What is broadcast in the UK reflects on you as a transperson. Every month it is a case of spot the positives. Almost all television featuring anything remotely associated with transpeople is negative, comical or are negative stereotypes. So if we do not list them they go unchallened as evidence is needed to effect change! Or even give awards.
It is a thankless and time-consuming task - as you can imagine especially when a trans chracter is introduced ...say in Hollyoaks as that eats into even more of our time. Nevertheless rest assured someone is watching if you can't.
High Points
Well this is actually a bit complex for different reasons so they apply as both high and low.
Leo Waddell on This Morning!
Low points
Celebrity Juice!
Both High/Low points
Conchita Wurst - close but no cigar!
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HOLLYOAKS WEEKDAYS - THE FULL BLOG!
Hollyoaks is now establishing itself with the controversial trans character 'Blessing Chambers'.
However rather than have every single daily episode listed here I will simply direct you to the main blog thread that includes the daily storyline and photos so you can catch up!
viewtopic.php?f=48&t=4273
So I have deliberately not included this in this Log for practical reasons and length.
=========================================
So let's begin.
Sherlock Holmes and the Case of The Silk Stocking.
02/05
Drama
Rupert Everett takes on the role of the great detective. Holmes and Watson face a vicious serial killer. Can they identify the killer before he strikes again? [2004]
Comment
Of course the whole debate about fetish is addressed within this serial murder drama.
Holmes discusses 'analysis' with what is still a young science with a female doctor.
He asks about the motives of the killer.
Dr - It struck me that Lady Alice's clothes maybe embuked with some significance?!
Holmes (Pregnant Pause) - Go on...
Dr - He seems to have kept them for himself!
Holmes - You mean for himself to wear?
Dr - Possibly?
Holmes looks up - Some fetishistic power perhaps?
Dr - Do you know that there is Dr Richard Von Craft Evans...Encyclopedia sexualis?
Holmes - Not intimately. [Ironic as Holmes is played by Rupert Everett who boasted of his sexual exploits in a recent series about sex on Channel 4.]
[...]
DR - The case studies are fascinating! It is an indispensable literature for anyone interested in sexual derangement! You may keep it!
Holmes - Most Kind.
Dr - It has a wonderful array of sexual perversions! Sadomasochism, bestiality, exhibitionism, Transvestism, Coprophilia (they are interrupted..).
So there it is in the same line Bestiality, adoring feces and Transvestism.
Are the viewers smart enough to define the two and untangle them? I doubt it.
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The Graham Norton Show
06/05
BBC ONE
Makes a gag about Conchita Wursts Beard yet days later when doing the narration for the Eurovision Song Contest he tutted when someone else mentioned the same thing?
See - viewtopic.php?f=8&t=4294
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How to Win Eurovision
09/05
BBC THREE
Greg James and Russell Kane present an entertaining look at all the ingredients needed to become a Eurovision winner, celebrating the UK's successes and also its hall of shame. [AD,S]
Comment
This was interesting as despite this being a 2 hour show Dana International had a 10 second flash-up as "a transsexual..." then gone - that was it!
So this was VERY ODD! Especially when Dana Won Eurovision in the UK in 98.
So this is it? A quick flash up and move on. They made far more fuss of Abba - gave them about 15 minutes.
And it even more curious when the favourite this year was Drag Queen Conchita Wurst.
A real shame and the BBC just buried Dana's contribution.
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Alan Carr - Chatty Man
09/05
Channel 4
Comic Alan Carr hosts his own light-hearted chat show. Joining him are comedian Frank Skinner, comedy duo Seb Cardinal and Dustin Demri-Burns, singer-songwriter Paloma Faith, who talks about her latest album and performs her single Only Love Can Hurt Like This, and Heston Blumenthal, who discusses his series Heston's Great British Food.
Comment
Serial cross-dressing for laughs duo Cardinal Burns make an appearance. The trouble is they choose the cross-dressing to mock even here? Yet they do a tonne of other characters - it says it all really that they basically NEED trans currency to survive! Annoying and on Channel 4! Both Chatty Man and their own show are Channel 4 programmes.
The thing is, like any of these comics, when you lower your social status (like Ricky Gervais in 'Derek' Another Channel 4 series) it is easy. Raising it requires talent - that's why playing Hamlet at the RSC is so bloody hard!
So when any middle-class male pretends to be female they do so via the transgender world if they like it or not! And not via the cisgender female world.
And as a result do untold damage to our community. As no one for a minute 'believes they are women - if they were 'perfect' and 100% passable as women then it would be less funny - what would be the point? So they have to maintain an element of male'ness' to demonstrate it is still 'them'.
1. They are men messing about.
2. they are not really trying to be women as they are men being stupid pretending to be women.
However they all overlook the group that are the buffer zone in all this - transgender women. This is why it is unacceptable!
They also increasingly use 'yellow-face' performance (pretending to be Chinese or Japanese) they did 'black-up' this week, but did so surrounded by angry black men - this is up to those black actors hired to be the buffer, but they are being paid. But the tone of the sketch was very much on the Black supporting cast's terms.
But I have no idea what the Chinese think about this as their community is also pretty scarce in television. Gok Wan not withstanding.
