If six years ago someone told me there would be a show where America voted to pair up total strangers in hopes that they would be compatible and get married I would have laughed. Five years ago, it happened. Now it's getting sued, but not for a reason you'd imagine.
Married by America was pretty popular back in 2003. The premise of the show was for America to play cupid and cast votes to pair up couples in hopes that two of the five contestants would be compatible enough to get married in three weeks and win a house and a $500,000 prize.
With all weddings came the infamous bachelor and bachelorette parties. This one in particular raised the eyebrows of many viewers, including the FCC. The heavily pixilated clip of the party lasted a mere 10.5 seconds and earned Fox network a fine of 1.2 million dollars.
Now just short of five years later the fine which was once almost erased completely was reduced. Fox stands behind their fine stating,
“While it is true that the nude female breasts and buttocks shown were pixilated, the commission has never held that the full exposure of sexual or excretory organs is required to satisfy the first prong of the broadcast indecency standard.”
Wait. Is this show entertainment or pure indecency? Where was Fox when this idea was brought into the drawing bored? The whole idea of the show is indecent, not to mention inconsiderate to families who have valued their marriage. The idea of introducing people and hoping that they will like each other just enough to decide they want to marry each other in three weeks is indecent. People wonder why the divorce rate is so high. It's probably more detrimental to our society to promote a three week marriage then it is to show some T&A on TV.
Monday, February 25, 2008
Sunday, February 24, 2008
Peyton's Gone, Who's Left?
One of my predictions for Rock Of Love got the boot last night. Can't be right all the time, right?
Catherine was also eliminated last night, however no one will really miss her.
So who's left now, you ask? According to VH1 provided personal profiles, there are only two girls that remain over the age of 30 – and barely over 30 at that. It really baffles me that these girls are almost young enough to be his daughter. I was unaware that the 'cougar' syndrome worked in reverse, but it seams to really be working for Brett Michaels both in his personal life and in his bank account.
Catherine was also eliminated last night, however no one will really miss her.
So who's left now, you ask? According to VH1 provided personal profiles, there are only two girls that remain over the age of 30 – and barely over 30 at that. It really baffles me that these girls are almost young enough to be his daughter. I was unaware that the 'cougar' syndrome worked in reverse, but it seams to really be working for Brett Michaels both in his personal life and in his bank account.
Thursday, February 21, 2008
Grandma On The Gauntlet
It is no hidden fact that Beth is old, a good amount of the cast even jokes that her date of birth dates back to the dinosaurs. Last week she was eliminated by Coral who also made fun of her age. Coral did not want to “get beat my her grandma.” You'd think that a comment like that would come from someone considerably younger than Beth, right? Wrong.
As I recall from Coral's Back To New York season, she was one of the oldest. She's now 29. Beth is 39. In reality TV, they're both almost too old for VH1 even, but for Coral to call Beth a grandma is just kind of ridiculous. Nearing 40 is probably a little old for these challenges, but nearing 30 is not really too much farther behind. Beth was definitely no weakling when it came to stepping up. Coral on the other hand, was “bit by a spider” and bailed out on the final mission several challenges ago.
Although I love the I-don't-wrestle-I-beat-bitches-up Coral, I'd probably take the Grandma over her when it comes to winning $300,000.
As I recall from Coral's Back To New York season, she was one of the oldest. She's now 29. Beth is 39. In reality TV, they're both almost too old for VH1 even, but for Coral to call Beth a grandma is just kind of ridiculous. Nearing 40 is probably a little old for these challenges, but nearing 30 is not really too much farther behind. Beth was definitely no weakling when it came to stepping up. Coral on the other hand, was “bit by a spider” and bailed out on the final mission several challenges ago.
Although I love the I-don't-wrestle-I-beat-bitches-up Coral, I'd probably take the Grandma over her when it comes to winning $300,000.
Monday, February 18, 2008
Less Is More
On MTV's Gauntlet 3 the score is something like 5-1, Veterans. They are handing out verbal, physical, and mental ass whoopings to the Rookies, however I don't think they realize that this is somewhat of a blessing in disguise.
