We have yet to meet the person who dislikes Fox’s high-kicking reality show, So You Think You Can Dance?. Seriously, it seems like everyone in the universe loves that show and Los Angeles Times‘ Claire Zulkey thinks she knows why.
In addition to mentioning the show’s respectful judges (a radical departure from American Idol‘s increasingly snarky jurists), Zulkey speculates So You Think You Can Dance? may be the gayest show on network television. Or, at least the most gay friendly:
It might be the most gay-friendly show on network television. This is obviously hard to prove. However, if sweeping generalizations may be made, a show about dancers is likely going to net a few gay male contestants. Unlike on other network shows, though (reality and scripted), they’re not turned either into bland sexuality-free Ken dolls or mincing attitude queens. There are some gay folks on the show. They’re here to dance. That’s just about it. It’s refreshing.
It sure is, Zulkey. It sure is… Plus, last year’s winner, Benji Schwimmer, stands as the gayest thing on two legs, even if he’s “straight”.
Gregoire
I absolutely fucking loathe So You Think You Can Dance? So there, you’ve met one.
Alexa
Ironic, isn’t it, how much nicer and better So You Think You Can Dance is than American Idol, considering head judge Nigel Lythgoe is the executive producer of Idol, and used to be known as Nasty Nigel when he was on TV in the UK. It is the judges that make both shows what they are, though.
But, please, Benji gayer than Clay Aiken? I don’t think so.
Paul Raposo
Until there’s a same-sex couple dancing on this show, it’s just another straight show. I’m glad to see Ms. Zulkey appreciates the de-gayed and de-sexualized, possibly gay people on the show.
Bryan
I love SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE Dance dance dance dance…
mag90069
Wow. I’m amazed at how lacking in insight straight people can be at times. Besides all the reasons above (de-sexualized, ambiguous gays, etc) the show is downright homophobic. Think about it: The judges basically impose compulsory heterosexuality as a judging standard. Don’t be fooled: All the talk, almost exclusively directed at male contestants, about certain dancers not connecting with their partners, no chemistry, or my favorite “I didn’t believe it…” are really saying loud and clear that the dancer failed because he wasn’t straight enough. C’mon people. This show, in the past, all about judging the ability of poor gay boys to pass as straight. What is interesting this season is that the choreographers are trying to come up with less ‘gendered’ dance routines that tell a story other than heterosexualized love and desire. But read today’s (6/22/2007) LA times. The same columnist (Claire Zuckley) faults the show for not seeing enough ‘chemistry’ between dancers. Wow. Talk about selfish. She’ll accept the presence of gay people dancing but it’s always better when they convince me they’re not?! Wake up Claire: A gay friendly show would have same sex couples, at the very least it would have opposite-sex couples who dance routines that don’t simply force us (gays) to view heterosexualized love as fantasy representations. And by the way: The assertion that it’s gay-friendly just because it deals with dance is pretty down right homophobic and incredibly narrow-minded on your part. You need to stay away from any assessment of any type of experience being gay-friendly. Your lack of empathy precludes you from that activity. And please, don’t make it worse by telling us about all your gay friends…
hisurfer
I thought the first season really was gay-friendly in a sort of casual way. It didn’t push it, but it didn’t try to make like the kids were all straight. I didn’t have a tv, so I missed the second season. I have one again, watched last night, still like the show … but it did seem like it was pushing a hetero story line on all the dancers. I don’t really care if the guys are out or not (and some of them might actually be straight!), but the fake hetero shit was turning me off.