those guys always seem to be having a good time!

Puttergirl

Tuesday, September 02, 2003 - 07:14 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
The suspense is over... he chose well!!!

Fluffybbw

Tuesday, September 02, 2003 - 07:47 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Yea!!!!! I am so happy, he chose Wes!!!! And we got to see a real kiss, finally! I hope they will be very happy together and have a great time on their trip! Poor Brian it sounded like he really fell for Dan.

Kappy

Tuesday, September 02, 2003 - 08:23 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
I am soooo glad I was wrong about Wes and that James is happy in the end! I missed the actual show so I look forward to seeing it in repeat. They're going to have a marathon of the show on Sunday.

Penpoint

Tuesday, September 02, 2003 - 09:23 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Interesting that Franklin, the straight guy who went the farthest, was the only straight guy who was put on the spot and had to explain himself. In a way, the other straight guys got off free. It was an uncomfortable moment. But the ending was sweet.

Gina8642

Tuesday, September 02, 2003 - 09:50 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
I still think this series was a little too mean spirited. They really, really tried to soften the blow with the post production editing and interviews, trying to make it all sound like a learning experience. While the editing suceeded to an extent - there was way too much of a 'gotcha' style twists during the show for the post production editing to ring very true.

I'm glad he choose Wes, they did seem to have the best chemistry, however they didn't strike me as having long-term potential. Guess that's up to them, not me.

Texannie

Tuesday, September 02, 2003 - 09:58 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
I can't believe that Wes was gay! I never trusted him, he seemed so fake and like he was acting. I hope it works out for them.

Seamonkey

Tuesday, September 02, 2003 - 10:04 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
The moment with Franklin, or moments, actually, one with Andra and one with James, were uncomfortable, but hey.. Franklin and the other straight guys, no matter how broad minded they felt and no matter how mind expanding it may have been for them, they were willing to put James in the very very uncomfortable situation of being deceived and "beaten" for a prize when all he did was sincerely want to meet someone.

So if Franklin got to feel the discomfort, so be it.

I suspect they may have all gotten together later anyway.

Any two people need to take a bit of time to find out what the long term potential is for them but I think James chose well.

Gina.. good post as well.. just because they used revisionist editing doesn't negate the fact that the straight guys were definitely there to beat out guys who actually were potential mates for James and also beat him out of the prize money as well..

Bastable

Wednesday, September 03, 2003 - 06:18 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Just another instance of building the myth that gay guys would just as rather sleep with straight guys. This kind of example terrifies homophobes; it doesn't convert them.

Texannie

Wednesday, September 03, 2003 - 08:10 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Batable, how did it build up that myth?

Muse

Wednesday, September 03, 2003 - 08:45 am EditMoveDeleteIP
I think James made the right decision. Picking Brian would be settling for the "safer option", and that wouldn't be right. I hope he and Wes make it work.

I don't think Boy Meets Boy was all that bad since it did do exactly what Wes said...showed gay men as they really are, not just some of the stereotypes we see in scripted shows. I do think the "big point" they were supposedly making by having straight men in the mix is ridiculous, however, and actually trivializes the whole thing into more of a game (not completely, but more so that it would have been otherwise...which is a shame). I also think it was very cruel to James (and Andra and others tied to the show to a lesser extent) to not make the "rules" obvious up front.

I disagree about the show building up the myth of gay guys wanting to sleep with straight guys, just because I think it was pretty clear that James lost interest when he found out Franklin was straight. But I guess if someone watched only some episodes (rather than the whole season) they might feel differently (?).

Editing to add that I was glad that James and Andra didn't go along with the whole "adding straight guys teaches a wonderful lesson" by immediately forgiving/embracing Franklin. James especially handled it well by making his feelings known (that he doesn't think it was right, that Franklin betrayed his trust, that the "twist" undermined the whole show), but being very calm and mature about it, IMO.