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BBC Three's "Undercover Princes": Why haven't we heard more about this show?
Back in January, when the series was getting ready to debut, we briefly mentioned BBC Three's Undercover Princes since it included gay Prince Manvendra Singh Gohil of India. Recently, we were reminded of the series and, taking a closer look at it, I'm wondering why we haven't heard more about this show. Basically, Undercover Princes is a reality TV version Coming to America as three princes go undercover as average citizens in order to find a mate. Hilarity results as the Princes discover the complexities of grocery shopping (two kinds of peanut butter?), buying clothes off the rack and crossing the street. Prince Mani and his date Mike At first glance the series might seem completely frivolous, but it also deals with Prince Mani's attempts to figure out what it means to be a gay man. He makes his first visit to a gay bar, learns about adult toys and discovers that online dating includes guys looking for Mr. Right as well as ones seeking Mr. Right Now. He also has to deal with the homophobia emanating from one of his roommates, Prince Africa Zulu (yes, that really is his name) who reads Leviticus to Prince Mani and isn't happy when Mani brings a date home. Check out a clip from Undercover Princes where the Princes buy some new clothes. It looks like a bit of light fun and, thankfully, lacks a sense of meanness I'd expect if a series like this were coming from Fox (see Millionaire, Joe). Then again, maybe I'm just fooled by narrator Dawn Porter's calm tone.
Has any of our UK readers seen Undercover Princes? Is it anywhere as entertaining (without being mean) as it looks? Submitted by on Thu, 2009-08-27 11:11. |
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Reading Leviticus
My thoughts exactly. But
My thoughts exactly.
But yeah, why haven't we heard more of this show?
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Gosh, see the other princes'
Gosh, see the other princes' reactions to Mani's sexuality:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FpYxCirvWNk
Wow, that is blunt.
Must be a cultural difference, but telling someone that if they were your son you would execute them doesn't exactly seem like the most amicable comment to make.
Horrible. I hope that guy is unable to have kids. On the off chance one of them might be gay. That's f---ed up.
"To make a bad day worse, spend it wishing for the impossible." - Calvin of Calvin and Hobbes
He's planning on adopting a
Haha, this looks like a cute show!
I usually am not that big into reality TV, but this actually looks like a fun show. I would definitely like to hear more about it. :)
Frivolous, yes. Aren't most reality shows?
Edit to add: I found this clip after I looked up the show: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xm0s7wl-yvY&feature=fvw
What a guy!!
"To make a bad day worse, spend it wishing for the impossible." - Calvin of Calvin and Hobbes
Indian "Undercover" Prince Builds Gay Retirment Home in India
That's an amazing project.
Seriously, there should definitely be more coverage of this man.
What a wonderful spirit.
Just to add some context for your link
"The prince of Rajpipla in central Gujarat Manvendra Gohil is working overtime on his pet project. Two years ago, Manvendra shocked the royal family when he declared he was gay and he was disowned for coming out with his sexual orientation. And his first venture is an old age home for around 50 people from the gay community on this piece of land. He has also asked the administration for another 11 acres."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xm0s7wl-yvY
Truly amazing.
And how wonderful now that gay sex has been decriminalized in India. Obviously it will take years for there to be more general acceptance of gay people but every person who has the courage to stand up and do good things for other gays and be out and speak out is a gift (regardless of the country)
That's incredible, Crawfish.
Many people would just slink off and mope or live just for themselves after going through what he did. But he turned his suffering into a way to help others. What a fantastic man! Is there anyway AfterElton.com could do an article just on him? An interview maybe? He should have more publicity, his is a very inspiring story.
"To make a bad day worse, spend it wishing for the impossible." - Calvin of Calvin and Hobbes
Well, it was interesting
Not a brit here, but I saw it. It was interesting and if it wasnt for the fact that Mavendra was in it I probably wouldnt have seen the whole thing. Yes, it was strange to see them struggle with every day things that we are so acostumed to do, the most interesting part was seeing the changes in Mavendra, a man that empowered himself to come out under his circumstances, becoming so insecure about being gay in his new surroundings, since he had to do it alone, and then start to see the man that he wants to become.
The in the end it was a sad thing to see how this three men are ruled by their cultural norm and/or social conventions. In Mavendras case, when his boo went to India, we saw his very closeted and paranoid self, even to the point of not allowing himself to touch the guy he liked, they had to go hide in the roof of his house to give the guy a peck. It was very sad.
When it comes to the reactions of the others, the guy from Africa was a grown inmature child who doesnt know better, he usually acted like my 14 year old nephew would, but at least he was always respectfull of Mavendra. The guy from Indonesia, who was mostly raised in Amsterdam, was more enlightened. His concerns were more about Mavendra not putting himself in compromising situations because of his royal status than about his sexuality (despite the execution comment).
I saw it