Mad, Mad House
Mar. 16th, 2004 06:23 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
grrgoylI hate reality TV shows. With a purple passion. I believe they are a sign of the decline of Western civilization (though I could be wrong. Like people were wrong about rock music. And will be proven wrong about homosexuality.)
I was enthralled for a time with MTV's The Real World, the progenitor of modern reality TV (there might have been something earlier but this is the first instance I can remember) but even that taxed my interest after about 3 seasons. And anything that involves voting people off just raises my hackles. I successfully resisted the Survivor craze and I have been resolute ever since. Tery, unfortunately, is a little more weak-willed. She roped me into the last 3 episodes of Joe Millionaire, and of course Boy Meets Boy (which I defend as having the gay twist to make it more interesting). She also loved Average Joe: Hawaii, but only made me watch the last episode because she felt so heartbroken for Brian. Of course I love Queer Eye, but that has no voting so doesn't really count (and I would be tempted to watch even Big Brother if Carson Kressley were on it).
So I had mixed feelings about Sci-Fi's foray into reality TV, Mad, Mad House. 10 "normal" folks live in a house hosted by the "Alts" (alternatives, like their lifestyles): Don the Vampire, Art the Modern Primitive, Avocado the Naturalist, Fiona the Witch and ta'Shia the Voodoo Priestess. The point of the show seems to be to open people up to different ways of life (as well as taking home the grand prize of $100,000), because they are voted off based on their willingness to participate in rituals and challenges unique to each of the Alts' fields. I am all in favor of this, however I wish there was a gay couple included (as I believe there should be on every TV show, to increase exposure) but there are admitted problems with this idea...most obvious being the dangerous parallel portraying homosexuality as a "lifestyle" (MAJOR hackles raised at this), the other being that gays are pretty tame and boring compared to a vampire and a guy who hangs from hooks in his skin. As for the "mainstreams," a certain amount of them are apparently devout Christians, and I adore the implication that they would be the most challenged to have open minds.
I was drawn in by Don the Vampire (hardly surprising to anyone who knows me), with his pale complexion, slender physique, Marilyn Mansonesque cat-eye contacts and sharpened teeth.
Who wouldn't be? His fancy red velvet pseudo-Asian outfit for the Elimination Ceremony is to die for. My opinion of him has been tainted slightly by delving deeper on the internet and on Sci-Fi's website and discovering that behind the cameras Don is a little annoying, and there is a great deal of speculation on vampire community chatboards as to who he is (though I don't know if vampires are required to be registered so everyone can be certain of their authenticity like lesbians are.) One TV magazine review echoed my own initial thoughts, that it is hard to take a vampire named Don completely seriously. I was especially amused by an interview with him on SciFi.com where he commented that with the full moon approaching, he was getting his "energy" up, and it would be interesting to see what happens...the implication being, I suppose, that he might soon start dining on the guests (though in another interview he admitted he only "feeds" from the willing, and only in token amounts at that). Granted I only know as much about the occult as I read in books and watch in movies, but I would think a full moon would affect a werewolf that way. I have never heard of the moon having any influence whatsoever on vampires. But again, what do I know?
Sadly in only the third week, my favorite guest was voted off, Kelly. Kelly was my favorite in the way that Puck was my favorite on The Real World: annoying as hell, craving attention, and certainly someone I would smack in real life, but nevertheless compelling, perhaps for the same reasons. She also for some reason lives in a convent when she isn't competing for $100,000. Kelly was the consummate drama queen, on top of getting in the most squabbles with other guests. She criticized one girl for constantly talking and wanting to be the center of attention (not leaving any room for Kelly); someone else pointed out her hypocrisy and she lost it. She went into hysterics when another guest casually remarked that he didn't believe she was that shocked when Art talked about piercing his genitals. It was this outburst that convinced some of the Alts that she was too unstable to stay in the house. I agree, I mean, if you can't get along with other mainstream people who are relatively similar to yourself, how on earth are you going to accept a completely foreign lifestyle? But at the same time, it was her volatility that lent some interest to the show. The look she gave the Alts at the end of the Elimination Ceremony was priceless, a mixture of hurt disbelief and a sincere desire for each and every one of them to die on the spot. In her post-elimination video confessional, she ranted about who they thought they were, judging her. They were a bunch of "freaks"! Whether she would still think this way had she won will never be known now, and at the moment she realized she was leaving and her face filled with venom, I was a little sad because I saw a person who will probably now forever be closed to anyone who is outside the norm. But that is who the Alts are searching for, someone who can be accepting and tolerant of others even without a grand prize at stake.
I suppose I will continue to watch, even without Kelly. Though for my money you just can't beat the entertainment value of a flaming drama queen, and an uptight religious one at that..
