As many of you know, trainer Doug Blasdell passed away earlier this year, during the filming of season 2 of "Work Out". Episodes 205 and 206 deal with his illness, and episode 207 deals with his passing and its effect on the other trainers at the gym.

For more information about Doug's illness, read Brain Peeler's blog entry about it from a few weeks ago, where he answers some readers' questions.

Doug's friends have set up the Douglas Blasdell Outreach Program in his memory, a non-profit charity devoted to LGBT education, HIV education, and scholarships for students. You can read more about it and can donate to the program at www.douglasblasdell.org .

This message boards thread is a memorial to Doug; please feel free to post your thoughts about him here.

I am an avid fan of Workout. Sadly, with last weeks preview clips of this weeks show, I knew Doug had passed away.

I have worked as a nurse for over 18 years and have held the hands of many mothers, fathers, sons, daughters, brothers, sisters, grandmothers and grandfathers as they take thier last breath on this world. It is a very humbling experience.

As a father of 4, I can not imagine being without my family. Hearing that Doug's family had all passed away in an earlier show, wanted me to call him and tell him he is not alone. He has people all over the country wishing him well and good fortune.

Though I have dropped a tear or two watching a TV show during an emotional event, most of those shows were fiction and meant to draw an emotion, even though it was not a real event. Watching tonights show and hearing about Doug's passing brought out the real thing. It was as if I lost a close friend and the tears were real.

I would like all of the Workout cast to know, that I have cried with you tonight. Doug was a kind, loving man and it was clearly evident from what we all saw of him.

He will be remembered and dearly missed.

I knew it was bad but even so what a shock. I too just broke down in anguish for this tremendous loss. I am so sorry for all of the people who knew and worked with Doug so intimately. He was a delight and truly one of my most favorite "reality" characters. We are so caught up in the drama we sometimes forget it is about reality and real events do happen. Prior to the last episode I could not stand Peeler and by the end of the show, I admired him for his willingness to be human in front of all of us in viewer land. I hope and pray we can all take a little bit of Doug forward with us and always remember him as a mentor when faced with tough decisions and when deciding how to interact with other people.

Doug is someone I aspire to be and I hope I can reach that goal. His light showed very brightly. For all the nurses out there your great people. Im just a rad tech who works beside you and I wonder how you do it. For the crew at Skysport, especially Doug, prayers and thoughts. I will try to emulate Doug everyday...

Doug,

You were/are such a good inspiration to all on this world.

Bravo showed you in nothing but a positive, fun loving, calming, genuine soul. I will always believe that's because there was nothing but that in you.

You were my favorite character/person, how you made everyone feel special around you was certainly a gift. I like to think you gave me a gift in watching your wonderful nature and great attitude and needing to emulate that as well.

God made you beautiful on the inside and the outside.

I am so glad you did the Work Out show, you were/are such a positive role model for so many. I will always think that part of "his plan" was to use you as a wonderful model for those of us who need one.

Mourning your passing is hard, you were a real gentleman. I hope my sons turn out half as good as you.

God Speed and tons of admiration,
Queenie.

To the loved ones of Doug I send my hugs and prayers. I can't imagine how you must be feeling. I, like others, was suddenly forced to remember you're not characters but real people and Doug's passing was a shock and brought for me many tears. I just can't imagine how the people that REALLY knew him must have felt and still feel today. I am so very sorry the world has lost such an amazing person.

Mikey, it's pretty obvious that you didn't watch the show. Douglas was a trainer there who influenced a whole lot of folks not just at the gym, but on television. His choice of sexuality was never an issue on the show. Take a moment, watch the show, and you might just see what a light this man was to not just the trainers, but to the fans of the show.

I haven't watched the episode yet (Im putting it off, because I know Ill be in more tears, and I didnt want to believe he passed) but just reading on his bio that he did infact pass put me to tears. I kept thinking of what a great guy he seemed to be, telling his SkyLab partner that he was there for her and wanted to be her best friend. Its just WOW.. I cant believe it. He was such an amazing person, and thinking about his passing is putting me to tears again.

My heart and prayers are with his family, his ex, all the trainers over at SkySport, and with all fans alike.

May he rest in peace.

Sorry, not even near appropriate for this thread!!!!

Totally not cool... I looked at the trainers I have known in my past, and none of them are of his caliber... I wish I could have a trainer with the heart he has... He truly loved what he did, and that was helping others... It's too sad to see him go, but one can hope that his legacy can live on in everyone he has touched...

Sorry, new to this. I just wanted to say how sad I was about Doug' s passing. From what I knew of him from the show, he had the type of personality that by just being around him, could make you be a better person. That is a gift that will be missed, but hopefully will inspire others to be like him. We could use more Doug's in the world!

Isn't that the truth.

I had been out of the Workout loop for awhile as, well, I don't have cable anymore. I was at my parents house doing laundry and was watching the Workout marathon that was on. I couldn't believe that Doug had passed away. I instantly started crying. I don't know why. I only know him from seeing him on the show. It honestly felt like I had lost a good friend. He is someone that I wish that I could be like. He was so good natured and caring. I felt like if I had met him on the street and said hello, he would have been just as nice to me, a stranger, as he was to all his friends and co-workers on the show. I cried even harder when I saw Peeler's reaction. I never knew they were such good friends. My heart just sank and wished that I could have been there to give all the Workout crew support and understanding.

