[flv:http://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/www.bendave.com/interviews/reichen.mp3 https://queerty-prodweb.s3.amazonaws.com/wp/docs-null/2010/04/reichen00293.jpg 650 400]
Reichen Lehmkuhl is currently the star of the theater show My Big Gay Italian Wedding. But soon you’ll know him as the star of LOGO’s new reality series (née Kept) that, he tells Ben & Dave’s Six Pack, is not some sort of gay Housewives show. It’s a “docu-drama” about “gay men in New York” that has “nothing to do with how much money anyone has.” It’ll be a four-month, supposedly unscripted chronicling of business-minded homogays. Which, okay, still sounds interesting. But let’s not kid ourselves about what reality television producers — especially those at MTV’s umbrella networks — expect from talent.
Jersey Shore. Real World. Charm School. Even LOGO’s biggest series RuPaul’s Drag Race, by definition of BEING A REALITY SHOW, relies on exploiting and dramatizing the “real lives” of its subjects. Lehmkuhl’s show will be no different, but we are encouraged by his don’t-give-a-shit attitude. “Sometimes as a community we make a mistake of being embarrassed by a certain element of the gay community, like, ‘Let’s not show or portray things that are too gay,’ … The great thing about this show is it’s portraying all parts of gay life. There’s an element of of gay life that’s sex in hot-tubs and drugs, and there’s a part of gay life that’s very business minded and financial, and people who are very athletic or into into sports. And really, we have to get away from being worried what the straight community and everybody else thinks about us and just kind of accept each other in all walks of gay life. I’m not for censoring any part of gay life, so if the show portrays if gay people the way that gay people are, I’m tired of apologizing for it.”
And how!
How about we take this to the next level?
Our newsletter is like a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.
Listen to the entire episode of Six Pack here:
[flv:http://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/www.benharvey.net/podcasts/sixpack39.mp3 https://queerty-prodweb.s3.amazonaws.com/wp/docs-null/2010/04/ipadbendaves.jpg 650 400]
Listen to the new podcast above, subscribe via iTunes, and check our their archives at BenDave.com. Queerty is pleased to power the Six Pack‘s news feed.
PLAYS WELL WITH OTHERS
There is just something missing about that guy. He has a good body and face but just has no sexxxx appeal……Kinda like a Ken doll that somehow came to almost life………….
Qjersey
I wish this fame whore would go away. At least he isn’t acting. He was dreadful in Dante’s Cove…and had NO package in the skimpy underwear and swimsuits he paraded around it. Hot ass, will give him that…and that’s about it.
alan brickman
still would do him…don’t care about the rest..Perez is obsessed about him…
fredo777
@Qjersey: seems to me that if you wished he would go away, you wouldn’t make it a point to read + post on articles that are about him. at any rate, he makes a good point in this quote.
David Ehrenstein
Where’s Chip these days?
Kieran
Damn, even his name is sexy.
jerseyguy
I don’t get the Reichen fascination at all. I walk down the street and see plenty of guys way better looking than him. He isn’t a very good actor either. Logo can’t find anyone else for this show? I heard a rumor that the founder of that new gay site, Fabulis is also going to be on the show. Intersting that in a city of millions Logo is casting people that don’t seem so “real”.
Jeremy
Eh, it’s on LOGO. Does he think people will take his show seriously like PBS? I understand his attempt to make his show stands above other reality garbages we having (with the exception of RuPaul’s) but I think everyone will consider him as much of “reality whore” as those “real housewives of NY/ OC/ ATL/ Jersey/ Miami/ Nashville”. Portrait whatever he wants, but make sure there’re enough hot guys on guys making out because that’s all we need right now.
Kieran
Hey, anything’s got to be better than the steady stream of drag queen shows and ‘Buffy the Vampire slayer’ re-runs currently on Logo. It’ll be nice to actually see some openly gay men who look like Reichen on the “gay channel”. MEN you might actually want to have sex with.
R
@Kieran: Ha, ain’t that the truth.
Rather see him than yet another “Ant” or some other guy I can’t remotely relate too.
I currently pretend LOGO doesn’t even exist so if they start adding shows for MEN I might tune in again.
Ricky
@Kieran:
HA! I’m not the only who noticed!
I now pass Logo on my way to Bravo.. 😉
Kyle24
@R:
So you are suggesting that most gays are like Reichen and not like Ant? Where in the world do you live? I know gay media likes to present that most gays physically look like Reichen, but let’s be honest the majority of gay men (men in general) look more like Ant.
