Template:Short description Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox television
He's a Lady is an American reality television series broadcast by TBS. The six-episode series premiered on October 19, 2004, and concluded on November 23, 2004. Filmed in Los Angeles, California, the series depicted eleven cisgender men in competition for a $250,000 reward over who could pass themselves off as a more convincing woman. The contestants were required to cross-dress and adopt feminine personas, which were then introduced to their family and friends. The contestants additionally competed in weekly challenges that required them to embrace femininity. The competition culminated in a beauty pageant, which was judged by a celebrity panel. The series was hosted by American television presenter Tony Frassrand.
He's a Lady was a part of TBS's intent to capitalize on a rising interest in LGBT-themed reality television shows. The series was met with unfavorable reviews by critics, who believed that, despite an interesting concept, the series was poorly executed. He's a Lady additionally received fierce criticism from the American Family Association, a Christian fundamentalist organization, who urged the series' sponsors to pull their advertisements and financial support due to concerns of misandry. The series premiered to 1.70 million viewers, although its viewership quickly waned over the course of the season. In 2004, He's a Lady was the subject of a copyright infringement lawsuit filed against TBS and production company Evolution Film & Tape.
FormatEdit
Set in Los Angeles, the six-episode series depicted eleven cisgender men in competition for a reward of $250,000.<ref name="advocate">Template:Cite magazine</ref> The contestants initially believed that they were competing in a fitness competition titled All American Man; upon arrival, they learned that they would be required to cross-dress in an effort to pass themselves off as women.<ref name="variety">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The contestants, who adopted feminine personas, were required to move into a boisterous, pink-and-purple dwelling referred to as "The Doll House".<ref name="realityblurred">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>Template:Sfn In an effort to "live as a lady," the contestants were taught about brassieres and jewelry in addition to competing in weekly gender-specific challenges; challenges included modeling, wedding planning, serving as a bridesmaid, and household chores.<ref name="digitalspy">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> A contestant was eliminated from the competition each week at the discretion of a celebrity panel, which included Morgan Fairchild, Debbie Matenopoulos, and John Salley.<ref name="tvguide">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> At the culmination of the series, the finalists competed in a beauty pageant, in which they had to explain what they "learned about being a man" over the course of the competition.<ref name="variety"/> The series was hosted by American television presenter Tony Frassrand.Template:Sfn
ProductionEdit
He's a Lady was green-lit in early 2004, with production commencing shortly afterward.<ref name="variety"/> The series was filmed in Los Angeles, California, over the course of three weeks.<ref name="advocate"/><ref name="oprah">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> TBS executives intended to capitalize on the rising success of the reality television genre, in which they hoped He's a Lady and The Real Gilligan's Island "would pioneer a genre we call comedic reality".<ref name="today">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> On August 27, 2004, TBS officially announced He's a Lady through a press release. The release described the series' premise as "11 macho men [who are given] the opportunity to walk a mile in women’s shoes".<ref name="washingtontimes">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The series was initially set to premiere on October 12, 2004, although this airdate was ultimately delayed to October 19, 2004.Template:Citation needed According to TBS spokesperson Gina McKenzie, the series was intended to "break down barriers between men and women" and illustrate how gender roles function in society.<ref name="365gaynews">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Executive producer Tom Campbell further explained that he wanted to assist the hypermasculine contestants in becoming more sensitive to the needs of women and change the way they approach women in the future.<ref name="advocate"/> Speaking on his experience, contestant Ryan Katz stated: "[He's a Lady] was terrifying, tumultuous; it took my testosterone away. It was something I've never experienced."<ref name="spokesman">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Following the recent controversies and cancellations of other LGBT-themed reality television programs, executive producers Campbell and Douglas Ross were "anxious" to not offend the LGBT community.