Work Out
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Work Out is a reality television series on Bravo.
| Work Out | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Reality |
| Running time | 60 minutes (including commercials) |
| Starring | Jackie Warner |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original channel | Bravo |
| Original run | July 19, 2006–present |
| No. of episodes | 6 (as of August 1, 2006) |
The show centers around Jackie Warner, owner of a gym and spa in Beverly Hills, California. It features many of the trainers who work for Warner, and also covers aspects of Warner's private life, such as her relationship with her girlfriend Mimi, an artist.
Bravo announced that it has picked up the show for a second season and will begin filming in November 2006. [1]
Contents |
[edit] The Show
In 2004 fitness expert Jackie Warner opened Sky Sport and Spa. On July 19th, 2006, the Bravo network aired the first episode of Work Out (interestingly enough, developed following Jackie's appearance on Jonathan Antin's Bravo Reality series Blow Out). The show follows the day to day routine of Jackie and shows all of the drama that goes on behind the scenes in keeping a business afloat, while juggling her own personal life, as well as dealing with the personal issues of those who work for her as trainers. [2] [3]
Jackie reveals how she came to terms with her being lesbian at a young age, and the show closely follows her ongoing, up and down relationship with her longtime partner, Mimi. Jackie shows quickly that she has a very strong work ethic and that she has very high expectations for her employees. She places her clients and her business first, and often during the series she is forced to confront her employees for various reasons, due to either their not being as professional as she would like, or due to her disagreeing with their training techniques. [4]
The show follows her through each work day, then follows her home at night and into her personal life with her girlfriend of four years, Mimi. At 26, Mimi is 11 years younger than Jackie, 37. Mimi's possessive and jealous nature is one of the constant causes of fights between her and Warner, in addition to the added stress of the show itself.
Warner has the personality that makes it obvious she is always in control... except with Mimi. In one episode, Jackie forgets to call Mimi from a resort where she had taken her employees for a weekend workout and getaway. The purpose of the getaway was to help build a bond between Jackie and her trainers, while also helping her to identify her strongest employees. When she finally gets around to calling Mimi the next day, Jackie is still reluctant because she knows that Mimi will be furious. [5]
There was no answer, and Jackie leaves a confusing message that indicates she didn't have her phone all night, and that its battery was down anyway, points that will come into play in the inevitable confrontation with Mimi later. When talking to her employee's about it, one states that Mimi has a right to be angry, since Jackie did not call, and Jackie agrees with her. Jackie's worried on the trip back home. That night, Mimi comes over and presents Jackie with a painting she made of Jackie as a gift, the two women have dinner, then the subject of Jackie not calling comes up. Mimi explodes, finding out that the night in which Jackie did not call, Jackie was drinking and in the pool with her trainers. Jackie calls it "bonding", Mimi calls it "partying". Mimi misunderstands a statement made by Jackie during the argument, and walks off to grab her coat and leave. Jackie tries to explain, saying that Mimi had completely misunderstood what she said and that she didn't tell Mimi to go or that their relationship was over. Mimi stops at the door and asks Jackie if she wants her to stay, or to go. Jackie replies that she wants Mimi to do what she wants to do. Mimi walks out, much to Jackie's dismay. A week later, after many phone calls and some sweet talking by Jackie, they are back together and the fight is forgotten. [6]
Throughout the series, it is evident that the one person who can keep Jackie on her toes is Mimi, who challenges Jackie but is also intimidated by her. Jackie always maintains her cool, calm and somewhat authoritatian demeanor, and always wants to talk things through in a rational manner, whereas Mimi depends solely on passion and has a fiery and childish temper, as well as an unusually jealous nature. Mimi often overreacts to situations due to her own insecurities, and Jackie often gives her reason to get upset - like going on dates with other people and not mentioning or discussing it with Mimi until after the fact. At times, Jackie seems to antagonize Mimi in an attempt to coerce her to either leave or be the girlfriend and partner Jackie wants her to be. These two feed off each other. Mimi's habit of biting Jackie, both in loving moments, as well as after a fight, becomes increasingly annoying to Jackie, who feels it is immature and that she is being disrespected by Mimi in such incidences. The power imbalance within the relationship often leaves Mimi on guard and hostile, perhaps because she doesn't seem to have a career of her own to focus on. A talentd painter, Mimi might just need to focus more on her own work and interests, and less on what Jackie's doing every minute if the day.
