Reality Clack – Top Chef, Survivor, Big Brother 11, Amazing Race

by Jackie Schnoop

I have to ask you … are you insane? If you are, head on over to the Big Brother 11 application and try to get your foot in the door. Now, be honest when you answer the questions about your relationship with your mother and the last time you’ve punched, kicked, hit, or threw something in anger.

If you’re into defenestration of your foes, let them know. I like to use the word “defenestration” and just don’t get the chance to do so very often. But, if you practice the art of defenestration, BB11 may be just the place for you! What would you do if Big Brother made you famous? Me? I’d hide under a rock never to emerge into society again. Neither the application nor the eligibility requirements list the season’s starting date, but I’m thinking there will be no winter edition of the show if they’re just putting the casting into full swing now. Of course, if the actors go out on strike, a winter edition could possibly happen. I guess we’ll wait and see.

That was the week it was

The dearth is almost upon us! Last night was the big Survivor finale and reunion show. Yep, the end of a very interesting season on a reality television standard. I’m pleased as punch with the winner. But it means the reality TV dearth is almost here.

On one of the few ongoing reality shows left in the grid, it was catering a bridal shower for the cheftestants on Top Chef. That bride certainly moves in different social circles than any of the brides I’ve known in my life. It is refreshing to know that some of these cheftestants have a worse palate than my own. I’m more personally into whether I like something or not. Sometimes I might not want to know what I’m eating! In the end, it was bye-bye time for Danny. Next week Martha Stewart will be on the show.

The Amazing Race final three teams appeared on The Early Show. Harry Smith called out Dandrew for being the worst team ever in the final three. I loved it.

In the news

Reality Check Radio will be featuring interviews with The Amazing Race teams this week. Ken and Tina will be interviewed live on-air at 8 PM PT/11 PM ET tonight (Monday, December 15). Nick and Starr will be interviewed live on-air at 8 PM PT/11 PM ET on Tuesday, December 16. If you have the hankering to call in and ask them questions, the phone number during the radio show is (347) 633-9671. If you miss the shows, the interviews are always available in the archives on the site.

The New York Daily News is reporting that Top Chef judge Tom Colicchio is being sued by a former employee of his restaurant claiming violations of labor laws. She says she was cheated out of both tips and overtime. True or not? Well, it’s obviously true she’s suing him. But whether the workplace conditions are as she reports, I just don’t know. Often the restaurant business is a tricky one with tips and all. Perhaps they should just go to a better hourly rate and not tip. Like that will ever happen!

According to Celebrity Today, we will only be seeing three weeks of auditions instead of the usual four weeks on the upcoming American Idol season. Sheesh, that’s my favorite part of the whole season! I love to mock and humiliate the fools who think they can sing when they’re as bad as I am! Hollywood Week on the show will be expanded to two weeks. Actually, I can deal with that. So many contestants just up and vanished during the Hollywood Weeks of the past that I was thinking it was some sort of Bermuda Triangle of talent.

In more American Idol news, Zap2It is reporting that there will be no “Idol Gives Back” this season. They’re claiming it’s due to the recession. I can’t help but wonder if they might be psychic or something. I would think that planning for such a big event has to be started in the earliest stages of the show. Hmmm … how did they know things would go so bad?

Until the next time, it’s been real if not necessarily reality.