This is a ‘Best of’ list for United Kingdom Television, and review of the year for 2011, it is based on the Transgender Zone Media Critic’s opinion and our ongoing transgender archives (now over 25 years and counting).
They are based only on transgender issues and how programmes treated participants or spoke about them in their absence.
Every clip we mention we have archived.
(Award image for illustrative purposes only).
The most important and influential programmes are those on every day of the year. So how they handle issues can seriously affect the way in which transgender people are treated, it is for this reason the ‘Best Channel’, ‘Best Programme’, ‘Best (overall) Presenter’ and ‘Best Magazine Programme’ are weighted towards the top of the page. A bit like ‘Best Actor’ at the Oscars, many people win them, but only a few really count as far as the media is concerned!
Best Channel of 2011
Channel 5
For ‘Live with Gabby’, ‘The Wright Stuff’, ‘Big Brother’s Bit on the side’ and ‘The Gwen Araujo Story’. They also are leading because they have very little offensive programming, unlike the other channels you will see later. So it is not just about what you show and it’s quality, it is also about what you do not show. Channel 5 is by no means perfect, but I have noticed a distinct improvement in its programming since its new boss Richard Desmond took over. Almost overnight, programmes like ‘Live from Studio Five’ (that contained quite transphobic content, raised eyebrows and mocking of trans issues) was scrapped and replaced by OK!TV, which didn’t. They had one or two slips, guest Dean Piper using ‘Trannylicious’ on one occasion for example, and ‘CSI’ (on their sister ‘channel 5*’ and ‘Five USA’) had a programme or two that featured a murdered transwoman. But watching the way we do it is clear that this year at least, Channel 5 are the ones to beat. They were the benchmark in 2011.
Best Programme of the Year
Live with Gabby
For Transgender Guests and content – Live with Gabby – Channel 5
Positives
Excellent transgender guests and treated with respect at all times, careful pronoun usage, including the following interviews: Kirsty Cass (DIY ‘sex-change’ As reported by the press), Kelly Curthoys ‘Merits of Ferrets’, Sarah and Lewis of ‘My Transsexual Summer’. The Wright Stuff Extra (The show’s earlier name) Transgender Teens ‘sex change’ together 23/09/11. For a show and format only started late this year, this show, and Gabby as a presenter have set off on the right foot with transgender issues.
Negatives
None
Best Presenter of the Year
Matthew Wright
For the ability to handle transgender related news stories and callers – The Wright Stuff – Channel 5.
This show would have won Best Programme were it not for a few ‘slip ups’ listed below.
One was not of his making, so he cannot be blamed for that.
Positives
Reason for placing:
Careful use of pronouns, regularly mentioning transgender people as part of introductions (“Ladies gentlemen and transgender people…” Said in a serious and non-mocking way), sensitivity over transgender related news stories, secure enough in his own identity to have fun with gender rather than be threatened by difference, without mocking the transgender community (example, dressing in a skirt for one episode image 1, image 2 which was done in a ‘why can’t men wear skirts(?)’ fun).
Sensitivity dealing with the story of a transgender child beaten in Park ( 02/11/11), ‘Do Soaps Stereotype Gays?’ Coronation St discussion was also very positive (22/07/11), suggesting that the roles should be played by transgender people these days – something we and other pressure groups advocate. Looking back further we see him also doing well when discussing a trans teenager and puberty blockers, and a very positive review of a news story and telephone ‘call in’ about, ‘is it wrong to let boy drag up in public?’(23/08/11), this was in relation to a news story about a biological male teen (14) who won a female beauty contest in Cornwall. When we contrast the very warm and positive comments of Matthew and his panelists to the same story on ITV1′s ‘This Morning’ with Eamon Holmes and Ruth Langsford, where they were tutting and had their arms folded, they just appeared uncomfortable with it. It just shows how forward thinking ‘The Wright Stuff’ is.
This is a daily show, and has to review so many news stories that he simply cannot prepare for them in advance – the Sonia Burgess death for example – he therefore deserves this award.
Negatives
Slip ups on this show (in general) include:
Andrew Castle (standing in for Matthew on the 09/12/11) laughing about issues surrounding children being taught about transgender people and resulting in the caller, Saffy James (mother of Livvy a transgender child) becoming distressed by this comedy, unfortunately Ben Miller (infamous as the main protagonist for one of the most transphobic episodes ever seen on British television in the series ‘Moving Wallpaper’ ITV1) was on the same panel, so not the best booking for this topic, and in part why it back-fired it seems. Matthew using the term ‘Ladyboy’ (Negative stereotype 02/12/11) to mock a member of ‘Desperate Scousewives’ in his weekly television review. “Is she a Ladyboy? Not in a bad way I just wondered?!” He should have said, “Is she a transgender woman?” But considering the amount of material, and reviews he does we can allow him this one mistake!
