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Oh (Big) Brother

March 19, 2007

He aint heavy...and nobody's watching.

Why is it, in these days of perpetual voyeurism—the frankness of myspace, the relentlessness of the paparazzi, the total disclosure of blogs—people in this country don’t seem to get into "Big Brother?"

Abroad, the show is wildly popular, the actions of some of the housemates causing ripples literally across the globe. Winners and notables on the British version are instant megastars of the Anna Nicole variety, complete with their own fragrances and exercise videos, but here, in the States, the show is a drop in the bucket of reality television. A summer fling while we wait for our appointment television to come back to us in the fall, and look forward to the new line-ups.

For whatever reason, Big Brother just hasn’t caught on around these parts. Thanks for the effort, and for the memories (if you have them), but it’s just never going to measure up. Please, Make it Stop.

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"The Amazing Race" Isn't Actually So Amazing

March 02, 2007

It is now official: the way to know when a reality series has jumped the shark is when they introduce their “All-Stars” series. Exhibit A: The Amazing Race.

There are only so many action sequences, only so many remote areas, only so many rock climbing/repelling/rope bridge crossing challenges around the world, apparently, and "The Amazing Race," once the envy of all other network reality series, has run out of steam.

We are tired of dirt road trips, endless shouting, and wind sprints across African plains. Enough already: Make It Stop.

Part Survivor, part travelogue, part treasure hunt, "The Amazing Race" used to add a dash of class to an otherwise barren reality show market. Smarter, and obviously more worldly, than some of the lesser reality prime times, The Amazing Race has won the Emmy for Outstanding Reality Series every year since the award was created, but if it expects to win again this year, they better step on it.

This season, our silly, determined, and occasionally mildly abusive couples are “favorites” from seasons’ past. The first challenge this season: drive to the airport. Can you believe it? On your mark, get set, Tivo!

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