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Playing It Straight

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Playing It Straight
Format Reality show
Presented by Daphne Brogdon
Country of origin United States
No. of episodes 8
Production
Running time 45–50 minutes
Broadcast
Original channel FOX
Original run 12 March 2004 (2004-03-12) – 2 April 2004 (2004-04-02)

Playing It Straight is a 2004 American reality show in which one woman spent time on a ranch with a group of men in an attempt to discern which of them were homosexual and which of them were heterosexual. All of the men pretended to be heterosexual. The woman went on individual dates with the men, in addition to engaging in group activities with them. Over the course of the episodes, she voted to eliminate the men she believed to be gay.

At the end of the show, the woman had to choose one man. If he was heterosexual, the man and woman would split the prize money, but if he was gay, then he would receive all the money (and the woman would receive nothing).

Contents

[edit] Fox

The show was first broadcast in the United States on the Fox Network and premiered on March 12, 2004. The program was set on a Nevada ranch, and featured Jackie, a college student. Jackie spent time with 14 men (some gay, some straight) with a chance to win $1 million dollars. If Jackie picked a straight man, they would both split the money, but if she picked a gay man, he would win the entire $1 million.

[edit] Contestants

Contestant Status Sexual Orientation
Gust Eliminated week 1 Straight
Louis Eliminated week 1 Straight
Alex Eliminated week 2 Gay
Ryan Eliminated week 2 Straight
Eddie Left the show week 3 Gay
Chad Eliminated week 3 Gay
John Eliminated week 4 Gay
Lee Eliminated week 4 Gay
Bradley Eliminated week 5 Gay
Luciano Eliminated week 5 Gay
Bill Eliminated week 6 Gay
Chris Eliminated week 8 Gay
Sharif Eliminated week 8 Straight
Banks Winner week 8 Straight

In 2005, nearly one year later after the show was recorded, Fox issued a press release stating that Jackie and Banks were still together. After the show, Jackie and Banks dated for about two years. For the first eight months, they had to keep their relationship quiet until the show aired. Banks went so far as to tell friends that he had to leave the show because he broke his arm, rather than reveal he won.

In 2007, Fox Reality reaired the series paired with "Reality Revealed" interviews of the contestants at each commercial break.

[edit] Channel 4 (UK)

Playing It Straight UK
Format Reality show
Presented by June Sarpong (2005)
Jameela Jamil (2012)
Narrated by Alan Cumming (2005)
Alan Carr (2012)
Country of origin United Kingdom
No. of series 2
No. of episodes 7 (to 9 January 2012)
Production
Location(s) Mexico (2005)
Spain (2012)
Running time 60 minutes
Production company(s) Lion TV
Broadcast
Original channel Channel 4, E4
Picture format 16:9
Original run 8 April 2005 (2005-04-08) –
present
Chronology
Related shows Playing It Straight

[edit] Series 1 (2005)

The first UK version started on April 8, 2005, as part of their Twisted Dating Season. The series was set on a Mexican ranch and Zoe Hardman is spending time with 12 men. Ten men started the show and two more, Lee and Marco, were added in week 3 - it was revealed when they arrived that one was gay and one straight. The prize money was £100,000 and the show was hosted by June Sarpong. The series has been repeated on Channel 4's sister channel 4Music.

Early reporting revealed Ben Harris to be Mr Gay UK and also said: "Ben Harris, a builder, looks to be one of the favourites to win the show after the first episode in which he played to the builder stereotype." [1]

[edit] Contestants

Contestant Status Sexual Orientation
Pritesh Eliminated week 1 Straight
Raphael Eliminated week 1 Straight
Demetrius Eliminated week 2 Gay
George Eliminated week 2 Straight
Lee [2] Eliminated week 3 Gay
Peter Eliminated week 3 Gay
Jonny Eliminated week 4 Gay
Alex [3] Eliminated week 5 Gay
Daniel. K Eliminated week 5 Straight
Marco Eliminated week 6 Straight
Danny. B Eliminated week 6 Straight
Ben [4] Winner Gay

[edit] Series 2 (2012)

In October 2011, it was announced that Channel 4 had ordered a full second series. This time the location is set in Spain and the new series will be hosted by T4 presenter, Jameela Jamil and Alan Carr provides the narration. The prize fund has been decreased 50% to £50,000 (£25,000 each).[5][6] The second series made its debut on 9 January 2012 at 9pm on E4.[7] The series is set at a Spanish hacienda. The series is being also airing on Channel 4's teen-strand, T4, on Saturdays.

