OK, But Why Is Queer Reality Television So Bad with director/writer Topher Cusumano

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03/20/22 • 89 min

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High Low Brow

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In the second full-length episode of season two, Ama & Ameema invite the iconic writer/director of LGBTQ+ reality shows such as Hot Haus and Slag Wars, our favourite sex-positive daddy (and soon to be yours!) Topher Cusumano.
The three of us chat with Topher about why queer reality TV sucks so much and why mainstream media struggles with queer representation. We also dive deep into what it means to produce queer media and talk about what pleasure and desire look like. Because heh, who doesn't read a little erotica on their days off. So cozy up, and get ready to laugh because this episode is a journey from start to finish!
Throughout the next hour, you'll hear the following:

Topher tells us why it's harmful to pigeonhole marginalized creators
OK, but why is queer reality TV so bad?
What exactly goes into creating a reality TV show and how hard is it to make GOOD queer reality TV?
Representation is a nuanced topic, so what exactly does it look like?
In our first segment, Ama sits down with Kiara from Canada's Drag Race season one to discuss what it's like to appear on a reality TV and how the fandom can be (answer: not great, bob!)
Then we wrap it all up by playing a game of #HeatOrTrash with Topher, where he ranks some of the top queer reality television shows in the last decade from god-tier to homophobic.

If you liked what you heard, maybe think about rating us! You can also find all our social links by visiting our Lnk.Bio page. Heck, if you want - leave us a voicemail. We love to answer questions from our listeners or take suggestions about what you'd like us to cover. Maybe we'll even feature it in a future show! Hell, if you even want to support us (we're a small team and a lot of work goes into what you hear today) then we would love it if you send us a few bucks via our Ko-Fi! All the money helps us with production costs and creating the podcast you hear today.
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Further Reading on this Topic!
Queer representation in media: the good, the bad, and the ugly - Heckin' Unicorn
Queer Baiting: What is it and Why is it harmful for the LGBTQ+ Community - HYPEBAE
Why Can’t Every Reality Show Be Season 8 of Are You the One? - VOGUE
'Top Chef' Gave Queer Women a Platform Before It Was Cool - Shondaland
Is Slag Wars TV's most inclusive reality show yet? - iD
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Topher tells us why it's harmful to pigeonhole marginalized creators
OK, but why is queer reality TV so bad?
What exactly goes into creating a reality TV show and how hard is it to make GOOD queer reality TV?
Representation is a nuanced topic, so what exactly does it look like?
In our first segment, Ama sits down with Kiara from Canada's Drag Race season one to discuss what it's like to appear on a reality TV and how the fandom can be (answer: not great, bob!)
Then we wrap it all up by playing a game of #HeatOrTrash with Topher, where he ranks some of the top queer reality television shows in the last decade from god-tier to homophobic.

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Previous Episode

In Celebration of Teen Girls and Friendship with YA author Tanya Boteju

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In the first full-length episode of season two, Ama & Ameema invite educator and YA author Tanya Boteju on to the show to chat with them about a topic that has been bothering the two of them for a while: why society seems to enjoy mocking teen girls and young women for their interests. Has this been bothering you as well? Oh buds, then get your earbuds ready because this is the episode for you.
Throughout the next hour, you'll hear the following:

Tanya shares her experience of writing her books
Why the fuck are we so hard on teen girls
Why don't we take teen girls seriously?
What makes a good example of teen friendship in media?
In our first segment, Courtney Summers, the New York Times bestselling and award-winning YA author shares the advice on teen friendship she wishes she was given sooner in life
In our second segment, Tanya shares some of her fave pieces of media that represent teen girls and friendship
Then we wrap it all up by playing a game of Pop Culture Yearbook to decide who would start their own MLM or lipsync on SNL.

If you liked what you heard, maybe think about rating us! You can also find all our social links by visiting our Lnk.Bio page. Heck, if you want - leave us a voicemail. We love to answer questions from our listeners or take suggestions about what you'd like us to cover. Maybe we'll even feature it in a future show!
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Further Reading

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Want to support us? Then send us a few bucks on Ko-Fi! All the money helps us with production costs and creating the podcast you hear today.

Support the show

Next Episode

Low Brow Takes on High Brow Culture: The Oscars Take Down with Danita Steinberg

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We're back for our third full-length episode of S2! For our very first Low Brow Takes on High Brow Culture takedown episode, Ama and Ameema have invited on former co-host and fellow podcaster from the show We Really Like Her, Danita Steinberg to discuss all things Oscars 2022.
Between the three of us, we analyze everything that has to do with the Oscars 2022 show that we hope hasn't already been discussed to death already (cough, The Slap, cough) including:

How brand new producer Will Packer made the executive decision to present eight of the 23 awards before the live broadcast began and totally fumbled the bag
How diversity is still so lacking with The Oscars and what they could learn from independent awards shows
How influencers and content creators were invited to this year's Oscars to help appeal to a younger demographic
Why the Marvel Cinematic Universe has such a grip on cinema worldwide (no, but really)
In our first segment, Danita Steinberg walks us through her top 10 snubs of the 2022 Oscars and if anyone disagrees, we will fight you.
Making a case for why the Oscars are still relevant
Discussing the fashion and why we miss Joan Rivers
Finally, all three of us decide to award our own Oscars! Some of the awards include Celeb with the Most Audacity (here's looking at you, Judd Apatow!) and the Celeb Who Was the Most Wholesome (yep, it was obviously Youn Yuh-jung and Troy Kotsur!) but that's just the tip of the iceberg!

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High Low Brow - OK, But Why Is Queer Reality Television So Bad with director/writer Topher Cusumano

Transcript

00:00.00
highlowbrowpod
1 we are now recording all right? We are here today and I am so excited for today's episode because I feel like when we started high low brow this episode was literally my purpose in life. We are recording the episode about why reality television and queer reality television is literally so bad and like not all of it is terrible but a good majority of it is terrible. And yeah, yeah, totally. But I feel.
00:33.93
Ameema _She_Her_
Yeah enough.
00:39.47