July 29 (2003-07-29) – September 2, 2003 (2003-09-02)
Boy Meets Boy is an American reality television series broadcast by Bravo. The six-episode series premiered on July 29, 2003, and concluded on September 2, 2003. Filmed in Palm Springs, California, the series followed James Getzlaff, a 32-year-old human resources manager, in search of a partner among a group of fifteen men. Getzlaff participated in a series of one-on-one dates and group activities with the men, in which he would eliminate three men every episode. In the fourth episode, however, Getzlaff was informed that the group consisted of both gay and straight men. If Getzlaff's final choice among the group was a gay man, he would win a $25,000 reward and a vacation to New Zealand. Conversely, if Getzlaff chose a straight man, then the man alone would win the $25,000 reward. The series was hosted by English television presenter Dani Behr.
Boy Meets Boy received mixed reception from television critics. Some critics believed it was entertaining to speculate on the men's sexual orientations, while others criticized the twist against Getzlaff as cruel. The series premiered to 1.6 million viewers and maintained high ratings throughout its short-lived run. A second season was considered by Bravo and the series's producers, although they found difficulty in developing a different twist that would be as captivating to audiences. Boy Meets Boy was the first same-sex dating show and it inspired a wave of LGBT-themed reality television series in the 2000s. In 2022, Time deemed the first and only season of Boy Meets Boy as one of the most influential reality television seasons of all time.
Format
James Getzlaff (right) served as the leading man with Andra Stasko (left) providing him guidance
Set in Palm Springs, California, the series depicted James Getzlaff, a 32-year-old human resources manager, selecting a partner among a group of fifteen men (referred to as "mates").[1] The fifteen men were required to move into a house together, in which they went on one-on-one dates with Getzlaff and competed in a variety of group activities. At the end of each episode, Getzlaff eliminated three men from the competition. In determining which men to send home, Getzlaff consulted with his longtime friend Andra Stasko, a married straight woman.[2] Toward the end of the series, Getzlaff was informed that the group of men actually consisted of both gay and straight men.[3] If the man Getzlaff chose at the end of the competition was gay, the two would win a vacation to New Zealand and Getzlaff would receive a $25,000 reward. Conversely, if Getzlaff chose a straight man, the straight man alone would win the $25,000 reward while Getzlaff would receive a "very small" cash reward. English television personality Dani Behr served as the host of the series.[1][4][5]
Production
I felt betrayed. [Producers] told me they put the twist in there because they wanted straight people to watch. I said to them, 'Well, you've played gay people as entertainment for straight people. Of course they're going to watch.'[6]
Bachelor James Getzlaff discussing his frustration with the series' twist with Newsweek
The series was filmed in Palm Springs, California, over a period of ten days in May 2003.[1] Over 500 men from San Francisco, Los Angeles, and San Diego were interviewed for a role in the series.[7] Getzlaff originally interviewed for the role of a mate; however, producers opted to offer him the leading role.[2] As leading man, Getzlaff was required to have a "best female friend" to offer him guidance as he eliminated mates.[2] Getzlaff selected his friend Andra Stasko, a straight married woman; Stasko claimed that she participated in the series to be supportive of Getzlaff coming out.[2]
According to executive producer Douglas Ross, "[w]e very specifically designed this show to challenge the viewer's preconceived notions about what it means to be gay and straight. We really wanted it to be an exploration of sexual politics and not sex."[1] While the producers were interested in exploring "sociological issues", the twist of some contestants being straight was implemented in an effort for the series to reach broader audiences.[1] In order to protect the identities of which suitors were gay and straight, any physicality between Getzlaff and suitors beyond kissing was forbidden.[7]
Contestant Dan Wells, who identified as straight, claimed that producers pitched Boy Meets Boy to him as "an acting job on a reality show". He explained, "it wasn’t tough to act gay . . . You learn as you go and you watch how the gay men were acting and behaving and so forth, and you roll with the vibe of the situation. It’s a deep Method acting experience."[8]
The series premiered July 29, 2003, on the Bravo cable television channel.[9]
James and Andra move into their Palm Springs house and meet the mates, who are living together in a separate house. James and Andra spend time with the group at a luau, and James spends some time individually with several of the mates. Later that night, James made his first round of three eliminations. He eliminated Chris (gay), Jason (gay) and Brian A (straight). Twelve mates remain.
2
"Where Have All the Possibly Straight Cowboys Gone?"