This is being ‘picky’ especially when he has so many opportunities to slip up, so regardless of the issues above he still wins. No other presenter comes close to his skills and sensitivity, not even those you would expect to be understanding, like Gay presenters that we would assume may have some solidarity with transpeople such as, Graham Norton, Alan Carr and Paul O’Grady – they have all made serious mistakes over 2011 using negative stereotypes, offensive labels to get laughs at the transgender community’s expense.
There is a rivalry between Matthew and Jeremy Kyle (on ITV1 at the same time as his show is aired) and he often makes little humourous asides to camera about him. Jeremy Kyle does feature transgender people too from time to time, but the format of ‘The Jeremy Kyle Show’ is very different to this, as it was born (although improved on) from similar shows in the past like ‘The Jerry Springer Show’, ‘Donahue’, ‘Vanessa’, ‘Kilroy’ and the like. However, Matthew has to often think on his feet and cannot rehearse many situations, or call on a psychologist to take over. This year Matthew has shown an incredible capacity to cope under pressure with issues that are, let’s face it, daunting for even the most skilled transgender counsellor and yet he managed to handle them with warmth and control, it so easily can go wrong, as his stand-in, Andrew Castle discovered. My gut instinct is that were Matthew there that day, that situation would have been handled much better.
So this is a clean sweep for Channel 5′s morning team and of course Princess Productions who produce ‘Live with Gabby’ and ‘The Wright Stuff’.
Keep it up!
Best Documentaries of the Year
My Transsexual Summer
1. My Transsexual Summer – Channel 4 November. http://forum.transgenderzone.com/viewtopic.php?f=16&t=2516
Positives: Transgender Voices, varied views and different opinions.
Negatives:Use of the term ‘Tranny’ as a negative stereotype.
2. Sam and Evan - From Girls to Men – BBC THREE 11/10/11
3. True Stories: Transgenders: Pakistan’s Open Secret – More 4 December.
4. Honourable mentions to both ‘Jamie – Drag Queen at 16‘ BBC THREE 20/7/11 and ‘Dad’s Having A Baby – A Bodyshock Special‘ Channel 4 04/07/11.
Best Film
A Girl Like Me: The Gwen Araujo Story
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0787484/ – Five USA
Gwen Araujo – the sad and shocking story of a sweet girl who was brutally murdered, unless you have been under a stone for the past 10 years then this is no surprise, difficult to watch but something everyone should see – especially in schools – as part of sex ed/humanities. If you have not seen it then buy the dvd.
Films about transgender people are rare, ‘TransAmerica’ being the most well known, but so many fail simply because they do not use a transgender person in the lead. The film above applies here too, but as biopics go this is very moving and well acted. Film 4 does attempt to show films with transgender content and these include: ‘Hedwig and the Angry Inch’ Channel 4, ‘Breakfast on Pluto’ Channel 4, Rocky Horror Film 4, ‘Priscilla Queen of the Dessert’, but they are a pastiche (in the case of Hedwig, just absurd) and are very distant because they do not hire trangender people to play the lead roles (using Gay people does not count!). Whilst it is clear an ‘established name’ will make more money at the box office (as was the case with Felicity Huffman and her Oscar nomination for TransAmerica), and that is what it is about in the end, it just means that a film can become comical as a consequence, and in some cases embarrassing. It would be like trying to make ‘Slumdog Millionaire’ with big named white actors ‘browned up’. That is not acceptable these days, and films with transgender content deserve the same respect. After all ‘Slumdog’ used newcomers and won a bunch of Oscars – so it can be done! Plus, most films with transgender characters play to the stereotypes. They are either victims or performers. Why not a film where the hero is transsexual? A film where the trans person is a heart surgeon or the investigating police officer for example? Why must they always be hookers or performers, be victims or have mental health problems? Biological women are not all sex workers or in cabaret, and nor are trans women! Hilary Swank (‘Boys Don’t Cry’, Brandon Teena) won an Oscar for playing FTM Brandon Teena, and like Gwen above, murdered transgender people do well at the box office. ‘Last year there was a lot of publicity over ‘Ticked-off Trannies with Knives’, even the BBC ran the story in its film show, I have seen it, and it is just ‘Kill Bill’ with a low budget transgender storyline, but again it is built around violent assault – even if they do get their own back in the end!
Often well known films like ‘The Crying Game’ have been parodied as a negative, an example of this is it’s theme music being played when the police and Jim Carrey in ‘Ace Ventura: Pet Detective’ discover that the ‘baddie’ is a trans woman, they all projectile vomit with that ‘Crying Game theme’ playing whilst Ace ritually tears the clothes off the trans character. And this is often played pre 9pm watershed for children. This is probably one of those films that goes ‘under the radar’ but its content and message is outrageous!
