Watching Reality TV

I just saw an ad for Kimora Simmons reality show Kimora: Life in the Fab Lane, and can I just say that I can not stand that woman. I think she is awful. I have the utmost respect for her as a business woman. She has an amazing successful company and I give her credit for that, but her and her show make me ill. Now incase you haven’t ever seen the show let me give you a little background information. The show basically follows Kimora and her life as CEO of Baby Phat and a mother of two girls. You know in an inside look at her glamorous life so to speak. Anyway in my opinion there is nothing good about this show, however many people must disagree with me because the show is now is Season 2. I have not watched any of this current season and quite frankly didn’t even know it was on until I saw the promo. I did though watch a couple of episodes from Season 1 and it sucked. She is almost as painful to watch as Denise Richards. I think Kimora is rude, bitchy, stuck up, inconsiderate and definitely a spoiled brat. I want to shake her and be like come on you are an adult and a mothe,r so grow up and get some class. Now I will say one thing that is nice about Kimora and that is I think her company has good clothes. So she a decent designer and really that is the only good thing I can say about her. Yeah so that is my opinion.

I am sure you are all aware by now the Survivor China Couple Erik Huffman and Jaime Dugan are getting married. The couple who clearly by the title met while they were both contestants on Survivor China have now won a $80,000 wedding. Apparently the couple grew up close to each other in South Carolina and won a wedding courtesy of the Charleston Area Convention and Visitors Bureau. The wedding is scheduled for April 4, 2009 and the cast of China is expected to attend. After all they all watched Erik and Jaime fall in love, so it is only right they are at the wedding. The current season of Amazing Race team of Brooke and Marissa are bridesmaids. It is going to be a reality show wedding without being on TV. Well as far as we know the couple is not planning to tie the knot like that other Survivor couple Rob and Amber. Here is hoping they decide against the wedding on live TV thing, it is never turns out good.
I didn’t watch every episode of China so I can’t say I saw all of the Jaime/Erik falling in love story but I saw enough to know that I like this couple. I rooted for them to make it after the show was over and I am glad to see they are getting married. It looks like Survivor is fairing better in terms of couples who get married than the Bachelor/Bachelorette franchise. Wherever or however they get married here is wishing Erik and Jaime a great life together.

The culinary hit show Top Chef returns for season five tonight on Bravo at 10PM EST. For those of you who are unfamiliar with this culinary obsession let me give you a little background. The show is based in New York because the theory is if you can make it as a chef in the Big Apple you can make it anywhere. Each episode there are two challenges. One challenge is the quick fire where the contestants are tested on their skills by having to cook a dish in literally and hour. The second is an elimination challenge where the contestants are divided into teams where they often have to make more than one course. Word on the street is that this will be the most challenging season ever, but I feel like all shows say that about every season. Now Top Chef in my opinion is basically like America’s Next Top Model or Project Runway but for cooking. It is the same premises everyone wants to be the best whatever. I have only watched Top Chef a few times and I will say it is very good. Those chefs can get pretty intense and things can get pretty heated in the kitchen, no pun intended I swear. Anyway I have friends who are as I call foodies and they are obsessed with Top Chef, they say it is by far the best food challenge reality show out there. The only reason I don’t watch Top Chef is quite frankly I just don’t have time. I do try to watch it online when I can. Ok so if you love food and you love New York I think you should give Top Chef a chance. As always let me know your thoughts?

Max Factor and Lifetime present an all-new reality competition show, Blush, hosted by my gal Vanessa Marcil. Blush is the search for the next great make-up artist. The show will be six hour-long episodes. The contestants will compete for a contract as a professional artist with the one and only Max Factor. Along with the contract the super lucky winner will receive a $100,000 cash prize and the chance to be the makeup artist for an upcoming In Style photo shoot. Nice prize I tell you. Each week the makeup artist wannabes, who of course are all living together in a house in Los Angeles, will compete in two different makeup challenges that are designed to test their personality traits and skills. The personality traits are being tested because apparently it is necessary to have compassion and confidence to be a make up artist, who knew. In true reality competition style one contestant will be eliminated each week.
I have to say I am kind of intrigued by this show. Sure the premise is a complete rip off just looking for the next great something ie. model, fashion designer, etc, you get the point. I personally love make-up so I think that is why this show has kind of grabbed my attention. Plus I am such a fan of Vanessa Marcil, she is the greatest so I have to support anything she does. That being said I think everyone should tune in tonight at 10PM EST on Lifetime for the premiere of Blush. For more information on the show, Vanessa and the contestants log onto www.mylifetime.com/on-tv/shows/blush/about.

