by the linster

HBO does "T"

HBO has never shied from the topic of gender transformation. In 2003, Normal told the story of Roy Applewood, a male character who wanted to become female. Tom Wilkinson, who played Roy, and Jessica Lange, who played his wife Irma, both received Emmy nods for their roles. (Yes, that’s little Hayden Panettiere.)

Now the cable network will explore FTM transition in a new drama series called T. T follows the journey of a female-bodied individual as he discovers how to live as a man.

Anya Epstein and Dan Futterman, the married couple who recently took over as showrunners for In Treatment, created the show and will write the pilot.

The idea came from a February episode of the public radio show This American Life, “Somewhere Out There,” which explored two 8-year-old girls who were born boys. You can hear the original podcast here — it’s fascinating. (The relevant story is Act Two, “Tom Girls.”) Ira Glass, host of This American Life, will be an executive producer of T.

Since T will be scripted, I’m interested to see how Epstein and Futterman approach the story. Quite honestly, I have mixed feelings about it. But we don’t have any details beyond this brief announcement, so I’m trying to reserve judgment. Let’s hope that T turns out to be a realistic and positive portrayal of gender transition.

What are your thoughts on T? Assuming they don’t cast a trans actor, would the ideal choice be male or female? Do you think the viewing public is ready for a drama about gender transition?

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Submitted by

the linster

on November 16, 2009 - 3:00pm.

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really interesting concept

Submitted by

Adrienne (13 posts)

on November 16, 2009 - 4:01pm.

really interesting concept for an HBO series. Especially since there has been nothing close to this before. I still shudder a little when I think how how max was dealt with in the final season of the l word.

hopefully they can take notes. i really think this has potential, but they have to be extremely careful with how they go about dealing with this issue, as it is extremely sensitive and so very misunderstood even within parts of our queer community, not to mention the general public.

http://adriennecrossman.blogspot.com

Waiting

Submitted by

Aidan P (193 posts)

on November 16, 2009 - 4:21pm.

I'm going to take a glass-half-full approach to this until it comes out. Like thelinster, I am going to reserve judgement until more is released.

I'm holding my breath that they don't eff this up.

Probably a female actor

Submitted by

BAS (609 posts)

on November 16, 2009 - 5:18pm.

Generally seems to go over better that way, especially if there's any scenes "pre-T" but really it depends on the actor.

Long as there's no pregnancy storylines it'll probably be better than the L word.

I think the public would be okay with a trans storyline. TransAmerica and Boys Don't Cry went over ok as far as I remember.

Agree.. female actor

Submitted by

Valkyrie (316 posts)

on November 17, 2009 - 6:19pm.

It would make more sense if an actress got that part rather than an actor; to have a better transformation effect.. impact... Plus the pre-T parts well... I just think a female is suited better for this, since it is FtM...

"Were I receptive to such proposition, it would first require a full booty check, and if you were to pass muster, baby I'd give it to you family style"-Peggy Peabody

Agree.. female actor

Submitted by

Valkyrie (316 posts)

on November 17, 2009 - 6:19pm.

"Were I receptive to such proposition, it would first require a full booty check, and if you were to pass muster, baby I'd give it to you family style"-Peggy Peabody

sounds interesting. i'm

Submitted by

LilyJadeRose (705 posts)

on November 16, 2009 - 6:47pm.

sounds interesting. i'm willing to give it a shot as long as ilene chaiken has nothing to do with it.

---------------------------------------------

~I am bisexual. You are confused.~

Sounds like it could be

Submitted by

Painted_Jezebel (92 posts)

on November 16, 2009 - 7:13pm.

Sounds like it could be truly, truly awful, but HBO has done some great stuff. I think they'd probably cast a woman, because that would make it easier to make any problems he might have being recognised as such more believable. I agree with keeping ol' IC the Hell away from it.

Rad..or maybe could not be so rad

Submitted by

Riley (6 posts)

on November 16, 2009 - 10:10pm.

This could be really rad, and is so unbelievably needed. But knowing how the media likes to portray trans people...it also could be very horrible. All I'm thinking is, that who ever they cast, they better be trans, gender queer or trans friendly or it's going to be the most awkward and unbelievable thing to watch.. ever. And i agree DON'T let IC near that shit....Thanks IC for making transgenderism a fucking joke, and all for the sake of a bad and offensive story line...thank you. I really do want this show to be good i really do, here's to hoping.

"T">>

Submitted by

shortypants (673 posts)

on November 16, 2009 - 10:14pm.

It sounds amazing and I am very excited about a scripted show about FTM men. It would be so very easy to fuck this up (Ilene Chaiken AND Daniela Sea- I'm lookin' at your asses). Still, it is rare that HBO lets me down in the film department (they out did themselves with Angels in America) so I'm keeping hope alive for this one.

As for who should play the lead: I would LOVE for an actual trans person to play this part but since that probably won't happen, I think they should go with an unknown who has the gravitas to take on a part like this.

Thank you for this news, AE, and thank you for continuing to show support for our FTM brothers!

I think it's going to be

Submitted by

ksong (45 posts)

on November 17, 2009 - 12:12am.

I think it's going to be good. Dan Futterman is fabulous, and if they're basing it on that TAL episode, it'll be fantastic. That segment of TAL was really well done.

:D

Submitted by

Masuchan (24 posts)

on November 17, 2009 - 2:00am.

I am an avid lover of This American Life, and the fact that Ira Glass has a hand in it gives me so much hope. Definitely thinking positive for this one :)

Things that aught to be in the show

Submitted by

Dartxni (23 posts)

on November 17, 2009 - 2:20am.

These are some things they could address in the TV show. Some are more important that others.

friendships

doubts

family

relationships

Pre and post T sex lives and sexual identity

Dealing with negative and positive emotions

Packing soft and Packing Hard :P

relationship with the lesbian or butch community and or the lesbian or butch identity, if the character ever identified as part of either/both communities.

Going Stealth, vs living relatively openly as a transman

Actually, this would be a really cool show if they had gblt people PLAY some of the other characters in the show. The main character will probably be a known actress, somebody they think can carry the show, but some of the supporting cast aught to be gblt in order to bring realism to the story.

This could be a really sexy show, if they showed that wide variety of sexy queer life that there is.

Agreed!

Submitted by

Brennan (50 posts)

on November 17, 2009 - 8:34am.

There are some things they should definitely include in the show. I think that as long as they're respectful, do their research, do things tastefully, and show the true struggles of what it's like to be a trans person into today's world, then it will be a pretty good show. I'm actually really excited for it. Society may not be ready for quite a shocker, but I think that it could turn out to be something really positive like the Otalia storyline. Sooo many people gained something from that, both straight and gay alike. So maybe this is something we need. I'm going to make my mom watch it. Maybe she will understand things in my life a little bit better. :)

If anyone can do this well,

Submitted by

Scroll Lock (54 posts)

on November 17, 2009 - 10:55pm.

it's HBO.

I'm not sure if I'll see it, but if they put 1/4 the effort into this that they did with AiA, it's sure to be good.

Welcome to AfterEllen.com!

by the linster

HBO does "T"