Good or bad publicity is still publicity! That’s why it’s a no-brainer why Reality show “Dancing with the Stars” execs cast Chaz Bono to be a part of “Dancing” this season. Many fans threatened to boycott the show, and they mean it. But a lot will tune in due to the buzz it generated. Not counting the gay and lesbian rights group who are undoubtedly having a toast with one of their own’s inclusion in the show.
Last season was also not without controversy when ABC’s ballroom competition includes gay man (Lance Bass) and daughter of a controversial politician (Bristol Palin).Season 13 cast includes transgender Bono Bono, the 42-year-old son of Cher and the late Sonny Bono who underwent female-to-male gender transition and legally changed his gender last year. He will be joined by the second gay man in the competition, Carson Kressley.
“Reality TV producers love pushing our buttons,” said Robert Galinsky, founder of the New York Reality TV School. “This is a great button to push.”
“Dancing” producers asked viewers to give Bono a chance, insist that choosing their stars is not a matter of picking the most controversial people out there — they are looking for an interesting story.
“It all started because I thought he was a nice guy,” said Deena Katz, senior producer with “DWTS” and the major force behind the scenes when it comes to casting. “I’d met Chaz in life, and he was such a sweet, nice man, and I asked if he’d ever be interested in doing the show.”
Executive producer Conrad Green said casting Chaz is great opportunity for people to see others as the real them and not just what you think of them, “I didn’t see Chaz having any more or less controversy than other people on the show,” said Green.
“It’s sad if people feel like they don’t want to watch the show. But if you’ve been watching for years, you’ll know there are people who have come on the show before that you didn’t like, but you came to know. I hope they will give Chaz a chance,” he said.
DWTS is not the first reality TV show to cast a transgender. America’s Next Top Model Season 8 in 2008 cast Isis King, the first transwoman to be included in the final 14.
Organizations such as Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation must be having a party as Americans especially TV bigwigs are becoming more and more open with gays and lesbians.
“It underlines the fact that the majority of Americans are moving toward acceptance of gay and transgender people,” said Rich Ferraro, GLAAD director of communications. “Americans are expecting to see the diversity of our country represented on TV.”
And trhe majority and gay and lesbian will surely represent a big chucnk of viewership this season.
Industry insiders such as Roy Bank, president of television for Merv Griffin said: “DTWS” will not lose viewers over this. “Someone like Chaz will bring in a larger demographic than if they had just gone straight down the line with singers or actors,” said Bank.
And this kind of opportunity is expected to create ripple for pushing gender equality in the country. “I think once they see Chaz, they’re going to understand that we all deserve to live our lives without discrimination,” said Ferraro. “This isn’t a question about sexual orientation — it’s about gender identity.”