FOX is moving forward on a fifth season of American Dad. The show’s executive producers, Mike Barker and Matt Weitzman, have made separate new overall deals with 20th Century Fox Television allowing both to work independent of each other. Previously, the duo worked as writing partners with their own production company Underdog Productions and both confirmed they will continue working as executive producers on American Dad. Production for season four of American Dad will conclude soon and scripts for season five are in the works.

In its new reality beauty competition series True Beauty, ABC explores what really makes a person attractive. From executive producers Tyra Banks and Ashton Kutcher, True Beauty debuts January 5 at 10p. Over the course of eight episodes, six beautiful females and four handsome guys will live together in a Los Angeles mansion while they participate in various inner and outer beauty challenges eliciting their true temperament. Every episode the judges, former supermodel Cheryl Tiegs and fashion expert Nole Marin will rate each to determine which contestant has both looks and inner beauty. The final winner will receive a cash prize and be featured in People magazine’s 100 Most Beautiful People issue. Hosted by Vanessa Minnillo, the series is produced by Warner Horizon Television.

FOX unveils the new unscripted series Secret Millionaire December 3 at 8p where undercover millionaires will leave their posh lifestyles to live among needy people in impoverished areas of the U.S. The millionaires will work together with community members, learning how to live on a minimum wage salary. In the end, the millionaires will decide who should receive gifts of at least $100,000 of their own money. RDF USA and Rocket Science Laboratories produce the series.

I finally got caught up on this season of The Amazing Race this weekend. I sadly report that I am not that thrilled with this season. I know, The Amazing Race is usually one of the best reality shows on TV, but wow not so much this season. I can’t exactly put my finger on what it is that I don’t like about this season. It could be the casting, which I am not overly thrilled with. It seems to me that this season there is not one team that I am really rooting to win the race. I always get a favorite pretty much at the beginning of the season but no one has really caught my attention. I can’t stand Nick and Star or Terrance and Sarah. Terrance is a complete jerk, who Sarah really needs to dump, and Nick and Star need to be taken down a few notches. I did like Dallas and his mom but once he expressed his interest in Star I was like yeah not so much anymore. The divorce girls are idiots and by the look of tonight’s episodes one of them has a complete meltdown, which will be good TV for sure. I do kind of like the frat boys, even though they aren’t really frat boys to me, for some reason I do tend to root for them. I am glad last week was a non-elimination week. I think the week after non-elimination is always really good, although I could really care less if Kenny and Tina are eliminated or not. Anyway so I am not quite as impressed with this season of The Amazing Race as I usually am, but I am still going to watch. What are your thoughts on this season?

I an the bearer of bad news here, apparently somehow the train wreck that is Denise Richards and her show Denise Richards: It’s Complicated have been revived I don’t know how or why it happened but it did. When I read this information I was like “you have got to be kidding me”. This show might be the worst show on the planet and Denise Richards is too painful for words. I want to know how and why this show got renewed, because at one point it was cancelled. I am thinking that maybe Ryan Seacrest, whose production company produces the show, pulled a few strings with his channel E! to get things going full steam ahead again. Honestly I think he might have, because otherwise why would E! bring this show bac?. It did terrible ratings and I do not know one person who watched this show and liked it. I know I can’t actually believe I am going to devote a whole blog to this topic but I am baffled. Granted there are some bad reality shows out there, just look at VH1 they are full of crap shows, but I expect more from E! After all the network is called E! Entertainment and there is nothing entertaining about Denise Richards. Seriously E! if you are that hard up for shows just call me. I am willing to be that people would rather watch me then Denise Richards, I am definitely funnier and more entertaining. That is actually a good idea I should call Ryan Seacrest. Anyway so unfortunately Denise is back, no word yet on when production will begin or this debacle of a show will air. Yuck!

There is more Exiled coming your way. Tomorrow, Saturday November 8th, MTV will air more episodes of Exiled. That is right more spoiled brats will be sent to parts unknown. There are two new episodes being featured under “Exiled: The Real Deal” and will document the journey of former Sweet 16ners Erin and Cher. Each episode is going to be a full hour long as opposed to the previous half hour segments. The new episodes begin at 1PM EST. Then stay tuned for “Inside The Exile” where Erin, Cher and other Exiled brats will answer your most burning questions about the trip. As always Think Community will continue to provide viewers will information about the countries and the indigenous groups of people the Exiled girls meet. This Think Community is amazing and if you have not checked it out, I strongly suggest you should. I feel like MTV has discovered a way to inform viewers while they still profit from a successful show. Basically it is like MTV is doing good while still helping themselves. But hey that is ok.
I only got to watch a couple episodes of Exiled and I gotta say it was good. I was not overly impressed with Super Sweet 16, some of the girls literally made me sick to my stomach. But Exiled I liked because honestly most of these spoiled rich brats got what they deserved. I know I am being judgmental and harsh, but it is only my opinion. I also like that Exiled is doing a reunion show of sorts, which is what I think “Inside The Exile” is going to be. I so want to hear what these girls have to say about their experiences. Ok so if you are looking for something interesting to watch on Sat afternoon, catch up with new episodes of Exiled.

