Showtime develops coming-out series

Showtime is developing a reality series documenting gay people coming out to friends and family.

The project is titled "Way Out." In each episode, a closeted individual reveals their true sexual orientation during a group meeting.

Showtime has ordered a pilot presentation from Bryn Freedman, a former journalist and executive producer of A&E's "Intervention," as part of its effort to bolster its unscripted slate.

"It's a show that has universal appeal because everybody can relate to having part of their lives hidden," said Freedman, who is executive producing the project with Evan Weiss and Mark Degenkolb. "The show is all about getting to know the person -- why they have been reluctant to come out and what it looks like to be living a lie, (and) what it is like when people are trying to set you up with dates."

"Out" will show the person's closeted life, document the moment they reveal their orientation to friends and family, then chart how relationships are changed. Although still in the pilot stage, Showtime is enthusiastic about the project. Like the acclaimed "Intervention," which prompted controversy before its debut, Freedman expects that "Out" could provoke strong reactions.

"Before the show comes out, I think people will have a lot of concerns about it," she said. "But like with 'Intervention,' people see we're treating this subject with absolute respect and care and expect it will open a lot of hearts and minds."

Showtime executives have ordered a few other reality projects into development this year, seeking formats with grown-up themes that make sense for a network with a lack of content boundaries.

The first title scheduled likely to hit the air is "Lock n' Load," a six-episode series that plays like HBO's "Taxicab Confessions" set in a Colorado gun store.

Comments

[Sad in my heart]

Another show promoting homosexuality. WONDERFUL!!!! If only these people (homosexuals) knew the "Truth" and how they are actually being deceived. It's sad and I pray for all of them to come to know the TRUTH.

[Joel]

Interesting how the topic of homosexuality is treated the same way as drug addiction. "It's just like 'Intervention,'" they all say. So is "coming out" the same as setting one free of one's addiction? Seems more like succumbing to addiction to me.

[doenst matter]

you people are hateful and ignorant.

[Very Happy]

Hi "Sad in my heart",

Live and let live!

[Already Out]

Good for Showtime, however, I wish this were on prime time so that it reaches a larger audience. Those who have access to Showtime have been exposed to "The L Word" and "Queer as Folk", even if they didn't watch them regularly. I would like my parents to run into an episode or 15 to see what I dealt with.

[Nelson]

Oh Barf! What will be next, a show about other Birth Defects? Oh boy, Club Foot the series....

[Eric]

As a gay person, I can tell you it's not an addiction and all of this "I'll pray for them" crap and "love the sinner hate the sin" junk just pushes us farther from your churches . . .and offering plates, might I add.

[laurie]

this is why I would rather watch my dvd's . I grew up watching shows such as the Brady bunch, the partridge family, bewitched, room 222, and so forth. these reality shows are nothing but trash and people who choose to watch those type of programs have nothing better to do with their time. please entertainment industry bring back all the reruns of all the good old shows that was once on during the 70's and 80's and please replace them with all the trashy reality shows that have ruined t.v. altogether.

[jonster]

The reactions should be interesting to watch. I remember things went really well with my divorced (psychologist) Dad, so I thought it would be a breeze with my (school teacher) Mom. It wasn't. What I forgot in my moment of revelation is that, while I was simultaneously freeing myself from a shadow life, I was inadvertently destroying my Mom's dream of the way she was hoping things would be - daughter-in-law, grandchildren (now an option), white picket fence. She adjusted to the situation when she married a man whose oldest son was also gay. The reason why the subject keeps coming up is we're "born that way." We don't recruit. So every generation has to deal with it. Or not. I'm an optimist. I think it's amazing the amount of progress on civil rights we've made in this country in the past thirty years.

[Morgan]

Eric,
We're not concerned about your money in the offering plate. We're concerned about people's souls. That's why people are praying for you. The Lord can change a person and move that person from the sin of homosexuality.
As for Showtime... no surprise there. They show much worse content on a daily basis.

[That Guy]

Ahh, canceled Showtime right in time it seems.

[Randal]

And the propaganda to normalize homosexuality of the Gay Agenda continues. There is nothing normal about it. Being gay is a mental illness. That's no reason to hate them but nor should anyone fall for their propaganda. And who likes being lied to?