---
Disney's Mulan
04/05
Channel 5
Disney animated adventure. When invaders threaten China, a young woman poses as a man to take her father's place in the army. (1998) [S]
Comment
This is a real roller-coaster in trans terms.
It begins with the transition with a female-to-male character storyline and the many challenges 'she' faces. So I suspect many young trans men may well identify with this character well. However when she is 'discovered' there is misogyny. But she wins out in the end.
In parts I almost felt that if you imagine she is a transgender female you can kinda enjoy the story more. As it is like a female identified female at birth reimagined as a person identified male at birth but who identifies as female being forced to be a boy/man to honour her parents. (are you still with me?
![[yesss]](./images/smilies/yes.gif "yesss"){kind=small}
LOL). This is not such a far cry from how many MTF transpeople have lived. They are girls and have lived as boys to protect their parents and family from the trauma of them not being a boy at all. Fortunately this is now changing but we know GLBTIQ are under attack now across the world. Even Bruni has put stoning GLBT to death back on their law books. And don't get me started on Russia.So yeah Mulan, I think is something you can enjoy, but it needs a little work on the viewer to twist the story. Next time you see it, imagine she is a trans girl who finally meets her hero. Its odd but does work.
Maybe one day Disney will see transpeople as of value at this level too. Until then use your imagination
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Celebrity Juice
01/05
ITV2
Keith Lemon continues the eleventh series of the anarchic showbiz quiz as teams led by Radio 1 DJ Fearne Cotton and TV presenter Holly Willoughby see who knows the most about the week's celebrity news. Guests this time are singer Katy B, celebrity chef Gino D'Acampo and TV presenters Caroline Flack and Rylan Clark.
Comment
The build up to what is more episodes of quite frankly unacceptable levels of transphobia. In this case by Proxy of co-host Fearne Cotton.
First off we see a repeat of a gag from some time ago - this shows how desperate he is for a new theme. So again he suggests that his co-host has a penis.
This was first done on Holly a couple of years back. Exact same joke!
2010, Celebrity Juice, Thurs 23/09, 22.05-22.53
2014, Celebrity Juice, Thurs 01/05, 21.58-22.53
itvThen he mocked Nadia form Big Brother and spoke about her genitals and even did hand gestures of how they tucked her vagina in!
In this episode we have this
Now if Fearne had a penis this could be seen as a criminal act and she would be more than devastated with this gag - I think she would quit the show! The sworded way he went about it will likley be recreated by young men with camera phones on young trans women - with up skirt shots etc... Well they are 'men' so who cares eh? This is the very wrong message this send out.
Would he joke about raping Fearne? No it would be completely inappropriate! I suggest this is along those same lines in this context. It is by proxy of someone who is not transgender in the hope this will somehow sanatise the gag - it doesn't as everyone laughing understand who has anatomy like this, and this is transgender people and therefore this is all they can be laughing at.
However because she does not have a penis and she has no personal investment in this, this is 'light-hearted' banter then they are blind to the damage this causes. She may well 'know a transperson' and chances are if she does they are young confident and live in London. Not 50 having the teeth kicked in in Newcastle.
So they have to stop this. This is some of the worse transphobia I have seen in some time.
However the 'intent' is still there. The intent being able to make a transphobic joke but bypassing the responsibility. It is Transphobia by proxy. The same as a white guy calling another white guy the N-word in the street. Would this be acceptable in ear shot of the police or others? The white guy takes no offence because he is white and it is nonsensical. However a black person standing nearby nay well be outraged! And this is what I mean.
Fearne is not trans, transpeople are always asked about their genitals - it is the very lowest and cruelest way to mock a transperson as trans are more than that.
So this is not only transphobic, it is objectification on top! No transperson is hired because there are very few transpeople in the public eye, the reason for this is because transpeople suffer discrimination. So this lack of a transperson is like watching a group of white people be racists on a programme for laughs in the 70s. And then to see everyone laughing and doubled over at all this is truly upsetting! This does influence the young as was demonstrated in BBC's 'Sun, Sea Sex and suspicious Parents Thailand'. Where the Katoi (trasnwomen) were spoken about as objects. You can see that in the media section here.
Janet Mock recently addressed this here http://media.transgenderzone.com/?p=3675. Transpeople are for the most part sick of this - it really does upset me. And ITV even with Keith Lemon and his antics do not excuse this level of transphobia. In fact next week it is worse - how can it be? Just wait and see! This is what happens when Media Charities are not making Press Releases shaming this and just accepting it. If you allow it it continues and continues and grows and then you are being beaten and your healthcare services are cut and you wonder why?
It is amazing what you can get away with if you have an audience in agreement. In a kinda sick way this is The Milgram Experiment - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Milgram_experiment or how Gladiatorial Rome operated. The audience laugh and cheer because not to do so would single them out and they as a crowd victimise others - 'othering' http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Other. The panelists do the same. It makes no difference, the level of the abuse, as long as it is 'agreed' within the studio and production team - beyond that to complain singles you out as a spoilsport or not being 'fun'. This is really quite dangerous but I suspect me even saying this will create conflict and people will side with the abuse as not to single them out. The BBC right now with the scandals of the 1970s behaved in a similar way. The didn't want to go against the grain at that time so were complicit in it happening!
