Reality Shows and More Reality Shows
I get really busy most days and nights, so it's very hard to try "following" a series. Worse still, when I do have time, I tend to just read or watch movies. But, I've been noticing a pattern lately. I've actually been faithfully following a few reality tv shows in the past few years. So, here are my "old faithfuls" as far as reality tv goes--and, btw, I actually did start watching these shows to be "up" on the "water cooler convos" at work and on twitter. It just so happened that they sucked me in enough to keep following...
1.) The Great Food Truck Race on the Food Network, which is hosted by Tyler Florence
The cool thing about this season--unlike in the previous two seasons, they're using "newbies" to the Food Truck scene this time around. These are people who've never owned a food truck before and are just wanting desperately to start up a food truck business. I'm liking this concept a lot. Especially since most of the contestants REALLY want to finish and it's not all about the money at the end. It's for the opportunity to start up their own food truck business. You have to be impressed by that. Of course, the downside is that when the contestants lose and have to leave, there goes their dreams of owning their own food truck. So sad! ;(
2.) Top Chef Masters and Top Chef on BRAVO
Season 4 has some of my favorite Top Chef Masters competing, and it's so cool to see actual Masters who pretty much know each other and are well known in their field competing for their favorite charities. My faves this season: Takashi, Chris Cosentino, Patricia Yeo, and Art Smith. I have to admit, though, I'm a big fan of the Top Chef franchise and who wouldn't want to watch a show that a hottie like Curtis Stone hosts? I mean, the guy is HOT. Beats having to watch Padma hosting the original Top Chef, I gotta tell you. ;) At least Curtis is an actual chef. Padma's what? A model? Anyway, this season's Top Chef Masters is just gearing me up for season 10 of Top Chef. I'm missing a dose of Tom Colicchio right now. ;)
3.) Project Runway on Lifetime
I've said this before and I'll say it again. Project Runway is the ONLY reason I watch Lifetime (aka "The I hate Men network"). ;) 'Nuff said. (Tim Gunn, Heidi Klum, Nina Garcia and Michael Kors is a combination that cannot be beat! So, please don't ever mess with it again.)
4.) The Amazing Race on CBS
Okay. When I mentioned that The Great Food Truck Race was something I was now following, what makes you think I wasn't going to mention The Amazing Race? I mean, really... Wasn't this the basis for most other reality shows that fly or drive off somewhere like Around the World in 80 Plates, Chef vs City, and, oh, The Great Food Truck Race? :) Anyway, the cool thing is, the newest season comes up at the end of Sept. Can't wait for it to start up again. *evil chuckle*
And, my last reality show competition show is...
5. Ninja Warrior on G4
Not to be confused with American Ninja Warrior, btw. (Not that I have much against American Ninja Warrior, but that last one--where they brought the course from Midoriyama to Las Vegas was just silly.) The original Sasuke, or Ninja Warrior, was quite a show to watch. It had a mix of the funny and the serious athletes competing to prove themselves against the course and not against each other. (I guess that's probably why I've been slowly shying away from watching the Kunoichi version. The women's race's first course has evolved to be more a competition against other contestants than against a tough obstacle course.) And, you really find yourself rooting for the contestants to finish each course. Plus, it's heartbreaking when people fall off. That Ultimate Cliff Hanger had been a major ninja killer for that last few years. It was pretty cool how Yuuji Urushihara, a shoe salesman, won against the course TWICE! And, I guess that's also why I'm more partial to the original Ninja Warrior. The people who've finished the tough course are not professional athletes or don't practice parkour or free running. The Ninja Warrior All Stars are all ordinary folks who decide to devote themselves to conquering the course. You gotta admire their gumption. :)
So, those are my reality tv show faithfuls. Interestingly, just about everything on cable tv nowadays has turned to reality tv. :( But, if you sift through all the not-so-good-stuff, you actually do find some gems that don't have to be Toddlers & Tiaras, Dance Moms, Keeping Up With the Kardashians, Real Housewives or--*gasp* God forbid!--Here Comes Honey Boo Boo!
1.) The Great Food Truck Race on the Food Network, which is hosted by Tyler Florence
The cool thing about this season--unlike in the previous two seasons, they're using "newbies" to the Food Truck scene this time around. These are people who've never owned a food truck before and are just wanting desperately to start up a food truck business. I'm liking this concept a lot. Especially since most of the contestants REALLY want to finish and it's not all about the money at the end. It's for the opportunity to start up their own food truck business. You have to be impressed by that. Of course, the downside is that when the contestants lose and have to leave, there goes their dreams of owning their own food truck. So sad! ;(
2.) Top Chef Masters and Top Chef on BRAVO
Season 4 has some of my favorite Top Chef Masters competing, and it's so cool to see actual Masters who pretty much know each other and are well known in their field competing for their favorite charities. My faves this season: Takashi, Chris Cosentino, Patricia Yeo, and Art Smith. I have to admit, though, I'm a big fan of the Top Chef franchise and who wouldn't want to watch a show that a hottie like Curtis Stone hosts? I mean, the guy is HOT. Beats having to watch Padma hosting the original Top Chef, I gotta tell you. ;) At least Curtis is an actual chef. Padma's what? A model? Anyway, this season's Top Chef Masters is just gearing me up for season 10 of Top Chef. I'm missing a dose of Tom Colicchio right now. ;)
3.) Project Runway on Lifetime
I've said this before and I'll say it again. Project Runway is the ONLY reason I watch Lifetime (aka "The I hate Men network"). ;) 'Nuff said. (Tim Gunn, Heidi Klum, Nina Garcia and Michael Kors is a combination that cannot be beat! So, please don't ever mess with it again.)
4.) The Amazing Race on CBS
Okay. When I mentioned that The Great Food Truck Race was something I was now following, what makes you think I wasn't going to mention The Amazing Race? I mean, really... Wasn't this the basis for most other reality shows that fly or drive off somewhere like Around the World in 80 Plates, Chef vs City, and, oh, The Great Food Truck Race? :) Anyway, the cool thing is, the newest season comes up at the end of Sept. Can't wait for it to start up again. *evil chuckle*
And, my last reality show competition show is...
5. Ninja Warrior on G4
Not to be confused with American Ninja Warrior, btw. (Not that I have much against American Ninja Warrior, but that last one--where they brought the course from Midoriyama to Las Vegas was just silly.) The original Sasuke, or Ninja Warrior, was quite a show to watch. It had a mix of the funny and the serious athletes competing to prove themselves against the course and not against each other. (I guess that's probably why I've been slowly shying away from watching the Kunoichi version. The women's race's first course has evolved to be more a competition against other contestants than against a tough obstacle course.) And, you really find yourself rooting for the contestants to finish each course. Plus, it's heartbreaking when people fall off. That Ultimate Cliff Hanger had been a major ninja killer for that last few years. It was pretty cool how Yuuji Urushihara, a shoe salesman, won against the course TWICE! And, I guess that's also why I'm more partial to the original Ninja Warrior. The people who've finished the tough course are not professional athletes or don't practice parkour or free running. The Ninja Warrior All Stars are all ordinary folks who decide to devote themselves to conquering the course. You gotta admire their gumption. :)
So, those are my reality tv show faithfuls. Interestingly, just about everything on cable tv nowadays has turned to reality tv. :( But, if you sift through all the not-so-good-stuff, you actually do find some gems that don't have to be Toddlers & Tiaras, Dance Moms, Keeping Up With the Kardashians, Real Housewives or--*gasp* God forbid!--Here Comes Honey Boo Boo!