Less is definitely more in this case. While the rookies are probably going to need to step it up a little, they have already had the advantage of “less is more” by winning their only challenge due to the number of people on their team. Less people in the end means less dead weight you have to carry, less screaming at your slow team you have to do, and more money to split between the remaining members. The Vets are too “proud” of their wins. They have realized now that they need to start throwing missions to lose some players, but the challenge is almost half over. We can watch tonight and see how everything goes down, but I think everyone who watches the show has a pretty good idea already.
If they Vets start a mind game the war will be within the team and not within the final mission. No matter the score of the pre-games, the Rookies will undoubtedly crush the Vets if they can't pull together as a (larger) team and get the job done.
Less is definitely more in this case. While the rookies are probably going to need to step it up a little, they have already had the advantage of “less is more” by winning their only challenge due to the number of people on their team. Less people in the end means less dead weight you have to carry, less screaming at your slow team you have to do, and more money to split between the remaining members. The Vets are too “proud” of their wins. They have realized now that they need to start throwing missions to lose some players, but the challenge is almost half over. We can watch tonight and see how everything goes down, but I think everyone who watches the show has a pretty good idea already.
If they Vets start a mind game the war will be within the team and not within the final mission. No matter the score of the pre-games, the Rookies will undoubtedly crush the Vets if they can't pull together as a (larger) team and get the job done.
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Reality TV's Dangling Carrot
When you think of reality television, normally you think of situational experiences where people are cast to take part in the situation. The script isn't written until the action happens.
Dateline NBC started a show segment several years ago and titled it “To Catch A Predator.” Hands down, this has to be the realest form of reality television.
The premise of this show is to lure an adult into meeting an underage teenager home alone. This is done by having a decoy pose as a young child in a chat room to lure an adult into meeting them alone somewhere. The situational experience is the meeting, the casting is the luring. The script writes itself as the decoy and adult chat. This really is reality tv.
Many argue that this is entrapment. While it has been argued by both the law and NBC that it is not, I still feel strongly that it is, at least, incredibly unethical.
Don't get me wrong here, I totally think these men are in the wrong. Many of the men admit it is illegal. Many of these men suggest what they are doing is wrong. It is the decoy who encourages that it is alright and that they are safe. Why is it that the adult is always the one suffering the defamation, yet the decoy is the one trolling and “whoring” themselves around in the chat?
Who is to say that these men are not coming to abuse the child, or to take advantage of the child, but to teach them a very valuable lesson – that they could be hurt by doing what they are doing and that they need to stop immediately. Who is to say that these men were even going to engage in sexual acts with these children? You can't take a prostitute down until she's made clear that shes being paid for sex, so why can you take a man down for meeting a child somewhere without any signs of intentions? Of course this is not true for all of the cases, but in many instances there is no sign of sexual intent.
Should the adult be to blame simply because they are “older and wiser?” Should the child take the fall because they knew what they were getting into and lured in the adult? Should NBC be blamed as well because they only present one side of the argument? I'd like to see someone flip the script and set up an adult decoy to lure in a child. Then I'm sure everyone would hear (and see) how unethical this whole process was.
Dateline NBC started a show segment several years ago and titled it “To Catch A Predator.” Hands down, this has to be the realest form of reality television.
The premise of this show is to lure an adult into meeting an underage teenager home alone. This is done by having a decoy pose as a young child in a chat room to lure an adult into meeting them alone somewhere. The situational experience is the meeting, the casting is the luring. The script writes itself as the decoy and adult chat. This really is reality tv.
Many argue that this is entrapment. While it has been argued by both the law and NBC that it is not, I still feel strongly that it is, at least, incredibly unethical.
Don't get me wrong here, I totally think these men are in the wrong. Many of the men admit it is illegal. Many of these men suggest what they are doing is wrong. It is the decoy who encourages that it is alright and that they are safe. Why is it that the adult is always the one suffering the defamation, yet the decoy is the one trolling and “whoring” themselves around in the chat?
