A closer look: MTV’s 1 girl, 5 gays. June 3rd, 2010
I’ll be honest: I’ve been wanting to talk about MTV Canada’s 1 Girl 5 Gays for some time. I’ve been struggling with how to talk about it without annoying somebody, somewhere, and so I’ve simply decided to just say what I’ve been thinking and then duck and take cover.
If you’ve never heard of the show, you can watch it Fridays on MTV Canada (or, inevitably, you can watch it online as well. It’s basically The View, but with Aliya-Jasmine as the moderator of five funny, honest, and sometimes brutally mean gay men as they contemplate twenty questions about love and sex.
This show is not for the faint of heart. The guys are sometimes shockingly open about their personal lives, and while it’s refreshing to have something so honest on air, I sometimes feel it’s over-the-top. Of course, some of these guys are trying to make a name for themselves: they live in Toronto, where apparently everyone wants to be an actor. Usually Aliya-Jasmine’s face mirrors what the audience is thinking: Where the hell did we find these guys?! I mean that in a good way.
Aliya-Jasmine is a pro as the moderator. She blushes, gushes, and shrieks, yet is able to turn around to ask the tough questions. When she gets serious, she has masterful control of the room.
I‘m assuming that at some point during the show’s development, someone asked how 1 Girl 5 Gays would affect the gay community. And honestly, I’m still not sure what it does. In some respects it’s great for the show’s male characters to have this outlet to talk about their lives and their opinions. But are they also being turned into a spectacle for the audience’s amusement? For example, many of the guys talk openly and honestly about their promiscuity. When panelist Juan was asked to describe the last guy he’d slept with, the best answer he could come up with was: “White”? While everyone else around him burst into laughter, I wondered what sort of example this was setting for the audience watching–many of whom are probably coming to terms with their own sexuality.
I’ve honestly asked myself dozens of times: does a show like 1 Girl 5 Gays condone or educate viewers about the issue of promiscuity in the gay community? I guess I don’t understand the point of asking five gay men, in front of a national television audience, if they like having another man play with their balls, (which was a question in this weeks episode.) If it’s because people are generally curious, fine. But if it’s because producers know they’ll get a funny “gay answer” then it’s something completely different.
And that’s not to say the show is all about being gay. This week’s episode featured great questions like “describe your relationship with God,” “would you donate your organs in the event of an unexpected death?” and “name someone that has made you cry.” To me, those are great questions that promote insightful discussion.
The closest thing Canada has ever had to a show like this was Sex, Toys and Chocolate, which aired on the Life Network (now Slice). It featured straight boys and girls talking about their sex lives in an open and honest fashion. But I don’t remember the questions being as personal. Maybe it’s just a sign of these modern times.
In the end (no pun intended), I’m happy this show is on television. I watch it every week and I think it’s important that we have access to its open and honest answers. It invokes conversation and usually lots of laughter.
I just hope we’re all laughing for the same reasons.
Hmmmm…..
I think the show has difficulty serving as an introduction to gay male culture/society for ousiders. I feel as if the frankness and X-rated nature of the show can be best understood by gays and allies who are already part of or are familiar with the gay community and who are not only already used to those kinds of conversations but also know how much there is to a gay man then his penis or ability to shock a crowd. That being said I think the show does a great job of showing the audience the great multi-layerd/faceted indivdueals on the panel, but if often requires the veiwer to look beyond the question itself and examine how the panelist or “gay” is responding…promiscuity in the gay community is often a cold hard fact but equally so is the fact that many gay men are SUPER ordinary, but make for less interesting TV…and even if those super ordinary guys have one wild story to tell in their lifetime it could contribute to the generalizations about gay male sex lives…hmmm what to do?? i think we should just be honest and uncensored about our lives, which is what most of the boys appear to be doing, we should be supportive of the show and also be really excited that it exists because it actually IS the definition of groundbreaking…and it’s freakin hilarious…and those are the reasons why i watch it every week
I’m the biggest 1 girl 5gays fan ever. I’ve met two of the guys from the show(David and Juan) and they were both so kind and friendly. Im so proud to be able to watch a show like this on such a mainstream channel like mtv
Never watched it, but I plan to now. Thanks for the well thought out review, Mike. Appreciated.
The panel comprises some shocking characters and questions, but many smart, respectful and considered ones too. Just like any cross-section of the population.
Although, as the show ages it seems like they are looking for more shocking and sensational material. But as along as they keep some of the more mature and grounded panelists and continue to ask the occasional question that is more than sexually revealing, I think that the gay community can continue to be proud of the show.