[Josie]

I'm with Jonster--I don't give a flying fig what you do in private just as you could care less about what *I* do--quit defining yourself by your sexual activities and a lot of people, religious or not, will adapt a lot quicker.The hard cores will NEVER change because you offend their religious beliefs. Leave'em alone, just as you wish to be left alone with YOUR beliefs.

[enlightened Christian]

Hey, "Sad in my heart." God loves EVERYONE and created everyone equally! The fact that you have a problem with people openly being who they were created to be says a lot more about your inner prejudices and the limitations you put on God than it says about any kind of absolute moral truth that you have arbitrarily constructed.

[karla]

Yes, and social science also says that alcoholism and thus alcoholics have a gene/hereditary factor. Why don't we teach our kids that they may be alcoholics and that's OK because that's just their innate make-up. Unhealthy? What about the CDC rates that reveal homosexual males have the highest rates of STD's and AIDS in the population....hmmm, I'm still wondering how this unhealthy 'civil right' is being legitimately promoted in our schools when trans fats and sugars are concurrently being banned??

[Steve Bar]

The Bible isn't real. All it does it condone hate for the uneducated/unenlightened. Use the brain "God" gave you...

[nofags]

The gay "lifestyle" is disgusting to me. Why would I want to watch it on my t.v. screen? Please - keep it in the closet. It disgusts the other 99% of the population. i need to go vomit now.

[Dale]

enlightened christian, you aren't. You are a buffet christian of the most self-serving type. Redefine things however suits you, but drop the shallow pretense.

[Mike]

How about therapy for homosexuals instead of a TV series? There is no way you can say that homosexuality is natural. It serves no biological purpose what so ever. So, how about keeping your illogical sexual orientation in the closet and out of the faces of myself and my heterosexual family who don't agree with you? We don't waive our heterosexuality in front of everyone with a flag and would appreciate if you would return that favor and not waive you homosexuality in our faces. Your homosexuality is your problem there drama queen so don't try to make it mine. Also, no, I'm not a homophobe, I fear no one. Nor do I hate anyone either, I'm just SICK OF HEARING YOU'RE WHINING!!!

[Obama]

Medical sciense has stated there is
no gay gene/gay gender.

Stop claiming your homosexual at birgh
and can't prove it in medical science,

[rusino]

Oh great! More Jerry Springer, maury Povich moments.

Why people choose to degrade themselves by publicly reveling themselves on shows like this is beyond belief.

What has happend to self respect. Not to mention respect for ones family and friends. If someone close to me envolved me in a stunt like this I would never speak to them again.

Our culture has become corrupt and course.

[Response to nofags]

Nofags...noone is forcing you to watch anything, last time I looked there was more than one channel to watch. As far as the "gay lifestyle" disgusting 99% of the population...I think you should research your numbers a bit. And by the way, the idea of straight sex kinda makes me want to vomit...so it's a mutual thing.

[Sorry for]

Steve is exactly right: the Bible is nothing more than an outdated collection of stories. It's not an outline one is supposed to base their life on.Sure...there are basic moral lessons in it––such as don't kill, don't steal, etc. But those are taught in every religion; they're not concepts conceived by Chritians! It's funny how all of these "Christians" pick and choose what they like out of the Bible to throw at people...yet they ignore everything else and the things that would pertain to the way they live THEIR lives. Arrogant hypocrisy runs rampant in Christianity. Basically, "Sad In My Heart," in your eyes, everyone who doesn't believe what YOU believe––Muslims, Buddhists, Jews, etc.––is going to hell, right? Get a life, and stop preaching at everyone else about theirs.

[Response to mike]

Mike...homosexuals wouldn't wave their flags if they didn't have to. Tell your straight colleagues to stop making laws to discriminate against gay men and women and then maybe there will be less flag waving.

[Sad in my heart]

Eric & "Very Happy"
If you knew the "Truth" you would know that you are being decieved and by who you are being decieved. It has nothing to do with church or offering plates. Money is not the subject here. As a child of God, I am concerned about homosexuals being lied to by the destroyer. I only say these things in love and I will continue to pray for all homosexuals to come to know the real love of our Father God and his Truth. I don't mean to offend you in any way. And I'm an by no means "ignorant or hateful" {doesntmatter}

[Response to mike]

Mike...homosexuals wouldn't wave their flags if they didn't have to. Tell your straight colleagues to stop making laws to discriminate against gay men and women and then maybe there will be less flag waving.