Who is to say that these men are not coming to abuse the child, or to take advantage of the child, but to teach them a very valuable lesson – that they could be hurt by doing what they are doing and that they need to stop immediately. Who is to say that these men were even going to engage in sexual acts with these children? You can't take a prostitute down until she's made clear that shes being paid for sex, so why can you take a man down for meeting a child somewhere without any signs of intentions? Of course this is not true for all of the cases, but in many instances there is no sign of sexual intent.
Should the adult be to blame simply because they are “older and wiser?” Should the child take the fall because they knew what they were getting into and lured in the adult? Should NBC be blamed as well because they only present one side of the argument? I'd like to see someone flip the script and set up an adult decoy to lure in a child. Then I'm sure everyone would hear (and see) how unethical this whole process was.
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Flav's eFailure
Thanks to the advancements in Internet dating, reality television shows have begun casting online. Flavor of Love 3 took this approach for the final series. Back in September of last year a website was created for anyone and everyone to come and post videos and pictures for casting purposes. Being that I am basically addicted to reality television, I thought I'd give this whole online casting thing a go. Aside from the fact that I was dating someone, the whole online casting was pretty fun. I made a couple of friends on the site and spent an equal amount of time playing around on the casting page as I did on my myspace.
What my experience from this taught me is that the people who get casted from online votes are probably not the “best fit” for their match. People would advertise themselves and have others advertise them as well. It was like an army of people all trying to spam as many comment boards as they could to try to rack in votes.
When you watched (if you didn't catch it already) Flavor Of Love 3's premier, you probably noticed that four out of the five Internet girls were sent home. I believe strongly that this is why. Fans were involved in the voting process, but when you have people sitting around racking in 2,000 votes a day there's not a whole lot you can do to compete with that. Then again, if Flav's television matchmaking wasn't one of the highest rated shows on VH1, who really would go through all this trouble just to date him?
What my experience from this taught me is that the people who get casted from online votes are probably not the “best fit” for their match. People would advertise themselves and have others advertise them as well. It was like an army of people all trying to spam as many comment boards as they could to try to rack in votes.
When you watched (if you didn't catch it already) Flavor Of Love 3's premier, you probably noticed that four out of the five Internet girls were sent home. I believe strongly that this is why. Fans were involved in the voting process, but when you have people sitting around racking in 2,000 votes a day there's not a whole lot you can do to compete with that. Then again, if Flav's television matchmaking wasn't one of the highest rated shows on VH1, who really would go through all this trouble just to date him?
Sunday, February 10, 2008
Celebreality Star Of The Week
Aubry's hair!
I could probably go as far as to say her outfit as a whole, but her hair really just tops everything off. She looks absolutely ridiculous. She eliminated herself for her new BFF Kristy Joe – only for everyone else to find out that she was the one being eliminated anyway. If Kristy Joe was that great of a friend she wouldn't have let Aubry walk out in public rockin' that dew, nevertheless on a nationally broadcasted television show. Oh well. See ya Aubry, don't let the door hit your hair on the way out.
Picture snagged from Vh1.
I could probably go as far as to say her outfit as a whole, but her hair really just tops everything off. She looks absolutely ridiculous. She eliminated herself for her new BFF Kristy Joe – only for everyone else to find out that she was the one being eliminated anyway. If Kristy Joe was that great of a friend she wouldn't have let Aubry walk out in public rockin' that dew, nevertheless on a nationally broadcasted television show. Oh well. See ya Aubry, don't let the door hit your hair on the way out.
Picture snagged from Vh1.
Friday, February 8, 2008
Casting Is Calling... Again.
What do Beauty And The Geek and Rock Of Love 2 have in common?
If you answered Megan Hauserman, you answered correct.
As I waswatching tv studying yesterday I couldn't help but continue to wonder why Megan from Rock Of Love looked so familiar. Then, all at once, a (television)bulb lit up over top of my head. Beauty And The Geek had been airing, and to my surprise a familiar face appeared on the screen. It was Megan! Alas, my worrying as to how I knew her was over!