August 5, 2003 (2003-08-05)
N/A
The 12 remaining mates are split into two groups. The first group of six goes with James on a group date to a ghost town, where they have country-western dance lessons. The next day, the second group of six mates go on a group date with James, rock climbing, while the first group go on a shopping trip with Andra to buy James a gift (apparently the second group had gone shopping during the dance lesson date, but this was not shown). Back at the mates' house, James, Andra and the mates have a backyard barbecue and present James with their gifts. James and Andra are pulled out of the party by Dani to make the next round of eliminations. Unknown to James, the remaining twelve mates are divided into three groups of four and James must eliminate one from each group. James eliminates Marc (gay), Paul (straight) and Jim (straight). Nine mates are left.
3
"It's Raining Gay and Secretly Straight Men"
August 12, 2003 (2003-08-12)
N/A
James, Andra and five of the remaining mates go on a group outing to a wildlife preserve. After the outing, back at the mates' house, James and Andra confront Dan over conflicting stories he has given them regarding his current dating status. Later that night, James, Andra and the other four remaining mates go out for a night of "gay karaoke" hosted by Miss Coco Peru. At the next elimination round, the remaining nine mates are divided into three groups of three with James eliminating one from each group. Andra is given "veto power," allowing her to overrule one of James' choices and keep the eliminated mate in the house. Andra does not exercise her veto, and James eliminates Matt (gay), Michael (straight) and Dan (straight). There are six mates remaining.
4
"Yeah, But Do You Like Me?"
August 19, 2003 (2003-08-19)
N/A
While Andra has a day at the spa, James and the remaining six mates go on a horseback riding group date. Later that night everyone gathers at the mates' house for a buffet supper. After dinner, a pair of strippers arrive at the mates' house and each of the mates end up giving James a lap dance. The next day brings the next round of eliminations. The mates are split into pairs and one from each pair is eliminated. James eliminates Darren (gay), Robb (gay) and Sean (straight). Three mates remain: Franklin; Wes; and Brian. At the end of this episode, Dani reveals the twist to James, that one of the remaining mates is straight.
5
"The Possibly Straight Cat's Out of the Bag"
August 26, 2003 (2003-08-26)
N/A
Andra has breakfast with the three remaining mates while James absorbs the twist. He reveals the twist to Andra, who flips out. James changes his game strategy from trying to choose someone to date to avoiding choosing the straight man. Each mate goes on an individual date with James. Franklin and James go to a spa for massages and dinner. Brian and James take an early-morning balloon ride and have breakfast at a resort. Wes and James take a limousine ride to a "lookout point," followed by a ride in a horse-drawn carriage and a back yard candlelight dinner (at which several dozen of the candle flames merge, explode and set a table on fire). All three of the remaining mates remain; there is no elimination.
The final three mates spend their last day together, while Andra and James try to figure out which of them is straight. Andra has a confrontation with the mates before James makes his final choice. James eliminates Brian (gay) and Franklin (straight). His final choice, Wes Culwell, is gay, so James wins the money and he and Wes win the trip.
Potential second season
Boy Meets Boy creator Doug Ross held out hope for a second season. He acknowledged that the popularity of season one would make it practically impossible for another season with the same twist but also said that he has come up with another twist which Bravo executives thought was fun. Speaking in 2007, Bravo executive Frances Berwick pointed to public knowledge of the twist as a stumbling block to a second season, noting the difficulty Bravo had selling the series overseas because of international press reports on the twist. On the possibility of a season two with a new twist, Berwick said, "What Bravo does best is to do things first and to really sort of shake up people's preconceptions and notions about things. And we would accept many different formats [for a Boy Meets Boy-type show]. I'm not saying that they wouldn't be as good, because you can always come up with something else. [But] until we find the perfect way to do it..." Berwick also suggested that at the time a series as gay-specific as Boy Meets Boy might not have fit into Bravo's overall programming strategy. "It has to feel like it's broad enough, and multidimensional enough to work for our incredibly smart audience."[12]
Home media
The entire six episode series was released to DVD as a box set in the United States on May 25, 2004. In addition to containing all six episodes, the DVD set includes additional interviews and footage with behind the scenes featurettes, casting reels, performances by Miss Coco Peru, the original unaired opening sequence, cast biographies, and a "Where Are They Now?" segment with updates on some of the participants.
Legacy
Boy Meets Boy was the first same-sex dating show. Despite its short-lived run, the series was responsible for a wave of LGBT-related reality television series in the mid-2000s, including Playing It Straight, Gay, Straight or Taken?, and Straight Dates by Gay Mates.[13] In 2022, Time cited the first and only season of Boy Meets Boy as one of the most influential reality television seasons of all time.[3]
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