Heeeeeeyyy!
In one of the stranger TV pairings I can remember, former figure skater Brian Boitano will host a coooking show (called What Would Brian Boitano Make?) on The Food Network premiering later this month. Afterelton’s Michael Jensen tried to talk to Boitano after receiving press materials and again at the TV Critics Tour. Both times, Jensen was given the cold shoulder because the network is afraid that someone might ask Boitano if he’s gay.
Even if he won’t answer the question, just seeing a promo for it you realize it will be the gayest show on television. I guess, like Johnny Weir, Boitano doesn’t have to announce anything to actually announce something: He just lets his costume closet and sequin outfit do the talking.
More, plus must-see video evidence, after the jump.
From Afterelton:
So at The Food Network party, I waited my turn to to talk with Brian, introduced myself to him and the publicist accompanying him, and explained I was the editor of AfterElton.com and what we covered. I said I was interested in doing a profile of Brian as a way to cover the show and that our profile would include asking Brian some questions about his personal life. This is pretty standard fare not only for AfterElton.com, but for any media outlet.
At that point I was told - in no uncertain terms - that the show was strictly about the cooking and was going to keep its focus on that, and not on Brian’s personal life.
The publicist then physically steered Brian away from me, toward another journalist.
The show, by the way, is largely about Brian’s personal life, according to Jensen.
It’s so odd and disappointing that Boitano and The Food Network would avoid this question. Boitano is no more of a chef than I am. To claim the show is just about his cooking is so ludicrous, like anyone is going to be waiting to see how a former figure skater beats an egg.
By the way, the title of the show is an obvious play on the uber-religious What Would Jesus Do? In reality, it’s a play on South Park’s What Would Brian Boitano Do? Still, is Boitano trying to mock the Jesus creed (like South Park did)? Seems like a questionable choice of titles…for a strange TV show idea.
And of course, the South Park classic:
on Aug 12th, 2009 at 11:34 am
Brian Dennehy better make an appearance!
on Aug 12th, 2009 at 1:02 pm
That hair is just tragic. You’re a good-looking guy, Brian — there’s no need to walk around with a few dozen pubes on top of your head.
http://www.foodnetwork.com/videos/brian-boitanos-costume-closet/41243.html
As for not coming out, that’s even more tragic, but apparently routine in the world of figure skating. Bizarre.
on Aug 12th, 2009 at 2:07 pm
Who the hell cares now, if he’s gay? Are they kidding?
on Aug 12th, 2009 at 2:12 pm
Has “his people” looked at calendar recently? Do they realize it’s 2009, he’s 45 and completely irrelevant?
When was the last time Brian Boitano came up in a conversation about anything?
on Aug 12th, 2009 at 3:21 pm
He clearly has a good sense of humor. I just don’t understand why they won’t even TALK to a gay blog. Bizarre.
on Aug 12th, 2009 at 6:35 pm
He still has the sweetest a** in figure skating!
on Aug 12th, 2009 at 7:03 pm
Oh, Brian!
on Aug 12th, 2009 at 8:15 pm
Fabulous !!
on Aug 12th, 2009 at 8:35 pm
You have got to be freakin’ kidding me. He all but had a purse fall out of his mouth. Even the grandmothers in one of those flyover states would watch that and know that he is gay.
on Aug 13th, 2009 at 2:34 am
He says, “I could spend hours in a hardware store just looking around.”
My head is about to explode. So many jokes and so little time.
on Aug 13th, 2009 at 7:48 am
” . . . . It’s so odd and disappointing that Boitano and The Food Network would avoid this question. . . . “
Why is Outsports’ take on Brian Boitano so different than your position on Johnny Weir? Contradictory, no?
btw, I watch Food Network quite a bit and have wondered when/if a gay ‘chef’, host would be introduced. Apparently, now it has one. Albeit a don’t ask, don’t tell gay.
on Aug 13th, 2009 at 10:29 am
Brian Boitano joins the ranks of Richard Simmons and Johnny Weir in the glass closet.
on Aug 13th, 2009 at 8:44 pm
Actually, Food Network had a show with a gay couple. They won the first Food Network Stars reality show.
It didn’t last long from what I remember…
on Aug 14th, 2009 at 9:51 am
Brian, I too love hardware stores. I also love the men who go to hardware stores. Btw, you really rock the red, sequined junpsuit.
on Aug 14th, 2009 at 1:51 pm
About 10 years ago, a local TV station in SF did a feature on some company Boitano co-owned with the equally gay Franc D’Ambrosio, who was appearing in “Phantom of the Opera” at the time. The 2 of them together, well, I mean, puh-leeze. I was truly ROTFL.
Are they really gonna show his “personal life” without actually. y’know, *showing* it? At least when “New York Nick” pulled that stunt on the Style Network he was hot hunky and shirtless
on Aug 15th, 2009 at 11:35 am
Is his show serious? Can he “cook”?
Those promos are not real. Are they? WOW!
on Aug 17th, 2009 at 11:34 am
And seriously, come out already!!!!!
on Aug 17th, 2009 at 11:36 am
And I saw him at a skating/Frankie Valli show that a friend was a musician in. THere was a scene when Frankie Valli sings that “Cant Take My Eyes off of You” and Brian trotts this woman out to the ice and sits her in a chair and he skates for “her love”. It was absolutely ridiculous and after the song, HE LEFT HER OUT THERE! A stage hand had to get her! Seriously, come out already!
on Aug 18th, 2009 at 6:10 pm
I was hoping you guys would post something so I could laugh at the bitchfest. I saw the promos last night…I don’t think Brian is IN the closet, is he? It was obvious to me that he was gay and presumably f*cking the guy who kept talking loud and fabulous while Brian was trying to cook, at least that was my impression. As far as avoiding gay media…some people get high off of the secrecy and no matter how much money, how old, how so far away from the center of popular culture it’s ridiculous to not live your life, they get, they will cling to the closet because their orgasms would be boring if they ever lived an authentic life. Hail to the victims!
on Aug 22nd, 2009 at 2:24 pm
Looks like he knows what he’s doing with a cucumber.
on Aug 24th, 2009 at 1:56 am
To Mike (#11).
You forgot the Hearty Boys who had their own show on Food Network. Additionally, Food Network’s own Iron Chef: Cat Cora is openly Gay and quite a few of the contestants on Next Food Network Star have been Gay as well.
As for Mister Boitano, while the dear boy might be a tad effeminate, he is funny, fun and charming as well. I’m more concerned about his cooking which doesn’t really impress too much. Perhaps he should call up Ina for some help - maybe she can have her friend TR Precod help Brian in his kitchen.
on Aug 25th, 2009 at 12:04 am
Food Network already has a gay chef, Cat Cora.
on Aug 25th, 2009 at 7:28 am
Cat isn’t gay, she’s lesbianese
on Aug 25th, 2009 at 3:40 pm
You are what you eat.
on Sep 6th, 2009 at 12:40 pm
ok.. who the freakin hell cares if he is gay. I am a pretty hardcore conservative and don’t care whats going on. I find it a little bit fatuous that the food network thinks by not talking about it that somehow the views won’t know. It’s almost insulting for them to think that the average viewer is that stupid. They are dodging the obvious when they should be using it as a way to showcase the situation. definitely a missed opportunity for the food network. I take a pretty major exception to the attack on christianity - what would Jesus do - and don’t give me the south park excuse. Get some creativity and come up with a decent name. The show is a little flamboyant, but we’ll let the ratings decide if thats good or not. I’m going to give it a few more chances - not a bad show overall.