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And on Shark Island, we have James Mudie. He's a flight attendant (surprise, surprise), but breathtakingly handsome and a barrel of fun. Neither teams treat them as outcasts; in fact, these two characters are the most in-demand players in the game. And more often than not, they are the most entertaining to watch.

Baddoo was one of the original members of Tiger Island (the goody-two-shoes tribe) but earlier this season he dropped a bomb when he voluntarily decided to quit his team and go to Shark Island (the misfit tribe). His team was shocked because they've been nothing but nice to Baddoo, but it's obvious Baddoo wanted to shake up the game.

Now there are two gay guys living on the same island and the possibility of a hookup is imminent (finally, just like the straights) — something you would never see in the States. It's not likely, either, that an American program would feature the strip show that Crawford, Chris Brain and Rich gave Baddoo for his birthday, complete with nudity and full moons!

James Mudie has also been a key player. He immediately bonded on Shark Island with bad boy Kevin, choosing his crush over his friends at Tiger Island. He quickly regretted his decision and promised to switch islands, then backed out at the last minute. James, who is very outgoing, loud and in-your face, is the opposite of Baddoo. James does back flips and gymnastics moves at the drop of a hat, and he's all about charming the boys and the girls.

On one episode, the tribe tried to teach James how to play it straight in order to woo a new girl on the island. Though it was a bit stereotypical, right out of The Birdcage, it was still funny and incredibly nonjudgmental. (He failed at fooling the new castaway, by the way.)

That's part of the reason Shipwrecked works so well: These kids are so open-minded. They are too young and too inexperienced in life to be riddled with bigotry and hatred. They are accepting of new castaways (they have to be if they want to win) without regard for sexuality, gender or race. And it's incredibly refreshing to see.

In fact, the entire nature of the show is about acceptance, unlike the reality shows in the States where it's all about competition, backstabbing and picking apart a person's flaws. Perhaps that's why an American version of this show hasn't yet been made. Perhaps the British are also more accepting of gay men or gay relationships on television, and they're ready to see it on a reality show. After all, Queer as Folk originated in the United Kingdom, and the British version of Big Brother featured a transvestite cast member.

Perhaps the censors are just less strict in England, and they want people to see a more realistic version of reality. Who knows? Regardless, Shipwrecked is not only fun to watch for both straights and gays, but these kids may teach people a lesson in acceptance at the same time. And for once, it's nice to see sexuality not be a huge issue that divides people. In fact, on Shipwrecked, it has helped bring them together.

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