Filmmakers have a long way to go yet and the UK Film Council (The National Lottery Awarded projects), need to stop and think for a moment about what they are not funding. Films with transgender content are not ‘niche’ anymore. If they do begin to fund films with transgender content then they must ensure a transgender person is playing the role in future! I’ll leave you with this: go to this page http://www.ukfilmcouncil.org.uk/ and put the term ‘transgender’ into the search box then do it with ‘Asian’, and you’ll see how invisible the trans community is by comparison.
Best Serial Drama
Hollyoaks
1. Hollyoaks for FTM Jason Costello – Victoria Atkin. http://forum.transgenderzone.com/viewforum.php?f=48
2. Coronation St for Marc/Marcia Storyline – Andrew Hall http://forum.transgenderzone.com/viewtopic.php?f=16&t=1441 They also included a number of transgender people in some episodes as background and supporting artists.
3. Waterloo Road for Martin Dunbar Played by Matt Greenwood.
Best Drama (with a transgender actor)
Lost Christmas
1. Eddie Izzard for ‘Lost Christmas’ – BBC
Video – a modern and original twist on a traditional ‘A Christmas Carol’ style tale where Eddie plays the ghost.
2. Candis Cayne for ‘Dirty Sexy Money’ – e4 – currently being repeated.
Best Newcomer
Victoria Atkin
Victoria Atkin for Hollyoaks – Jason Costello – e4/Channel 4.
Best Comedy Programme
Big Brother’s Bit on the side
1. Big Brother’s Bit on the side – Lauren Harries – Channel 5
Its an odd placement this, but when Lauren stopped taking herself too seriously and went on the road with Mark to Wales for her 2012 ‘Get Lauren into Celebrity Big Brother’ campaign – with noone turning up at the various venues was funny. And she is a trans woman – which is rare in entertainment in the UK after all.
2. Have I Got News for You – BBC One – Grayson Perry Guest Panelist.
3. Shameless (comedy drama) – E4 22/02/11. For the episode where Mimi’s ‘brother’ Bobbi (played by Carl Rice) shows up as a pre-op transsexual. I really struggled to rate this one, as there are a number of problems with it, namely, use of negative stereotypes and using a non trans person for the role, the trans issues were treated crude and crassly, and the final outcome was the trans woman stole the charity money. So all in all a nasty piece of work. However, this show reflects the rough world of a sink estate in modern Britain, almost all subjects are treated with a certain, how can I put it(?), ‘thug mentality’, this episode could have so easily been an issue for an Ofcom investigation in the past, so it is clear the writer (Darren Fairhurst) had to reign it back a bit. By making the character related to the main protagonist (Mimi Maguire played by Tina Malone) was a good move on the part of the writers, as a result most of the dialogue was about their sibling relationship. Although crude in places, the discussion in the cellar between them both. the tears and realisation that her brother was her sister all those years merits this place rather than a raspberry.
*Benidorm (ITV1) – Although one would assume ‘Benidorm’ would be rated – the transphobic comments and transgender stereotypes portrayed in this show knock it off the top list. Les/Lesley needs a better writer i’m afraid and a better advisor!
* Big Fat Quiz of the Year 2011 (Channel 4) – This had the makings of a great show, and a last minute recovery perhaps for Channel 4. However, even though they hired Eddie Izzard, one gag broke it, made by Jonathan Ross when he said the following: When Jonathan Ross whilst looking at Jimmy Carr photo of him with makeup on for a question about the movie ‘The Black Swan’ he commented: “You know Jimmy with that make-up on you could be in ‘My Transsexual Summer’ Next Year!”
Eddie leans in surprised (I suspect he has not seen it), “They did a transsexual Summer?”
Then the coupe de grace…
“Well there are always transsexual summers going on, but its a TV show now!”"Its a bit like ‘Grand Designs’ (the architecture programme) they are always building an erection or ‘knocking through’ downstairs to make more room!” Camera cuts to a laughing David Walliams – not to Eddie who I suspect was not. Couple of problems here and contradictions.
1. When Carol McGiffin made a joke about not wanting to look (as bad as) like a transvestitie on ‘Loose Women’ (ITV1), Jonathan Ross was an honourary ‘Loose Man’ for the day – got his tea cup and everything… He was so shocked by the comment and its potential offence we have the clip of him shuffling his chair away from her with his eyes bulging with shock, and I thought well done that man …. quite right!
2. The ‘Knock through’ joke was one of the jokes made in ITV1′s infamous ‘Moving Wallpaper’, a show so bad it created ‘Trans Media Watch!’ So not original and he would have been better off not saying anything at all!
