Reality Roundup

[Prudence]

Survivor has it's own thread -- but what about all those other reality shows that refined citizens don't admit to watching? Surely I am not alone in my teevee sins. (Maybe I should head to the LoT Confessional!) I love to people watch. Remnants of my youth when participation wasn't so much of an option. But people watching can be SO educational!

So far this week I have watched two: America's Next Top Model and portions of the American Idol results show.

I love ANTM. As a smart/not-pretty girl, I *LOVE* watching pretty girls be stupid. And for that, this week's episode was terrific! For those who didn't watch, the aspiring models had to read from a teleprompter as if they were commentating from fashion week in Paris. I'll admit, I would have struggled over some of the designers and models names. But watching girl after girl totally flustered by "magenta" was just hysterical. My size 18 butt might have been jiggling on the treadmill at the time, but at least I can pronounce Crayola crayon colors correctly.

I used to watch AI more often, when I was home in the evenings, but lately I'm really only interested in the results show. I'm just not a fan of most of the songs they sing. (Although now I'm kicking myself that I missed showtunes night.) So last night I flipped between AI results and Revalations (as neither deserved my full attention.) I have a minor teevee crush on Bo. Ahh.... Memories of youth.

Missed The Amazing Race this week. Usually I like this show, but the remaining contestants all annoy me, and not in the way where I want to watch and see if they get hurt.

VCR is all set up to record The Apprentice tonight. The only thing better than watching pretty people act stupid is watching smart pretty people act stupid. Will Chris finally be fired? I predict that Tana and Kendra will end up in the final, thus ensuring a female apprentice. (And if that's the case, Tana takes it.) Possible replacement for Kendra would be Bren, as Kendra flys under the radar so much -- when she's not whining.) Chris is gone soone. Craig had one good idea, but no other discernable skills. And Alex, even though he did just graduate from Seattle U, is a pain in the patootie. I didn't want to root for one of the high school graduates, but the "mom from Iowa" has a healthy dose of common sense and deserves to go far.

So, anyone else willing to admit their addiction?

[Baileykat]

Kat and I watch Amazing Race! We're rooting for Rob and Amber! I know they are "dirty" players..but come on..it's a game! (They still should have at least slowed down when the brothers had their wreck!) We missed it this week! Drat!

We used to watch The Swan! It was truly amazing what plastic surgery and some dental work could do for some of those women!

I admit to watching anything reality based on MTV! I've seen every episode of The Osbournes and The Newleyweds! And even Ashley Simpson! :eek: Used to watch the Real World..but I've missed the last two seasons. Now we've started watching The Barkers - the drummer from Blink 182 and his Miss USA fiance...quite funny!


And of course...we are die hard Survivor fans!

Reality TV ...oh how we love the! :rolleyes:

[Sheila]

Over on MP, I tend to be the one who starts all the Reality TV threads!

Currently, my status list:

Majorly addicted: Amazing Race, America's Next Top Model, AI, Extreme Makeover Home Edition, Big Brother
Losing its appeal but I'm still watching: Apprentice, Survivor, Super Nanny
No longer watching: This season's The Bachelor (skank city)

The rest, I may watch while flipping through the channels but they sure ain't appointment TV for me....

[Prudence]

Oooh! Shelia -- which one is the one with just the one nanny and which one is the one where there's the "agency" where one of three gets shipped out?

I never got into Big Brother or The Bachelor.

I sometimes watch Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, but any more all I really care about is the sob story at the beginning and the reveal at the end.

[Sheila]

Super Nanny features the one nanny and is on ABC. Nanny 911 is on Fox and in typical Fox fashion, a rip-off of Super Nanny but they somehow got it on the airwaves first.

Same thing with Wife Swap (ABC) and Trading Spouses (Fox). Wife Swap was first but Fox ripped off the concept.

