I like me some Food Network. And I like me some Brian Boitano. This story? Not so much.
Brian Boitano, male figure skater, is getting his own Food Network show called What Would Brian Boitano Make? In the show, Brian and his friends gather in Brian's kitchen and he cooks for them, throws parties for them, and is often seen giving tours of his San Francisco home.
As I said, I like Boitano. He's kind of adorkable and he has thighs that could crack a walnut. And I think he might be gay. Or he might not be. Or.....he.....might....be. It really isn't my business.
Trouble is, the Food Network doesn't want anyone to know if he is, or isn't. Or is.
Michael Jensen at AfterElton was interested in writing about the show for the net. When he learned that Boitano would be doing press for the show, he decided to attend the party that Food Network gave to promote WWBBM?
He waited patiently to speak with Brian and then, when it was his turn, Michael said he'd like to discuss the show with Boitano and then ask a few personal questions like they do over at AfterElton.com.
But the Food Network people said No. There would be no personal questions because this was a cooking show and not a show about Brian Boitano. Yet the show takes place in his home, with him cooking for his friends and throwing special parties for his friends. It is not, however, about his personal life.
So, I don't know What Would Brian Boitano Make? But I do know What I Would Make Of This. It sounds like someones afraid and a wee bit homophobic. If Boitano is gay, get over it. It's 2009 we don't care. If Boitano isn't gay [not that there's anything wrong with that] then why all the hush-hush over personal questions? Is the Food Network ashamed of the gays, because god knows there aren't any gay cooks out there at all. Anywhere. Ever.
I like Brian Boitano. But I don't like this.
The Food Network is owned by the same people that own HGTV (Scripps). And they are extremely freaked out by gays and bloggers. And I'm sure Gay Bloggers really scare them. I have read many blog posts about how horrible the PR people are, and the disdain the company has for Bloggers.
ReplyDeleteDuring the last season of Design Star, Mikey V (the hot tattooed cop) was told NOT to talk about being gay - and ESPECIALLY not to talk to gay blogs (he talked to me and AfterElton anyway). No one knew Mikey V was gay until his little 'ole gay bondage porno surfaced (thank you JEEBUS!!). HGTV/Scripps was so freaked out they erased all mention of him, and Mikey V was dis-invited to the Finale/Reunion show.
I am guessing this maybe-homophobia of the parent company (Scripps) is the reason why the word "gay" hasn't been uttered on Design Star this season by Dan, Nathan, or even Jason. Yes, some people say that HGTV shows gay people "mater-of-factly", but I say they downplay people's gayness so as not to make their "middle American" audience uncomfortable.
XOXOXOXOXOXO
That's really too bad if they are afraid. Sad. Do they think no one notices?!
ReplyDeleteDo they think anyone cares? Do they think an unmarried ice dancer living in San Francisco hosting a cooking show will be perceived as anything other than a big ol' poof? Since this whole show sounds duller than dirt, I'd think they'd be delighted by any publicity they could scrape up and would be courting blogs.
ReplyDeleteI agree with David (of course).
ReplyDelete