American Idol and Big Brother: Nothing to see here...

Just as soon as it started, the new season of diminishing returns reality competition programming is pretty much over from a gay visibility perspective. While both Planet-Eating Karaoke Voltron American Idol and Big Brother (which is so disgusting by this point that it has essentially become a deconstructed Saw movie) started with promise, within a matter of weeks we're back to the status quo. 

Here's the score on two shows that really don't deserve our patronage anymore.

Big Brother 9: Til Penicillin Do You Part

It was admittedly exciting when this season introduced two gay men (Neil and Joshuah) to one another under the guise of trying to start a romance (kind of like when your straight friends try to set you up with the only other gay person they know). But as we learned on the feeds last week and on the broadcast last night, Neil left the house after only a few days due to a family emergency.

But here's what really sucks: reportedly the guys actually shared a kiss in the kitchen before Neil auf'd himself, but of course there was no sign of this on the telecast. And while Joshuah was reportedly pretty upset to see his teammate go, the footage that made it to the show showed him as emotionally involved as someone who had just changed air fresheners in his car (he picked a girl for his new partner, so curtains on the showmance).

What's more, the "big news" now is that another housemate, James, has a "gay porn past" (um, sorry, but the guy is admittedly homeless and his participation in the show makes it clear that he'll do anything for cash, so why is that a surprise?), and in the feeds this week Joshuah was revealed to be a complete psycho with a penchant for the C-word and a nasty temper.

Lovely. Seriously, the only way to make this show watchable at this point would be to have the "houseguests" wake up in jaw-traps.

American Idol

Like Big Brother, American Idol kicked off with some promise when the judges put through a self-confessed "homecoming queen" to Hollywood. But a week later, Leo was cut from the competition, which was a disappointment for a lot of fans who would love to see an out, proud man in the finals.

Now of course, being a singing competition, there are some theatrical fellas and likely a gay guy or two still in the running. But the show has consistently chosen not to acknowledge gayness in its contestants, unless of course vague references to the guys' lack of masculinity are cited as grounds for dismissal. Which is hilarious, considering how incredibly butch some of the greatest pop stars in history have been (you know, like Mick Jagger, David Bowie, Elton John, George Michael).

And last night Simon Cowell, the Last Word in Macho, was back with his curious criticisms again, calling proudly flamboyant contestant Danny Noriega's performance "grotesque". (When Danny stood his ground, Cowell did smile at him, at least.) All-American toothpaste pitchman Ryan Seacrest of course joined in the fun when, after Noreiga playfully gave Simon "two snaps" in response, he warned that Simon might snap back. After all, what would American Idol be without the authority figures gay-baiting one another?

Seriously, if the dwindling appeal of the redundant mechanics of this Star Search knockoff isn't enough to get gay viewers to tune out, isn't the show's backhanded treatment of its gay or even gay-seeming contestants?

Anyone have thoughts on either show?