3. Later in the show Eddie was challenged by David Walliams who was suggesting he was not trans at all. Eddie managed to get out of it well as he has no doubt been faced with this question before. What is more likely and Eddie himself has mentioned, there just are not enough roles for transvestites in Hollywood movies! So has had to become a ‘character actor’ as a result – and a blooming good one at that. The logic here seems to be by not seeing him sat there in a dress somehow proves he is not trans, is the same logic as saying, because we do not witness gay people having sex they are therefore not gay – just absurd fuzzy logic and quite offensive really. Lastly Eddie during his Mammoth marathon run for Comic Relief said, “Why would anyone be trans by choice? Everyone wants to fight you!” You either are or you ain’t, and Mr Walliams simply just does not get that i think.
Sadly there is a lack of good comedy written carefully for and by transgender people – Eddie Izzard is not enough – note to production companies – this is your chance! Programmes like ‘Little Britain’ rely on the established ‘man in a dress is funny’ to carry it along even using ‘blacking-up’ (they received complaints about) , take away the dress and we see how unfunny much of this comedy is. Crossdressing is relied on too much to carry poor material. The most obvious arena for this is pantomime and drag. ‘Pure comedy’ should work in its raw stand-up form with no props. If it ain’t funny change the material or your job, rather than reach for a frock! The same applies to comedians who are scared of many subjects and are now more and more resorting to abusing transgender people as a consequence. Transgender people are seen as target, so it is for broadcasters to put their foot firmly down here and moderate this. Transgender people can take a joke, that is not the issue, but when we compare the craft of Eddie Izzard making jokes about his trans lived experiences, and compare that with the clumsy abuse from someone like Frankie Boyle, we can see the distance between them and why it important to nurture and encourage the transgender narrative from transgender comics themselves.
Best Animated Programme
Futurama
1. Futurama Pick TV-Sky Travel 28/10/11 (Repeat – original air date: July 20, 2003) ‘Bend Her’ Robot Bender is changed into a ‘femme bot’ (which was one of the few times the creators of ‘The Simpsons’ managed not to offend with a trans storyline).
2. Bob’s Burgers e4 15/03/11, This episode used a stereotype, trans women as hookers. Bob needed a second job as a cabbie, one of his customers were 3 trans women, of course they were drug taking hookers, stereotypes (can trans people BE anything else?) However, this unfortunate casting issue aside, Bob goes on to befriend them and even invite them to his family party where they were likeable and seen to be fun. But like the other cartoons below in this list, it just doesn’t sit quite right with me, the reason is obvious. Comments about large hands, focusing in of the Adam’s apple and mentioning they are men underneath and have stubble.
3. Ugly Americans (new series) 15/11/11 for the body swap episode, Channel 5* ‘Ugly Americans’ is more ‘minority aware’ than say, ‘The Simpsons’, Channel 4 – and other cartoons like ‘Family Guy’, ‘American Dad’ (Both BBC THREE) and Channel e4′s ‘The Cleveland Show’ which are like a ‘bull at a gate’ by comparison, often offensive and transphobic in nature they simply lack finesse for a world that transgender people inhabit. Although by no means perfect, ‘Ugly Americans’ just feels more ‘modern’ in its views. However, after spending the episode in the body of a woman, he is found scrubbing in the shower, (scrubbing off the ‘sin’ is an over used cliché).
*Special Mention. Family Guy BBC THREE, ‘Quagmire’s Dad’. Full Review and reasons here. This was a tough call, and like ‘Shameless’ above, it made it onto this placing (and out of the raspberries} simply because of balance. There were a number of problems as the review shows, however the very fact a lead character’s father is a transsexual woman, and he finally defends her honour, kinda makes up for the projectile vomiting from Brian when he found out (he slept with her unknowingly, ‘transpanic’), that said this does not sit easy with me, and were it not for the fact that transgender cartoons are so thin on the ground this would not have made it at all. This is a cartoon and it’s market is mainly teenage boys, along with other creations from the same camp such as: ‘American Dad’ and ‘The Cleveland Show’. So i suspect this is as ‘sensitive’ as we are going to get. However this does not excuse the myriad of other episodes that have failed miserably.
Best Entertainment Presenter
Emma Willis
Big Brother’s Bit on the Side.
Sensitively dealing with transgender issues, guests and invited transgender audience members. As we have previously reported here Big Brother is by no means perfect and there are a number of issues that need to be addressed. But Emma was faced with them too and managed to maintain control and not fall into the trap of joining in! The new series starts in January, lets hope Emma maintains this standard.
Best Factual Programme
Embarrassing Bodies
1. Embarrassing Bodies – TS Jenny-Anne having Surgery and for the interview with Del La Grace (18/02/11) about intersex issues, its was great to seem Del again. We have archives of Del fighting the cause of FTMSs from the late 90s.
2. Me, My Sex and I – BBC ONE – 11/10/11.
3. Spitfire Women – FTM Joyce Ferguson – BBC TWO – 22/10/11.
4. Special mention for BBC News ‘HARDtalk‘ – with their interview with Grayson Perry about his new exhibition at the British Museum.