And speaking of Big Brother (:)), this is one of the skankiest shows ever but I find myself every year tuning in three nights a week for it. I've even addicted others to this show. It's too goofily compelling for me. Can't.Resist.

[Motorboat Cruiser]

The ones I really liked were on PBS and are no longer shown, such as "Frontier House" and "Colonial House". I thought they were far more interesting as they forced people to live during a historic time. Good stuff.

[Prudence]

Those were fun, too. I was both amused and annoyed by the family in Colonial House that refused to go to church. "We want to play at being colonials, but only the parts we like."

[Sheila]

Those were fun, too. I was both amused and annoyed by the family in Colonial House that refused to go to church. "We want to play at being colonials, but only the parts we like."

Yes, I loved that series, too. And also the wife of the mayor (?) who insisted on being a feminist during colonial times -- I'm thinking she was unclear on the concept. ;) Cracked me up.

My favorite of the whole series had to be Manor House, though. I'm so glad I live during a time when classism is not quite as rampant as it was in the 19th century. And I love my indoor plumbing, vacuum cleaner and car!

[cirquelover]

I'll admit to watching the Amazing Race and Extreme makeover home edition. I have watched Supernanny a few times too. I used to watch AI but I just can't seem to get into it this year. I have caught a few episodes of one of the wafe swap shows but I don't remember which one.
I loved the PBS ones, they were fun to watch and it made you think about what it must have been like!

[Morrigoon]

American Idol and Nanny 911. Positively addicted.

Must learn more about this Supernanny though - if it's half as funny as Nanny 911, I'll watch it too.

[Prudence]

I much prefer Supernanny to Nanny 911. The "agency" gimick is too, well, gimicky.

So, Apprentice last night. Still haven't watched the first half (got home at 9:30), but it ended up pretty much as I expected. Of course Chris is gone. I don't know why Trump catered to him so much. Crybaby. Although I have to say I was impressed that the guys appeared able to go for the throat in the boardroom, yet still be civil outside. So many others couldn't seem to make that separation. Kendra's smart, but she's so wrapped up in her victim role. Next week's previews teased a little conflict between the victim and the do-nothing. Craig calls her a girl! Oooh that would get my Irish up.

[alphabassettgrrl]

Amazing Race. We got started on it when my friend was a contestant, and now we keep watching it. We hate Rob and Amber though! I don't really like anybody that's left, but there's a couple teams that, yeah, I'd like to see take a fall.

I do watch Queer Eye for the Straight Girl. The lesbian they have on the team is HOT!! OMG. I watch the QEFSG, too, but that's just for entertainment value.

[Sheila]

Kendra's smart, but she's so wrapped up in her victim role. Next week's previews teased a little conflict between the victim and the do-nothing. Craig calls her a girl! Oooh that would get my Irish up.

I still don't understand how Craig has made it this far. Totally UTR approach which is a fatal flaw as far as Trump is concerned. I'm predicting a Tana vs. Kendra final two this time around. Alex and Bren just don't seem like Trump material.

Amazing Race. We got started on it when my friend was a contestant, and now we keep watching it. We hate Rob and Amber though! I don't really like anybody that's left, but there's a couple teams that, yeah, I'd like to see take a fall.

Really? What season were they on? How cool! :) AVP has been pushing me for a long time to submit an application with her. We'd rock but I'm afraid my employers don't take well to employees disappearing for a couple of months....

As far as this season goes, I'd like to see either Uchenna & Joyce or Meredith & Gretchen win. I don't like Rob & Amber nor Ron & Kelly. And Lynn & Alex are getting on my nerves even though I thought they were amusing in the beginning.

[Mousey Girl]

I watch Survivor and TAR regularly.

I watched the Apprentice at the beginning of this season, but as the season has gone on, it is getting more annoying than entertaining. I tend to turn to it during commercials on CSI.

I like Supernanny. She seems to really help these people, although I can understand how grown people let their kids get that out of control.

I haven't watched AI for the last couple of seasons.