It looks like 50 Cent is taking a page of out Diddy’s book and is getting his own show. 50 Cent: The Money and Power will premiere tonight at 10PM EST on MTV. 50 Cent, whose real name is Curtis Jackson, is as you all know one of the top-earning rappers in 2007. Well 50 Cent is going to share his wealth of knowledge with some lucky contestants. The rapper will share what he learned as a street hustler and how those lessons helped him become the talented artist he is today. 50 Cent will host and star in this new show. Now the winner of the show will be the man or woman whose idea and drive will be worthy of a $100,000 investment from 50 himself. In true reality competition fashion the contestants lived at “Camp Curtis”, which is actually a warehouse in Brooklyn and the 14 wannabes slept in tents named after the five boroughs. All contestants were of course hand picked by the rapper and they will compete in inventive challenges while mastering the skills that took 50 Cent from street hustler to all-star rapper. Each week the contestants will be testes on what they have learned and based on how they do will determine who gets the boot.
I don’t really know what to say about this show. Part of me is like it is good that 50 wants to share his knowledge and help people and part of me is like really it is just a way for him to get his own show. I most likely will not watch this show. I am not a huge fan of the rapper. But hey I know some of you are fans of his so I wanted to share the information with you. Below you will find a trailer for the show.
50 Cent: The Money and The Power Trailer

It looks like another couple in the Bachelor/Bachelorette franchise has bit the dust. In what I think is a shocking move DeAnna Pappas has split from her fiancé, and chosen Bachelor, Jesse Csincsak. According to a video by Jesse, posted on their website, DeAnna told him she loved him but was not in love with him. The couple was in the midst of planning a May wedding. Their split seems to come out of the blue, even to Jesse. I am not going to place blame here or judge DeAnna. I am a firm believer that everyone should truly be in love with the person they are going to marry. So I do credit her for realizing she didn’t feel that way about Jesse now. However, on the other hand I do feel for Jesse. I know what it is like to be on the receiving end of that kind of message; I know who doesn’t right, so my heart goes out to Jesses. I admit I was quite surprised that DeAnna picked him over Jason but she did seem to be genuinely happy with him. I really thought they would be the next Trista and Ryan. To be honest I pretty much always assume that The Bachelor and whomever he picks in the final rose ceremony will break up with in a matter of months. I guess I tend to expect more from The Bachelorettes, I don’t know why I just do. I know so sexist or something but it is what I think. That being said I would like to wish both DeAnna and Jesse best of luck in finding true love in life.

I am going to take today and write about real Reality instead of reality TV. Well actually it will be reality because it will be live, and it will be real. I am talking about the Presidential Election today. I am writing this blog because I think it is so so important for people to get out and vote today. Instead of watching reality TV, I recommend that you become a part of reality by casting what could possibly be the most important vote of your life. This election, as I am sure you are all aware of, is historic and of the utmost importance. I know I just said important twice, but I need to get that point across. Today you get to be apart of selecting the next President of the United States of America, that is a privilege, and an honor. One that as an Americans everyone should take seriously. I am not going to be all vote for so and so, just please please vote. I know I am going to vote, in fact I have planned my day around voting. Like I said I know this is not a normal blog. But if it helps at all to make this about TV then I can. There will be nothing else on the major networks except for election results tonight. Don’t you want to sit there and see if the man you voted for becomes the next president? I know I do. This is an amazing time to be an American so please take pride in that and vote. VOTE VOTE VOTE!!!!!