Best Entertainment Programme (with a transgender person)
Big Brother’s Bit on the Side
Channel 5
Best Talent Show
Dancing with the Stars
Although American, this featured Chaz Bono (fresh from his documentary ‘Becoming Chaz‘) and made it across the Atlantic to be regularly discussed on the ‘Lorraine’ Programme by Ross King (their special US entertainment correspondent ITV1, 11/10/11). So this makes it into the UK Transgender Zone Awards list.
Best Serial Drama Performance
Victoria Atkin
As Jason Costello in Hollyoaks – E4/Channel 4.
More: http://forum.transgenderzone.com/viewforum.php?f=48
Best Drama Performance
Alan Cumming
1. Alan Cumming for The Runaway (by Martina Coles) – ‘Desrae’ (transvestite) – sky1 and HD. Click here
2. Victoria Atkin for Jason Costello in Hollyoaks – For the episode Where Jason attempts Suicide by throwing himself in front of Bart’s stolen car, the build up and following hospital scenes. More: http://forum.transgenderzone.com/viewtopic.php?f=48&t=434&start=40
3. Matt Greenwood for Waterloo Road – for transgender pupil ‘Martin Dunbar’.
Best Digital Choice – Viewers Choice
My Transsexual Summer
Channel 4.
This is not this critic’s choice at Transgender Zone, it is based on online opinion and commentary from various bloggers and activist sites. So this has been chosen from the general opinion and satisfaction gleaned online.
Best Topical Magazine Programme
Live with Gabby
1. Live with Gabby Channel 5.
2. Lorraine ITV1 in particular the Jackie Green interview.
3. This Morning is always a contender especially for the interview with Livvy James and her mum Saffron James, but sadly there were too many trans negative occurrences and comedy moments said in passing (when they never had a trans guest or the guest was on but had no right to reply) to knock it out of the top list this year. These include: Eamon and Ruth 22/08/11 Mocking a teen crossdresser and constant jokes about crossdressing throughout the series, Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby’s mysterious object game suggesting it is a ‘Gender Changing tool’ gag 04/04/11, laughing about the serious storyline about and at Marcia in Coronation St 26/08/11, Louie Spence making a ‘He-She’ gag during his presentation of fake tan, Justin Lee colins ‘Turning Japanese’ review and laughing about transsexuals in his programme, The story of Phil Jupitas mocking a transwoman in the street that they laughed about. That said, they did have a few good interviews that included: FTM Alex Kennedy, Chloe Hennison Leah True, Livvy James, Nicola and Meg Cowie, Milissa Ede, Conjoint Twins Lori and FTM George Schappell and Donna Smith Oldest ‘Sex Change’ UK. Of course Holly Willoughby (co-presenter’s) ‘other job on ‘Celebrity Juice’, does not gel well with ‘This Morning’ when they mock transpeople for laughs – Nadia from Big Brother for example – and Holly’s husband is the producer of (Celebrity Juice) that show. They have mocked Nadia on Celebrity Juice and just shortly after had to interview her over her attempted suicide after ‘Ultimate Big Brother’. So this creates a conflict of interests. Its hard to take their sensitive and caring demeanour when the night before she was laughing about that exact same subject.
Best DVD
Believe (DVD)
‘The Eddie Izzard Story’. Although not broadcast on tv other than clips for promotional purposes last year this is worth an honourable mention. Unlike the usual ‘stand up’ routines this offers something of the personal, Eddie’s life and emotions. I suppose one could say, ‘the tran behind the mask’.
* Special Mention goes to ‘Hangover: Part II’. One of this year’s biggest box office movies was ‘Hangover 2′. One part of the movie features a transgender woman (Transsexual pornographic film star, Yasmin Lee). Yasmin played the role of ‘LadyBoy’ exotic dancer/sex worker ‘Kimmy’. I have managed to see this film so am reviewing it purely on what I saw, and I have also read her interview here. So based on those two pieces on information I feel I can make an honest appraisal of what I saw personally. The film is shot in Bangkok, it follows the ‘lost day’ of a group of western males who were high at the time. When they retrace their steps to search for a lost member of the group they end up in a showbar. SPOILER ALERT! They find one of the attractive female dancers who remembers them, they enter a dressing room (anteroom/Green Room where the girls are getting ready) and quiz the girl about what she remembers. She says she had sex with one of the men, she explains she ejaculated into him and then goes on to drop her clothes and parade about showing her penis to the shock and horror of the men looking.
