Reality TV

This is the first season that I've watched American Idol past the tryouts. I've always loved the tryouts - people make colossal idiots out of themselves, thinking that they sound like Whitney Houston, when they really sound like a tone-deaf cat being strangled.

Anyway, I've been enjoying it a lot. Strangely, so has the Mister (who incidentally, is tone deaf, and sounds like a howling mutt when he sings.). I really like Nadia, Anwar, Bo, and Carrie. I don't like Scott or Vonzelle, although her voice has definitely gotten stronger the last few shows. This last show when Fantasia made an appearance, I practically had to mute the set, though. I don't know how she was voted in, as her voice is reminiscent of a tone-.. need I rehash the simile?

Survivor, however, is my all-time favorite Reality Show. I've watched every season but the first, and even then, I caught a couple of episodes. I loved the Australian Outback season. The All-Stars were a real kick - go Rupert! This season is bewildering, though. One team has been almost completely annihilated - there's only one member left, Stephanie, and she's at camp by herself. And my girl Steph is completely solid - I think being the last one standing in her tribe speaks well for both her strategy and her strength. The other team annoys me, especially this last week with Tom's autocratic behavior. Whatever. We'll see what happens come the merge, if there's to be one.

I don't really watch any others. The premise of the Bachelor and the Bachelorette put me off completely. How is that any way to identify the love of your life. I suppose it worked for Krista and whats-his-name, though. Joe Millionaire was another one that just turned me off completely. And Fear Factor? Ugh - eating cow eyeballs, buffalo testes, and bull rectums is just waaaaaaay too disgusting for me. The Mister LOVES Fear Factor, so every now and then I catch some of the action when I'm passing through the room. The Amazing Race is interesting, but not enough for me to watch it. I caught the first season, or at least part of it. What I observed are the vast cultural differences that exist in our world. Big Brother - I don't think so. I've got two words for that: Cabin Fever.

The ones on Bravo get the award for the most original reality shows, though. Like Boy Meets Boy, a gay Bachelor; and Project Runway, which was actually quite interesting, though highly subjective in judging.

There are soooo many reality shows nowadays - it would seem to point to our culture's fascination with stardom. Anyone can be a star on a reality show - isn't that the point of them? Do you watch any reality TV? Which ones and why? or Not?