<ref name="advocate"/> The producers were specifically concerned about the series' perceived depiction of transgender people and they did not want the contestants to "equate the change of gender with a change of sexual orientation."<ref name="advocate"/> The network offered the media monitoring organization GLAAD an advance copy of the series for review, however, GLAAD later claimed that they were the ones to reach out to producers after examination of the series' press release.<ref name="365gaynews"/><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> GLAAD was concerned about the series' portrayal of LGBT people and wanted to ensure that it depicted LGBT representation more tactfully than the cancelled Fox special Seriously, Dude, I'm Gay.<ref name="365gaynews"/> Through their consultation with GLAAD, Campbell claimed that the organization helped the producers to "bec[o]me more aware of transgender issues and the double standards of beauty."<ref name="advocate"/> One of the changes that producers implemented was using the phrase "in character" as opposed to "in drag" when they referred to the contestants' personas.<ref name="advocate"/>
EpisodesEdit
ReceptionEdit
He's a Lady drew sharp criticism from Christian fundamentalist organizations, including the American Family Association and the Traditional Values Coalition. The American Family Association claimed that the show was humorless and promoted "life as a transvestite" while the Traditional Values Coalition similarly condemned it as a "new homosexual-inspired transvestite show."<ref name="advocate2">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="realityblurred2">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The organizations called for a boycott of He's a Lady, in which they urged its sponsors to drop the series. S. C. Johnson & Son, who served as the series' principal sponsor, pulled their advertising and financial support due to pressure from the organizations.<ref name="advocate2"/>
LawsuitEdit
On November 23, 2004, He's a Lady was subject to a lawsuit filed by screenwriters John Phillips and Derek Gerard. Known as Phillips v. Turner Broadcasting System, the suit was filed in the United States District Court for the Central District of California and targeted the series' production company, Evolution Film & Tape, alongside the series' network, TBS.<ref name="nexttv">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The plaintiffs sought a reward of $3,000,000, in which they alleged copyright infringement, breach of implied-in-fact contract, and unfair competition.<ref name="nexttv"/> The plaintiffs claimed that their script Sex Change, which was previously pitched to TBS, was copied by the production company and network for He's a Lady.<ref name="variety3">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The concept of Sex Change was based on Phillips's experience as an "all-American" athlete who later underwent gender-affirming surgery; he claimed that the production company and network "stole part of my life" with the production of He's a Lady.<ref name="variety3"/><ref name="nexttv"/> The plaintiffs and Evolution Film & Tape previously shared the same booking agent, Cal Boyington.<ref name="variety3"/> On October 3, 2005, the court dismissed the suit with prejudice; the parties bore their own legal costs and fees.Template:Citation needed
International VersionsEdit
A Portuguese version under the name Senhora Dona Lady (Lady Dona Lady) hosted by Herman José & Sílvia Alberto aired on SIC in 2005.
A Russian version<ref>He's a Lady - Russia</ref> aired on Russian channel TNT
See alsoEdit
ReferencesEdit
SourcesEdit
External linksEdit
- Template:Official website at the Wayback Machine
- [https://www.imdb.com/{{#if: 0423666
| title/{{#if: {{#invoke:ustring|match|1=0423666|2=^tt}}
| Template:Trim/
| tt0423666/
}}
| {{#if: {{#property:P345|from=}}
| title/Template:First word/
| find?q=%5B%5B%3ATemplate%3APAGENAMEBASE%5D%5D&s=tt
}}
}}{{#ifeq: {{#invoke:If any equal|main|Q618779|Q67325957|Q33999|value=Template:Wikidata}} | yes
| {{#switch: Template:Wikidata
| Q618779
| Q67325957 = awards Awards for
| Q33999 = fullcredits Full cast and crew of
}}
| {{#if: Template:Wikidata
| {{#switch: Template:Wikidata
| Q63032896
| Q66763446 = fullcredits Full cast and crew of
| Q107974527
| Q482994 = soundtrack Soundtrack of
}}
}}
}} Template:Trim] at {{#if: | IMDb | IMDb }}Template:EditAtWikidata{{#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=Template:Main other|preview=Page using Template:IMDb title with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|showblankpositional=1| 1 | 2 | 3 | description | id | link_hide | qid | quotes | title }}{{#switch: {{#invoke:String2|matchAny|^tt.........|^tt.......|tt|.........|source=0423666|plain=false}}| 1 | 3 = Template:Main otherTemplate:Preview warning| 4 = Template:Main otherTemplate:Preview warning}}{{#if: 0423666 {{#property:P345}} || Template:Preview warningTemplate:Main other }}{{#switch: Template:Wikidata
| Q21191270 | Q21664088 | Q50062923 | Q50914552 | Q99079902 | Q123186929 | Q55422400 | Q61220733 =Template:Preview warning | Q3464665 =Template:Preview warning }}{{#ifeq: Template:Wikidata | Q21191270 |Template:Preview warning }}{{#if: 0423666 | Template:WikidataCheck }}