Calpernia is a friend of mine. Since she is an actor, she enjoys being in front of the camera. Also, the camera loves her. I also know she has a very well-developed sense of humor. Case in point was her recent "Things not to say to a transsexual." The idea for this show probably made her laugh and figured she would have a good time with this. If I had Logo, I would see it as more of a comedy "reality" show, just because of her.

I'm just sad that she's straight and there are no women trying to get her attention.

i don't have logo, so i can't comment on the actual show. i am thrilled that a transsexual woman is portraying a transsexual woman, though. even if it is reality TV, it's a start.

It sounds like all the good stuff is on cable.

It is sad that she is famous for something so tragic, and I am glad to see that she has put it behind her and has been able to build her career. Perhaps this will show at least some that we are just people, like everyone else.

We don't get Logo either, so I can't comment on the actual show, but I have to say that I love Calpurnia, so I'd probably enjoy the show. I had no idea that she was Barry Winchell's girlfriend though...

I was surprised by how engaging the show is. Maybe it's just me but I'm sooooooooooooooooo sick of reality. So the fact that I liked it is really saying something!

With RICK & STEVE, logo now has two decent shows (and maybe THE BIG GAY SKETCH SHOW will continue to get better too).

I saw the second half of an episode last night, and I really enjoy Calpernia's sense of humor. I had heard some not so good comments about the series, and had not watched it. I do plan to watch it now to see which person she chooses. If your cable company doesn't include LOGO, get some folks to call them to put it on their lineup. We did that where I live, and it worked.

You're right about one thing, Waymon, the show is super-queer.

Many of us would like to see post ops presented simply as female...nothing more or less. In that vein, there is nothing redeeming whatsoever about the series. From the contestants to the fact that it's on Logo prove the show is just one more in a long line of media presentations that portray post op transsexuals as nothing more than gay men who have gone to an extreme. It delegitimizes post op MtoF transsexuals world wide as something less than simply female and further links us to a GLBT movement we do not want to belong to.

You are really loved, Calpernia.

Bil,
Did Sue come in on a different E-mail address?

It's been guilty-pleasure fun. As Angie said, if you didn't know that Calpernia is trans it would come across as just another "lucky bachelor" dating show -- albeit one that doesn't take itself too seriously and doesn't mind having fun with the reality show cliches.

FWW, after father died when I was in college, I got a good bit of advice: while you want to remember the dead, you can't let the dead bury the living. I'm glad to see Calpernia has been able to take a similar approach to life.

Many of us would like to see post ops presented simply as female...nothing more or less. In that vein, there is nothing redeeming whatsoever about the series. From the contestants to the fact that it's on Logo prove the show is just one more in a long line of media presentations that portray post op transsexuals as nothing more than gay men who have gone to an extreme.

Have you watched the show? Have you seen the folks commenting about how downplayed the trans thing is and she's portrayed simply as female? Are you unaware of the role Calpernia and Andrea had in producing the show? It does nothing to indicate that transsexuals are gay men -- except for the trans guy who says he's been involved with men and with women.

And to everyone who said they don't get logo and can't watch, I was in the same boat. The first episode is available on the LOGO website, and the subsequent episodes can be downloaded on itunes.

I'm aware of everything you ask, Tobi, but for a variety of reasons, disagree with your take on the show. All but one of the contestants identified as gay/bisexual, Tobi. Transamerica has gay written all over it...as Waymon said, it's super-queer. There is nothing wrong with that, but for once, just once, it would be nice to see post op transsexuals presented as neither gay nor associated with anything that is gay. Straight females are not romantically interested in gay/bisexual men. The overall concept that comes across is that transsexual and gay are related...and they are not. I didn't care for the show, Tobi, because it furthers a stereotype that is not representative of a huge number of post ops.