In the final episode we saw the Gav and Waz waiting patiently as the auction counted down to the sale of their unit. The camera was focused on them holding hands and waiting breathless. The final moment saw them ecstatic and when they won they jumped in the air. Their heterosexual family members, who had been in the background up to now, surrounded them with hugs. The father said he was proud to have another son. You can't get better publicity for a gay relationship than that.
It was a pity that the boys didn't win. Unfortunately, there was no cashed-up gay investor who wanted to own a slice of the boy's work.
Of course all of the participants where winners. All of the renovators have become minor TV celebrities and appeared on several shows including 60 Minutes and The Footy Show (yes Gav and Waz!). Fiona has had her picture appear on the cover of a men's mag (Ralph) and I guess Paul may get some plumbing work even after his homophobic comment and inability to fix leaks. One of the most spectacular successes was Amity Dry. Thanks to The Block she scored a recording contract and her album was released during the show's run. She has a good voice and the songs are romantic and catchy. Her album has since gone gold and her first batch of disks have sold out.
For Waz and Gav, the renovation nightmare has, as they've stated, made their relationship stronger. And that, surely must be the greatest prize you would ever want to pack up and take home. Which just goes to show that if you can put up with the dust, the noise, the stress, and most importantly, the neighbours, then you can survive anything.
2003 has been a good year for seeing gays on TV. Queer as Folk and Queer Eye have both broken ground in going beyond the usual TV gay stereotypes that either saw us as nancy boys or clones. The Block has produced its own home-grown version of gays on TV: that rare TV species 'gayus domesticus' or the gay couple. Lets hope that The Block is a taste of great, queer, things to come.
The Block has been the most successful reality TV show on Australian TV to date, beating Big Brother and drawing record viewers. Channel 9 has released a boxed set of DVD's on the whole series. We can relive all the tantrums and dramas of The Block all over again.
