12 Terrible Ideas for a Reality Show

Idea: “Let’s have people pretend to be either gay or straight and see if we can trick someone who’s looking for love into falling for them!”

That Led To: ”Playing It Straight” (Fox, 2004)/“Boy Meets Boy” (Bravo, 2003)

Did It Fail Miserably? Yes, both times. Bravo’s “Boy” set itself up as a gay “Bachelor,” but didn’t tell their leading man that some of his suitors were only pretending to be gay. The following year, Fox reversed the concept with ... more 

Idea: “Let’s have people pretend to be either gay or straight and see if we can trick someone who’s looking for love into falling for them!”

That Led To: ”Playing It Straight” (Fox, 2004)/“Boy Meets Boy” (Bravo, 2003)

Did It Fail Miserably? Yes, both times. Bravo’s “Boy” set itself up as a gay “Bachelor,” but didn’t tell their leading man that some of his suitors were only pretending to be gay. The following year, Fox reversed the concept with “Straight,” setting a single woman up with 14 men, some of whom were gay men pretending to be straight. Bless the American viewing public, who rejected the concept so thoroughly that “Straight” only aired three episodes before getting yanked off the schedule. (But who did she pick??? Guess we'll never know.) less