In another episode, Jackie finds herself in trouble with Mimi after Jackie goes to a strip bar with her employees, without Mimi. In yet another, one of Jackie's female employees, Rebecca Cardon, moons her through the office window, while Mimi is in the office. Mimi immediately introduces herself to the employee, and makes certain that she knows that mooning Jackie is unacceptable to her, and she tells Cardon that this was her "first warning".
It is Jackie's constant juggling act of antagonizing and yet trying to appease Mimi, and keep her business going, that makes the show riveting and gives it show its edge. [7]
Despite their regular fights, Warner and Mimi are devoted to each other, and the couple appear to be deeply in love. In another episode, Jackie makes a point that the two women have been together for years, not just months, indicating the relationship has been lengthy, and it has been reported that the two have been together for over four years, having met in an art class. She also points out that if they broke up every time they had a fight, they would be broken up every two days. [8]
Jackie also struggles with her mom, who is very conservative, and who is not understanding whatsoever of Jackie's lesbianism. In a five-day visit to California, Mimi and Jackie's mother clash, and Jackie's mother tells her that she likes Mimi but doesn't trust her. Jackie informs her that it is Mimi who she is with, and that her mom will simply have to accept her and the fact that she is lesbian. In that same episode, Jackie reveals she wants to have her eggs frozen, and in the future she wishes to have them fertilized, and implanted into Mimi so that the two lovers can have a child together. Her mother disagrees with that completely, which leads to many uneasy and uncomfortable conversations, with Jackie refusing to waver from her stance, but at the same time being respectful of her mom's opinions. During a dinner at her house, several of Jackie's friends begin debating same-sex marriage with Jackie's mom, who stands her ground against them all. Jackie defends her mom, telling everyone that her mother has her own opinions, and that it isn't fair for everyone to gang up on her, at which point the conversation takes another direction. At the end of that episode, she sees her mother off to the airport, and her mother leaves her with the knowledge that she will be there for her if she decides to have a baby, but she disagrees with her having that baby by allowing Mimi to carry it. [9]
[edit] Reaction to the series
The source of the success of the show seems to be the whole reality segment, with time shared equally between the professional life and the private love life of Jackie Warner, all unrehearsed and unplanned.[citation needed] The show does not shy away from showing Mimi and Jackie kissing, cuddling, or laying in bed with one another. It also shows every aspect of their conversations, to include Mimi informing Jackie that it's been a while since they had sex, and that they were having sex that night, no debating it. It is that honesty, and the view that the audience gets into a lesbian relationship that merits attention.
It delves somewhat into the lives of her employee's, but very little, as none seem as interesting as Jackie, Mimi, and the up and down rollercoaster they keep the viewers on. Warner is savvy, professional, incredibly fit, and seemingly successful. That, however, is the more boring part according to some reviews. The real muscle of the show instead is her not-so-perfect personal life. Her employee's are mildly amusing, but mostly uninteresting. As a review in Variety points out, it is Mimi who is "this shows dragon lady. A stunningly twisted personality even for reality TV". [10]
It is that strong-willed, passionate, incredibly jealous and yet loving relationship that has led to the shows increasingly expanding audience. It is the fiery passion of Mimi, the fast-paced high-profile business of Jackie, and the very real and personal arguments between the two that draws the audience in. In the pilot episode, Warner was a bit self-conscious and stiff. But as time goes on she learns to loosen up and live with the constant presence of the cameras, and her story and drama unfold more naturally as the show becomes increasingly riveting. [11] [12]
[edit] Trivia
- Rebecca Cardon, a former contestant of the reality series The Amazing Race (season 6), is a personal trainer at the gym. In episode 3, she can be seen training Victoria Alynette Fuller, also of Amazing Race fame.
