Playing it Straight
Encyclopedia
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).
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.
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.
(UK) broadcast their own version of the show, first episode on April 8, 2005, as part of their Twisted Dating Season. The show is 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 show is being 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."
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.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
reality show in which one woman spent time on a ranch
Ranch
A ranch is an area of landscape, including various structures, given primarily to the practice of ranching, the practice of raising grazing livestock such as cattle or sheep for meat or wool. The word most often applies to livestock-raising operations in the western United States and Canada, though...
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
Elimination
- Science and medicine :*Elimination reaction, an organic reaction in which two functional groups split to form an organic product*Elimination, clearance of a drug or other foreign agent from the body...
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
Prize money
Prize money has a distinct meaning in warfare, especially naval warfare, where it was a monetary reward paid out to the crew of a ship for capturing an enemy vessel...
, but if he was gay, then he would receive all the money (and the woman would receive nothing).
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 NevadaNevada
Nevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...
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.
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.
Channel 4
Channel 4Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...
(UK) broadcast their own version of the show, first episode on April 8, 2005, as part of their Twisted Dating Season. The show is set on a Mexican
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
ranch and Zoe Hardman
Zoe Hardman
Zoe Hardman is a British television presenter. She was a presenter on ITV's phone-in quiz show Glitterball. She trained for a career in media and photography in Kent and now lives in West London...
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
June Sarpong
June Sarpong MBE is an English television presenter of Ghanaian descent.-Education:Sarpong was born in London to Ghanaian parents. She was educated at Connaught Girls School in Leytonstone and Sir George Monoux College in Walthamstow....
. The show is being repeated on Channel 4's sister channel 4Music
4Music
4Music is a music and entertainment channel in the United Kingdom and available on some digital television providers in the Republic of Ireland - its web component can be found at with its own and pages. It is the only channel within the Box Television Network to be branded under Channel 4 and...
.
Early reporting revealed Ben Harris to be Mr Gay UK
Mr Gay UK
Mr Gay UK is a British annual beauty contest for gay men, with regional heats held in gay nightclubs with a grand final usually at a gay venue. The contests is owned and promoted by gay entrepreneur Terry George....
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."
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 | Eliminated week 3 | Gay |
| Peter | Eliminated week 3 | Gay |
| Jonny | Eliminated week 4 | Gay |
| Alex | Eliminated week 5 | Gay |
| Daniel. K | Eliminated week 5 | Straight |
| Marco | Eliminated week 6 | Straight |
| Danny. B | Eliminated week 6 | Straight |
| Ben | Winner | Gay |
Seven Network
An Australian version of the show aired on the Seven NetworkSeven Network
The Seven Network is an Australian television network owned by Seven West Media Limited. It dates back to 4 November 1956, when the first stations on the VHF7 frequency were established in Melbourne and Sydney.It is currently the second largest network in the country in terms of population reach...
starting October 2004 hosted by Natalie Garonzi
Natalie Garonzi
Natalie Garonzi is an Australian actress, writer, comedian and TV Presenter. She worked internationally as a model for many years and then began her television career on Nickelodeon Australia where she was hugely popular on Saturday Nick Television and Sarvo...
. 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.
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 |
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.See also
- Boy Meets BoyBoy Meets Boy (TV series)Boy Meets Boy is an American reality television show in which a gay man meets and chooses a mate from a group of 15 potential male suitors. The show was made more novel by the fact that the "leading man" did not know that the mix of suitors included both gay and straight men.The show premiered July...
- a 2003 program on Bravo in which a gay man successfully chose another gay man from a mixed group of gay and heterosexual men. - Gay, Straight or Taken?Gay, Straight or Taken?Gay, Straight or Taken? is a reality television series that was created by British TV producer, Remy Blumenfeld and piloted for ITV in 2003 It debuted on January 8, 2007 on Lifetime Television...
- a 2007 program on Lifetime TelevisionLifetime TelevisionLifetime Television, often referred to as Lifetime TV, or most commonly, Lifetime, is an American cable television specialty channel devoted to movies, sitcoms and dramas, all of which are either geared toward women or feature women in lead roles. The cable network is owned by A&E Television Networks...
in which during each episode a female has to determine which of three men is gay, straight, or already in a relationship. - Seriously, Dude, I'm GaySeriously, Dude, I'm GaySeriously, Dude, I'm Gay is an American reality television special which Fox planned to broadcast on June 7, 2004. The two-hour special featured two heterosexual men competing for a $50,000 prize based on their ability to pass as gay for a week, including convincing their friends and family that...
- another gay-themed Fox reality program.