Thursday, February 13, 2003

 
Reality bites
The remote is getting a workout tonight switching among three channels worth of crap, but surprisingly compelling and watchable crap.

Sex ... now that I've got your attention
First off, I thought I'd like Are You Hot a little bit more than I really did. Instead of having to do immunity challenges, sing bad songs, eat horse rectum, etc., everyone is judged on looks. I'll admit that's a main reason I care even slightly about a lot of the reality shows. However, the show rings a bit hollow to me, even if it is a network-TV version of the Bikini Open or the Miss Hawaiian Tropic contest. Maybe it's because it takes on a real American Idol vibe, although Renegade and Randolph Duke (sadly, not Ralph Bellamy from Trading Places) both are trying hard to be Simon Cowell. Otherwise, it's a snarky version of the spokesmodel competition on Star Search.

Oh yeah, I happened to recognize one of the contestants is a friend of one of my co-workers. Obviously I'm not surprised to see her.

Surviving the game
The male vs. female dynamic is intriguing in the new Survivor, but after a while you've got to wonder when they're going to pull the plug on it. It's been a fun ride, but after a while it seems like it's all been done. It was fun seeing the women beat the men in the first immunity challenge -- a testament to hubris. Funny to see them also go full bore with the cheesecake factor by casting a swimsuit model. I'll probably watch if I'm around, but I don't think I'll go out of my way to watch, or do the Yahoo! fantasy game.

Don't I know you?
Oddly enough, two of the lower profile reality shows I've followed closely were full of Chicago-based cast members. The first was the addicting but terrible Love Cruise. The second is the soon-to-be-finished High School Reunion. Again, it's not all that great, but I guess I'm compelled to watch given that it's focusing on people about my age. While it's supposed to feature the Class of '92, there are a few from Class of '91 and '93.

I guess the one cool thing about the whole thing is how they've given decent face time to Holly, who happened to be in my class at Northwestern. Unfortunately, I had no idea who she was until well after I graduated (with the Playboy spread). However, that makes it two members from my class on reality shows -- another person was on The Amazing Race -- and three total on prime time (with Zach Braff from Scrubs).

While things were supposed to have changed over 10 years, everyone seems to be sliding back into their old roles from high school. Add lots of booze and Hawaii, well, you don't really have a lot of compelling entertainment, just a bad version of The Real World but with a more relevant connection. Also, while they've cast "The Nerd," "The Shy Girl," etc., they still found reasonably attractive and telegenic people. They're still missing a few just absolutely hideous people to make it a real reunion.

Celebrity sleaze
It's been a trip watching The Surreal Life, primarily because almost all the celebrities save for Corey Feldman know how to have a good time making fools of themselves -- whether it be performing in a talent show, playing softball or watching Hammer preach. But having Feldman be such the antagonist makes it watchable enough without it being a boring lovefest. However, scheduling his wedding during the filming of the show seems like a bit much.