Mob mentality has operated like this for thousands of years. From the witch trials (to defend a witch may mean you are one too!) to defnd a transperson maybe you are one too! To status lowering of gay people who finally have something they as a community can abuse after all these years of getting it themselves - to dictators whose use of the crowd justified what can be in the cold light of day in a court room (war crimes) what with 10 people viewing separated from it is clearly horrific. All this however quite happily occurs within the 'mob', not least the innocent being lynched.
It is always someone else's job to arrest this decline in broadcasting? News just in it is yours! If you walk away you become part of the problem.
Deep breath!
Television, is said to reflect society - but every now and again it is the other way around!
More on that here viewtopic.php?f=16&t=4296
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The Simpsons
06/05
Channel 4
The Springfield Files: X-Files agents Mulder and Scully are called in to investigate Homer's claims that he has had an encounter with an extraterrestrial. Featuring the guest voices of David Duchovny, Gillian Anderson and Leonard Nimoy.
Comment
They reach for the cheap J.Edgar gag.
If J. Edgar was trans then is this not transphobic?
If Eddie Izzard wins Mayor of London are we going to see a dirty tricks campaign of transphobia against Eddie?
Trans in Power need to be twice the people their peers are.
Don't know who J.Edgar is visit our Library here
If you want to know more about who J.Edgar was click here...
http://library.transgenderzone.com/?page_id=2425
Channel 4You do not honour memory like this, you ridicule it. Otherwise J. Edgar's regular portrait would be there.
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Ladyboy Training 3
07/05
Television X
Damien has no idea that stunning ladyboy Holly has a secret weapon in her love arsenal. But he's up for anything, especially when Keisha Kane joins in the porno fun.
Comment
scrambled channel but a fully Public listing so when a child is looking for CBeebies they can read this too.
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White Chicks
07/05
ITV2
Gender-bending comedy following two disgraced FBI agents who are intent on catching a devious millionaire. In order to carry out their mission, the pair disguise themselves as ditzy white socialites, the Wilson sisters [SIC].
Comment
Recently we have had conversations about people lowering their social status for humour. Then we have 'White Chicks' this at first seems like it is a rogue element. The positives are clear the prosthetics in this are probably the best I have ever seen considering who is beneath them!
They really do try. But it is just like the 'Big Momma's House' franchise, they are 'Feds' and have to go in disguise as wealthy Paris Hilton-type girls to crack a case - clearly there are no women working for the FBI that can do it - sexism?
So the social status of the men are first they are men - they are Federal Agents - so middle-class! They play very dippy women - perhaps mocking the Paris Hilton'esque' more money than sense stereotype. In actual fact she is a very smart business woman!
So it is again the lowering of male-privileged status by playing women for laughs - after all, this is not a serious drama - it is a comedy.
So the audience is laughing at cross-dressing even if it is very well done.
Despite these issues it is worth watching, simply because they do a very very good job of it. It is just a shame that with a few tweaks these could have been transgender people and created something new. As men they are Mr Cool (see image) but as women they are well?...(see image!).
Nevertheless I suspect there are a few transgirls out there right now that would happily spend the day with prosthetics team and end up like this - remember there are two black guys beneath them!
Before
itvAfter
itvSo it is still laughing at cross-dressing men, but like 'Big Momma's House', it is still status lowering and misogynistic. As they chose obnoxious stereotypes, some may say even bordering on racism as this is 'whiting-up!' would it be tolerated the other way around? It is interesting they did not choose to play black women. At least 'Big Mommas House' did and at least here it is not bringing in those racial themes!
Still gotta love the special effects teams though!
Confusing and of it's time.
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Celebrity Juice
08/05
ITV2
Keith Lemon continues the eleventh series of the anarchic showbiz quiz as teams led by Radio 1 DJ Fearne Cotton and TV presenter Holly Willoughby see who knows the most about this week's celebrity news. Guests this time include former N-Dubz rapper Richard Rawson AKA Fazer, Kaiser Chiefs singer Ricky Wilson and Geordie regular Chris Ramsey.
Comment
5 mins in - He calls Fearne Trevor - [harmless but it is all building... to a transphobic gag later]
9 mins in - Keith - what get her (Fearne's) c*ck out?
32 mins in he mocks her as having an Adam's Apple.
45mins in - Cross your legs Fearne we can see you dick! Fearne replies..."No you can't, I have got it tucked in!"
More laughter.
This all works only because Fearne and Leigh Francis (Keith) objectifying the 'traits' of being transgender and projecting them onto her. Lowering status shrugs off their social responsibility as it is understood by everyone viewing that she is not trans, and in some way the joke is on her - in the same way Keith is not really someone who should be arrested under operation YewTree - its not 'REAL' and this is why they do it.
If Keith Lemon raised his social status no one would employ him, so even his 'act' is lowering himself from his own reality of a White Middle-class, wealthy male etc. What's funny about that?... So he creates a proxy for abuse really.
This fake person 'Keith', or a clown without the make-up to mask him from blame. Historically he used masks in his act of course - see 'Bo' Selecta'.
If Keith said the things he says in the studio in the street as Leigh he would more than likely be arrested.
But the panel have their blood money and their moment on telly to raise their profile - and as they say, "turn nothing down!" It all makes you that little bit more famous.
But there is a fine line between being principled and 'celebrated' (the true definition of celebrity, not the current one which is laughable) to being a sell-out z-lister people detest.