Big Brother is amusing.

I have only seen 1 episode of Extreme Makeover Home Edition. It was the family from here (Bakersfield). There was sooooo much hype. I knew quite a few of the people who worked on the barn & house. I never went to the site, but a lot of my friends did (everyday!).

[Ghoulish Delight]

Don't laugh...we've been watching Carpocalypse on SpikeTV. Rednecks racing in demo-derby races. Freaking hillarious! Gotta love them Florida hicks. AND it's full of cars crashing. What could be better?

[Sheila]

Don't laugh...we've been watching Carpocalypse on SpikeTV. Rednecks racing in demo-derby races. Freaking hillarious! Gotta love them Florida hicks. AND it's full of cars crashing. What could be better?

Me? The queen of RTV make fun of someone else watching something equally as trashy as I? Not to worry, my friend -- you're welcome to wallow in the pit of reality TV with the rest of us. Oink. ;)

I don't have cable but I keep hearing about this show where they take a car and turn it into some ridiculously-hi tech lawn mower, etc. Do you watch that one too? It sounds pretty cool....

[Prudence]

I caught a bit of Colonial House today where Ms. I'm not going to church was going on about how she'd stand up for her (modern) beliefs if she really lived back then.

Um, no you wouldn't. In all likelihood, it wouldn't even have occurred to you that it was possible to get away with holding beliefs outside the norm. And the punishments were real. Not pretend for teevee. Grrr. Apparently stupid people are the only ones who can take three months off work.

[Ghoulish Delight]

I don't have cable but I keep hearing about this show where they take a car and turn it into some ridiculously-hi tech lawn mower, etc. Do you watch that one too? It sounds pretty cool....I believe you'd be talking about Monster Garage. Great show. Monster House too, where they go nuts and completely redo a house to a wacky theme. They go all out and pull off some damn good stuff, it's even sometimes quite liveable.

Overhaullin' is good, where they "steal" people's cars, lead them on for a week to make them think their car (it's usually a classic car that the owner loves, but neglects) has been stripped, and then completely trick out the car. I love it because the lead design guy, Chip Foose, does awesome work. They don't go outrageous with the cars (a-la Pimp My Ride). Foose is all about the classic hot-rod look. His cars always turn out undeniably eye-catching, yet completely tasteful.

[Prudence]

Anyone want to fill me in on last week's Amazing Race? I forgot to set the VCR -- although I remembered tonight.

Any further Apprentice predictions? Alex isn't long for this game. He thinks way too highly of himself. When the cast was announced, he had a whole website done up with an entire section of professional photography of him. Gah. Why can't any of our local contestants ever be compelling? Whatsherface quit and Alex thinks he's a model.

I don't think Craig will make it, either. He seems to have issues about working with women as colleagues. He also seems to be in a different reality most of the time. Kendra is also in a different reality, but she actually has good ideas. Repeatedly. She whines too much and doesn't always play well with others, but she has damn good ideas in that head of hers. But Tana's got more polish.

Anyone watch Mr. Romance? I like me a good man pageant.

[Mousey Girl]

I want Tana to win The Apprentice. She is the least annoying/whining of the 4 that are left.

TAR: India
U&J took the FF and she commented that she hoped it wasn't a head shaving thing, and it was. She went through with it. He was very supportive, he even cried with her. He told her she didn't have to do it. She looks great! They won the leg, but no prize.

G&M continue to luck out. G is whining non-stop, "Oh Meridithhhhh." They should have been Philiminated, but weren't. They make dumb decisions and I am afraid they are going to end up seriously hurt.

A&L were doing ok, until they got their last clue guiding them to the PS. They got in a taxi and the driver told them he knew where it was (it was at one of the many, many palaces in India). He took them to 1 palace and it was the wrong one. By the time they got to the correct location it was too late.

