Author Topic: Sky TV shelves "transsexual dating game" (Read 3469 times)

Fedya · « **on:** November 01, 2003, 01:59:21 PM »

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/3230043.stm

Quote

Sky One has pulled plans for a show about men competing for the affections of a pre-operation transsexual after the contestants threatened legal action to block the show's transmission.

...

The show was filmed last summer in Ibiza.

Lawyer Rod Christie-Miller, who represents the men, told BBC News Online the programme had "a devastating effect on these young guys" and warned this would be "magnified a millionfold" if the broadcast went ahead.

{As though regular 'reality TV' isn't embarrassing? --TS}

...

In the show the men had to rank women from a line-up, including Miriam, in order of attractiveness.

But they were not told Miriam was a male pre-operative transsexual.

Mr Christie-Miller denied reports one contestant was so angry he punched the show's producer when he discovered the truth.

Cameras filmed the men attempting to woo Miriam, including scenes of them kissing.

Viewers were to be told at the start of the show Miriam was a male-to-female transsexual.

But the contestants, who are said to include a Royal Marine commando, a ski instructor and an ex-lifeguard, only discovered the truth when Miriam picked the winner and then revealed her true identity.

And to think I'd been suggesting the Joe Millionaire producers ought to make the twist that he's gay. I guess I wasn't thinking outrageous enough. :-)

LA the DJ · « **Reply #1 on:** November 01, 2003, 02:46:55 PM »

Interesting, as a couple of months ago some friends and I were talking about just how evil reality shows could get, and this was actually one of the more evil suggestions that we'd come up with.
Fact is, I figure anybody who signs up for this kind of show is willing to subject themself to whatever public humiliation that th eproducers dream up. I mean, fact is, there really is some sort of enjoyment in watching some gold-digging fame-seeking woman finding out that the man she's after is really broke.
Anyhow, while we were talking about it, we assume it couldn't be done, basically on the same sort of principle of the Jenny Jones fiasco not long ago. I can't imagine it seeing the light of day.

Fedya · « **Reply #2 on:** November 01, 2003, 02:55:45 PM »

I'm not so sure, Ryan. As long as nobody is physically injured, I could see things this tasteless making the light of day. Does the show Temptation Island ring a bell? :-)

OT: If anybody wants to see a good movie about "reality TV" which actually predates shows like Survivor, watch Louis the 19th, King of the Airwaves

ChuckNet · « **Reply #3 on:** November 01, 2003, 11:19:05 PM »

And if it had made it to air, it would've given a whole new meaning to the term "TV dating show". (ducking)

Chuck Donegan (The Comedic "Chuckie Baby")

LA the DJ · « **Reply #4 on:** November 02, 2003, 03:50:35 AM »

Interestingly enough, the name of the show is Find Me a Man. Which is enough to leave contestants clueless, but kinda funny for those who are in on the joke.

Fedya · « **Reply #5 on:** November 02, 2003, 09:42:55 AM »

[quote name=\'ChuckNet\' date=\'Nov 1 2003, 11:19 PM\'] And if it had made it to air, it would've given a whole new meaning to the term "TV dating show". (ducking) [/quote]
You mean the next "reality" show is going to have people going on dates with TV sets? :-)