Then I began to wonder why she was on Rock Of Love. She won on her season of Beauty And The Geek, that wasn't enough?
Megan believes that Rock Of Love is her destiny. She states,
Yes Megan, something is calling. It's called casting.
If you answered Megan Hauserman, you answered correct.
As I was
Then I began to wonder why she was on Rock Of Love. She won on her season of Beauty And The Geek, that wasn't enough?
Megan believes that Rock Of Love is her destiny. She states,
“I think that I was born to be a rock star girlfriend. It’s like a calling, like, nurses… I mean nuns… they feel a calling, they have to go to the convent. That’s me! I feel it! It’s calling me. It’s meant to be. I can’t even help it.”
Yes Megan, something is calling. It's called casting.
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
A Video Only A Pratt Could Be Proud Of
After much backlash from her first single, reality tv star turned musician Heidi Montag gave the music business another shot. She released both the song and video for the new jam “Higher” on iTunes last week, with the negative feedback completely outweighing the positive.
This video is bad. I could buy a large pizza and pay more than what they might have paid for production.
Spencer Pratt, Heidi's infamous boyfriend, has nothing but “intelligent” things to say about the video.
He comments that people who speak negatively of it are “jealous.”
To each their own, I suppose, you can have a look at the video if you'd like, but beware.
This video is bad. I could buy a large pizza and pay more than what they might have paid for production.
Spencer Pratt, Heidi's infamous boyfriend, has nothing but “intelligent” things to say about the video.
He comments that people who speak negatively of it are “jealous.”
To each their own, I suppose, you can have a look at the video if you'd like, but beware.
Monday, February 4, 2008
Ba-Rock The Vote
Remember Steven from Real World Denver – the man of god and Poli-Sci graduate of Howard University? He supports Obama. Right, of course he does. On his myspace he writes,
Sadly enough, this has the potential to reach more younger people than anything on CNN. We can only hope that these celebreality stars will use their fifteen minutes for positive “campaigning” this voting season.
“These presidential elections are going to mean everything to the future of this country. My political affiliations have nothing to do with this, Barack Obama has my vote! This man is about change for this country. He has a vision for this country and he will restore faith in this country. I urge you all to strongly evaluate ALL of the candidates platforms, regardless of party; I guarantee you that Barack's is the smartest and the best platform for America. Peace and Blessings... Stephen Kyle”
Sadly enough, this has the potential to reach more younger people than anything on CNN. We can only hope that these celebreality stars will use their fifteen minutes for positive “campaigning” this voting season.
Saturday, February 2, 2008
OT: Superbowl Sunday!
Hopefully someone takes Tom Brady's knees out tomorrow. Get 'em, Giants. Represent for underdogs around the world.
Photo snagged from the flipcyde.
Friday, February 1, 2008
No Fatties Allowed!
No, not people, silly. I'm talking about joints. For obvious reasons, no joints – or any drugs for that matter – were allowed during the filming of Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew.
To me, this show seams like it's going to be a stepping stone for former American Idol contestant Jessica Sierra. It took me until episode two to finally figure out who she was. Not only do I now know her as Jessica Sierra, the girl who was on celebrity rehab, but half of the people watching this show probably relate her more to rehab then her stint on American Idol. It saddens me that newfound fame can come from a show trying to help someone kick bad habits to “better themselves.” She definitely is an underdog, and as much as I want to root for her I have a hard time doing so knowing that the only reason she might be there in the first place is to gain supporters.
To me, this show seams like it's going to be a stepping stone for former American Idol contestant Jessica Sierra. It took me until episode two to finally figure out who she was. Not only do I now know her as Jessica Sierra, the girl who was on celebrity rehab, but half of the people watching this show probably relate her more to rehab then her stint on American Idol. It saddens me that newfound fame can come from a show trying to help someone kick bad habits to “better themselves.” She definitely is an underdog, and as much as I want to root for her I have a hard time doing so knowing that the only reason she might be there in the first place is to gain supporters.
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