Boy Meets Boy

Boy Meets Boy is an American reality television series broadcast by Bravo. The six-episode series premiered on July 29, 2003, and concluded on September 2, 2003. Filmed in Palm Springs, California, the series followed James Getzlaff, a 32-year-old human resources manager, in search of a partner among a group of fifteen men. Getzlaff participated in a series of one-on-one dates and group activities with the men, in which he would eliminate three men every episode. In the fourth episode, however, Getzlaff was informed that the group consisted of both gay and straight men. If Getzlaff's final choice among the group was a gay man, he would win a $25,000 reward and a vacation to New Zealand. Conversely, if Getzlaff chose a straight man, then the man alone would win the $25,000 reward. The series was hosted by English television presenter Dani Behr. Boy Meets Boy received mixed reception from television critics. Some critics believed it was entertaining to speculate on the men's sexual orientations, while others criticized the twist against Getzlaff as cruel. The series premiered to 1.6 million viewers and maintained high ratings throughout its short-lived run. A second season was considered by Bravo and the series's producers, although they found difficulty in developing a different twist that would be as captivating to audiences. Boy Meets Boy was the first same-sex dating show and it inspired a wave of LGBT-themed reality television series in the 2000s. In 2022, Time deemed the first and only season of Boy Meets Boy as one of the most influential reality television seasons of all time. Format Set in Palm Springs, California, the series depicted James Getzlaff, a 32-year-old human resources manager, selecting a partner among a group of fifteen men (referred to as "mates"). The fifteen men were required to move into a house together, in which they went on one-on-one dates with Getzlaff and competed in a variety of group activities. At the end of each episode, Getzlaff eliminated three men from the competition. In determining which men to send home, Getzlaff consulted with his longtime friend Andra Stasko, a married straight woman. Toward the end of the series, Getzlaff was informed that the group of men actually consisted of both gay and straight men. If the man Getzlaff chose at the end of the competition was gay, the two would win a vacation to New Zealand and Getzlaff would receive a $25,000 reward.