R&K: Still arguing, still annoying. We were left with an interesting sound bite for tonight's epi..can't remember word for word, but it was a negative remark about him being a POW. They are still hanging with R&A.

R&A: Not much going on with them. They are hanging with R&K, still smug, still arrogant.

[SusieP.]

Overhaullin' is good, where they "steal" people's cars, lead them on for a week to make them think their car (it's usually a classic car that the owner loves, but neglects) has been stripped, and then completely trick out the car. I love it because the lead design guy, Chip Foose, does awesome work. They don't go outrageous with the cars (a-la Pimp My Ride). Foose is all about the classic hot-rod look. His cars always turn out undeniably eye-catching, yet completely tasteful.

A guy I work with had his car Overhauled! Of course right now I can't remember what kind of car it was....but it was the guy who had twins and they put in car seats that matched the inside leather seats. It was really nice. Of course, he doesn't drive it to work, it's in a garage somewhere, so I haven't seen it IRL.

I have to check out the demolition derby show- that sounds ridiculous. I'm all about the ridiculous! :D

[Prudence]

Normally, while I enjoy me some good reality teevee, I don't get personally invested. That's WHY I like reality teevee -- I don't have the time or energy to deal with plot and character development right now.

But damn that Bo. Damn him. I am not supposed to care about American Idol contestants. It's a stupid talent show where the grand prize is recording some schlocky pop CD that no one buys, right before the winner slips back into oblivion.

But Bo -- he can rock, he loves his grandma, he has just a hint of bad boy past, and dammit, he makes me swoon.

Which is a definite problem when I'm on the treadmill, which is where I usually am when I'm watching AI.

And in other reality news -- Uchenna and Joyce won, which should come as no surprise given that betting was cut off ages ago due to a sudden spike for them. Kelly's final speech was about the only intelligent thing she said the whole show.

Meanwhile, we're down to the two women on the apprentice. Predictions?

[Sheila]

But damn that Bo. Damn him. I am not supposed to care about American Idol contestants. It's a stupid talent show where the grand prize is recording some schlocky pop CD that no one buys, right before the winner slips back into oblivion.

Along with Bo, I luvs me some Baby V, too. ;) I think she's a cutie. Although I like country and I think Carrie has a good voice, she just doesn't really do anything for me. This and last year's AI hasn't really had me as interested as the first two years. Kelly Clarkson continues to do really well in her career, and Clay and Ruben seem to be hanging in there pretty darn well record sales-wise. But Fantasia? Meh.

And in other reality news -- Uchenna and Joyce won, which should come as no surprise given that betting was cut off ages ago due to a sudden spike for them. Kelly's final speech was about the only intelligent thing she said the whole show.

Yay for U&J! So happy they won and so happy Rob & Amber lost. :evil: I about PIMP during the last 15 minutes of the show!

However, I personally feel Ron was far more detestable than Kelly. He treated her very badly. I have no idea why she'd ever want to marry him. Plus why would he reject her so forcefully when they're only 48 hours or so from the finish line? Couldn't he just wait a few more days? So...I guess this means they won't be sharing their Travelocity $20,000 prize on the same trip, eh? ;)

Meanwhile, we're down to the two women on the apprentice. Predictions?

I kind of think Tana is going to take it. But Kendra is an up and comer -- I think the only thing that may cause Kendra to lose is that Trump may feel he can't mold her to be less aggressive. Hopefully, they will not humiliate the runner-up like last's year snarkfest between Kelly and Jenn.

And on America's Next Top Model, looks like our Final 2 will be Kahlen and Naima. Can't see Keenyah winning with her really bad attitude. At least, I hope not!

[Prudence]

Bo is wearing leather pants. I feel faint. Pardon me whilst I swoon.

[MerryPrankster]

I never posted on this thread, but I did confess elsewhere to watching America's Next Top Model. Who else watched "cycle 4"? I have to admit that I was never too crazy about Naima. I wanted Kahlen to win. I thought she did a great job on the runway in the final episode. I love reading the ANTM message board at Television Without Pity -- hilarious stuff! They call Tyra, TYrant and worse - Ha!

