New Season of Reality Shows: Survivor, Amazing Race, Etc...

[Scott6373]

This is not AR related, but I saw a piece on MSNBC this morning about Idol.  A former contestant pretty much blew the lid off what we all secretly knew was going on.  Apparently, we really don't see the true 1st round of competition.  The 1st round consists of groups of 5 people going in all at once and singing for no more than 10 seconds.

Out of those they keep not only good singers, but also choose the "train wrecks" that we end up seeing on the show.  What does this say to me?  Yeah...we are being pandered to, and this show in particular is employing the "lowest common denominator" theory.  I don't think I can watch this anymore knowing that they are going out of their way to humiliate people.  Sure, I know...they show up...they get what they deserve, but where is the line drawn?  This year there were folks who obviously had mental and emotional challenges, and they were put out there for all of us to ridicule.

[injest]

ya'll dont tell!! no spoilers!

 

[injest]

This is not AR related, but I saw a piece on MSNBC this morning about Idol.  A former contestant pretty much blew the lid off what we all secretly knew was going on.  Apparently, we really don't see the true 1st round of competition.  The 1st round consists of groups of 5 people going in all at once and singing for no more than 10 seconds.

Out of those they keep not only good singers, but also choose the "train wrecks" that we end up seeing on the show.  What does this say to me?  Yeah...we are being pandered to, and this show in particular is employing the "lowest common denominator" theory.  I don't think I can watch this anymore knowing that they are going out of their way to humiliate people.  Sure, I know...they show up...they get what they deserve, but where is the line drawn?  This year there were folks who obviously had mental and emotional challenges, and they were put out there for all of us to ridicule.

since William Hung I think some of the people are being deliberately as bad as they can be hoping to be the next Hung...it is much crueler this year I agree. Getting old; I haven't watched but a couple of hours this year

[Kelda]

 

[David]

On the Amazing Race, some of my favorite teams are the parent & child teams.    I am always happy to see the reaction of the son/daughter when they see their father/mother perform scary or physically challenges.   I always end up balling my eyes out when they get eliminated and they are hugging and crying saying how much more now they know about eachothers abilities.

Another favorite team was an older couple that actually made it to second place.   They out performed and out smarted the younger teams and only lost because they couldn't outrun two young college boys to the finish line.    

I remember one challenge was to assemble a bicycle.  The young teams all had trouble.  The older couple assembled it in just minutes!   The Father said:"You know how many bikes I have assembled on Christmas Eve to surprise the kids?"

Also, the same episode, most of the teams put gasoline in their Diesel trucks.  As the trucks all stalled, the younger teams were frustrated and called tow trucks.  The older father climbed under the truck, pulled off the fuel line to drain the tank, then walked two miles to a gas station to buy the right fuel.   Smart eh?

I was so hoping they would win.    But in the end, you know a young team usually wins because it is a sprint to the finish line.

The girl who was a "Little Person" was great too.   That was so funny when she ran into the Pyramid in Egypt and didn't have to duck and crawl like the others!

As much as I love the show, I could never be a contestant.    Some of the physical challenges are too difficult or scary.    Plus I could never shoot a flaming arrow to save my life!    LOL!  

[injest]

did you see the one where they had to unroll the bales of hay? I felt so sorry for that one girl that unrolled like twenty and NEVER found a clue....that would be MY luck!!

Anytime the host has to go and tell them all the other teams are already in; instead of THEM coming to him is just heartbreaking!

[Kelda]

Oh yeah Jess! she was there for like 8hrs wasn't she but refused to give up even though she was aware she had lost and then Phil had to come and tell them they had been eliminated. That was PURE bad luck.

heh - David - i watched the flaming arrow one last night - my aim is terrible so I think it would have taken me a good while!!

yeah - I bawl at the nice - I know him so much better and hes a friend as well as a parent - moments too.. You're not alone!

I'd love to be contestant - and at least give it a try - I've done a bungee jump and abseiling and things so I certainly don't think I'm scared of things - but the physical tasks might well test me (and I'm USELESS with a map ) but one thing for sure is that I'd have no trouble driving like these folk that don't know how to drive a 'stick'!

[Karan13]

I lLOVE reality shows !
In England the main ones are Big Brother , Strictly Come Dancing ,Dancing on Ice.
I have sky so i`ve seen the Real World and The Next Top Model one. I`ve never heard of the Amazing Race it sounds good.  Big Brother has just finished it was a celebrity version where 13 sort of famous people share a house 24hrs a day , they must complete tasks to win a weekly shopping budget . Bollywood star Shilpa Shetty has just won this series , with Jemaine Jackson coming 2nd.  The caused an international insident , and many complaints to TV watchdog as Shilpa appeared to be the victim of racist bullying , it was terrible, and did blight what is usually compulsive Tv.  A new series starts soon where just normal people go into the house.

Celebity Love Island is also good , lots of beautiful people gettin naked !
Watching `So You Think You Can Nurse` at present , very good. xx

[milomorris]

For all you Amazing Race fans out there, Reichen Lehmkuhl, former winner wiil be hosting the Philadelphia Mr. Gay competition.

http://epgn.com/012607/3mrgay012607.htm

[Kelda]

So I fifnished watching TAR 10! (Looveeeee whoever downloaded it all on to you tube!) As I say I love the underdogs and I really liked how the cho brothers stuck to being nice during the race.... no matter if it meant they might lose.

James and Tyler won the race well, as did rob and kim. And the bama girls didn't do too bad either - shows you don't have to be super fit or duper fit to do well in this either.

so glad sarah and peter got put out early - that Peter was a ASS! He was so obnoxious and thought he was better than everyone else. and the way he constantly nagged nagged neagged at sarah. I think I would have smacked him idf I had been her. Thank goodness she said - eh - you'rew dumped at the end of it!!!!

Can't wait for TAR 11 to start. I think season 3 is also on you tube so me thinks I'll start watching that shortly!