However if there was a 'doubt' about Fearne's gender and she was unknown let's say in a night club and on stage with the same act and she was someone invited from the audience, she would quickly ensure that the audience were made fully aware she was not trans.
Her having a baby recently helped here of course. So her identity is bullet-proof in this sense. But this abuse is emulated by those watching.
Almost everything he does is copied from television, from the celebrities he mocks to even the games they play. So it clearly influenced him!
If you want to challenge this you can with the twitter accounts @Fearnecotton @celebjuice @LeighFrancis
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Lorraine
08/05
ITV1
Lorraine Kelly presents the morning show with a topical mix of entertainment, discussion and showbiz glamour, as well as featuring the latest fashion, food and celebrity gossip. Terry Wogan joins Lorraine for a chat ahead of next week's Eurovision Song Contest.
Comment
Terry Wogan jokes about the 'Bearded Lady in this years Eurovision with Lorraine.
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Have I Got a Bit More News for You
08/05
Dave
Popular news quiz. Team captains Paul Merton and Ian Hislop are joined by guest host Jo Brand and guest panellists Reginald D Hunter and Joanna Scanlan.
Comment
They joke about a father who cross-dresses in the US and how embarrassed the child is being seen off on the bus in the mornings.
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The Wright Stuff
09/05
Channel 5
Lively magazine show in which Matthew Wright and guests discuss the topical issues of the day.
Comment
Lowri Turner stands in for Matthew on this one. They speak about Eurovision and how hard it is going to be to beat this act
Mark Little on Conchita Wurst - "yeah him her?!"
This confusion did a lot of damage in fact as Tom is a very attractive man and as a woman even more so. But this allowed for a lot of misgendering and transphobia to be spouted about the act which was as it turns out incorrect as this is drag (for now). Transsexual women cannot remove the frock at the stage door.
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Eurovision Song Contest 2014
10/05
BBC ONE
Graham Norton commentates in Copenhagen while singer-songwriter Molly Smitten-Downes flies the flag for the UK in the Eurovision Song Contest. Contains flashing images. Also in HD. [S]
Comment
Conchita Wurst wins it - full story!
viewtopic.php?f=8&t=4294
bbc---
Britain's Got Talent
10/05
itv1
Three men dance in heels - it is unusual as these are 'man heels' and perhaps a cross-over heel that could take a 'step' into men wearing them? It certainly adds elegance to the trio and they were very good dancers. So this kinda worked! Someone joked it was like watching three tall Rylan Clarks on stage - I think I know what they mean
Watch now.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bQtT-Tv_tZ4[/youtube]
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Lorraine
12/05
itv1
itv
itvLorraine says something sweet - she has historically been a good friend to the transgender community. I have many recordings of her interviewing transpeople.
She says in her kindly scots way - "And you wonder why the Russian's are getting so outraged and worked up over over a gentle young chap ... in a beard ... in a frock ... singing rather beautifully!"
Of course she omits the levels of growing hate about GLBTIQ in Russia, the hate gangs the murders, kidnappings and violence and even Sir Ian McKellen has refused to attend the Russian Premier of X-men for this exact reason.
So for the Russians to have their noses rubbed in it by a drag act on the world stage... Well Its pretty easy to see why they are so angry. They are simply disgusted. However, this is not some tin pot African state, with a here today and gone tomorrow daft president. This is one of the most powerful and influential nations on earth! We have been there before remember - in Europe in the 1930s!
I suspect it would not take much for those 'camps' to start again in the current climate.
Scary times! And not to be taken lightly as there are transpeople in Russia right now terrified!
And they may not see Conchita as a role model, they may see Conchita as a cattle-prod they can do without!
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The Wright Stuff
12/05
Channel 5
Question - Did we enjoy Eurovison it cost us all 1p each!
A very nice topic well managed and debated by the well informed Matthew Wright who understood Conchita and they were all clearly fans of the show and questioned Russia's Blok voting and how the world may look after the next Third World War!
One caller suggested it was derogatory to describe Conchita as a drag artist and should be seen as a 'Performance Artist'.
Comment
I think Conchita is actually using a Coney Island Bearded Lady Routine, but repackaged for the 21st Century audience - it still works, it still shocks, and it helped Conchita win the show.
More on the contradiction and that Conchita may actually set us back rather than advance us here!
viewtopic.php?f=8&t=4294&p=39743#p39743
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8 Out of 10 Cats
12/05
4 Music
Jimmy Carr - "Make sure she hasn't got an Adam's apple!" Joke.
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The Graham Norton Show
12/05
BBC ONE
6/12. Graham Norton is joined by actress Brenda Blethyn, actor Stephen Mangan, fashion designer Jean Paul Gaultier and singer Barry Manilow. Contains some strong language. Also in HD. [S]
Comment
Jean Paul Gaultier shows his bear toy and said he sewed a bra onto it and said, "it is my little transvestite bear!"
Harmless(?) but they laughed and laughed - it's cute, it is true, but had this been just a bear, then people might have gone, "Awww", so in this instance they are laughing at even a toy cross-dressing!
Seriously wtf? what hope is there?!
[If you cross-dress you are a laughing stock - even if your toys cross-dress you are still a laughing stock! You can run but you can't hide!]
bbc---
This Morning
12/05
ITV1
Conchita Wurst is discussed and for the most part people are supportive.