[Me]

Why do some of you continue to preach about a book that was written over 2000 years ago by people who thought the Earth was flat, and that the Sun revolved around the Earth?

Its a known FACT that many species of animals have homosexuals among them, yet many of you choose to ignore this, and continue to preach your hate.

To be honest I would trust a gay man a lot sooner than I would ever trust a Christian man. After all we know that Christians rarely practice what they preach.

[steerqueer]

Gay people, you need HELP. Look at the human body. Do you really think 2 dudes fit together? I am SICK of seeing your sick agenda shoved down our throats. You will NEVER convince Americans what you are doing is right. get over yourselves, already!

[jonster]

There is no way you can say that homosexuality is natural. It serves no biological purpose what so ever.

Mike - Google "homosexuality in animals." BTW, your remark about Drama Queens makes me wonder a little about you because, unfortunately, the worst homophobes out there, see Larry Craig, are the ones whose church, family etc, have told them they are sick and unnatural. There's always a little, tap tap tap, something that gives them away, "drama queen." The sex drive doesn't take direction from the brain. Mike, you need to grow one.

[That Guy]

Me - So, if animals do it it makes it right? So, should we allow cannibalism? What about incest? I mean, according to you, if the animals do it, it must be ok. Do we our young as many animals do?

[lmao]

Will Rosie O'Donnell be featured in this show? Since her flaming queer variety show was cancelled, she has an opening in her schedule - Hollywood is calling, Rosie! you f'ing queers!

[That Guy]

Eat our young that is

[Thomas]

thats gay.

[J. Wayne]

Just another instance of the "in your face" Hollywood Tail wagging the Dog! Pure Cultural Propaganda (Belongs on the Jerry Springer Show).

[Susan I]

Me said: "To be honest I would trust a gay man a lot sooner than I would ever trust a Christian man."

Yes, so I guess that is why there is so much aids transmission out there because you all are soooo honest!

I still to this day do not understand why gay people feel that they have to "come out" and tell the world they are gay. You can hardly watch a tv show that the gay person is always reminding everyone they are gay. As if you have to seperate yourself. That is where your problem is.

Just act 'human' if possible, drop your flags, and joing the human population, or go somewhere else and start your own. Oh, but wait, you can't re-produce!

[Sorry for]

Dear "steerqueer,"
Could you PLEASE explain to me what this so-called "gay agenda" that all of you homophobes keep screaming about is...because I don't know?! I must not have gotten the fliers and the other hate mail sent that day by Anita Bryant and the rest of her flock! It honestly makes me laugh when you ridiculous people talk about an agenda and recruiting and all of the silly fear tactics and buzz words you use! You can't LURE someone to be be gay...just as you can't LURE someone to be straight, you idiot! Is that a conscious decision you made? I highly doubt it. Besides, what's the selling point to "make" someone gay: everyone hates you, you'll be ridiculed for life, you'll have no rights! GREAT! Come on board!!

[MD]

Prediction 1: Another Award Winning Show as selected by Hollywood. Prediction 2: The coming out gays will be presented as sympathetic figures who just want love and acceptance. Prediction 3: The friends and family will be a presented as a mixed bag of the enlightened (accepting) and the ignorant. Bet on it.

[Brady]

I'm not a Bible thumper and don't believe gays will go to hell but I do believe that this show takes advantage of people who have a mental problems. Being gay in my opinion is a mental disorder.

You can call my thinking ignorant but fact is that it's not normal to be gay.

Don't ask me what normal is...you already know the answer is.

Yes, with treatmeant a homosexual can change the way they think....they just don't want too. Would you want to change the way you feel about the opposite sex and become gay? Nope...It's a mental disorder we all have to learn to deal with and it shouldn't be taken advantage of by Television.

[Sorry for]

"Susan"
You are a stupid, idiotic, hateful bitch! Check your facts: AIDS transmission is at an all time low among the homosexual community (and has been for years)! It's highest transmission group is among Caucasian females! So keep your mouth (and your legs!) shut.

[Brad R]

Homosexuality is unnatural and should therefore not be treated as a normal part of life. As such, we should only educate our children on the matter as we would about any other unnatural tendency, and we should have the same outlook in our own lives.