Gay TV round-up: Work Out and The ViewIn yesterday's Queerview we recommended a few TV picks that ended up being very interesting -- we thought we'd revisit them here and welcome any discussion.
That this topic was even broached on a daytime chat show is really quite amazing -- and that it was handled with such openness and in such a spirit of understanding and learning is all the more impressive. Say what you want about Rosie and her big mouth -- her continued presence as a family-oriented gay person who stands up for her beliefs is incredibly valuable. And Barbara's unflagging support for Rosie and for gay people everywhere makes her one of the most potent allies that we have in media today. Continued kudos to the ladies for their work.
As Doug supported his ex-lover Cheo at a dialysis session, we could see that he was not well. And in the closing minutes of last night's episode, Jackie and her trainers learned that Doug had fallen terribly ill and had been placed into a drug-induced coma at the hospital in order to get his lungs working. Work Out is telling the true story of a gay man who loved and was loved, excelled in what he did, and was clearly taken before his time. While it's hard to watch, knowing the outcome of Doug's story, it's a genuinely touching portrait of a gay man the likes of which is seldom seen on national television, and it's being handled with a great deal of sensitivity. Did anyone else watch either of the above? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments. Submitted by on Wed, 2007-04-11 09:41. |
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The View
Work Out
Doug and Cheo
sad....
i felt sad watching last night's episode as well. :-(
....but something that interests me is why hasn't the official cause of his death been announced??? i heard it was kidney failure, but no official report or statement has been made. i wonder if it's simply out of privacy or.....if it was much worse...??
It seems to be because
More Doug, Less Drama
I watched the show last night, looking to see how they would handle Doug's passing. While I look the way they showed Doug and Cheo together, and Doug's anxhiety over his upcoming birthday, it felt like his actual physical situation was little more than a footnote, while the show concentrated on Jackie's daliences into heteroflexible land.
Hopefully next week Doug will receive a proper treatment.
Not Enough Doug
Well, I think they are
Well, I think they are dealing with this in a chronological way. At the time of filming, nobody knew the outcome. When someone is in hospital, it is natural to think, or at least say, that they are going to be alright.
If I recall correctly, Doug's passing occurred during the filming of episode seven.
-Ron.
i thought they've been doing
Doug's Co-Workers
I found it incredibly strange that Doug went missing for a week and nobody did anything. Nobody stopped by his house; nobody called the police. They just depended on the fact that he wasn't returning calls--but, hey, after all this is L.A. They made it sound that his disappearance was out of character for him but no big deal.
It really turned me off because of the depths of how self-centered Jackie and her staff really are--Jesse being in a snit because he didn't know about Jackie and Rebecca, etc. Please, are they back in high school or what?? Yeah, given the context of the show I shouldn't be surprised that all of them can't think outside of themselves.
But I was still taken aback that no one said "What can I do??" "Can we send flowers?" when Jackie told them what had happened to Doug.
I lost my partner who was 35 due to a brain tumor. I'm certainly glad I had a better support system than what Doug had. He came across as a real sweetie who deserved better.
I think you missed something
Actually, when Jackie gave them the news about Doug they asked if they could visit, and when she said "no" they decided to send him something from the team.
I actually can appreciate the way that it was handled -- yes, this is a reality soap opera about a bunch of people who work in what could be considered a very superficial field and who get caught up in silly drama. That's the engine that keeps the show going. But when Jackie told them about Doug, they were visibly stunned into silence. Everything froze. It was impossible not to feel how deeply it impacted them, at least from where I was sitting.
Yes they did say what can i
Jackie coming across badly
I will admit that I really love to hate the show. There is something about Jackie that is a huge turn off. Even when she states her desire is helping people she just comes across as somewhat arrogant, elitist and definitely morally bankrupt.
Most of the other people come across as your typical superficial hollywood crowd. I can't imagine any overweight person going to Jackie's place to workout. The atmosphere to me is cold and shallow.
I felt Doug was really the only person on the show who had some inner quality to him that came through. No wonder he worked well with clients. He was soft spoken and although he was in the heart of the Hollywood crowd there ... he seemed sincere.
I hope they honor Doug in the next episode but something tells me that Jackie's sex life and her career are more important than anything else.
Doug's parents
"Like Family"???
Doug
brian bladell