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"Boy Meets Boy" twist devastates star

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David

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Jul 29, 2003, 10:05:25 PM7/29/03
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from the boston herald

Gay-for-payday: Bravo's dating show sends star straight into shock
by Mark A. Perigard

With the summer's sole breakout show - ``Queer Eye for the Straight
Guy'' - in its programming tiara, cable channel Bravo looks to create
a buzz with ``Boy Meets Boy,'' the first dating show for gay men,
premiering tonight at 9.

But will America really want to watch? Bravo is banking on hooking
viewers with the series' peculiar bent - some of these boys would
rather be hooking up with girls. Of the 15 would-be suitors, at least
a few are heterosexuals playing gay for the $25,000 cash prize.

If that twist strikes you just a little bit mean - after all, ABC has
no plans for a ``Bachelor'' series with some drag queens mixed in with
the bottled blondes - you already have something in common with the
``Boy'' in question.

The series' star single, James Getzlaff, 33, a benefits administrator
at an L.A. law firm, says he was devastated when he learned the twist.

``At that moment, I was angry, angry at the producers, angry that it
was happening,'' he said in a telephone interview last week. ``I was
shocked at how or why anyone would want to do something like this. I
had formed some strong attachments to some of the guys and now I was
being told that there was no possible way some of these people could
be liking me (in return).''

According to ``Boy's'' press materials, the premise ``allows for
numerous avenues of social exploration that challenge preconceived
notions of what is considered gay and straight behavior.''

But what ``Boy'' really teases about every four minutes tonight is the
potential humiliation waiting around the corner for its unsuspecting
leading man. If the coming attractions can be believed, one of his
suitors throws the news into his face over a romantic dinner.

Getzlaff's first reaction was to quit the show. ``I cried a lot after
the twist. It was emotional. It was hard to put in perspective, that
show is so real,'' he said.

Part of the reason he signed onto ``Boy'' was because the producers
assured him it would be a classy affair that would help break down
stereotypes (on Bravo, no less, where ``Queer Eye'' is cementing
stereotypes).

``America needs to see that we are normal people with normal jobs, and
in dating, romance and love, we look for the same things everyone else
does,'' he said.

Ultimately, Getzlaff said, he made the decision to stay, feeling he
owed it to the other guys who were gay and were serious about dating.

``I understand the message of the show,'' he said. ``It's unfortunate
I am one of the people who had some emotionally negative feelings. I
got hurt in the process. I don't say at my expense because I don't
think I'm worse off now in my life. I am definitely the kind of person
who looks for the positive.''

Judging from its premiere, ``Boy Meets Boy'' plays much like its
straight cousin, ``The Bachelor,'' only on a $4.59 production budget.
Instead of tuxes, the guys show up in beachwear, T-shirts, shorts and
sandals.

Among the guys who stand out are Chris, who's been out of the closet
for a whole two weeks; Dan, a New York actor with more frosting in his
hair than a vanilla cake; and Jason, a Navy man who seems to bucking
for an automatic discharge by appearing on this show.

If Getzlaff can make a suitable gay match, he wins $25,000 and a dream
vacation for two with his beau. If the beau turns out to swing the
other way, Getzlaff gets the vacation (with someone else) and the
straight guy takes the money.

In tonight's episode, he winnows out three suitors (with the help of
best friend and gal pal, Andra), almost all for good reasons. There's
no ring or flower ceremony here. He passes out glasses of champagne to
those whose company he enjoys.

``I was told not to expect to find love. It's a reality show! I was
not going up there with huge expectations to have them destroyed.
(Once the twist was revealed), that became a huge element of the game,
trying to figure that out. It was not easy and kind of pulled the
attention away from a romantic love story possibly and made it much
more of a challenge.''

The show wrapped in May, and Getzlaff, not surprisingly, deflected all
questions about his romantic status. But asked whether he's happy with
the show, he paused.

``Well, yeah, I am,'' he said finally. ``I had some great experiences.
I had some bad experiences. I'm waiting to see it all play out on
TV.''

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