Now, it is a matter of fact (and backed up by the actress herself) that most of Thai transpeople work in the sex trade, as she explains in her interview this is something more accepted there than it is here. She is a transwoman and she was hired to play a major role (albeit a small one – no pun intended!) in a Hollywood blockbuster. She is very beautiful, she is ‘acting’ this is not where she really lives, and I suspect was paid handsomely for it. So she checks all the boxes. However, we have to balance this with a cliché, that of the misunderstood social model of what the public believe a trans woman is. Society understand transgender people to be deviant, sex workers, gay, and grooming straight men into bed, thus leading to many murders upon discovery – otherwise known as ‘the transpanic defence’. This role plays to that unfortunately, it is a shock to the person, who let’s face it, in this case had to be drugged to the point of memory loss to have sex with her. When they are sober it seems like she tricked him (almost raped him) and took advantage of him. “He was crying he saying how special it was!”"Wait! He was crying?!” “He was moving around, I drop my load too quick!”"Load?”"What Load?”"You know, my sperms!”"Where did your sperms come from?!” “From my Balls!” She drops her satin gown and is naked…(showing her penis). “Listen Sweetie you are in Bangkok, there is a reason they do not call it ‘Bang C*nt!’” She turns and the men go, “WOW!!!” Then fall off their chairs in horror. Looking as they are about to gag, she says, “come on Stu it was beautiful we climaxed the same time!”"How does that work?!”"Shoot my load into you, you shoot your load onto the floor!” Stu now Crying, “You shot your load into me?!!!”"In my bottom?!..Oh God, God!” They leave going, “EWWWW, Godddddd! (in a state of shock)” “Hey its not the end of the world?!” “I am confused?!”"I made love to a man! (almost vomiting)”. “Lets forget about it and it will go away!”"It never happened? (still crying)”.
I will leave you to make your own minds up, but let’s leave it at this. On the one hand we have a transgender actress, appearing in a Hollywood blockbuster, on the other she is playing a stereotype, and the reaction of the men is ‘transpanic’ and revulsion having to be drugged to even contemplate such an act. So it only has a special mention here rather than winning. Suffice it to say it reminds me of the 1970s when all black guys in films tended to be ‘expendable criminals’, or tokenistic, and before that they were often portrayed as ‘uncle Tom’ characters and servants to their (white) masters. It really wasn’t until the great film director/producer Spike Lee turned that around, and then later a black actor played a President of America. That is when things began to change. It even warmed the path for Barack Obama.
I think trans people are exactly that for now, stereotyped and time locked in the exact same way. As the film above shows. We desperately need a trans Spike Lee!
WORST OF 2011
Worst Channel/s
BBC
It was a toss-up between BBC THREE and ITV2 and Channel 4 (Filth Comedy Lab Channel 4 28/01/11). But BBC THREE ‘wins’ this one, ITV2 has ‘Celebrity Juice‘ and has been incredibly abusive to Nadia Almada (Big Brother) by openly discussing her genitals for laughs – quite outrageous and beyond a joke, we did contact Nadia about this who was unaware of it – especially in her absence, they also broadcast a number of fly-on-the-wall documentary series and American imports that use negative stereotypes to describe transgender people. However, BBC THREE has a high percentage of of issues they need to address. Even seemingly innocuous programmes like, Russell Howard’s Good News, Coming of age (BBC THREE) Trans issues and labels all negative stereotypes for laughs, ‘Mongrels‘, ‘White Van Man‘ 05/04/11 “I thought she was a he? Post Op!”, ‘American Dad‘, ‘Family Guy‘, ‘Come Fly with Me‘, ‘Wilfred‘, ‘Little Britain’, ‘Fast and Loose (BBC TWO)’, every trans issue used as a gag was a negative stereotype. Even the Beebs attempt at a ‘Eastenders’ Spin-off show ‘E20′ BBC Three ended up with the market laughing at someone in a dress. Sadly it appears when they attempt to introduce anything remotely trans by its nature they get it wrong, basically because they are being ill-advised or have no understanding of the ‘trans reality’. ‘Lee Nelson’s Well Good Show‘ (BBC THREE) has attempted to be ‘trans-inclusive’, by that I mean sarcastically, he lined up a number of women stripped to their bikinis, and asked the audience, “which used to be a man!” The Other BBC channels also have issues: ‘The Graham Norton Show’, somebody should remind Graham that being gay does not give him carte blanche to abuse a completely separate community (transgender people), Rab C Nesbitt has used transgender issues a number of times, and again, they play to the stereotypes. Even the very new Ricky Gervais comedy, ‘Life’s too Short ‘, has already used transphobic comedy in the episode where Warwick is having dinner with his date. BBC ONE’s ‘Outnumbered‘ often use a child to say transphobic things, but this is not a child saying this, it is an adult’s words (the scriptwriter) being spoken by a child actress. The audience can sometimes forget that! This same logic is employed with puppets and cartoons, hiding behind that does not exempt them from their responsibilities to all viewers, including transgender people. BBC’s ‘Lee Macks All Star Cast‘ being another show that used a negative label, it just goes on and on…The worst sitcoms also appeared on BBC that of ‘Mrs Brown’s Boys’ and ‘Life of Riley’ BBC, ONE), to quote one comedian at the British Comedy Awards this year who suggested ‘Mrs Brown’s Boys’ should get the best award for a 1970s sitcom, the joke being that it was made much more recently and I agree. ‘Mrs Brown’s Boys’ relies on one thing to carry it, crossdressing, if we remove that and place a bio woman there it would not even be aired, so again a crossdressing and self-mocking crossdressing too, is carrying the show, a perfect example of this is when Mrs Brown turns to camera and says about ‘herself’, “It’s a f*cking MAN IN A DRESS!” image which gets a laugh, what is the difference between ‘It Ain’t half Hot Mum’ doing the same with their lead ‘browned up’ character wobbling his head and poking fun at being a wallah, Punkawallah)? This just demonstrates how tired the BBC has become. The other Sitcom this year was ‘Life of Riley’ BBC ONE 8.30pm (so pre watershed’) 20/04/2011 starring Caroline Quentin, one line from it reads thus, “Sheila – a tranny with a transit!” Later they say … “Shelia will be halfway to the dump by now and HE has laddered HIS tights!” Its all a bit of a pronoun mess really.
