Joshua Goldman
Joshua Goldman
min read · September 22, 2025 · Entertainment

The Wild Ride of 'Playing It Straight': America's Oddball Dating Show of the Noughties

Playing It Straight (pictured) hit stateside screens in 2004 with one of the strangest concepts in the reality TV canon

EXPOSED: The Infamous Reality Show that Thought it Could "Play It Straight"

The early 2000s were a wild time for reality TV, and one of the most infamous shows to come out of this era was Playing It Straight. This bizarre dating show hit stateside screens in 2004 with a concept so cringeworthy, it's still making headlines today.

The show followed the journey of bright-eyed college student Jackie Thomas as she tried to navigate a group of 14 cowboys in Nevada. But here's the twist: they weren't all straight. In fact, some of them were gay, and it was up to Jackie to figure out who was who.

College student Jackie Thomas (pictured) arrives at a subtly named ranch in Nevada called Sizzling Saddle. There, she learns the group of 14 men gathered for her to choose from are not all straightforwardly eligible bachelors as far as she is concerned

If she guessed correctly, she'd split a cool $1 million with her straight beau. If she didn't? The guy would walk away with the cash, leaving her high and dry.

The show's concept was based on a fresh twist on The Bachelor, which had been dominating American screens for years prior. But Playing It Straight took things to a whole new level of awkwardness.

Each episode featured a series of cringe-worthy dates, group activities, and even a fashion show (because what's more dating material than a swimsuit competition?). And at the center of it all was Jackie, trying her best to navigate the complex web of gaydar and stereotypes.

Some of its wackiest aspects include an introductory sequence at the start of each episode which features a dog called Gaydar in a correspondingly labelled kennel (pictured)

But things quickly took a turn for the worse. Ratings tanked, and the show was eventually canceled after just three episodes. But its legacy lives on, providing a fascinating look into the outdated attitudes and stereotypes that were prevalent at the time.

The Trouble with Stereotypes

Playing It Straight was criticized for relying heavily on outdated stereotypes about gay men. Contestants would often express concern about being "roomed" with or stared at by gay men, perpetuating the notion that all gay people are somehow "other."

Despite it falling at the third hurdle, the romantic project behind the programme (pictured) was somewhat successful, which viewers discovered when Fox uploaded the final pre-shot episodes to its website

The show's use of pink rooms and cheesecake-baking as indicators of gayness only added to the hilarity (and horror). And Jackie's attempts to navigate these stereotypes were often laughable.

"I think Chris is definitely gay," she'd say, only to be met with a confused expression from her straight suitor. "That felt like the kiss of a straight guy, but how would I know?"

A Product of its Time

A stronger uptake on the show's concept came back on this side of the pond. Pictured: The British version

Playing It Straight was a product of its time, and it shows. The show's attitudes towards LGBTQ+ individuals were regressive and outdated, even for 2004.

In fact, one reviewer noted that the show "hardly dismantled stereotypes" and instead "further bolstered them." And it's easy to see why: the show was riddled with old-fashioned attitudes and assumptions about gay people.

The UK Take

It had a far more star-studded line-up to show for it, with actress Jameela Jamil (pictured) as the presenter of one of its two series

But Playing It Straight wasn't a complete failure. Its British counterpart, which aired on Channel 4 in 2005 and 2012, had a slightly more star-studded line-up. June Sarpong and Jameela Jamil hosted the show, with Alan Carr and Alan Cumming providing witty narration.

However, the UK version still struggled with outdated attitudes. Contestants would often use DIY, eating chillies, or arm wrestling as indicators of sexuality – because, of course, gay men are naturally better at baking and straight men are tougher.

A Messy Legacy

Former Loose Woman June Sarpong (left) presented the first series of the British version (pictured)

Playing It Straight was just one of a series of reality shows that highlighted the LGBTQ+ community in the noughties. There was Boy Meets Boy (2003), Gay, Straight Or Taken? (2007), and even My Husband's Not Gay (2015).

These shows were often criticized for perpetuating stereotypes and reinforcing outdated attitudes. But they also marked a turning point in public perception – same-sex marriage was still years away from becoming legal in the US and UK.

Would it Work Today?

The UK spin-off (pictured) still struggled with some of the same outdated attitudes as its American counterpart

Fast-forward to today, and it's clear that Playing It Straight would not be well-received by audiences. In fact, Channel 4 has since rebooted another of its back catalogue shows, Faking It (2022), which follows members of the public as they take on new professions.

Faking It deals with stereotypes in a more nuanced way, using humor and satire to challenge outdated attitudes. And it's been universally praised by critics.

A new Playing It Straight would likely not be so fortunate – but it would still raise important questions about our perceptions of LGBTQ+ individuals. As we continue to navigate the complexities of identity and community, it's clear that shows like Playing It Straight have a lot to teach us... and a lot to learn from ourselves.

But being in Blighty, all this was loaded with a lot more obvious irony - suggesting a slightly more advanced position than its US counterpart. Pictured: The British version

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