Just because you want to bang a guy doesn’t mean he is more relatable.
Bayley
I actually love what he said and agree with his point greatly…
The gay community (usually really insecure thin skinned homos) have the biggest hang up over looking, being, acting gay….well, guess what? YOU ARE GAY. If someone calls you out for it, why be insulted when it’s a fact?
What’s also a fact is, just like hetrosexuals, gay people come in different forms, and that includes flamboyent! It’s always amazing reading posters comment on how “that’s too stereotypical gay and makes us look bad” and then demand “equality for all”….you can’t be a homophobic gay rights advocate, and shunning a sector of gay population because they are comfortable in their skin and in their sexuality does make you a homophobe.
Point being, thanks Reichan for speaking on this paradox within our own community.
Bayley
First made my post, then read the other posts that perfectly PROVED my point….
Homophobia on gay blogs written by “gay” men (from self loathing homos who were rejcted by their families all their lives)
and I put “gay” in quotation marks because you gays so obsessed with coming across like men are really closeted. I mean, if your’e closeted to the whole world, go out of your way to be straight ACTING, don’t want to be deemed gay unless it’s in a gay bar/club and go around saying gay men who are flamboyent aren’t real men…you’re a damn closet case. Closet cases have absolutely NO ROOM to talk about anyone being manly or not. You’re the one group of people in society who has no voice nor respect because you’re little bacteria just floating with no identity or soul. Now keep practicing how to look more “str8 acting” in front of the mirror for coworkers the next day at work.
DJ
@Kieran:
LOL I love when some gay men try to call out other gay men for not acting like them -so called manly- really makes you realize why we’re not getting much down in this movement of ours, mainly due to characters like them remotely associated to us.
You suck cock. Now whether you put up a front to not look like you don’t doesn’t matter. Anyone who sucks cock -raising my own hand- has no room to go tell another cocksucker how to act manly. Yeah, I said it.
Some of you just have yourselves convinced you’re straight and just happen to be sleeping with men. Don’t look down upon the dude down the street who doesn’t give a shit others know he has sex with men. That’s what *make* him a man.
JonathanHasHasIt
This show has not even started, and this iPhone-loving, plastic-surgery obsessed, fame whore is already such a bore and a drag. LOGO, what an embarrassment you are. Why not make a show about what real gay men look like and where they work, how they fight homophobia, combat disease, lead productive and healthy lives. This is so pathetic.
OhYeah
I hope this travesty does not make it on the air: “Cameras on me all the time but there won’t be any competition. We all have a lot of challenges. Making new friends. Figuring out how to survive in the city.” Just love the inane comments dripping with narcissism. And all that stuff he’s saying about portraying gays who are different, it’s all politically correct BS. If that weren’t the case, why not see who the other cast memebers are? Why is the Ken Doll doing all the talking? Please. “Accept each other” he says. Sure, like he’s friends with fat people, flamboyant ones, skinny ones, old ones. Let’s see, who does he go out with? A former singer and a model. Umhumm, right, keep on the act. And now Reichen is an English teacher… for his bf. And, he has a jewelry line too! Wow, he is just going to save the world! Brava…
jeffree
I’m trying to keep an open mind. I’m trying not to judge before I see it. But in my heart of hearts I want to see a show with gay men (or women) struggling to work around rabid homophobes, to fight off religious relatives who keep reccommending the”cure”, & to keep food on the table and the rent up to date.
That show would be far more “REAL” than 99% of what we see on so-called reality TV!
[oh crud, I think I just made my self cry a little! Remind me not to have a margarita before posting!}
ossurworld
If they show drivel, people will watch.
Aaron
@fredo777: And you’ve never commented on someone you’ve disliked? They don’t come any dumber than you!
fredo777
@Aaron: The very fact that you’re here proves that they come dumber than me.
No, I don’t go out of my way to read + post about public figures whom I wish would go away. The easiest way to not encounter someone I don’t want to know exists is to…*shock*…pretend they don’t exist + avoid articles that obviously focus on them.
Aaron
@fredo777: Well, you’re here, aren’t you? ‘Nuff said! And you’re the one begging to bel oved on your blog so you also get the needy & pathetic award.
fredo777
@Aaron: oh, it’s you again. f*ck off, troll. discussion over.