Most of the basketball mania is gone and CBS reality show fans can cozy up to their favorite shows once again. Plus, of course, ratings machines American Idol and Dancing With the Stars are in full gear, too. Not to mention Celebrity Apprentice … after all, how did you think Dennis Rodman would react to being a business bro? Yes, that’s him (probably) passed out under the coat on the couch.

Without further ado, let’s get into the goings-on from the reality side of TV!

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This week on a very special The Celebrity Apprentice … celebrity intervention? You know, I firmly salute anyone with the courage to sit a friend down and confront them about their problem with alcohol or drugs (or magic. Go Barney!) But there’s a time and a place! This week, the time and place chosen by the men’s team for their intervention into Dennis Rodman’s life was the boardroom, on national television. I think that was in rather poor taste, both by the guys for bringing the issue to a head in front of Trump, Jonathan Tisch (CEO of Loews Hotels) and the women’s team, as well as by NBC for not having a “take two,” where the confrontation wasn’t shared or aired.

Whether or not Dennis does have a problem with alcohol, by the way, I still find it hard to understand the outrage that’s been spewed about him on the show since the season began. Rodman was on one of the biggest stages in the world, the NBA. THIS IS WHO HE IS! And we all know that. He’s done nothing out of character, and the fact that anyone expected differently is nothing more than a front. This is exactly what Donald Trump anticipated, precisely what Mark Burnett assumed would transpire. For the men, and Trump, to be disappointed in Rodman’s failing to perform, is absolutely ludicrous.

Anyone, that’s my rant. Now, let’s get started. Read the rest of this entry »

First of all, my sincerest of sincere apologies to you all. I know that you’ve been waiting impatiently for this, and I wasted little time in putting my thoughts together once I’d actually seen episode three in this operatic drama. However, Sunday night was March Madness Selection Sunday, and alas I was consumed with bracketology. I hope you can forgive me.

Anyway, last night I “watched” this installment of The Celebrity Apprentice while cutting tiny pieces of paper into squares; this year I’m having my ten month-old son select his own NCAA bracket by choosing one team’s logo or another, and I had to prepare. But I digress. Highlight of the episode? George Ross is back! Unfortunately, he was standing in for Don Don instead of Ivanka, but I suppose you can’t have everything. George jumped right in, his age belying the ruthless business nature that continues to lie beneath. It’s like when I hold my son along my right side and make him “walk” while I hum, then I shoot him across my body and we “attack” an unsuspecting stuffed animal. Granted, in that scenario he convulses in laughter, but you get my point with George. He’s brutal. Read the rest of this entry »

There are a gazillion big reality shows on right now. Really. When you add in the smaller, more obscure (and often trashier) shows, there’s probably about five gazillion reality shows on the air. Is that a good thing or a bad thing? I do know that this weekly column can’t cover every reality show on the remote.

Nor can (or do) I watch every reality show — not even some of the more popular ones. But what I can do is give you the lowdown on some of the shows each week, often accompanied by my own opinions. Of course, sometimes my opinion might be more about why I don’t watch a show! I don’t like the concept of The Bachelor and have never watched an entire episode. But the gossip resulting from Jason being a jerk definitely caught my attention! So, what’s been happening this past week?

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I told you it was coming back. I prepared you, enthralled you … I even whetted your appetite for a taste of Don Don (Don Jr.). But you didn’t watch. I know you didn’t. How do I know, you ask? Because not a single one of you is looking me in the eye right now. That’s right; feel the shame.

Of course, not the same kind of shame that I feel for having actually watched The Celebrity Apprentice. This show goes beyond guilty pleasure. But the bottom line is that I enjoy it. And so would you. Forget for a moment that the show was originally searching for an “apprentice” to Donald Trump (i.e. a showpiece and marketing tool). These days, it’s all about how far D-list “celebrities” can shill their fame for charity. That’s right; turn your nose up at this show, and you in essence hate charity. How dare you?!? Read the rest of this entry »

I used to be a huge fan of The Apprentice back when the show was new and fresh. I’ve never been a big fan of Donald Trump, but I enjoyed the concept and the candidates. But then the show became more predictable and the candidates a bit more iffy. George and Caroline left and the Trumplets (Ivanka and Donald, Jr.) took over their duties. Nepotism, I say! Then came the disaster in Los Angeles which marked the end of the regular series.

Last season we were treated to The Celebrity Apprentice and I got hooked on the show all over again. So, it was a no-brainer that I’d be watching again this season, especially when folks like Joan Rivers, Dennis Rodman, and Clint Black are on the show.

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