The reality show Don’t Quit Your Gay Job (DQYGJ) is in the middle of its second season on OUTtv. At first glance you might assume the set-up is gay guys try to do a job not traditionally known for employing gay men but it’s more than that. As Rob Easton, one of the two stars of the show puts it, "gay people are everywhere doing everything." Whether it be bus drivers, models, hockey players, police officers or strippers.

For those who have seen the first season, you may notice a different feel with the second. Rob told me, "as far as Sean and I as hosts, we definitely know what we’re doing now. We have our shtick. We also kind of know our characters...We’re portrayed in a certain light. Both Sean and I have embraced who we are in our show, and what our roles are, and what we can do to make it a better, more polished product."

It’s like any TV show, Rob continued. Much like how the first episode of Sex and the City was different from those in subsequent seasons, the first episodes of DQYGJ were different. Rob and Sean were nervous about the show and filming. Now, "The nerves aren’t to do with the television anymore or the cameras, it’s to do with whether we’re going to die getting body slammed in a wrestling ring."

Sean Horlor, the other host of the show, added, "I think part of the change that happened is when we started working with the police and the extreme wrestlers, they’ve had a chance to look at the episodes from the first season and they sort of came in as well realizing we are a reality comedy show. That helped change the tone because it didn’t have to be as serious because they knew what to expect."

Of course, in a reality show where you try on a different occupation for a week, there are some things you learn that change your perception of a job. This certainly happened in the episode where the boys worked with the Vancouver Police Department (VPD).

"I think with the police, at least with me, a lot of people have this idea that all cops are assholes," Rob said. "Some of them are, but most of them are just guys, and they’re trying to do their job."

In the episode with the VPD, the boys had to walk a fine line between cheerleading and behaving as people who have a lot of power over the average citizen. Sean and Rob know they wouldn’t actually ever apply to work as an officer, but going through training and working with the VPD did give them an understanding of what some officers go through, and why they might seem like "assholes" when in reality they are just doing their job. "They’re kind of trained that way...to be authority figures...I think shit disturbers like me and Sean...we wouldn’t do well in that kind of situation," Rob admitted.

Sean did find it interesting the VPD actually reached out to DQYGJ, as the gay community and police forces traditionally have had a rocky relationship. "For them in Vancouver to actually have a Hate Crimes squad that was launched within the last few years and then now actually reaching out to a gay television show (to) drive up gay recruitment in the force...it’s pretty cool...I was flattered to be part of that."

As for the show itself, it’s fun to watch, not just because of the comedic interplay between Sean and Rob, but also because it’s not what you might expect. DQYJB plays more like a Canadian version of "the Simple Life" with politer, better looking hosts. Unlike Paris and Nicole, they actually do look like they are trying to accomplish the tasks and are even enjoying it.

As to how they decide which jobs to do, Sean said, "Rob and I sit down and we get the first pick...a big part of why we created it and wanted to be involved is to go out and try those things that we’re interested in. I always find that going into these jobs I have a feeling whether I’d want to do them or not."

Adding to the tension, not only do they have to accomplish the job competently, they are competing against each other. The first season saw Rob and Sean evenly tied as to who was the better drag queen/model/stripper (etc.); and so far in the second season Rob has a slight lead.

Besides all the jobs they try out for the show, they don’t have to worry about their real occupation as hosts of DQYGJ as that looks to be secured. Sean mentioned there is enough interest for them to come back for a third season. Besides OUTtv, the show has been picked up in Europe, and in the United States on here! Network as well.

This welcoming response has been a bit amazing for the boys, as Rob told me. "You’re always your own worst critic, and I’m always surprised how much people like the show...it’s bizarre how people have reacted to it...by and large positively...it’s really cool talking to people from all over."

They will admit that yes it’s on a gay channel, it’s got a gay name, and the stars are gay, but they wanted it to be something anyone can watch. Yet there are moments when they realize the show is actually helping make some change, Sean says. "I have people write me on Facebook from all over the world regularly to talk about the show."

This is one reason Sean wanted to do a show like this - growing up (before there was the Internet) there wasn’t any kind of television program targeting the gay community. They also know people in small towns will get to see positive and inspiring LGBTQ role models. "I had a kid who wrote me probably about a year and a half ago from the middle of nowhere British Columbia saying, I get this on my satellite channel, I’m a big fan, I don’t know any other gay people in my town. Thank you for having this show. It is really rewarding to get feedback like that."

As for the future, they still have two episodes left this season. Next year, they ask our readers to write OUTtv and push for a "Pop-star" type of episode. Additionally, we may get to see them here in person, because the boys would like to come and try being cowboys at the gay rodeo, Rob told me. "If you can get the people in Calgary really stoked on us coming, that would help our cause for getting OUTtv to get us out there. We would love to do it."