Okay, fess up! Who watched the premiere of The A-List: New York last night?

[Tom1071]

Posted: 10/5/10 at 10:31am

I watched it. It was exactly what I thought it would be.

They showed Reichen in rehearsal for My Big Gay Italian Wedding which I felt was really embarrassing. I felt bad for him. I felt like his manager or agent was not looking out for him to say..."You don't want this committed to film." He had no business being in a musical.

Austin Armacost in a name dropping, self-absorbed trouble maker...and I think quite possibly prone to embellish on the truth. Austin keeps being referred to as fat. I looked at his body when he took his shirt off in the park and thought what was being referred to as fat is my ideal for my body and I am nowhere near that. It kind of hurt my heart a little bit.






Austin is fat? Updated On: 11/3/10 at 10:31 AM

[Roscoe]

Posted: 10/5/10 at 10:41am

I watched about 20 odd minutes until I just couldn't take it any more. The occasional flash of humanity, I guess, as when the photographer seems suddenly embarassed about being so vain, and poor little Reichen struggling on the dance floor.

I just sat there thinking that the show was making me very glad to be nowhere near the A-List. Such desperation to flaunt wealth and connection, and I couldn't forget that all these people are leading, as far as I could see, lives of abject trivia -- hairstylist, fashion photographer, model agent, aspiring jewelry designer for christ's sake...

I'll probably watch the rest of the first episode on DVR just for fairness, but I can't imagine continuing to watch the series, except for beefcake value.

Updated On: 10/5/10 at 10:41 AM

[Borstalboy]

Posted: 10/5/10 at 1:07pm

Didn't watch it. No way. I already feel alienated from "gay culture" (whatever that means anymore) enough. But at least its real...right?? Its REALITY TV! So it's REAL.

"Like any good reality showsploitation series, the program elicits constant questions like this. Also: How did Reichen and Rodiney nab that huge Hamptons home with a hot tub? How did the producers manage to capture multiple camera angles on an impromptu fight? How is Austin affording a personal trainer and meals at Cipriani? Why does Ryan’s "salon" look suspiciously like a stage set? Are these people really that clueless or do they know what they are doing? (The answer to that last question seems self-fulfilling. Once this series gets its audience, I am sure all A-Listers will be able to parlay their attention into bigger success.)"
Salon.com review

[uncageg]

Posted: 10/5/10 at 1:55pm

I started watching the episode online. I kind of liked Austin and agree he is not "fat". But he lost me with the comment that he had too much "pride" to park cars or wait tables. I turned it off at that point.

The other guys are really annoying, except for the photographer. And all of the celebs they have listed as clients or friends really aren't big "A" list celebs. And it says a lot that that one guy flaunts his friendship with Lindsay Lohen.

I may tune in again but I won't make it a point to. I would rather see a "reality" show about gay people like those I hang out with and those here on BWW. To me "A" list doesn't mean eating at Cipriani. I betnone, or very few, of those guys are as cultured as we are here. And when I say that I mean they probably don't attend theatre, go to museums, are politically aware or active (Except for maybe gay rights issues). They aren't as rounded as people I see post here or people I know.

When I am in New York I go to top restaurants, events, etc. (Just not in their circle. And I think that is a point. To me, there is not just one "A" list) None of the gay men I meet, and most of them are at these events, are like these guys. And my friends in NYC don't have to "wait to get in" to any venue they go to and they don't flaunt it.

Kind of a rambling post!

Updated On: 10/5/10 at 01:55 PM

[tazber]

Posted: 10/5/10 at 3:14pm

I want to hate those guys for their sheer lack of perspective, but I all I feel is embarrassed for them.

They're like those people who try too hard to be something they're not. You know the ones, the annoying as hell guys who no one wants to talk to b/c all they do is brag about how great they are when it's really obvious the only ones they're trying to convince is themselves.

And when you're definition of A list is knowing Lindsay Lohan, well, I mean, what even needs to be said.

It is a parade of such insecurity that even a scripted reality show can't polish away the low self esteem on display.

[uncageg]

Posted: 10/5/10 at 3:26pm

I want to add what taz said onto what I said!

[Roscoe]

Posted: 10/5/10 at 3:33pm

Taz's post is right on, and characteristically generous to the creatures this show centers on. All I could think of when poor old Reichen claimed that the A in A-List was for
"Accomplishment" that he was more appropriately on the D (for Delusional) List.