I just wonder how many of their news review guests are being PC and just wish they could say what they really think. There just seemed to be a bit of tongue-biting going on when speaking about this performer.
Holly and Phillip were fine as always.
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Thinking Allowed
14/05
BBC Radio 4
'Illicit' Dance in India: Laurie Taylor hears about the bar dancers and transgender performers who work in the shadows of the official arts. Also, is war ever a force for good?
Comment
Short and Sweet - but interesting.
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Ladyboy Training 4
14/05
Television X
Jeff Ryder is drafted in to have some fun with Keisha and lovely she-male Holly. Totally wild, Holly's out-of-control libido conquers all in an outrageous menage a trois.
Comment
'She-male' - sadly searchable by all the family on Freeview! Again this should be a web-link to their site with no descriptions. They would not use the 'N-word' if the performer was black!
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Celebrity Juice
15/05
itv2
Keith Lemon continues the eleventh series of the anarchic showbiz quiz as teams led by Radio 1 DJ Fearne Cotton and TV presenter Holly Willoughby see who knows the most about the week's celebrity news. Guests this time are TV presenter Davina McCall, reality star Joey Essex, EastEnders regular Natalie Cassidy and Coronation Street's Michelle Keegan.
Comment
Good news for once that apart from a dig at Conchita Wurst with the beard meme (this is unavoidable as it is topical) they HAVE Reined in the transphobia this week compared to the horror of the last 2 episodes it actually felt a tad restrained as he did not say the usual about Fearne being male or having male genitals (maybe thats just me?). We complained last week to those concerned inc Fearne Cotton and you can read more here on why this is an issue. viewtopic.php?f=16&t=4296
When you consider his guest this week was none other than (the now 'Saintly' - Sport Relief) Davina McCall who played a transman opposite him as he played a parody of a trans woman a few years ago for laughs - I think something may have happened!
I hope it lasts...
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This Morning
16/05
ITV1
Rylan Clark Does Conchita Wurst - it had to happen
viewtopic.php?f=8&t=4294&p=39728#p39728
image itv
What can I say Rylan is closer to the act than I am... And it kinda worked?!
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Googlebox
16/05
Channel 4
Channel 4's Gogglebox the Television review show based on the Royle Family series showed the older men quite angry about the Conchita performance. There was some support from a couple of younger people, but I felt it was a bit 'forced' (like they were overdoing it under orders?) so would be interested to know what they really thought when the cameras stopped turning!
Still, they need balance I guess, even if it is slowly turning from what viewers think into a self-aware minor celebrity 'Scripted Reality programme' like TOWIE?
When this series first started it was a group of viewers commenting on the TV. Now the participants are aware that what they say is being heard by millions and even being mentioned themselves on comedy shows and being invited to red carpet events then something is being lost. So now they are over-thinking it a bit more and even fooling about and performing themselves for our 'entertainment, dancing on tables and so on.
This is a shame. As we cannot be certain what they really think now as it is being directed.
As a result it is losing the very spark that made it such a lovely series.
If you are reading this and work for Channel 4 don't let this happen and rein it back in again!
Or gather a new bunch before it is too late and they begin to think they are above what they are reviewing. When Alan Carr is making Jokes about Goggle Box then its all gone wrong and they won a BAFTA!
The world is raving mad!
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Alan Carr - Chatty Man
16/05
Channel 4
Comic Alan Carr hosts his own light-hearted chat show with guests Kylie Minogue, Sir Ian McKellen and Nick Grimshaw.
Comment
Now the Gay community have got wind of Conchita not being trans they have seized the performer away from any trans confusion.
Graham Norton, Alan Carr, Even Elton John and David have grabbed this drag act for their own.
In tonight's show Alan describes Conchita as:
Sir Ian McKellen said about Conchita, "He is quite a number isn't he!"
Remember This is the Stonewall top brass speaking!
Alan and Ian had a good old laugh about the drag performance... Also describing Conchita as a "sexually confused Musketeer..." - That's a male btw. I don't think they had Musketresses?!
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The Graham Norton Show
16/05
BBC ONE
Conchita has flown in to be one of his guests - and didn't sing.
But he clarifies what Conchita does with Conchita sat there to set the record straight (no pun intended but a good one).
Graham - "In this country there are a long line of mainstream entertainers from Danny La Rue, to Dame Edna to Lily Savage, but in Britain people are a bit freaked out by the beard? Why do you think the beard is such a big deal? To which Conchita replied - "Well I know it is something you do not see every day...So I created this bearded lady because it is so cheesey!"
And then joked about the wig. To the laughter of the audience.
My view is had Conchita looked like a builder with a beer-gut this would not have worked. But this is similar to Peter Kay's 'Geraldine' now than what we had first hoped.
And there it is.
So near but yet so far! But thanks Graham for asking 'the question.'
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Britain's Got Talent
17/05
itv1
Drag Queen and Gay Orchestra
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ce-ih4SSUQ0[/youtube]
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ce-ih4SSUQ0
and
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7RUx6teuz_s[/youtube]
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ce-ih4SSUQ0
In both cases people laughed. But I think the performers actually want to be taken seriously!
Maybe the Frock is unnecessary but this is the thing without it they are likely just not good enough.