To all those affected to such a terrible lose, I send my love and caring to you.

I was extremely shocked about Doug getting sick and passing. I've watch both seasons of the show and will Miss Doug. I think he taught many people how to just be there for each other with honest to goodness care.

Bless you Doug!
And all who are directly impacted by his loss.
He'll be humming over you and protecting you!!

It has been an emotional season for the workout crew with Doug's passing but I sincerely feel that it was handled by the trainers and the network extremely well. Doug seemed to be such a beautiful person and someone who touched anyone he came accross. How wonderful to have been able to have so deeply touch so many that he had never even met! That man was definitely "Touched by an Angel" and put on this earth for all to see what pure love really is. I hope that the trainers can recover from this loss and take the lesson from Dougs' legacy.
Best wishes to all and hope to see you all soon,
Sincerely,
Jemara50

does anyone know exactly what doug died from?? when he was training his ex boyfriend who was terminally ill i would have never thought doug would die first nevermind so soon. its so sad. but he was so healthy, what happened?

Cheo, Doug's ex, isn't terminal, his kidneys are shot, and he needs to stay in shape for transplant purposes. Doug died from a brain tumour and kidney problems that had killed ALL of his family before age 43.

I just started watching the show not long ago but I was very sad to hear about Doug.He was a very caring person and will be greatly missed. JEN

It's really tragic that Doug passed away. I don't think you could ask for a more compassionate or kind person, from what I saw. Unfortuantely, from what I have read and gathered, it sounds like Doug was bestowed with "poor" genetics, and he wasn't destined to be on Earth for very long. Didn't he say that his parents passed away when they were in their early 40s, and he was astounded that he was going to live to see the ripe age of 44?

omg did u guys see this!!?!??!?!?!



Jackie disaster

I wonder if Smoking Gun has checked this out??!!??

Jackie,
I am soooooooooooooo disappointed in you this season. First, you flirted with other people so bad while you were with Mimi and then you wondered why she acted immature and hurt to you! Second, you used Rebecca and it was VERY unprofessional to play around with one of your employees. I very suprised that you didn't get sued over it... and now that you have no use for her you deny her any contact. Maybe I could live with those two things ... BUT NOW... you deny Brian from being part of Doug's charity planning???!!!! That you would stoop so low that you would even use the death of Doug????!!!! I'm sure you will probably think this is someone that knows Brian but it is not. It was one of your biggest fans that now does not like you or your show anymore. Brian LOVED Doug and you are so hateful to him all the time. Your ego needs to take a break and you need to be HUMAN again and you are not so big that you cannot end up a nobody very soon. Doug loved Brian and Doug would have wanted Brian to be a part of his fund raisers. I'm so very very very disappointed in you. It's so sad.
An Ex Fan from Florida.

Seeing the new season start without Doug's bright blue eyes and smiling face was so sad (it was great to see a few pictures of him though). He was a wonderful, kind, caring man and will not be forgotten, not only by those who knew him personally, but by those of us who came to know and love him from watching the show. Last season was so hard, watching him so alive and vibrant and then just having him... gone...

I hope the people who he worked with and cared for can remember the wonderful, caring person he was and put their egos aside to work together for his memorial fund. (Brian was his dear friend and the fund is about Doug, and not about "business", Skysport, or Jacki - I hope she can get over herself and remember what truly matters, and what Doug would want!). Can't you all remember what it was like to loose "one of your own" so recently? He would love for his legacy to be to help you all love, care for and appreciate eachother more!

Jackie,
You make a female dog look like a saint. I'm so sickened by your unprofessionalism. You say Brian is unprofessional, honey, you wouldn't know professional if it was standing right in front of you. Your trainers don't respect you because you fool around with them it's like watching a three year old. Doug loved Brian and he loved him a lot more than you, he thought of Brian as his son, you are so pathetic. You can not be friends with people you work with and also be the boss and think everyone should just bow at your command. If you want to be the "friend" kind of boss, you have to give your workers kudos for their own contributions and thoughts. You could have made this a win, win, win for everyone by putting Brian in charge of Dougs foundation and your viewers would have been so touched, but you just couldn't do that. You're a control freak and you have to be the center of attention and I'm really tired of you telling your trainers that they are there because of you and that they are riding on your coat tells. ANYONE of them could have their own show and it would be far more interesting than yours. People only love to hate you and they are getting over that too. I hope Brian gets his own show. I'm sure he's a big baby but bottom line he is a good person and has a good soul and I wish I could say the same for you. Better to be a big baby than the biggest female dog known to earth! I am way over your show and everyone else I talk to feels the same way. I'm a huge fan of a lot of Bravo shows but yours is no fun to watch anymore and it's not even informational.

Dear Sitaiheng Douglas,

Im glad that well still have the opportunity to meet in this life.

I never believe the gossip columns anyways.


With Shaolin Salute,


Sidai