Mars Venus TV - Episode 2
Intro:
 Is
Norm dead? Is the SNAG fried? Where have the real Aussie men
gone?
Everyone is talking about this new breed
of man called the "metrosexual". These guys follow fashion,
look hip, and spend lots of time and money on themselves -
not to mention as much time in the bathroom as their girlfriends.
We look at this "not quite gay" type of
guy, and what he's done to the traditional Aussie bloke.
Our Panellists:
Rebecca Gibney, Alex Perry, Derryn Hinch,
Prue MacSween & Kerry Armstrong
 See
panellist profiles
Ode to the Bloke
Resplendent in his flannel shirt, thongs and mullet hair-do,
comedian Chris Franklin takes on our challenge as the
blokiest of blokes to find out what is behind the fascination
with metro men.
From barman to metro man
Metro man Craig King, head designer at men's fashion
store Marcs, takes up the challenge - to transform barman
and true Aussie male Matt Woodward into a real metro
man. From head to toe Chris works his magic, and then brings
Matt along to the show for us all to view the final product!
Makeover man Matt
Woodward
Our Guests:
Sandra Lee:
Columnist Sandra Lee thinks all this
is nothing short of ridiculous! She says men who shave their
chests or wax are not sexy, just disgusting. It's vanity gone
mad, and women just want their alpha male back. Real men should
wear RM Williams jeans - a pair for good and a pair for casual
- and maybe some running shoes and footy boots. None of these
Italian slides and toenail polish! Sandra says these men don't
even bother paying women compliments any more - they're too
busy looking at themselves!
 June Dally Watkins:
Over 50 years ago, Australia's queen
of style started Australia's first school of personal and
professional development, then the first model school and
agency, and most recently, Australia's first business finishing
college. If anyone knows about style, it's June. She says
this newfound awareness amongst Aussie blokes of how they
actually look is wonderful. If women enjoy making the most
of themselves, why shouldn't men? She says Australian men
have been too afraid to make the most of themselves for fear
of the "gay" tag. But she says she could never understand
this image of the rough Aussie man - it was as if he was going
out of his way to be more blokey and rougher and tougher than
he really was. In comparison, European men are charming yet
know they are still very masculine. She says young Aussie
men will have to lift their game or the female will increasingly
take over - already they are getting better jobs. They need
to be self-confident and look the part, and to progress jobs-wise
you have to look as though you deserve the extra money.
To find out more about the June Dally Watkins
school and college, go to: www.jdw.com.au
Jamie Mackay:
A partner at advertising agency BWM, Jamie
is frank - he says the drive behind the metrosexual trend
is sex, power and money, and the ability to attract the best
partner.
As an advertising expert, Jamie says marketing
traditionally macho products for the metrosexual market is
all about permission - taking typically feminine products
and giving guys permission to use them, thereby eliminating
the stigma associated with girly things.
And he shows us the perfect metro products
- male mascara, 'manscara', in a bottle shaped like a bullet;
a perfume called 'The Stink'; and 'The He-String', a G-string
for men to hold in the family jewels while eliminating that
troublesome visible pantyline.
 Amanda Ferguson:
Our visiting psychologist says the metrosexual
phenomenon is simply a case of men exploring their feminine
side with some self-nurturing and grooming. Men have become
more accustomed to paying attention to their grooming after
watching the gay community. She says metro men are simply
following a trend - some men are bound to be confused by it,
others will take it to extremes. But fear not Aussie males!
Amanda says there are still plenty of women who prefer to
the tough tool belt image!
To find out more about Amanda's work, go
to:
www.lifethatworks.com
Metro couples:
We meet two metro couples who proudly admit
that it's the bloke who points the fashion finger in the relationship.
These women can't even shop without their partner's input
- and what's more the men love it!
Plus
we meet some real Aussie blokes |
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David Collins, the carpenter
David says he has no problem with metros
personally but it's just not in his blood to worry about the
finer things they way they do. What you see is what you get,
he says. It's pointless using skin products in his line of
work - it just picks up the grit and grime. David says metros
are here to stay and they're clearly hoping to gain more opportunities
in the workplace and with women. But it's all cosmetic, he
says. Talk to a metro man and you'll find he's simply insecure
and trying to boost his self-esteem.
David McConville, farrier
David's job involves shoeing horses, and
his attitude to the metro man is therefore pretty down-to-earth.
His wife is a beautician so David admits he does make an effort
with his skin for his wife's sake. But he says the metrosexual
phenomenon is just vanity and men trying to impress work and
women. Since women now have equal standing with men, he says,
you have to be far more impressive to get them. But you could
be a total Greek Adonis looks-wise, but if you can't string
two words together, forget it!
Clive Ogilvy, farrier
Clive says horses don't care what you look
like! He says he refuses to conform to the metro male thing,
but he became acutely aware of the trend when he moved from
the country to the city. Clive says he wears checked shirts,
jeans and riding boots, and a hat if necessary. He proudly
does not own any shoes other than boots - a fact that would
appall Peter Timbs!
The episode debates the pros and cons
of the metrosexual man, and everyone makes their personal
preferences clear, but in the end Rebecca sums up everyone's
feelings by saying whether you're a norm or a snag or a metro
or an ordinary Aussie guy, all that matters is that you're
happy!
 
Dale Lewis tries a face mask
Tune in to Mars Venus at 7.30pm on Wednesdays
on W for women, and again at 1.30am on Thursdays.
Episode
One: Is Plastic So Fantastic?
Episode
Two: Where Are All the Blokes?
Episode
Three: Who Strays and Who Stays?
Episode
Four: Does Fat Matter?
Episode
Five: Bosses v Babies: The Juggling
Act
Episode
Six: When Too Much Is Not Enough
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