Channel DAVE by proxy, is buying up old BBC shows like ‘Mock the Week‘ (another BBC show, BBC TWO), so are repeating the BBC inspired trans abuse on other channels as a result. ‘Mock the Week’ has made a number of transphobic comments, but improving the show on BBC2 tomorrow in relation to trans issues does not exempt them from their responsibility selling the repeat shows to channels such as ‘Dave’, their name is still on the credits! I think they call that ‘passing the buck’. President Truman had a sign on his desk “The BUCK STOPS HERE!” Perhaps the Director General and commissioning editors of the BBC needs the same sign?
The Series, ‘Doctors‘, aired during the day, did have a few good story lines, so in fairness this must be mentioned. ‘Doctors‘ BBC One 14/04/, ‘Treena the tranny’ was said but it was more about a social response to an issue when a woman who hosts lingerie and ‘sex toy’ parties turns out to be a pre-op transsexual. ‘Doctors’ 18/05/11 BBC ONE, a woman who is living with her transitioned transgender ‘husband’, at first it is assumed they are a lesbian couple but it later is revealed she is trans and her wife although free to seek a new male partner decides to stay with her. This was good because although an issue, it was not revealed till very late in the programme, so this was well done. But other episodes of Doctors have had transgender people wanting to throw themselves off hotel balconies, or are played as just plain victims or ‘oddballs’. It is a shame that one of the doctors couldn’t be transsexual? Why always the patients? Just a thought! And where the BBC should be leading. Peter Kay and his ‘Geraldine’ Character (BBC ). The BBC exploiting and mocking one vulnerable community (transpeople) to raise money for another (their charity) with the Comic Relief song was just absurd, it also gave him the green light to appear mocking transgender people on just about every mainstream television show following it (he promoted his tour too), its OK to abuse transpeople? – Well if it is for charity mate! Compare this to the dignified effort of Eddie Izzard and his Marathons for the BBC charity, and even along the way he was defending being transgender to people. The argument is it seems, is that well, its a laugh dressing and behaving like a transsexual if it is to raise money for vulnerable people, they would likely say, “get a sense of humour!” Transgender people are some of the most vulnerable people in our society today, and also at risk of assault or murder on a daily basis for just walking down the street. Someone mocking this community does not help, even if it is raising money for another. And its just about balance, were Geraldine and actual transsexual woman (for example) singing with Susan Boyle and ‘goofing off’, that would have been acceptable, this is not rocket science. PKs character has also meant that it will be far more difficult for a transsexual woman (for example) to break through with ‘X Factor’ or ‘BGT’ as the similarities now will be dredged up by the press for comparison’s to Peter Kay.
We understand the BBC is a leviathan, and they cannot change overnight, and are making efforts to address their shortfall, lets hope they are not here this time next year. But all these little things do add up into what is a very poor show!
WORST PROGRAMME/S OF 2011
Filth!
‘Comedy Lab’ Channel 4, 28/01/11 – rather than go into details it is easier to click here , this resulted in a complaint to Ofcom. The other being for ‘Russell Howard’s Good News (Channel BBC THREE) – for the Thai ‘Ladyboy Sketch’ – That was later pulled after protest. More here http://forum.transgenderzone.com/viewtopic.php?f=16&t=1506.