I was enthralled for a time with MTV's The Real World, the progenitor of modern reality TV (there might have been something earlier but this is the first instance I can remember) but even that taxed my interest after about 3 seasons. And anything that involves voting people off just raises my hackles. I successfully resisted the Survivor craze and I have been resolute ever since. Tery, unfortunately, is a little more weak-willed. She roped me into the last 3 episodes of Joe Millionaire, and of course Boy Meets Boy (which I defend as having the gay twist to make it more interesting). She also loved Average Joe: Hawaii, but only made me watch the last episode because she felt so heartbroken for Brian. Of course I love Queer Eye, but that has no voting so doesn't really count (and I would be tempted to watch even Big Brother if Carson Kressley were on it).
So I had mixed feelings about Sci-Fi's foray into reality TV, Mad, Mad House. 10 "normal" folks live in a house hosted by the "Alts" (alternatives, like their lifestyles): Don the Vampire, Art the Modern Primitive, Avocado the Naturalist, Fiona the Witch and ta'Shia the Voodoo Priestess. The point of the show seems to be to open people up to different ways of life (as well as taking home the grand prize of $100,000), because they are voted off based on their willingness to participate in rituals and challenges unique to each of the Alts' fields. I am all in favor of this, however I wish there was a gay couple included (as I believe there should be on every TV show, to increase exposure) but there are admitted problems with this idea...most obvious being the dangerous parallel portraying homosexuality as a "lifestyle" (MAJOR hackles raised at this), the other being that gays are pretty tame and boring compared to a vampire and a guy who hangs from hooks in his skin. As for the "mainstreams," a certain amount of them are apparently devout Christians, and I adore the implication that they would be the most challenged to have open minds.
I was drawn in by Don the Vampire (hardly surprising to anyone who knows me), with his pale complexion, slender physique, Marilyn Mansonesque cat-eye contacts and sharpened teeth.
Who wouldn't be? His fancy red velvet pseudo-Asian outfit for the Elimination Ceremony is to die for. My opinion of him has been tainted slightly by delving deeper on the internet and on Sci-Fi's website and discovering that behind the cameras Don is a little annoying, and there is a great deal of speculation on vampire community chatboards as to who he is (though I don't know if vampires are required to be registered so everyone can be certain of their authenticity like lesbians are.) One TV magazine review echoed my own initial thoughts, that it is hard to take a vampire named Don completely seriously. I was especially amused by an interview with him on SciFi.com where he commented that with the full moon approaching, he was getting his "energy" up, and it would be interesting to see what happens...the implication being, I suppose, that he might soon start dining on the guests (though in another interview he admitted he only "feeds" from the willing, and only in token amounts at that). Granted I only know as much about the occult as I read in books and watch in movies, but I would think a full moon would affect a werewolf that way. I have never heard of the moon having any influence whatsoever on vampires. But again, what do I know?
Sadly in only the third week, my favorite guest was voted off, Kelly. Kelly was my favorite in the way that Puck was my favorite on The Real World: annoying as hell, craving attention, and certainly someone I would smack in real life, but nevertheless compelling, perhaps for the same reasons. She also for some reason lives in a convent when she isn't competing for $100,000. Kelly was the consummate drama queen, on top of getting in the most squabbles with other guests. She criticized one girl for constantly talking and wanting to be the center of attention (not leaving any room for Kelly); someone else pointed out her hypocrisy and she lost it. She went into hysterics when another guest casually remarked that he didn't believe she was that shocked when Art talked about piercing his genitals. It was this outburst that convinced some of the Alts that she was too unstable to stay in the house. I agree, I mean, if you can't get along with other mainstream people who are relatively similar to yourself, how on earth are you going to accept a completely foreign lifestyle? But at the same time, it was her volatility that lent some interest to the show. The look she gave the Alts at the end of the Elimination Ceremony was priceless, a mixture of hurt disbelief and a sincere desire for each and every one of them to die on the spot. In her post-elimination video confessional, she ranted about who they thought they were, judging her. They were a bunch of "freaks"! Whether she would still think this way had she won will never be known now, and at the moment she realized she was leaving and her face filled with venom, I was a little sad because I saw a person who will probably now forever be closed to anyone who is outside the norm. But that is who the Alts are searching for, someone who can be accepting and tolerant of others even without a grand prize at stake.
I suppose I will continue to watch, even without Kelly. Though for my money you just can't beat the entertainment value of a flaming drama queen, and an uptight religious one at that..
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no subject
Date: 2004-03-16 06:37 pm (UTC)I read an article once that stated that the best time to buy plane tickets online was on the nights that Survivor was on, because over half of America watches it when it comes on. That's just sick!
Anyway, I am very intrigued by Don too. He's so hot. But I have only ever seen him on posters on the subway, because I never actually watched the show. My friend Marina informed me that he acts stupid and that makes me a bit sad. I don't want it to taint the image I have of him in my head!
Forgive me for the long comment and this next stupid question, but I know nothing about the show. But how true to themselves are the hosts? I mean are they all just putting on an act for the show or is is an exagerrated version of their real lifestyles? I'm confused by the show. I think I'll have to watch it now!
no subject
Date: 2004-03-16 07:16 pm (UTC)Don't sweat the long reply. I don't mind in the least. :)