1 Girl 5 Gays is a great show! Yet, I find it odd that the first “panel discussion” with many gay speakers is ALL questions about love and sex. How can someone not talk explicitly when being asked “What color underwear where they have on?” or “There best one night stand?” Like…get real!I think the show sheds light on many aspects of the gay community…but too candidly! Just because “gay” is a sexual identity does not mean ninety five percent of the questions should be geared towards “love and sex” wait let me rephrase that…basically just sex! Being gay shouldnt just be a “sensationalistic experience” for the viewer or bi-curious a like…Gay people are human beings and are multifaceted and surely dont just want to talk about their boyfriends dicks on national television! Come on Aliya…I know sex sells but do all the questions have to provoke such sexually explicit replies?
[...] Canada’s 1 Girl, 5 Gays and will start airing the show in October. That’s great news. I admittley have some problems with the show, but you will definitely love it. It’s funny, crazy and sometimes pretty [...]
GET OVER IT!
1) Being open about your sexuality, or enjoying kinky things does not imply you are promiscuous.
2) “Promiscuity” in this context just means finding more joy in sex and feeling less shame about it. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with having a reputation for THAT.
3) More openness and discussion about the nitty gritty of sexuality is refreshing and alleviates the unnecessary stress and anxiety associated with sexuality in our heternormative, puritanical, sex-negative society. Discussion and openness about sexuality are actively repressed in a systematic way, and shows like 1G5G rebel against the sex-negative norm.
For selfish reasons – I love this show. I recently moved from an urban area to a remote, rural area to help my family’s business. Watching this show is the next best thing to sitting around with my friends at brunch and dishing about our latest thoughts/woes/and sexcapades.
Does the show play into stereotypes? At times…yes. Sometimes it is just going for the sensational and shocking comment. But guess what – it’s no more shocking or frank than a typical young, gay, urban crowd would be. It is this honesty that I find so refreshing and enjoyable.
Trying to “portray” a certain picture of gay life sort of defeats the point anyway – doesn’t it? I mean, we are here, we aren’t going away, and we aren’t ashamed. No need to hide that we are real people living our lives.
I didn’t really know what to expect here so I went in with a pretty open mind. I found the conversations to be interesting, but also felt that most of the guys on the panel were cookie cutter and pretty much coming from the same place. I would have liked to have seen a few older guys on the panel just to get another perspective from gay men as they age. I generally enjoyed the show and would watch again if the panel were a little more diverse.
1 Girl 5 Gays is interesting. From what I gather, they chose gay guys to talk about love and sex because they’re more honest and candid. Here’s a behind the scenes look at the show I found on YouTube that offers some perspective: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bzGIMFmRQd4
just watched 1g5g and thought it was great.
Ian actually showed everyone on show his nude pic any way we can see it too? also
more info about Matt would be great
This show and the panel actually make me embarrassed to be gay.. I think they are a horrible representation of gay men in general.. I wish there were some normal gay guys on this show and not the stereotypical gay guys.. Watching this show is making it harder for me to come out
This is a good cross reference of different gay
guys in Toronto. It is a pretty good representation. I find them all to be fairly honest and sincere. Philip is hilarious of his immitation of Santos and Juan. Matt Barker, being the youngest eggagerates a bit. I an showed his dic pic to all and well when do we all get to see it. Judging by the reaction it seems worth while seeing. Perhaps he could put it on his site. it is a good fun show.
Just discovered this show a few days ago on Logo & am so glad I did! Absolutely adore all of the boys. It’s a fruit fly’s dream show!
The format of the show is great because you have a good variety of “gay male types”. However, to be truly representative of gay male life in Toronto, you need at least one or two OLDER cast members, even though it is MTV and a younger demographic.
It seems to be very stereotypical gay men primarily on the panel I would love it more if they put older people from all over not just toronto I really think that would give it some healthy maturity and also more diversity that alot of people (like me) find appealing in a talk show. over all opinion of the show………meh
David is the best!
This show is Cringe City. To say its exploitive is an understatement. These poor souls, often revealing the most personal body functions, are played right into the general population’s gross misconceptions about gay people: they are promiscuous, incredibly shallow, vulnerable, cowardly, self-absorbed etc. It’s almost as irresistible to watch as an auto accident.
as a gay man, i think the show is completely ridiculous and immature. they are adults acting like 13 year old tweens giggling over boys. one of the most horrible things i heard was this one guy said it was okay to get beat up by your boyfriend, it was kind of hot and just what guys do, he wouldnt end the relationship. seriously? that just reeks of dysfunction and no one challenged him. gay teens watch this and I personally think they contribute nothing but bitchiness and immaturity. try empowering your audience. it needs to be more of the view and not romper room. embarassing