The frocks carry the acts. So it is unlikely this will ever change and transpeople will be forever linked to entertainment rather than being taken seriously in the same way Dwarfs struggle.
Conchita Wurst has not helped in this regard of course!
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Ace Ventura Pet Detective
18/05
Channel 5
Comedy starring Jim Carrey and Courteney Cox. An unconventional sleuth attempts to find a football team's stolen mascot dolphin. (1994) [S]
Comment
A rare slip from Channel 5 this but it is classed as a 'family comedy' so turns up all over the place.
However it ends with a transgender person being sexually assaulted by Ace! Her clothes ritualistically ripped from her body in front of a legion of male police officers who upon discovering she is trans projectile vomit to the music from the 'Crying Game'. Well it is OK isn't it she isn't REALLY a woman she is a bloke pretending?!!!
(I am being sarcastic btw). THIS IS NOT OK! And how this EVER manged to be even considered acceptable by the directors and producers, and even Jim Carrey himself goodness only knows?!!!
(Trivia - Jim was a comic in clubs where trans people performed also in his early days).
This sends out an early message to young people that transgender people or cross-dressers are objects ripe for ridicule! And can be touched inappropriately as long as you know they have not had genital surgery.
I am sure that with a few well-placed letters this could be taken off the broadcast round-robin between Channel 5 and Channel 4 who play tic-tac-toe with it in their schedules.
I just wish I had more time.
I know there is one print of this movie where the ending has been edited as to not show the penis bulge and that could be substituted but tbh with so many films out there do they REALLY have to show this one? Stick on 'Herbie' instead?
---
The Wright Stuff
19/05
Channel 5
Matthew Wright hosts the topical debate show. Guests today include Hollyoaks actor, James Sutton and Dr Dawn Harper.
Comment
They addressed the Mail on Sunday's ' Sex Change Drugs for 9-Year-Olds' Headline.
Of course these are no changing anything they halt and prevent changes - that is the whole point.
Puberty Blockers Headline - viewtopic.php?f=8&t=4307 - This was quite a tough one for the Wright Stuff panel and although I was naturally concerned, they handled it really well.
FULL REVIEW
viewtopic.php?f=16&t=4320&p=39785
Susie Concerned
Channel 5/Princess
We congratulated Susie on Twitter and she retweeted it proudly to her fans - and quite rightly so!
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Valkyrie
19/05
Channel 5
Historical drama based on true events. During the height of World War II, as Hitler drives Germany to the brink of destruction, an army officer leads a conspiracy to assassinate the Nazi leader. However, as the complicated plan is enacted human failings and bad luck combine to prolong the Fuhrer's murderous reign.
Comment
And in a finger click Channel 5 are back with this excellent film starring Eddie Izzard! You see Transgender people can act!
Maybe they felt guilty after Ace Ventura?
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Benidorm
19/05
itv2
The 'Oracle' (Johnny Vegas
name} is given the runaround by a blind date with a very big secret. Brandy seduces Mateo when Martin is not looking. Mel decides that he is going to buy local tourist spot Peacock Island and tries to find the mysterious Spanish owner.Comment
The now infamous scene where 'Transvestite' Les/Lesley played by Tim Healy arrives on the scene and the evening results in a serious of innuendos and Vegas trying to escape.
It is a shame that this role was not taken by an older transwoman as it was one of those few roles where for once one didn't have to be a teenage sex siren - and only needed to be funny!
But the 'old boy's network' will unlikely let trans get anything. Even the so called competitions for trans people were won by people the organisers had already worked with and will likely be cast the same way.
It's not what you know it is who you know!
See viewtopic.php?f=16&t=1339#p15694 For a full review when it first aired.
itv/transgenderzone archives
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This Morning
20/05
itv1
Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby look through the day's headlines, and there are the usual viewers' comments in the Hub.
Leo Wadell gets his Puberty Blockers
Full Story!
viewtopic.php?f=16&t=4318
Comment
Very happy for Leo and trans youth of course! It's not all bad but it did take 3 appearances on a national television show to be taken seriously - what other kid has to do that for health care? So sad too!
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The Graham Norton Show
21/05
BBC ONE
Repeat of the Conchita Wurst episode above.
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Amsterdam Nights
21/05
Pick
A look at the seedy, vice-ridden underbelly of one of Europe's great cities, following the tourists, police officers and others who live and work in the Amsterdam night. In this edition, the cameras go behind the neon windows to reveal the secret life of a transvestite prostitute, the murky world of sex performing and the dangerous streets of the red light cops.
Comment
(Original Air Date 07/08/2006).
Interesting and often repeated - sadly trans/sex workers link again.
When are we going to see trans Research Scientist on Horizon or Nobel Prize winners?
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This Morning
22/05
itv1
Hollyoaks cast take part in 'Soap Week' in the run up to the National Soap Awards.
Blatantly playing to the gallery and asking for support (votes) based on a story that is yet to even get going
They cry out we "Vote for us we are not afraid to take on challenging storylines like Male Rape and Blessing's Transgender Storyline!!!"
Maybe they hope a few transpeople will vote now(?) - but it was a bit cheeky
itv
itv
If you are a cisgender girl who wants to play trans roles this is the soap for you! Vote away!
