Reality Clack – Evil Russells, mylar balloons over Colorado
Lately on television, reality shows have really been a bad example of the real reality in which we live. For example, on Survivor: Samoa, we have two Russells. One is definitely an “Evil Russell.” But the Good Russell is exhibiting poor leadership skills — he was the Chosen One to lead his tribe in the beginning of the season. The supposed Good Russell has a chip on his shoulder the size of Wisconsin, too.
The latest route for many of the reality shows I watch is to get the most obnoxious self-absorbed folks ever in the cast. Then they focus on those people for the action almost more than any physical competitions or such. I suppose it does take a quirky personality and a dubious psyche to want to be on the shows, but give me a break.
Reality Clack – Big Brother 11, So You Think You Can Dance
No, it’s not Mia Michaels from So You Think You Can Dance in this image. It’s actually Lydia, from Big Brother 11, looking very much like Mia. I don’t think Lydia can dance, though. And, I can’t say for sure, but I don’t think Mia has a ton of tattoos.
They do have one thing in common: I’m not really all that enamored with either of them. Perhaps Mia Michaels has fantastic talent, and a vision far beyond my own, when it comes to dance. However, I just think how mean she was to Brandon in the beginning of this season. She has corrected herself since, but she initially seemed intent on crushing a young guy’s dreams. That’s so not cool.
Reality Clack – Big Brother, So You Think You Can Dance, America’s Got Talent
I have to wonder what folks without cable television watch in the summer if they don’t care for reality television. Sure, there are some good new and returning shows with fresh summer runs … but they’re cable. Off the reality issue for a moment, let me recommend Dark Blue on TNT this week.
Back to reality, for me it’s all about Big Brother and talent contests at the moment. I’m still not quite sure how variety type shows and talent contests have ended up under the reality TV umbrella, but there they are. Right now, my two big talent contests are So You Think You Can Dance and America’s Got Talent. I can’t dance and my talents these days aren’t the type which would translate to stage, so I watch.
Reality Clack – So, Big Brother 11 Thinks It Can Dance
It was the return of the heavy hitting Internet favorite, Big Brother, this past week. Since 2000 the show and its live feeds have enjoyed more than a cult status in cyberland. Y’see, the show is geared to the Internet. The 24/7 live feeds show an entirely new dimension than what the folks see on the television episodes. People who just watch the show miss out, they really do.
Along with the news that the season premiere’s ratings were a bit up, there was bad news, too. Alas, pin-headed body builder Jessie from Big Brother 10 is part of the new group of hamsters. Gack! I don’t really care for folks coming back on reality shows in the first place. And, I didn’t like Jessie in his own season. Get him gone. I mean it!
Reality Clack – America’s Got Talent, So You Think You Can Dance and Big Brother scuttlebutt
It’s getting to be that time of year. Voyeurs rejoice! Why? Well, the ultimate voyeuristic reality show is looming on the horizon. That’s right … Big Brother 11 starts this Thursday. CBS released information on the new cast of hamsters this week, as well as the new twist. I’ve been looking at the BB11 cast in depth over on my television blog, but I haven’t quite delved into the twist yet.
I’m not sure what to make of it. Executive producer Allison Grodner and I don’t always share the same mindset when it comes to these things. I’ve seen her twists royally flop (see season nine) and, while I prefer to see a really diverse cast in the house, she goes for eye candy and twists.
The latest one is dividing the hamsters into high school cliques. Unlike CliqueCLACK, high school cliques contain the teen angst I prefer to remain tucked away in the recesses of my mind. I guess I’ll just have to wait and see how it works out.
Reality Clack – America’s Got Talent, So You Think You Can Dance and pseudo-celebs
Of course, this past week the real reality shows took over our televisions. Three actual celebrities dying within a week will do that. You will note that none of the three — Ed McMahon, Farrah Fawcett, Michael Jackson — got their starts in the reality television genre.
However, Ed McMahon played his own role in reality television back when talent contests were considered … well, talent contests. Perhaps they were variety shows. Nowadays, they’re all under the reality TV umbrella. Pre-dating America’s Got Talent, American Idol and So You Think You Can Dance, we had Star Search with Ed McMahon. Hi-ho.
Reality Clack – I’m a Celebrity, get me away from The Real Housewives of New Jersey
Okay, we’re in the times which bring about a bad reputation for the entire reality television genre. I’ll admit it. The reality genre has its losers as well as its winners. The genre definitely has some mind-rotting shows aboard the hot tamale train. And they tend to show up between the spring and summer seasons, well after the May sweeps so that the ratings mean diddly-squat.
For me, right now there is only one really entertaining reality show — So You Think You Can Dance. As a summer show, it’s a ratings winner. I’m not sure how well a second season come fall will go against the new scripted and existing hit reality shows like Survivor. Now, if FOX were to stop local newscasts at 10 PM, push ‘em back an hour and air SYTYCD five nights a week against Jay Leno, I’d be doing a happy dance!
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