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Technically, I reckon this thread could go in the tv forum, except for the angle I’m taking...
A while back I posted a snippet off the news wherein someone was spouting (what I considered) ludicrous antigay rhetoric. It wound up truly upsetting a few people on here who viewed it. Well, last night I sat down to watch a program that left me with an opposite (and totally unexpected) reaction and I thought I’d share.
I tend to enjoy highly competitive game shows (NOT Big Brother, but Amazing Race for instance, or—better yet—American Ninja), so I was interested to watch the debut of the Discovery Channel’s new show One Man Army.
The premise is that four contestants compete in a series of challenges each (purported) to test some specific attribute (Speed, Strength, Intelligence), with the lowest scoring competitor eliminated from the overall competition after each challenge until there is a single winner. The program turned out to be a bit heavy on the testosterone (without ever actually becoming pandering or annoying—just, you know, enjoyably titillating
) and made some odd choices when it came to utilizing their host, but provided enjoyable challenges. It also abstained from heavy reliance upon confessionals, which I despise...!
The premier featured (off the top of my head, tho I imagine the link has the correct info) A US Marshall, a former elite army ranger, and another exmilitary type who does security work now. Oh, and a non-military small arms specialist. The last guy ended up winning the competition. In his final speech, he mentioned that people ask him why he never actually joined the military. And he explained, quite simply, that at the age he might have done so the military was not accepting gay people and he was not prepared to lie about it.
This was a show rife with the potential for anti-gay bigotry, and I watched therefore with a certain trepidation. That is not an altogether new way for me to approach a show as I tend to enjoy programs rife with that potential (not because they are rife with that potential, but because those are the sorts of shows I like), and I am more often than not disappointed. Last night was one of those pleasant surprises that put a smile on my face that is still there today.
Just felt the need to share. Thanks!
A while back I posted a snippet off the news wherein someone was spouting (what I considered) ludicrous antigay rhetoric. It wound up truly upsetting a few people on here who viewed it. Well, last night I sat down to watch a program that left me with an opposite (and totally unexpected) reaction and I thought I’d share.
I tend to enjoy highly competitive game shows (NOT Big Brother, but Amazing Race for instance, or—better yet—American Ninja), so I was interested to watch the debut of the Discovery Channel’s new show One Man Army.
The premise is that four contestants compete in a series of challenges each (purported) to test some specific attribute (Speed, Strength, Intelligence), with the lowest scoring competitor eliminated from the overall competition after each challenge until there is a single winner. The program turned out to be a bit heavy on the testosterone (without ever actually becoming pandering or annoying—just, you know, enjoyably titillating
) and made some odd choices when it came to utilizing their host, but provided enjoyable challenges. It also abstained from heavy reliance upon confessionals, which I despise...!The premier featured (off the top of my head, tho I imagine the link has the correct info) A US Marshall, a former elite army ranger, and another exmilitary type who does security work now. Oh, and a non-military small arms specialist. The last guy ended up winning the competition. In his final speech, he mentioned that people ask him why he never actually joined the military. And he explained, quite simply, that at the age he might have done so the military was not accepting gay people and he was not prepared to lie about it.
This was a show rife with the potential for anti-gay bigotry, and I watched therefore with a certain trepidation. That is not an altogether new way for me to approach a show as I tend to enjoy programs rife with that potential (not because they are rife with that potential, but because those are the sorts of shows I like), and I am more often than not disappointed. Last night was one of those pleasant surprises that put a smile on my face that is still there today.
Just felt the need to share. Thanks!
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