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Celebrity Juice
22/05
ITV2
Keith Lemon, Holly Willoughby and Fearne Cotton count down the most special bits of the most recent series in a Celebrity Juice Special Special to reveal the number one most special moment. Starring Ant and Dec, Tom Daley, a parrot and Joey Essex.
Comment
This 'Best Of' show was no doubt edited a while back, but disappointed to see the Fearne Cotton's got a Penis Gag in it as one of the highlights!
Facepalm itv!
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Mrs Brown's Boys
22/05
BBC ONE
4/6. Mammy Rides Again: Mrs Brown tries to impress her future daughter-in-law's snooty mother. Contains adult humour and strong language. Also in HD. [S] Followed by National Lottery Update.
Comment
No finer example than this demonstrates just how far back the BBC are set in their ways (circa 1970). Now repeated on their flagship channel for what the 4th time? Seriously we have seen this now get rid of it!
And Brendans dire 'Mrs Brown's Boys Film' is released this Month in cinemas - I give up!
A man in a frock should not be 'funny' if it is then stop doing it! Now if Brendan was Mr Brown a single father looking after his kids then it would at least be more modern. Single stay at home dads 'n' all that. But then it would NOT be funny 'enough' would it? So it is therefore only the frock and cross-dressing that makes it so.
Its a simple process of elimination.
We have seen it and now move on. What this is doing on BBC ONE in a prime time slot shows that transpeople have no chance of making any headway and why so many are turning to netflix and stopping paying their TV licenece.
Pull your socks up BBC! get WITH THE PROGRAM - pun intended!
Time to grow up and open your eyes BBC - we live in a multifaceted multi-ethnic multi-cultural multi-gender society.
And you serve up what is quite frankly ITV3's 1970's "On The Buses" or "Love Thy Neighbour" with a cross-dressing Lead? The Irony of all this is is that as an Irish sitcom 'Father Ted' was so ahead of its time and Mrs Doyle was not played by a cross-dressed comic actor.
Mrs Brown's Boys is the throwback that should never have happened.
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New - Bangkok Brits
23/05
Channel 5
Documentary series about British ex-pats in Bangkok. Leigh and Byron are on a set of a movie, Mike is on the subs bench, Dave sorts out some ladyboys and Natalie's kids do not like the local food. [S]
Comment
Hanging on the coattails of the Success of their series on 'Gibraltar a place in the sun' Channel 5 give us 'Brits abroad in Thailand'. We all know that this is going only one way - no matter how hard they try!
Interesting and at least some comfort in that it was light years away from 'Sun Sea Sex and Suspicious Parents Thailand' which was the offering from the BBC here. viewtopic.php?f=16&t=4135
Nevertheless, one Tourist Police Officer had to deal with a Thai Katoi 'Ladyboy' who was robbed.
In this case, she was the victim so he helped her. However, what I found shocking was he openly asked this.
She was very sweet. And he seemed very creepy - sorry.
channel 5"Do you have a penis?"
"What?!"
"Do you have a penis?!"
PLEASE READ THE FULL REVIEW FOR MORE
viewtopic.php?f=16&t=4323
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Alan Carr- Chatty Man
23/05
Channel 4
Comic Alan Carr hosts his own light-hearted chat show. In this week's episode, comedy legend John Cleese joins Alan for a chat about his remarkable career and the Monty Python reunion and live shows, Mary Portas drops in to give the lowdown on her new Channel 4 series, plus singer Ellie Goulding talks about her new album Ellie and performs Beating Heart live in the studio.
Comment
Mary Portas brings on a pair of her knickers from her knicker factory and gives them to Alan who then obviously goes overboard waving them about and saying he is not a cross-dresser!!! Well stop dressing up in frocks taking the P*ss then Alan.
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Viral Tap
24/05
ITV2
Caroline Flack hosts the topical comedy show which searches for the week's best online clips and viral videos. With Matt Richardson, Carly Smallman and a special guest.
Comment
Matt Richardson - "I have been watching a lot of X-Men this week...No Not That X-man"
(Shows and Image of Conchita Wurst.)
LAUGHTER.
First off, this is a joke ("X-MEN") I have heard many times and you can search this site for other examples that date back years. So not even original, but he was so proud of himself.
Click here for more
http://bit.ly/RppzKk
You are who your are you are not X-anything. This is a prime example of anyone gender variant or drag breaking through. Unless they are transsexual they are mocked and belittled. Being transsexual at least seems to be taken a bit more seriously now, so I am curious to see this pan out as more dramas come out like 'Orange is the New Black' and if more respect is given or not?
itv2Sadly Conchita has already become a parody.
PS. Also in this show a man leaping about in the back of a van to Tina Turner music with a bad female wig showing their crotch won £250 pounds. Gross!
image: itv2
This all adds up!
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The Nutty Professor
24/05
ITV2
Eddie Murphy/James Coburn/Larry Miller/Dave Chappelle/John Ales/Jamal Mixon/Nichole McAuley/Quinn Duffy/Dave Chapelle/Jada Pinkett Smith;Tom Shadyac;;
Comment
Based on the Jerry Lewis hit film Eddie Murphy plays a host of characters in fat suits including female characters. TBH this is a bit self-indulgent and was milking the Eddie Murphy Mania of the time. He has since slipped away into voice over work. His distinctive 'Donkey' from Shrek etc or Mulan's Pet Dragon.