This season of Dancing With The Stars has been interesting to say the least and I am not just talking about the dancing. I am talking about the behind scenes illness and drops outs and injury. Lets begin with Misty May Treanor having to drop out of the competition due to an injury to her achilles tendon. I felt so bad for her when she had to drop out, more so because I hope that the injury doesn’t hurt her volleyball career. Little did we all know that was going to be just the beginning of all the DWTS illness/injury drama. Then Brooke Burke hurt her ankle, luckily it wasn’t too bad and she somehow managed to still dance on it. What a trooper that woman is, you could tell in the rehearsals she was in pain. Way to go Brooke. Now it has been released the Julianne Hough has endometriosis and has undergone laparoscopic surgery. Apparently she had surgery and it has gone well. Word is that she hopes to only miss a week of Dancing With The Stars. That girl rocks. Talk about devotion to only try and miss a week, wow I couldn’t do that. Soon after Julianne fell ill, it was released that Lacey Schwimmer also had endometriosis. Fortunately Lacey will be able to take medication for the condition and avoid surgery so far. Wow that is a lot of stuff happening. It is almost like DWTS is cursed or something this season. If it isn’t one thing it is another. I feel so bad for this cast. I hope for a speedy recovery for all involved. And I sincerely hope that nothing else happens on this season.
What are you thoughts on these DWTS drama?

I recently have been introduced to many shows on TLC, such as Say Yes To The Dress, What Not To Wear, and Jon & Kate Plus 8. I gotta say TLC rocks in the reality show department. I can’t believe I have never watched this station before, what is wrong with me. Not only that but I was introduced to the station by my two young cousins. Crazy right. Anyway Say Yes To The Dress and What Not To Wear are awesome. Although lets be real Stacy London has got to be one of the most annoying people on earth. But luckily I am able to get past that because the tips on What Not To Wear are fabulous. The only issue I have with TLC is what is up with all the shows about large families. There is Jon & Kate Plus 8 which follows Jon & Kate Gossellins as they tackle raising their twins and sextuplets. Then there is 17 and Counting, which follows The Duggars and their 17 kids. I feel like kids on reality TV is not a good thing. Yes I know the parents agree to do these shows, but I just don’t think it is right. Obviously that is just my opinion. Other than that I think that TLC has a great variety of shows for the whole family. Like I said I started watching them with my young cousins. If you have not checked out TLC then I highly recommend you do. Log onto www.TLC.discovery.com for a full list of shows.

I like to keep you up to date on all the new casting calls, so check out the below calls. One is for So You Think You Can Dance. Yes!

Talented dancers take note: FOX’s So You Think You Can Dance, from 19 Entertainment, Ltd. and Dick Clark Productions, opens a contestant search for season five November 13 in New York City. Series producers will be on hand at the Mark Morris Dance Center, 3 Lafayette Ave., Brooklyn, NY 11217 with registration beginning at 8a. Audition dates in Denver, Los Angeles, Memphis, Miami and Seattle will be added soon. Dancers traveling to auditions should plan on staying in the designated cities for at least two days following their audition in case of a callback. Participants must be U.S. citizens or legal permanent residents of the U.S., have a valid Employment Authorization Card for the U.S. or be in the process of obtaining one. For up-to-date information on So You Think You Can Dance auditions, visit fox.com/dance.

Bravo also announced it approved the fashion design creative competition series The Fashion Show (wt) produced by 3 Ball Productions. The premise surrounds one winner selected by viewers who will have their designs sold by a retailer. Open casting calls for the series begins this weekend and interested applicants must attend one of the casting calls to meet with a fashion consultant in addition to brining three original designs, a portfolio, a copy of a government issued photo ID and a completed application form to be considered. The audition cities are Los Angeles on November 2; Miami on November 8; Chicago on November 13; and New York on November 16. Full details on the casting calls and to download the application form, visit www.BravoTV.com/casting.

There are a few reports out there that former Bachelorette Trista and her hubby Ryan are headed back to reality TV. You know what I have to say to this, Really? I mean wasn’t the wedding enough, seriously? Why, Why, Why I ask you? Not only why would a network torture us with a new Trista and Ryan show, but why would the couple want to subject their new family to be on TV. I am sure it has something to do with the cash, that is what motivates most people. Don’t get me wrong I liked Trista when she was the Bachelorette and Ryan appears to be a great guy and yes they are a cute couple. I had such compassion for her when I read about her ordeal during the birth of her son. And I am very happy that the couple is going to have another addition to their family. I just want to make it clear that I am by no means a Trista/Ryan hater. I just don’t really care enough about them to watch a show with them in it. I don’t really need to see their lives on camera. Let’s face it I had enough of their lives watching the debacle of a wedding they had. However, I am sure there are many people out there who disagree with me, and I am sure ABC will jump at the chance to milk more money out of this couples success. Even though I am anti another Trista and Ryan show, you all know that I will so watch it when and if it comes out. Ok you have my opinion now tell me yours, what do you think of Trista and Ryan coming back to reality TV?