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Wednesday, August 31, 2011

TV / Celeb / LGBTQITSLFA Another Reason to Love Chaz Bono

Posted by David Schmader on Wed, Aug 31, 2011 at 11:08 AM

He'll be hoofing his way into America's living rooms on the next season of Dancing with the Stars. He's been paired with a female dancer, as he should be. Some people are freaking out. One outraged comment featured in the Reuters' report, ABC Attacked by 'DWTS' Fans Over Chaz Bono Casting:

"HUGE HUGE fan of this show since season two and eagerly await each season to get my dancing/entertainment 'fix'!! But when I heard that Chaz Bono was going to be on, I was sick. Not that I have anything personally again her/him, I just don't want that lifestyle choice continually flaunted in the media esp ABC," went one typical anti-Bono comment.

Bono previously impressed me with his open-hearted education of David Letterman on trans issues 101—no question too stupid, all answered with a smile—and his upcoming season on DWTS should be equally illuminating. There'll likely be zero discussion of intricate trans issues, but there will be a real live transgendered star dancing across America's TV sets on a weekly basis.

Of course this also means that many of us will be required to start watching DWTS and voting for Chaz Bono, no matter how crappily he may dance. Maybe this was ABC's key motive, tricking all us snooty progressives who can't be bothered with DWTS to start tuning in and voting. Whatever, I'm game.

Comments (24) RSS

Oldest First Unregistered On Registered On Add a comment

Me too. And did you see some of the other "stars" cast? Epic. Nancy Grace? Elisabetta ("Clooney Dumped Me") Canalis? David Arquette? Ricki LAKE?

Posted by gloomy gus on August 31, 2011 at 11:25 AM

I'm getting really tired of orientations being equated with entire "lifestyles"

Posted by The CHZA on August 31, 2011 at 11:29 AM

I saw that Carson Pressley is on this season as well. Do you suppose he will be dancing with a man or a woman? I'm just curious.

Posted by Gern Blanston on August 31, 2011 at 11:34 AM

Vote for Chaz! Absolutely. And it is just an added benefit that it will be a vote against Nancy Grace.

Posted by Bugnroolet on August 31, 2011 at 11:41 AM

I watched this show from the beginning but boycott the seasons with people whose inclusion I consider reprehensible - like when Kate Gosselin and Bristol Palin were on. About damned time that show started pandering to a different demographic. So yes, I will be watching this seqason, and voting for Chaz....although I'm really hoping he'll be able to perform well enough to earn the votes himself :)

Posted by genevieve on August 31, 2011 at 11:42 AM

The youtube videos from the post about the Letterman interview are down. They can currently be found here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mU7YMTJ8n… (Part 1) and here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k9lDuZ-KV… (Part 2).

I love David Letterman so much.

Posted by Ben on August 31, 2011 at 11:50 AM

Yeah, if someone could start a mailing list or some other technical solution that emailed me a reminder to vote for him - and let me know the number for doing so -- without me actually having to watch the show, I'd be all over that.

Posted by LogopolisMike

on August 31, 2011 at 11:59 AM

@3 With a woman. He and Lance Bass make the show 0 for 2. And the Portia de Rossi rumor went fffffft. Good look to Chaz.

Posted by cgd on August 31, 2011 at 12:08 PM

"lifestyle choice"

Barf.

Hey outraged ignoramus: whether or not you go skiing in the winter is a "lifestyle choice." Surgically remedying what amounts to a colossal birth defect is NOT a "lifestyle choice."

Moran.

Posted by merry on August 31, 2011 at 12:24 PM

I would rather gouge my eyes out than watch anything with Nancy Grace on it. And as for Chaz, it means there is just one more unattractive man trying to dance - Transmen = men and I have no extra special reason to watch.

Now, if you showed me a butch woman dancing with a woman on DWTS, I would be all about that. UNLESS Nancy Grace were on the show too and good taste makes that always a no-go

Posted by Womyn2me $http://http:\\www.shelleyandlaura.com$ on August 31, 2011 at 12:25 PM

Good luck to Chaz, I meant @8

Posted by cgd on August 31, 2011 at 12:27 PM

It's still a shitty show no matter who dances on it.

Posted by Cato the Younger Younger on August 31, 2011 at 12:47 PM

Yeah, I'm not sure I can bring myself to watch that, Chaz or not.

Posted by MacCrocodile on August 31, 2011 at 12:51 PM

Funny that the letter writer would have a problem with "that lifestyle choice" - considering that many people have chosen dancing as a lifestyle, and if the writer is such a "huge, huge fan" of DWTS, then it would seem that dance isn't quite the horrific "lifestyle choice" it is being made out to be.

I have to agree with David, this might be the thing that finally gets me to watch this show. I suspect that Chaz may do quite well, especially when you consider that he keeps looking healthier and happier (no doubt because now his outer body reflects the inner real him).

Posted by Hyzenthlayk9

on August 31, 2011 at 12:57 PM

It would be cool if Chaz danced to one of Cher's songs. :-)

Posted by Reverse Polarity on August 31, 2011 at 1:16 PM

Anything that makes bigots heads explode and/or makes them realize that LGBTQ people are not, in fact, demons who wish to devour their young, is a good thing to me.

Posted by Geni on August 31, 2011 at 1:54 PM

@15 You can be guaranteed a lot of Sonny & Cher references on the show. Between "Baby, Don't Go" and "The Beat Goes On", there will be horrible word play galore.

Posted by Sir Vic on August 31, 2011 at 2:08 PM

17 is right. Also, DRINKING GAME!

Posted by David Schmader on August 31, 2011 at 2:27 PM

Everyone saying they will watch the show have clearly never sat through an episode of it before. I saw a few minutes once. Trust me, unless you're a real cheeseball you won't be able to handle it.

Posted by ian on August 31, 2011 at 2:49 PM

@17 - I know if I went on a game show, I'd want people making constant references to my dead father. Awesome.

@18 - This is the best way of making Dancing With the Stars watchable. I'm in.

Posted by MacCrocodile on August 31, 2011 at 3:34 PM

Way to go, Chaz!

Posted by Clayton on August 31, 2011 at 3:56 PM

@10: you should check out the Israeli version. They just had a lesbian newscaster (not very butch looking, though) partnered with a female dancer.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/t…

Posted by emma's bee on August 31, 2011 at 4:29 PM

I only hope that Mr. Bono is in adequate physical shape to withstand the rigours of dancing. I have read he has been working out. I would hate to see a repeat of Carmen Miranda on the Jimmy Durante Show.

Posted by Keister Button on August 31, 2011 at 6:15 PM

I'm just surprised to see Bono pursuing life as a typical 'celebrity'. I saw him recently being interviewed by Don Lemon on CNN apparently to promote a book, and he was surly and non-responsive to most every question. It was so uncomfortable I had to change the channel.

I couldn't figure out what he was doing there. He seriously seemed like he just wanted to be left alone.

Posted by RayRand on August 31, 2011 at 10:10 PM