Of its time.
Trivia - Eddie got caught with a trans woman in 97 but probably would rather forget it? see: http://edition.cnn.com/SHOWBIZ/9705/02/murphy/
and its got worse this month with this allegation
http://blackamericaweb.com/2014/05/12/t ... n-twitter/
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The British Soap Awards
25/05
itv1
Phillip Schofield and a host of big name stars celebrate soap's best actors, actresses, villains and storylines. Which show will be crowned the nation's favourite this year?
Comment
This should have been renamed the Hayley and Roy Awards - I dunno why all the others bothered turning up
Hayley and Roy AKA Julie Hesmondhalgh and David Neilsen clean up at the British Soap Awards.
Julie of course won our 'Lifetime Achievement Award' for her tenure in Coronation Street here:
http://www.TransgenderTelevisionAwards.com
ITV1
But times have moved on and were it not for trans-currency she would not be standing there at all.
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Harry and Paul's Story of the Twos
25/05
BBC TWO
Harry Enfield and Paul Whitehouse present their own unique biography of BBC Two as part of the channel's 50th anniversary. They parody around 50 different shows along the way.
Comment
This was quite well done and did have some funny moments that included them parody Alan Sugar saying "I am better than you!" To his apprentice competitors.
However it was not long before a 'sex-change' gag came along.
They had to raise the issue of Monty Python of course (but in actual Fact Monty Python's Flying Circus was originally a BBC 1 Show so this was factually incorrect!) and in the context of cross-dressing of that time it was appropriate obviously as this was a big part of Python. However, what was unnecessary was this...
BBC
Talking about Terry Jones - "Had a 'sex-change' and became a man!"
Then the person played by Harry Enfield says the following:
BBC
"They put these testicles where my vagina used to be! And rather a small c*ck!"
Something FTM for a change but nevertheless unfortunate for the BBC.
Why do they do it? And why have they learned nothing from the trans media charities?
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Inside Number 9
26/05
BBC TWO
Comment
A repeat of this transgender murder for laughs.
Full Review
viewtopic.php?f=16&t=4197
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In The Flesh
28/05
BBC THREE
1/3. Zombie drama series. Partially Deceased Syndrome sufferer Kieren Walker returns home to a decidedly mixed reception. Contains some strong language and disturbing scenes. Also in HD. [AD,S]
Comment
This is an interesting film as it plays into the fears of your neighbours and issues like Homophobia, racism, emigration and of course transphobia by another name.
Full Review
viewtopic.php?f=16&t=4328
Watch Now!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p00szzcm
bbc---
Cardinal Burns
28/05
Channel 4
Sketch show. Office tedium is destroyed with a spiked birthday cake. Airline pilots Malcolm and Geoff struggle to get to grips with the intercom system. Rachel channels her inner Ellie Goulding, until Yumi upstages her at an open mic night. Music festival stewards Bert and Moon have cruel intentions.
Comment
This show really is rock bottom, apart from the casual racism and that's for someone else to address, but they do hire black and ethnic minorities at least (like Chris Lilley BBC J'aime viewtopic.php?f=16&t=4146) to face them often with disgusted faces whilst they do it. I suspect they themselves are struggling with the ethics (ethical dilemma of a white guy blacking up and mocking race to a black person's face and they agree to it for pay?) of this. This is a problem transgender people will face soon enough.
Is it OK to stand and mock and abuse and ridicule a minority (or transperson) if you pay them to stand there and take it?
This seems to be the Cardinal Burns way.
However no such 'luxury' for the dire comedy where they cross-dress. It really is some of the worst sketch material I have ever seen. What on earth possessed Channel 4 to air this series is beyond me. The are scraping the barrel and it is time to go find something new to make us laugh. It has become self-indulgent and offensive.
Even their ghost investigators are ripped off from South Park 'Hardly Boys' here
http://www.southparkstudios.com/clips/1 ... -container
What a con!
and this added for some more.
So not even original ideas as the South Park originals are funnier!
Channel 4 are bosting they are 'Born Risky' This quite frankly is laughable spin when you thing the day the launched the channel with the 'Comic Strip' as a reference of how good they were back then - Just source a better act!
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Ladyboy Training 4
31/05
Television X
Jeff Ryder is drafted in to have some fun with Keisha and lovely she-male Holly. Totally wild, Holly's out-of-control libido conquers all in an outrageous menage a trois.
Comment
She-male, Ladyboy... They could put lovely Trans girls... It is so easy to fix this problem!
Again public listings family eyes. The channel maybe scrambled but these descriptions are not in the Freeview listings.
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Mr Bean's Holiday
31/05
ITV2
Mr Bean Cross-dresses and of course does so to be silly.
image itv
Nuff said!
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Just remember transphobia is the accumulation of all this above - it is not any one programme! It is all of them mixed together and vomited onto us with violence and discrimination. I mean even the one soap that has a trans character didn't have the decency to cast a transwoman for it!
That's Channel 4 Born Risky for yah eh?
we must leave you until next time!
Check out the Transgender Television Awards 2013 they are published here!
http://www.TransgenderTelevisionAwards.com
We can only dream of one entry one day!
Ice
viewtopic.php?f=44&t=30