Raspberries – Go to:
Peter Kay and his ‘Geraldine’ Character (BBC and Channel 4) and its rehash for ‘Peter Kay’s Top 43 Greatest Comedy Moments’ 02/12/2011 Broadcast on Channel 4 only this month! See more: http://forum.transgenderzone.com /viewtopic.php?f=16&t=1461. The BBC exploiting and mocking one vulnerable community (transpeople) to raise money for another (their charity) with the Comic Relief song was just absurd, he has mentioned that he has now finished with this character and has said this both on ‘Live at Studio 5′ and then ‘Jonathan Ross Show’ (17/09/11) ITV1. So lets hope he sticks to this promise.
10 O’Clock Live (Channel 4) 14/04/11 - Jimmy Carr and his relentless transgender Olympic Jokes – which are likely to get worse in 2012.
Harry Hill’s TVBurp (Channel ITV2) – This may seem like sacrilegious, as it is for the most part a good show, however it seems that ANYTHING to do with trans issues, crossdressing or drag on British television is abused, and not in a light way. In the past he has mocked transgender people quite cruelly, and somewhat out of character with his cuddly Uncle Harry persona, the lives of individuals like Thomas Beatie (the pregnant man), every episode he almost ritualistically assaults – sometimes with extreme violence for laughs – his crossdressed side kick ‘Heather’ (who is not a trans person anyway). When any other person crossdressed appears, he mocks them in a way a 70′s working man’s club comedian would be ashamed of. I thought the new raft of comedians had buried homophobia and transphobia?
The Cleveland Show (Channel e4), for the episode where his father had a crush on a crossdresser. This would have worked fine, but sadly like other shows made by this company, namely ‘Family Guy‘ and ‘American Dad‘, trans issues are simply met with projectile vomiting and negative stereotypes.
Benidorm for Tim Healey’s ‘Lesley’ (ITV). Review . His role appears to be written from observation and lacks authenticity. Quite lazy writing, and too many negative stereotypes, transgender women in a police van as sex workers for example, overuse of the term ‘tranny/ie, characterisation overplayed to be a clown rather than a ‘real’ person – after all they didn’t choose Tim Healy to play the role by accident! This is a real shame as they could have gone places with this character, the show has either been badly advised or ‘winged it’ and got it wrong!
Comedy Cuts (ITV2) 25/12/11. Nina Conti remarks – “Kiss me monkey! No you look like a f*cking tranny!”
Loose Women (ITV1) fro Carol McGiffen’s Comment, “I don’t want to look like a Tranny!” and for Denise Welch’s constant comments about her husband being, ‘the transvestite in Benidorm’.
OMG! with Peaches Geldof (ITV2), promised to be very well planned and even circulated details of the show to many groups (including ourselves) asking for people to take part, one trans woman did, and although what she said personally went well, the way in which it was handled, looking at her genitals under a sheet in some hotel room, playing the, ‘surprise this used to be a man routine’ with the audience, and Peaches using negative stereotypes makes this a FAIL! In other episodes when crossdressing she remarked, “Why am I doing this Old Compton St Tranny thing?”"I do look like a tranny!” When dressed in hideous fetish clothing for a vampire episode that she quickly dumped for something better, that I assume ‘a tranny’ would not wear? It is a shame though as this show had legs, But the critics slammed it, and so does this one sorry Peaches!
Coronation Street (Channel ITV1) for axing Marcia, and not having the guts to stick with this controversial character. Marc/Marcia should return – she still can, Audrey still needs a fella 
Stop playing it safe with Hayley who I think needs a new storyline Julie Hesmondhalgh (Hayley) was totally outshone by Andrew Hall’s gritty and far more realistic Marcia performance this year – perhaps too realistic? Coronation St’s Hayley does not rank anywhere this year I am afraid even with the Mother-in-law storyline and finding out she was biologically male. When compared to Andrew Hall and Victoria Atkin she simply just was totally outclassed and too weak to compete. More: http://forum.transgenderzone.com/viewtopic.php?f=16&t=1441
Better luck next year with a good storyline – she deserves one I think. However, we will give an honourable mention for their spin-off DVD ‘Coronation Street: Romanian Holiday’ which was not a bad yarn. But the label now given to Roy and Hayley is ‘the odd couple’, and who wants that?
I would like to end on a bit of advice, ‘Eastenders’ could create a role for say an occasional character, Family GP maybe(?), and hire and actual transgender person, a trans woman for example (trans women struggle more with stereotypes in the media) who does not have ‘model looks’ (most trans are not models anymore than anybody else). This would then regain some lost ground for the BBC, plus it would then show ‘Coronation St’ and others to appear like frauds, as the BBC can remark, “yes(!) but our character is an ‘actual’ transgender woman! Not someone pretending!”
Once upon a time the first black and Asian people were hired by these exact same shows, today it would seem absurd to have someone black up or brown up or not appear at all, so what about ‘tranning up’? The moral high ground is there for the taking.
So who is first? Don’t all rush at once will you?!
Just a thought!
Transgender Media Critic – Ice Maiden