[edit] Contestants

  • The Girl: Cara
Contestant Week 1 Week 2 Week 3 Week 4 Week 5 Week 6 Week 7 Week 8
Ben Saved TBA
Danny
Dean
Jordan N/A N/A N/A Saved
Levi Saved
Mitch N/A N/A N/A Saved
Sam Saved
Sven
David Saved Eliminated
(Gay)
Andrei Saved Eliminated
(Straight)
Leroy Saved Eliminated
(Gay)
Kyle Eliminated
(Gay)
Filipo Eliminated
(Straight)
Fletcher Left
(Straight)

[edit] Transmissions

  • Lion TV for Channel 4, 8 April to 13 May 2005 (6 episodes in 1 series)
  • Lion TV for E4, 9 January 2012 - present

[edit] Seven Network (Australia)

An Australian version of the show aired on the Seven Network starting October 2004 hosted by Natalie Garonzi. Despite much of the hype surrounding it the shows ratings dwindled and it was moved to a later timeslot. After Rebecca eliminated Campbell (who was gay) Chad, Dane and Evan were left for one non-elimination round before appearing in the final episode. Rebecca chose Chad and he was revealed to be straight, whilst Dane and Evan were both gay. The Australian show has also aired in the US on FOX Reality. Rebecca and Chad are no longer together.

[edit] Contestants

Contestant Status Sexual Orientation
Simon Eliminated week 1 Straight
Sam Eliminated week 1 Straight
John Eliminated week 2 Gay
Glenn Left the show week 2 Gay
N/A Eliminated week 3 N/A
N/A Eliminated week 4 N/A
N/A Eliminated week 4 N/A
Ben Eliminated week 5 Straight
Dean Eliminated week 5 Gay
Damon Eliminated week 6 Straight
Campbell Eliminated week 7 Gay
Evan Eliminated week 8 Gay
Dane Eliminated week 8 Gay
Chad Winner Straight

[edit] Herken De Homo (The Netherlands)

The original FOX version was a surprise hit on Dutch television, prompting RTL to create its own version. In HERKEN DE HOMO (Find the Gay One), the at the time 23 year old Nathalie was sent to Mexico. She had to choose between 14 men. At the end, only Marcel remained who turned out to be straight. Both won 50,000 Euro each.

[edit] See also

[edit] Notes and references

  1. ^ "theVoiceofReason.co.uk, Ben Harris Was Mr Gay UK 1998". http://www.thevoiceofreason.co.uk/BestBits/2005/April/BenHarrisMrGayUK1998.htm. 
  2. ^ Lee was not allowed to reveal his sexuality on being voted off in order that Marco's sexual orienation stayed secret.
  3. ^ In week five Alex won the contest to dress Zoe, on winning he was awarded with a dinner date with her, after much anticipation Alex decided to confess to Zoe that he was gay, at the Week 5 Elimination Zoe picked Alex to be eliminated as it was obvious as he was gay.
  4. ^ Ben was picked to win by Zoe, but it was then revealed that he was gay. He felt guilty, hating what he had done, and gave her all the money. She refused to take it all, giving Ben half back. She stated that even though he was gay she was still glad she chose him. http://www.thevoiceofreason.co.uk/BestBits/2005/April/BenHarrisMrGayUK1998.htm
  5. ^ http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/tv/news/a344163/playing-it-straight-to-return-to-e4.html
  6. ^ http://www.channel4.com/info/press/news/e4-brings-back-playing-it-straight
  7. ^ http://www.channel4.com/programmes/playing-it-straight/episode-guide/series-2/episode-1

[edit] External links

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Playing_It_Straight&oldid=474122369"
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