October 4, 2010

"We have our PhD's in Runwayology as well as our Master's in General Reality Television Studies and..."

"... reading between the lines and between the edits, we detect zero manipulation."

Did you think it was possible — 16 years after Pedro Zamora on "The Real World" — to wring intense pathos out of a reality show character's HIV-positive status? But that's what happened on "Project Runway," where perhaps there have already been HIV-positive contestants and the fact that a male contestant is gay is no revelation at all.

Anyway, I've loved Mondo Guerra all along, and Episode 10 made me cry. You can watch the whole thing here.

5 comments:

Scott M said...

To quote a very wise man,

"passive entertainment is so industrial age" :)

MayBee said...

I thought it was lovely. Many in the comment section over there wanted to make it about politicians...but I saw the episode as a call to families. Even with all the public acceptance and understanding, what Mondo feared (and what hurt him so) was his family's rejection.

Anonymous said...

I think I am the only viewer of the Real World who heard AIDS-Activist/Educator Pedro says he had AIDS, but was not HIV Positive. I thought what WTF....but they never corrected it on the show.

Sarah said...

Anyone watch the first season of RuPaul's Drag Race? Nearly the same thing happened with one of the contestants on that show (Ongina).

It's at about 36:30 of the video here:

http://www.logotv.com/video/episode-4-season-1-mac-viva-glam-challenge/1604029/playlist.jhtml

chuck b. said...

I had feelings I hadn't felt in almost 20 years hearing Mondo "come out" about his HIV-status. Angry feelings, mostly.

Altogether, it was a very emotional, Lifetime-y episode. I even felt sympathy for *Gretchen*. And the end reminded me of the Wizard of Oz when Valerie went around and said what she liked about each person.