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Work Out

Work Out trainer Doug Blasdell dies, was undergoing chemo for a brain tumor

by Andy Dehnart 24 Jan. 2007 | 1:23 pm

Doug Blasdell, one of the trainers on Bravo’s Work Out, died Monday. He “was suddenly hospitalized over this weekend and died unexpectedly” on Jan. 22, AfterElton.com reports. He was 44.

Jody Watley, who was trained by Doug on the show, wrote in her blog (via Towleroad’s discussion of Doug’s death), that Doug was “undergoing chemo for a brain tumor — but he was in remission.” She adds that “after New Years … Doug had gone into a coma,” and that was followed by “one inexplicable medical complication after another.”

Bravo released a statement that offered the network’s condolences but few details:

“All of us at Bravo are deeply saddened by the terrible news of Doug Blasdell’s untimely passing. He was an inspiring trainer, an exuberant colleague who made the gym a very fun place each and every day and was extraordinarily warm in all aspects of his life. Our heartfelt sympathy goes out to his many friends and colleagues at this very difficult time.”

A second season of the show went into production in November; presumably, Doug would have been involved with the production, unless his health didn’t allow it.

In an interview he did with AfterElton.com last summer, he said he was “the daddy of the show. Or the big brother. But it was fun,” and added that he thinks the show was “a beautiful thing because it really focuses on being gay and the gay community in general. The people they picked represent our community very well.”

Work Out’s Doug Blasdell passes away [AfterElton]
Photographs, Love and Rememberance [MySpace via Towleroad]

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about Andy Dehnart

Andy Dehnart’s writing and criticism about television, culture, and media has appeared on NPR and in Vulture, Pacific Standard, The Los Angeles Times, and other publications. He has covered reality television for more than 18 years, and created reality blurred in 2000.

A member of the Television Critics Association who serves on its board of directors, Andy, 41, also directs the journalism program at Stetson University in Florida, where he teaches creative nonfiction and journalism. He has an M.F.A. in nonfiction writing and literature from Bennington College. Learn more about reality blurred and Andy.

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reality blurred is your guide to the world of reality TV and unscripted entertainment, with reality show reviews, news, and analysis. It was created in 2000 by Andy Dehnart. He's still writing and publishing it today.

reality blurred is regularly updated with highlights from the world of reality TV: news and analysis; behind-the-scenes reports; interviews with reality TV show cast members and producers; and recaps and reviews of these reality TV shows, including Survivor, Big Brother, The Great British Baking Show, Shark Tank, The Amazing Race, The Bachelor, Project Runway, Dancing with the Stars, Top Chef, and many more.

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