Boy Meets Boy (TV series)

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Boy Meets Boy, TV series 2003

Boy Meets Boy is a somewhat controversial American television reality show that ran on the Bravo cable television network in 2003. The series was hosted by Dani Behr.

The show featured a gay man named James Getzlaff selecting another man to date from among a group of 15 potential suitors, known as "mates." Helping him choose was his best friend Andra Stasko. The "controversial" twist was that some of the housemates were gay, while others were straight. James was not told of this fact until nearly the end of the series' run, and the gay mates were never informed. If James' final choice from among the mates was gay, James and the mate would win a cash prize and a trip for two to New Zealand. If James chose a straight mate, James would win nothing and the mate would win $25,000. The producers managed to keep a mixture of gay and straight men in the house despite the eliminations by putting the men into "groups" that prevented the contestant from eliminating all of the gay men or all of the straight men. At the end of each episode, after they were eliminated, the sexual orientation of each of the eliminated mates was revealed to viewers.

The series was taped in Palm Springs, California and is one of the few reality series released on DVD.

Episode One

James and Andra move into their Palm Springs house and meet the mates, who are living together in a separate house. James and Andra spend time with the group at a luau, and James spends some time individually with several of the mates. Later that night, James made his first round of three eliminations. He eliminates Chris (gay), Jason (gay) and Brian A (straight). Twelve mates remain.

Episode Two

The 12 remaining mates are split into two groups. The first group of six goes with James on a group date to a ghost town, where they have country-western dance lessons. The next day, the second group of six mates go on a group date with James, rock climbing, while the first group go on a shopping trip with Andra to buy James a gift (apparently the second group had gone shopping during the dance lesson date, but this was not shown). Back at the mates' house, James, Andra and the mates have a backyard barbecue and present James with their gifts. James and Andra are pulled out of the party by Dani to make the next round of eliminations. Unknown to James, the remaining twelve mates are divided into three groups of four and James must eliminate one from each group. James eliminates Marc (gay), Paul (straight) and Jim (straight). Nine mates are left.

Episode Three

James, Andra and five of the remaining mates go on a group outing to a wildlife preserve. After the outing, back at the mates' house, James and Andra confront Dan over conflicting stories he has given them regarding his current dating status. Later that night, James, Andra and the other four remaining mates go out for a night of "gay karaoke" hosted by Miss Coco Peru. At the next elimination round, the remaining nine mates are divided into three groups of three with James eliminating one from each group. Andra is given "veto power," allowing her to overrule one of James' choices and keep the eliminated mate in the house. Andra does not exercise her veto, and James eliminates Matt (gay), Michael (straight) and Dan (straight). There are six mates remaining.

Episode Four

While Andra has a day at the spa, James and the remaining six mates go on a horseback riding group date. Later that night everyone gathers at the mates' house for a buffet supper. After dinner, a pair of strippers arrive at the mates' house and each of the mates end up giving James a lap dance. The next day brings the next round of eliminations. The mates are split into pairs and one from each pair is eliminated. James eliminates Darren (gay), Robb (gay) and Sean (straight). Three mates remain: Franklin; Wes; and Brian. At the end of this episode, Dani reveals the twist to James, that one of the remaining mates is straight.

Episode Five

Andra has breakfast with the three remaining mates while James absorbs the twist. He reveals the twist to Andra, who flips out. James changes his game strategy from trying to choose someone to date to avoiding choosing the straight man. Each mate goes on an individual date with James. Franklin and James go to a spa for massages and dinner. Brian and James take an early-morning balloon ride and have breakfast at a resort. Wes and James take a limousine ride to a "lookout point," followed by a ride in a horse-drawn carriage and a back yard candlelight dinner (at which several dozen of the candle flames merge, explode and set a table on fire). All three of the remaining mates remain; there is no elimination.

Episode Six

In the series finale, the final three mates spend their last night and day together, while Andra and James try to figure out which of them is straight. Andra has a final confrontation with the mates before James makes his final choice. James eliminates Brian (gay) and Franklin (straight). His final choice, Wes Culwell, is gay, so James wins the money and he and Wes win the trip.

Trivia

• Mate Dan Wells previously appeared on another reality game show, Lost, in 2001.

• Mate Jason Tiner (real first name Michael; Jason is his middle name) was on active duty in the United States Navy when he participated in the program. He advised his commanding officer of his sexual orientation before the show aired and was discharged under Don't Ask, Don't Tell.

• The trip was awarded in the form of travel vouchers. James and Wes did not travel together to New Zealand.

See also

• Playing It Straight

External links

• Boy Meets Boy website
• Boy Meets Boy at IMDb