[Mousey Girl]

I would have loved to see Kahlen win. I really liked her personality. I had a gut feeling from day one Naima would get it. She seemed to be the most different in her looks. I could not believe how far Keenyah got. I could never figure out what the judges saw in her. At least Brittany had a personality and wasn't totally self absorbed (ok, she was self absorved, but not to the extent that Keenyah is).

I wonder what these girls thought when they saw themselves on TV. ..

[Prudence]

You can't prove I watched it! You have no evidence! Quick, let me hide this tape I used to tape the finally while I was out of town...

[Kevy Baby]

My favorite of the whole series had to be Manor House, though. I'm so glad I live during a time when classism is not quite as rampant as it was in the 19th century. And I love my indoor plumbing, vacuum cleaner and car!(Sorry; I missed this thread the first go-around.)

Manor House was oddly compelling. The family and most of the servants actually tried to give it an honest go of things. Made me really appreciate what we've got today.

About the only "Reality" shows I am into are Monster House and Monster Garage (MG is best when the crew fails!) and Queer Eye.

[MerryPrankster]

I wonder what these girls thought when they saw themselves on TV. ..

Gawd...I don't know what these people think after they see themselves on the reality shows. Utter embarassment I would think, but probably not. Of course, the editing always tells a different story. There are plenty of moments in my life that I would be mortified if they were to be caught on film.

I liked Brittany too. Keenyah -- oh lordy, her head was swelling along with her tummy. :evil:

Naima's CG add is in this week's Us Weekly. Ugh!

[Prudence]

Word is Janice is out, and Twiggy is in for the next round.

Not that I'd be paying attention or anything.

[Mousey Girl]

Well.... when she attacked Tyra I knew something would happen. Tyra was not pleased at ALL.

I hope Kahlen goes on and pursues a modeling career.

[Prudence]

So, anyone else watching reality this summer? I've been grooving on Rockstar:INXS. First of all, I loved INXS, I really did. Second, unlike that *other* singing show, these contestants are a) old enough to drink and b) actually talented. They play instruments, write and arrange music, and have actually had a life experience or two. Anyone else watching and want to make predictions?

[katiesue]

Sadly I must watch wayyyy too much TV. I've missed the INXS (although friends give it high marks). I loved Blow Out on Bravo. Girls Next Door has kind of got me hooked - it's lame but in a train wreck waiting to happen kind of way. My Super Sweet 16 on MTV is just outrageous, $180K for a birthday party? I can't watch Surreal Life as Janice Dickenson's face just makes me queasy.

I watched Tommy Lee goes to College and, sadly, like it. The Hulk Hogan one on VH1 isn't that horrible either. The American Princess one on WE is lame but my daughter likes it. And don't forget Bridezillas - those women are just bonkers.

Stuff even I can't watch-
I Married a Princess (the Catherine Oxenberg one)
Filthy Rich Cattle Drive - bleh

[Prudence]

My brain is full of pondering informal and formal rulemaking (why am I taking that class?!) so of course it's back to reality teevee.

I'm still digging Rockstar:INXS. I don't think I'll ever be able to watch Idol again. It was barely watchable anyhow and now I've seen a show where the contestants have actual talent and experience.

Anyone else watching? Any predictions for the winner? I'm worried JD will win and I don't think he deserves it. I'm rooting for Marty. I wasn't impressed by him at first, but now I am. Plus I think he can actually take the band somewhere. And I liked his original song much better.

And coming up soon -- the old favorites return. What will Survivor's "twists" be this time? How will Amazing Race handle roadblocks with young kids?

[Tito's Kitten]

Not so much reality tv for me.... the TIVO is on hiatus. I miss my TIVO. budup badup. I miss his funny little noises....