Accidents happen
Anyone see Casualty last night? If not I’ll set the scene…
Ian (aka Eena) tells wife he’s going to football match with an old mate (who she doesn’t know). He’s really going round to “mate’s” house to dress as Eena and go out for a drive together - first time, big event for him.
They get dressed up, go out, have a RTA. Mate is uninjured and goes home to change. Eena/Ian needs medical attention. Paramedics totally cool and professional about Eena and assure him his make-up etc can be removed at the hospital.
Wife turns up at Holby and at first is suspicious about the accident, asks where mate is, mate walks in in male mode and wife begins to believe their story.
Then Nadia brings in the wife’s handbag that Eena/Ian took with him/her and wife demands to know how it has ended up at the hospital. Ian tells her he’s a transvestite. She asks all the usual questions. He assures her he’s hetro, loves her and the children, she storms off, cools down and comes back - they agree they have a lot to talk about.
I felt BBC had done their research and portrayed a very plausible scenario, seriously and sympathically. OK, they could have used young, attractive and convincing blokes in modern club wear, with totally out attitudes (which would have been plausible too) but using a 30/40 and 50 something pair of guys, both of whom were married, I felt worked very well.
It’s what we need, education, education, education.
I thought it was a result, what do you think?
BTW, I went to the Casualty website, but there was no mention of it in the under last night’s episode - shame. Mind you, you can leave a comment about the episode if you wish.
on March 30th, 2007 at 8:31 pm
“using a 30/40 and 50 something pair of guys, both of whom were married”
I didn’t see it but it sounded good. Nice to hear (read?) that the Beeb took a slightly different angle with the story. Sure, there are glamourous 20 somethings out there in club land, but the ‘married guys’ I think are a truer picture of TG life in the UK.
But, maybe I’m biased because I don’t do the clubbing thing… well, not anymore… and certainly never en femme. Mosh pits and heels - just don’t go there ladies. :-)
on April 1st, 2007 at 1:49 pm
I didn’t see it but it is great that the Beeb took a balanced, researched angle on it. Is it too much to hope for that mainstream media will stop treating the subject as a shock- horror / pervert / fetish / laugh-at- ugly- blokes-in- dresses issue ?
The number of tranny parts in soap operas suggests that it could increasingly become as acceptable as homosexuality,in the UK at least, but there will always be performers and hacks willing to get a quick laugh out of it.
on April 1st, 2007 at 10:01 pm
> performers and hacks willing to get a quick laugh out of it.
True, true. I think the pantomine dame will be with us for some time yet. :) Not that that’s a bad thing necessarily.
Hmm… Tranny ‘characters’ in the media. There was one in Slap - if anyone remembers that ITV comedy. That programme stuck in my mind because on the (few) times I caught the series, the character seemed relatively balanced and the whole TG thing was just another facet of his character.
From an American angle, there was an episode of Legwork that featured a young journalist. One of the characters literally bumps into a chief politico getting changed in the ladies. Interestingly, it wasn’t played for laughs, and both the TG and reporter characters later met to discuss what damage ‘outting’ the TG person would cause. It wasn’t trite and was very human.
Anymore? Well, other than that lad from TottyOaks?
on April 2nd, 2007 at 12:07 pm
There was a tranny hooker in Ally McBeal who was shown as artistic and well balanced but who would not leave the street and got killed by a punter.
Hayley in Coronation Street. Oh, and a guy in Emmerdale who is a drag queen and who is seen as very sensible and sensitive.
And, after some heavy trawling ( no pun intended) I found this:
” Extras - Ulric Brown (Winston)
Do you want to be an extra?
Ulric Brown (Winston) reveals the secrets of being an extra.
What’s Winston’s character like?
Well, he’s a bit of a lad and in some respects he’s a bit of a wally. But basically he’s a nice person and people tend to like him. I was a jobbing actor. I had parts in dramas on BBC and ITV including The Bill. I worked on some movies as well.
What’s your favourite episode?
It really has to be the transvestite storyline. Winston had a bet with Grant that he could pull the singer in the Queen Vic. But unbeknown to Winston, it was actually a man. Everyone else knew except him. He tried his best to pull, only to find that there were dangly bits where there shouldn’t be! ”
There are also lots of tranny t.v. ( or should one say tv-tv?) links by going to http://www.bbc.co.uk and searching for “transvestite” and I can’t believe I never thought of doing that before, but there you go, its a queer world.
Julie
xx
on April 3rd, 2007 at 8:00 pm
OMG, just shows what a sheltered life I lead, or don’t watch much telly? It seems we’re awash with alternative characters in the media - where will it all end? ;)
on April 3rd, 2007 at 9:29 pm
> queer world.
LOL.
Where will go it? Ummm… media fascination, 7 minutes 45 of fame, brief acceptance and then the obligatory backlash. :-)
There was a brief flurry of interest when Just Like a Woman came out (so to speak). Every now and then the media flirts with our little subculture. Sometimes folk get hurt, sometimes not.
on April 5th, 2007 at 7:03 am
C’est la vie Lynn. And what can mere humble trannies like us do about this world order? Let me go away and think about it… ;)
on April 6th, 2007 at 12:03 am
Ahhh, mais oui…
We could ‘drag-nap’ a few key people and give them tranny make overs. Kinda like Direct Action Trinny & Sooz. :-)
on April 6th, 2007 at 3:13 pm
Think you’re onto something there Lynn. I mean, could we do any worse than TS, sorry I meant T & S. But I assume you mean the whole nine yards not just the face. Complete body wax, wigs, foundation wear, prosethetics, clothes and shoes. Perhaps, other presenters could laed the way/volunteer - may be Jerry Springer first. Do you think he’d agree?
on April 6th, 2007 at 11:20 pm
Well, if you’re going to abduct folk, you may as well be hung for a sheep as a lamb eh? So the whole 9 yards sounds okay. Jerry probably be up for it. :-) Actually, I wonder how many celebs are closet TVs….
Anyway, perhaps now suitably dressed, folk could be dropped off in central London - with no money or phone, only a bus or train ticket - and told of a hotel address where their clothes are. Hmmm… Is it me or is this beginning to sound like a (un)Reality TV show?
on April 7th, 2007 at 2:01 pm
Another brilliant idea. Can tell you work in IT, I mean how else do you explain all your creative ideas formulated outside of your work time? No, don’t tell me they ARE formed in work time - naughty, naughty. ;-)