He's a Lady
Encyclopedia
He's a Lady is an American reality television
show that aired on TBS
from October to November 2004. The premise of the show involves eleven men cross-dressing
as women in order to win $
250,000. The show's name is a reference to Tom Jones
's 1971
hit song, "She's a Lady
".
The show is hosted by Tony Frassrand, and produced by Evolution Film & Tape, Inc. and Full Circle Entertainment.
catch is that they are actually competing with each other to act as effeminately as possible.
To accomplish this goal, the contestants are required to violate a number of taboo
s relating to traditional gender role
s. They participate in activities traditionally regarded as exclusively "female", including:
Each week, the contestants' performances were judged by a panel of celebrity judges. The panel included Morgan Fairchild
, John Salley
, and Debbie Matenopoulos
. The show ended with a beauty pageant, when the contestants answered the question, "What, as a lady, have you learned about being a man?"
The final three contestants were Donnell (ended second runner up), Albert (ended first runner up) and David. David ultimately won the $250,000 prize.
Reality television
Reality television is a genre of television programming that presents purportedly unscripted dramatic or humorous situations, documents actual events, and usually features ordinary people instead of professional actors, sometimes in a contest or other situation where a prize is awarded...
show that aired on TBS
TBS (TV channel)
TBS , stylized in the logo as tbs, is an American cable television channel owned by Time Warner that shows a variety of programming, with a focus on comedy. TBS was originally known as WTCG, a UHF terrestrial television station that broadcast from Atlanta, Georgia, during the late 1970s...
from October to November 2004. The premise of the show involves eleven men cross-dressing
Cross-dressing
Cross-dressing is the wearing of clothing and other accoutrement commonly associated with a gender within a particular society that is seen as different than the one usually presented by the dresser...
as women in order to win $
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
250,000. The show's name is a reference to Tom Jones
Tom Jones (singer)
Sir Thomas John Woodward, OBE , known by his stage name Tom Jones, is a Welsh singer.Since the mid 1960s, Jones has sung many styles of popular music – pop, rock, R&B, show tunes, country, dance, techno, soul and gospel – and sold over 100 million records...
's 1971
1971 in music
-Events:*February 1 – after months of feuding in the press, Ginger Baker and Elvin Jones hold a "drum battle" at The Lyceum.*February 8 – Bob Dylan's hour-long documentary film, Eat the Document, is premièred at New York's Academy of Music...
hit song, "She's a Lady
She's A Lady
"She's a Lady" is a song written by Paul Anka and performed by Tom Jones, and released in 1971. It is his highest charting U.S. release, peaking at #2 on the Billboard Hot 100. It is one of Tom Jones's most famous recordings. The song reached #4 on Billboard's Easy Listening survey and spawned a...
".
The show is hosted by Tony Frassrand, and produced by Evolution Film & Tape, Inc. and Full Circle Entertainment.
Show format
The eleven contestants were originally told that they would be competing on a show named All American Man, where they would participate in physical and mental competitions. The inevitable reality televisionReality television
Reality television is a genre of television programming that presents purportedly unscripted dramatic or humorous situations, documents actual events, and usually features ordinary people instead of professional actors, sometimes in a contest or other situation where a prize is awarded...
catch is that they are actually competing with each other to act as effeminately as possible.
To accomplish this goal, the contestants are required to violate a number of taboo
Taboo
A taboo is a strong social prohibition relating to any area of human activity or social custom that is sacred and or forbidden based on moral judgment, religious beliefs and or scientific consensus. Breaking the taboo is usually considered objectionable or abhorrent by society...
s relating to traditional gender role
Gender role
Gender roles refer to the set of social and behavioral norms that are considered to be socially appropriate for individuals of a specific sex in the context of a specific culture, which differ widely between cultures and over time...
s. They participate in activities traditionally regarded as exclusively "female", including:
- Bonding with other females in an all-female, non-sexual situation
- Wearing a brassiereBrassiereA brassiere is an undergarment that covers, supports, and elevates the breasts. Since the late 19th century, it has replaced the corset as the most widely accepted method for supporting breasts....
, feminine jewelry, and cosmeticsCosmeticsCosmetics are substances used to enhance the appearance or odor of the human body. Cosmetics include skin-care creams, lotions, powders, perfumes, lipsticks, fingernail and toe nail polish, eye and facial makeup, towelettes, permanent waves, colored contact lenses, hair colors, hair sprays and... - Planning a weddingWeddingA wedding is the ceremony in which two people are united in marriage or a similar institution. Wedding traditions and customs vary greatly between cultures, ethnic groups, religions, countries, and social classes...
- Serving as bridesmaidBridesmaidThe bridesmaids are members of the bride's wedding party in a wedding. A bridesmaid is typically a young woman, and often a close friend or sister. She attends to the bride on the day of a wedding or marriage ceremony...
s - PassingPassing (gender)Passing refers to a person's ability to be regarded as a member of the sex or gender with which they physically present. Typically, passing involves a mixture of physical gender cues as well as certain behavioral attributes that tend to be culturally associated with a particular gender...
as a female in public and, later, in front of family and friends - Participating in a beauty pageant
Each week, the contestants' performances were judged by a panel of celebrity judges. The panel included Morgan Fairchild
Morgan Fairchild
Morgan Fairchild is an American actress. She achieved prominence during the late 1970s and early 1980s with continuing roles in several television series, in which she usually conveyed a glamorous image. Fairchild has also performed in live theater and played guest roles in television comedies...
, John Salley
John Salley
John Thomas "Spider" Salley is a retired American professional basketball player, actor and talk show host. He was the first player in NBA history to play on three different championship-winning franchises....
, and Debbie Matenopoulos
Debbie Matenopoulos
Thespina "Debbie" Matenopoulos is an American television personality and actress.- Early life :Matenopoulos was born in Richmond, Virginia, of Greek ancestry. Her birth name is Despina Matenopoulos, named after her grandmother...
. The show ended with a beauty pageant, when the contestants answered the question, "What, as a lady, have you learned about being a man?"
The final three contestants were Donnell (ended second runner up), Albert (ended first runner up) and David. David ultimately won the $250,000 prize.