Jingoism is fun! ...or, you know, not.

[cadhla]

So I am a faithful watcher of America's Next Top Model, largely because it fills the same ecological niche as the SyFy Saturday original movies: it's an excuse to sprawl on the couch drinking cheap port and giggling like an idiot. (Given enough port, you could probably turn off the television without noticeably changing what I was doing. But I

Comments

[jezebellydancer]

ANTM is a guilty pleasure of mine, although I prefer a nice white zin, or perhaps elderberry mead as an accompaniment. I still haven't seen the new season yet. (I don't have a TV so I stream shows online.)

I admit I thought the gimmick for this season was pretty lame as well. I have been hoping for a plus-sized show (of course plus-size is considered size 12 and up--sheesh). But I'm sure I'll watch this anyway. Like I said, it's my guilty pleasure. I like to pick out all the stereotypes--the angry black girl, the white bitch, the whiner, the rich girl...

[lysystratae]

Elderberry mead...ooooo, I know what I'm making as soon as I find some elderberriest

[jezebellydancer]

I have friends who make elderberry mead among others (strawberry, blueberry, traditional, black currant...) and they are licensed to sell it. Yum. I just stocked up last week.

[admnaismith]

Is this a joke?

They can't really be doing this...can they?

Maybe it's a joke. Please, let it be a joke.

[banjoplayinnerd]

It's a joke all right, but not the funny kind.

[flexor]

Leftpondians approach this kind of competition completely differently from Rightpondians. They transported a few shows from the UK to the US, like Scrapheap Challenge -> Junkyard Wars. In the UK, the main thing is to have fun! In the UK, if one of the constructions broke apart at the moment supreme there were sad faces all round, because winning is much more fun if the opponent gives you a good game

[banjoplayinnerd]

My wife and daughter watch a fair amount of reality TV. I occasionally lurk. Some of the contestants, you have to wonder whether they are clear on the concept of how to win at these things. I am constantly amazed at the ones who do something different from what was assigned, or who "follow their own vision" (dude, that's great, but when you're doing a job for a client you follow THEIR vision), or who argue with the judge's critiques. Great way to get a one-way ticket out of town.

My favorite was on "The Worst Cooks In America." In the first episode the contestants were supposed to make a simple breakfast. Something like pancakes, scrambled eggs and bacon. The first guy kicked off the show had a less-than-serious attitude toward the food and more or less ignored the chef's instructions. Um, dude, there's probably a REASON why you are on "The Worst Cooks In America." Just sayin'.

[mayir]

I actually work with an America's Next Top Model, one back from cycle six. It's pretty bizarre working with someone who, you know, was very much on national television, but she's perfectly normal.

[ladymondegreen]

Oy.

Here's hoping all the Americans get eliminated early, or that the girls from the UK co-opt them.