[uncageg]

Posted: 10/5/10 at 3:46pm

And yes, I will bring it up...with the exception of Mike, the rest are all white males. So much for diversity. Although, as a black gay male, I wouldn't want to see a black gay male represented on this show. (Not sure if they are going to feature the one guys black partner a lot or not) I suppose they are out there but a channel that is for the gay community chose not to include them. JMO

[Dollypop]

Posted: 10/5/10 at 4:36pm

I watched it. I can't say that I liked it. I'll watch it a few more times because friends of mine are involved in it. They won't talk much about it but I can tell much of last night's episode was (badly) scripted.

[Dollypop]

Posted: 10/5/10 at 4:51pm

I don't know how important this is, but Rodiney Santiago is Brazilian. Every once in a while you fill out forms which request your ethnicity and "Hispanic" is one of the options. That means Rodiney wouldn't be considered "white" in some eyes.

[Calvin]

Posted: 10/6/10 at 11:20am

Tell me when the episode airs in which their rich boyfirends dump them for younger tail and they all move back to Bumblepatch to work the register at Kohl's. I'll set my DVR for that one.

[uncageg]

Posted: 10/6/10 at 11:42am

Well I will add Rod in with Mike. What I was getting at is that it reminds me of when we would pick up a gay mag and you would always find a cute white guy on the cover. Around the early to mid 90's we were finally seeing other ethnicities and even women.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 10/6/10 at 12:33pm

I watched it only because ive been in love with Mike Ruiz for many a year. I think I said before that he gave me a hug last year and I thought I was gonna drop. I needed to carry my big notebook in front of me for a week after that.

[Roscoe]

Posted: 10/6/10 at 12:44pm

I finally watched the rest of the first episode, and it all just felt terribly phony. I have no doubt at all that Austin is being put up by the producers to break up Reichen and Rodiney, while the others sit around and make catty comments. And as appealing as Reichen can be, it has to be said that he seems to have the emotional equipment of a 9 year old.

Of course, the rest of his equipment is nothing to sneeze at. Is it enough to make me keep watching?

[Borstalboy]

Posted: 10/6/10 at 12:51pm

I just think it would be interesting to have a reality show where different types of gays lived together...a bear, a model-y twink, older men, younger men, etc. But then, I'm harkening back to the days when reality shows were more like sociology experiements. Now it's all pre-scripted scheming and "catfights".

[twinbelters]

Posted: 10/6/10 at 1:05pm

What a contrived hour of pointlessness. I kept saying to myself, "this is your concern?!" As people have pointed out these guys have no perspective. I couldn't believe the vapid conversation, and the utter lack of wit. D

Anyone watching Top Chef Just Desserts? That's fun. I was intrigued by The Arrangement and may check it out again.

[AEA AGMA SM]

Posted: 10/6/10 at 8:02pm

I'm loving Just Desserts.

I'm also thanking God that I don't have LOGO so I don't have to worry about even accidentally seeing a second of this "A-List."

[uncageg]

Posted: 10/6/10 at 8:37pm

Borstel, I have always wished "The Real World" would do something like that.

[choitoy]

Posted: 10/8/10 at 7:42pm

I did end up watching it. I was rivited in the way that you are rivited to a train-wreck. (And a badly scripted one at that. There were many a scene in the show where I was thinking that they way they were conversing with each other was not naturallistic at all, and made the Hills look spontaneous.)

I also just could not believe that appearantly the world lives on that much vanity.

Though truth be told, I was a little uspet during the scene where Austin was with his trainer and he opened up the hoodie, and the trainer was like "OMG! YOU'RE LIKE JABBA THE HUT OBESE!" (well, not in those words, but the way he said it...). I would sell my soul to the devil and kill a bag of baby kittens on top of that to have my body look like that.

[uncageg]

Posted: 10/8/10 at 8:03pm

choi, that's when I stopped watching.

[muscle23ftl]

Posted: 11/3/10 at 1:02pm

It's the worst TV show ever. I love it.

[Tom1071]

Posted: 11/3/10 at 3:59pm

I watch it for the same reason I watch Glee...not because I support anything that they are about but because I just have to see what will happen. Pure guilty pleasure.

[sondheimboy2]

Posted: 11/3/10 at 6:00pm

Watching this show makes me feel so butch

[TnGuy05]

Posted: 11/3/10 at 7:04pm

Some friends and I joke around often about a show similar to this called The Real Husbears or [location]. When drama strikes while hanging out at the gay campgrounds near my house we will talk about how that would be edited on the show. I want this to happen.

[muscle23ftl]

Posted: 11/4/10 at 3:15am

It was quite amusing to see Ryan saying "I run with a fabulous circle of people"(NY Housewife Jill Zarin) and say that he goes to the "dentist"(to say he is going to the plastic surgeon, stolen from Kathy Griffin) in less than 2 minutes.