Reality Clack – Top Chef, Dancing With the Stars, Celebrity Rehab, America’s Next Top Model

BRAVO

Just think about it … in about two months we’ll be mocking the talentless in the American Idol auditions. There’s certain to be a diamond or two in the rough, but I’m sure we’ll have plenty of targets for ridicule. Right now most of the media attention hoopla is on this season’s Dancing With the Stars, but that’s not the only reality show out there.

Nosirree, Bob — DWIT isn’t the only game out there. But I refuse to watch those poker shows. Since I don’t play cards for a living, I just don’t get the gist of those shows. I’d rather watch bowling. Read on for more Reality Clack!

That was the week it was

We saw the return of Top Chef this week. While I don’t do poker, I do love my food! Airing on Wednesday evenings at 10 PM ET/PT, this BRAVO show is a heck of a lot classier than Gordon Ramsay’s Hell’s Kitchen on FOX. This season has a focus on NYC neighborhoods and the local cuisines. That gives them a lot of free rein as the city is so diverse. Stefan was the winner of the season debut episode. Since I don’t really “know” these chefs yet, I can’t say how I feel about his win.

Oh, geez … Dancing With the Stars just isn’t the same without being able to talk about Cloris Leachman! Maurice Greene left the show this week. So we’re left with only Lance Bass, Brooke Burke, Cody Linley, and Warren Sapp. Of that crowd, I think I like Warren Sapp the best. He’s fun to watch. He seems to be adjusting pretty well to the dancing, too. But I like him for the entertainment factor. Mind you, I dance as well as I play poker. So maybe my criteria is a bit off.

Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew (VH1) is still going strong albeit the fact it’s made up of pseudo-celebs (can you say Rodney King?) and washed-up has-beens trying to grasp their last few minutes of fame as they swirl off into the great abyss. Since watching The Sopranos, I tend to think Melfi when it comes to shrinks. But Tony was never the train wreck these “patients” are on the screen. If they’re having such serious problems coping with life, I can’t help but think that airing their woes on television could only make things worse. That is, unless they’re not just going for the fame factor.

Recent notable exits

• Survivor had its merge this past week. Susie won the first individual immunity while Kenny got Charlie voted out.
• On America’s Next Top Model, Marjorie took her last walk down the runway.
• Lauren and Patrick were cut on Top Chef. (Well, not with cutlery!)
• Terence and Sarah were Philiminated on The Amazing Race. (He’s probably still fussing about it.)

In the future

In the very close future (we’re talking tonight), we see the return of Operation Repo on truTV. I’m wondering if I have a skewed view of repo people and bounty hunters from my television viewing habits. For some odd reason, this family who repos together remind me of the family who bounty hunts together — Dog the Bounty Hunter. I’m glad I have nothing for anyone to repossess, nor have I ever had any warrants or skipped from a bondsman. These folks creep me out. It’s on at 10 PM ET/PT if you want to give it a gander.

The news front

Celebrity Spider is reporting that a family member blames Paula Abdul for the suicide of her stalker … er, fan. After all, “she crushed her dreams for stardom.” I understand why the family would be upset, but I personally don’t think Paula Abdul did anything out of line. Her family should have been there for her, not Paula. Abdul is quirky enough on her own, but she surely wouldn’t have even known what was going on in the girl’s mind.

As always, it’s been real if not necessarily reality. Until the next time …

Clacked by Jackie Schnoop
on Nov 17, 2008 @ 11:00 EST5EDT