A bunch of reality TV hits the air this week, and I thought I'd release the Static Zombie syllabus so we're all on the same page.
Wednesday, 10 PM, ABC: Celebrity Mole Yucatan. The Mole is the best of all the reality TV concepts, and the celebrity angle doesn't harm the gameplay a bit. Oddly, Corbin Bersen and Stephen Baldwin-- veterans of the first Celebrity Mole-- are back again. Is one of them the Mole this time? We'll be watching.
Thursday, 8:32 PM, NBC: The Apprentice. Candidates vie for a job with a 6-figure salary from Donald Trump by competing in challenging tasks. C'mon, it's The Donald. Would he put his name on anything of questionable quality? Meanwhile, a Bronx cheer to NBC for their pervasive practice this season of starting shows a minute or two early to spite TiVo users and create Season Pass conflicts. Here's a tip, NBC: in every conflict, your show will get the heave-ho. Spite works both ways, bastards.
Sunday, 9 PM, The WB: The Surreal Life. The first series was oddly fascinating, in no small part because of Corey Feldman's rampaging ego. This time we get Ron Jeremy, Tammy Faye, and Erik Estrada under the same roof as the show answers the burning question, "Whatever happened to Vanilla Ice?" It's a train wreck waiting to happen, and we can't turn our eyes away.
Also premiering this week is the second series of Average Joe. As part of our longstanding ennui about relationship/dating programs, we will not be watching. Sorry. Besides, the producers tanked their own premise last time by introducing a bunch of "hunks" into the mix late in the game-- I don't expect many viewers to sign back on to be fooled twice.
Posted by Peter at January 5, 2004 11:05 PMYou know, I really enjoyed the last Celebrity Mole *and* The Surreal Life... and have no desire to see them again.
I even watched most of first batch of The Average Joe's with genuine interest. No interest now.
Reality TV has really become disposable for me. A lot of the ideas are one-time use, and, like the DVD player or microwave oven has become, many of the shows are "cheap" enough that when they break, there's no point in fixing them - it's easier to just throw them out and get new ones.
Hmm... okay, that analogy feels a little suspect, but I think you get the idea.
Now, having said that, I will definitely check out the Apprentice... but even if it's good, I may not watch a second season of it.
Posted by: Dave on January 6, 2004 11:39 AM> C'mon, it's The Donald. Would he put his name on anything of questionable quality?
Two words: "Trump Card" :)
Posted by: Chris Lemon on January 7, 2004 10:38 AMCelebrity Mole makes me long for the much more developed non-Celebrity Mole. I think there's something more appealing about watching non-celebs win. Weakest Link and Millionaire kinda ruined the whole celebrity episode thing with overkill (WL especially).
Posted by: Matt J. on January 8, 2004 10:41 AM