When Reality Bites!

I just realized that I too am a reality TV junkie! And that's considering that i don't watch a lot of TV (ok, a lot is relative).

My days and nights are made more special and meaningful when I am able to get my fill of reality shows that have been flooding the cable channels. I can spend hours upon hours watching marathon reruns of the last 3 season's of Amazing Race on top of my weekly dose of Wednesday morning's (with a rerun at 8pm) Amazing Race 7. Don't be fooled. I am not picky. I even watch GMA-7's infamous answer to American reality TV, Extra Challenge!

How do i spend my weekday nights? Here goes:

Monday nights --
1. America's Top Model. I absolutely love this show. I don't know why except that watching tall, lanky, witless women who have gambled everything that they had (leaving their boyfriends to their bestfriends even! hmmm...) just to have a taste of what Tyra Banks has is, well, just amusing. This season's show is really interesting because a plus-sized African-American lady is absolutely kicking butt (and boy, does she have butt!). She's been outbesting quite a few blonde blue-eyed Kate-Moss types despite her heavyweight physique. These fashion and modelling "experts" seems to see something beyond her curves (and bulges!) that merits a chance to be a supermodel. Also in the running is a beautiful, slim, blonde (who looks a bit like Annie Lennox in her teen years) who in a few years time will turn legally blind! Yes, i said blind, not blonde. And so far she's been getting the best comments as far as her modelling talents and being extremely photogenic are concerned. The question is... when she does turn blind, eventually, how will she hit the runways?
2. The Casino. This is another strange but engaging show to watch. Half the time you are wondering if the people being shown in this show are for real or if they are just actors pretending to be ordinary people? The show is about 2 guys who made millions in the .com industry and with the money they made, decided to buy the Golden Nugget in Las Vegas. The show revolves around how these 2 guys, who have no background on running a casino, fare in their new trade. So far, i've seen Martin Nievera appear about 3 times on this show (the show was shot when Martin had a series of gigs at the GN). Then there are the featured high-rollers, pimps, showgirls, escorts, celebrities who, at one point or another in this show, were shown in very embarrassing situations during their stay at the Nugget. Which brings me to why I am doubting the authenticity of the show. I mean, who would agree to be shown on worldwide TV fighting with his girlfriend while being seduced by a prostitute? Or being thrown out the casino by bouncers for being unable to settle a debt? Nevertheless, I stay glued to the tube...
3. The Contender. ok, so am i really a boxing fanatic? Not at all! But i do enjoy watching Manny Pacquiao's iron fists knockout whoever he is up against. So why do i watch the Contender? Well, because it's a reality show! Told ya i was a junkie. But anyway, I was all the more glued to the show especially after watching that whole episode on Najai Turpin's controversial suicide after losing a fight. Sly Stallone (one of the show's producers), has denied any direct relation between the show and Najai's decision to take his life. Got me to think of just how seriously these people who join these reality-based contests take their participation in them.
Wednesday nights --
1. The Amazing Race 7. ok, who has bet every single peso in their piggy bank despite fasting and prayers that Rob & Amber would win? Well, time to take out your trusty hammer and give that ceramic porky a swing because..... they didn't! YAY! The superbly kind-hearted couple Uchenna and Joyce (who sadly had to give up her bronzed locks in a previous challenge) won the race, and ended it with a truly heart-stopping scene. After coming in dead last in the previous leg, Uchenna & Joyce had no choice but to surrender all their money and belongings and race the last leg with just the clothes on their backs and whatever dignity they still had intact. Did had to literally beg every soul they came across for money to move them closer to the finish line. The last scene before their final run onto the mat saw the couple begging for $25 to cover their taxi fare. Imagine that! They were 10 minutes away from seeing Phil, but they chose to stand by their promise to the taxi cab driver to pay him his full fare! Every person watching this scene was surely screaming at their TV sets, "Run! Run! Just go back for the cab driver AFTER you get your $1M!!!". But they didn't. And that just showed us all the great character this couple had. They truly deserved to be the champs!
2. American Idol. Who on the face of this planet does not watch AI? I mean, seriously? Unless you've been living under a rock these past 4 years, AI is truly the ultimate entertainment reality show which has been franchise by several different countries (Indonesian Idol? Australian Idol?) and copied by the local channels (simply because the Pinoy networks can't afford to get a Pinoy Idol franchise, tsk, tsk..), thus creating a venue for aspiring young Pinoy talents to make it to the world of stardom by exhibiting raw talent over the common "dikit sa bading manager" strategy. But going back to AI, I am SO happy that Anthony finally made his exit! Now we can actually get down to the real talents in this show -- Vonzell, Carrie and Bo. Now i am sure that by now you all have your eyes on a specific idol. But i, personally, am rooting for Bo Bice. I just think he's an overall cool dude with an amazing singing voice and a command of the stage he's on. Watching him perform and listening to him sing is pure joy! So, will he be the next American Idol? Stay tuned....
(Ok, i have to get back to work..... but i have so much more to post! So tune in to my next entry...:D) Till then!