The third season of Work Out, Bravo’s mostly-gay gym drama, premieres this week. AfterEllen.com has an insightful article on the reality show and its star, Jackie Warner:
Warner is a unique personality on the television landscape – a lesbian, an athlete and a businesswoman. In a medium where elite female athletes are not given much coverage and the emphasis is on those who are traditionally feminine, Warner stands out for her assertiveness and power.
Reality TV, for all of its base and exploitative tendencies, not to mention its often questionable realness, has re-defined the social perceptions of gays and lesbians in America–for the better. Reality TV is quite possibly the next most influential driver of positive change, second only to the grass roots-like effect of GLBT individuals coming out in increasing numbers. This current generation of 12-35 year olds is the most gay friendly generation in history, and they didn’t get their progressive views from church, the Bush administration or any historic strides in gay rights laws. They got it from The Real World (at least the early seasons), Amazing Race and now Work Out.
At its best, reality TV has done what Will & Grace never could: challenge stereotypes and remind people that gays and lesbians are people who they actually know and can relate to. With quality shows like Work Out, gays and lesbians who break stereotypes in their real lives have been able to lift (drag?) the culture along with them. Yes, the proportion of poignant reality shows to those that expose drunken, self-centered whoring isn’t pretty. But the net result is positive. Bad TV shows will eventually be canceled; the progress society has made isn’t going anywhere. –Ryan Quinn
on Apr 16th, 2008 at 8:22 PM
actually, most of the trainer’s time is spent trying to figure the sexual orientation of each other and a discussion of the boss’ g/f.
on Apr 17th, 2008 at 8:44 AM
I love Work Out. Most of the time isn’t spent trying to figure out each other’s sexual orientation and the boss’ g/f, like the prior comment says. Most of the time, the show emphasizes how important healthy living is regardless of those things. Jackie’s business, life and drama all are a testament and example of how people live, even if they are gay/lesbian. I am a lesbian, but even if I weren’t I would still watch it because Jackie’s determination and drive steer the show and send the correct message to it’s viewers……live strong, work hard and play hard….just like the introduction to the show says.
Cindy in Fort Smith, Arkansas
Ya go girl!