The Amazing Survivor Race

And so they return, two of my favorite reality TV shows, Survivor and The Amazing Race.

First Survivor, which for the first time is being filmed in HD. Africa never looked so beautiful. Remember that on this show attitude, smarts and athleticism will get you everywhere. Which is why we said goodbye to Michelle (bad attitude) and Gillian (no athleticism at all) on opening night.

My favorites? Gay-boy Charlie of course, and his BFF Marcus. Physics teacher Bob seems to be quite a hoot, and though Randy is depressing, he knows how to to play the game. None of the chicks really float my boat, but you have to admit that anybody named Sugar has to be kind of fun. And I think she is and will be.

As for the best show on TV, The Amazing Race: Beekeepers/hippies Anita and Arthur we heardly knew ye. From Los Angeles to Brazil was as far as they made it, faltering at the Detour.

Their choices: Hard Way Up or Soft Way Down. Teams could either climb a stone staircase on their hands and knees (ouch) and be asked a mystery question at the top, or teams can choose to climb down a cargo net attached to a building that’s 240 feet down. Every team chooses the cargo net but the frats, Andrew and Dan. They preferred to wreck their knees by climbing the stairs, and they got the question at the top wrong: how many stairs were there? Back to the bottom, where they have to reclimb.

So back to the beehives with ye Anita and Arthur after taking a looooong time to climb the Soft Way Down.

My favorites here? The frat boys and the nerds, Mark and Bill. I can already tell I'm not going to like the Southern Belles (Marissa and Brooke -- why do we have to have dumb blondes on every TAR? But I digress). The Tina half of Ken and Tina is already annoying, too. And the brother/sister duo of Nick and Starr are just a little too touchy-feely for me.

So away we go. See you next week.

Anita and Arthur photo courtesy CBS

I told you so ...

... So Dan, the 24-year-old Catholic school teacher, becomes the first winner in Big Brother history to win with a unanimous vote (Memphis never stood a chance, especially after the Q&A session). And he deserved it.

The jury members finally got off their high horses and realized they were beaten by the best player in the game. It took a while, but good for them.

And hey, how about the greeting 75-year-old Jerry got when he showed up at the Jury House? They may have been in California, but it sure looked like they were in northern Canada. In the middle of a winter blizzard.

So another season of Big Brother is over. If The Amazing Race and Survivor weren't starting next week, I'm sure I'd be going into reality TV withdrawal.

While it's well known how much I'd love to be on TAR, BB would be my second choice. I love Survivor, and all the contestants on that show deserve a pat on the back. I just couldn't handle the bugs.

Or the lack of a fan. I'd never sleep.

I shall return!

Because of the Olympics, my work schedule got all screwed up, so that's why I haven't been blogging.

And now I'm heading to Little Rock to visit my sister Sue, who is doing OK, considering everything. I was going to wait until Thanksgiving, but thought I should go now, especially since Cheryl and Val are going to be there, along with Sammy's brother Burt. I fly out tomorrow and return late Sunday night.

That also means I won't be going to the Gay World Series in Seattle. Bummed about that, but I can play softball anytime.

So when I return you can look forward to updates on the Cubs, Big Brother 10 (buh-bye Jessie, Libra and April), the new teams of The Amazing Race, and I guess I'll have to mention the Olympics (hello, Michael Phelps? Usain Bolt?)

In the meantime, have a good week and I'll see you all after Labor Day!

Big Brother 10

The Chen-bot is back. Thank God.

Julie Chen introduced this season's cast of Big Brother 10 last night, and it looks like it's going to be a fun season. It's supposed to be a season like the first two, with everybody who walked into the house total strangers.

I already have people I like and hate -- please vote Renny off this week and keep muscle-boy Jessie. Jessie might not be very smart -- giving up a chance to win a car, though to his credit, he had no idea there was a car involved, then getting into an argument with the aforementioned Renny, who has already annoyed pretty much everybody in the house. She's overbearing and not very friendly.

They already have an HOH, 75-year-old Jerry, who had to nominate two people within 24 hours of moving in. He was elected HOH before anybody walked in the house. People had to look at a board and just choose. Jerry's a nice guy who's pretty smart about the game. I hope his age doesn't get in the way.

I also like gay rodeo star Steven, who has not told anybody about how much he likes guys. That should be interesting when that little secret pops out of the closet, especially with the house leaning, I think, a bit toward the conservative side.

About three months of guilty pleasure, until The Amazing Race and Survivor return. Then it'll be time for Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas.

And we start all over again ...

Julie Chen photo courtesy CBS

Reality TV returns ...

... I know. It never went away. But some of my favorites are about to be back, or will be shortly.

*Big Brother returns next Sunday, July 13.
*My all-time favorite, The Amazing Race, is back on Sept. 28 with its 13th edition.
*And Survivor kicks off the fall TV season on Sept. 22 with its latest edition in Gabon, Africa.

Can't wait for The Amazing Race especially, but September is still a ways away. Big Brother will do just fine holding down the fort until then...

Reality TV review

My life doesn't totally revolve around reality television, but a lot of people might think so. And there's not even an Amazing Race to talk about. Oh well.

Big Brother 9: Bye-bye Alison and Ryan. Although I think HOH Joshuah overreacted to Alison's fake lesbian story, I do think it's time for her to go. But why Joshuah hasn't had the same reaction to Sheila is interesting. Oh well. It's been nice knowing ya.

Survivor Micronesia: Mikey B. just got too big for his britches, so he, too, is on the outside looking in. Ozzy continues to amaze. He is probably the best athlete ever on Survivor. He must have held his breath under water five minutes in the immunity challenge, and he found the hidden immunity idol on Exile Island. Is Kathryn just an idiot? Three times on EI, and she comes up with nothing. Ozzy is there for five minutes, finds the idol and carves a fake one for anyone who might find it on a subsequent trip. He learned a lot from the Yau-Man.

American Idol: So far I think the right people have been voted out -- no big surprises so far. David Archuleta is my favorite until somebody else proves to be better. Final 16 competition begins with the guys tonight.

There you have it. The week in reality TV in a nutshell.

Ozzy photo courtesy CBS

I should do this for a living ...

Where have I been???

Umm, away? Hell I don't know. I just know I haven't blogged since Sept. 30, 2007. Good God, that was last year!

A lot has happened since then, and maybe that's why I just haven't had the desire. First and foremost, the Cubs were 3 and done in the playoffs. To the Arizona Diamondbacks. Bastards.

The Bears' season just ended, though on a good note, with a 33-25 win over the New Orleans Saints (take that JW or whatever the hell your name is now). But by winning their final two games they actually screwed themselves a little bit. Now instead of fifth or sixth pick in the draft they get No. 14. Please, if you are reading this, DRAFT A QUARTERBACK WHO CAN ACTUALLY WIN IN CHICAGO. PICK A RUNNING BACK WHO ISN'T CEDRIC BENSON. Sorry. Had to vent.

My sister Sue is OK I guess. She had her lung cancer surgery and then proceeded to start smoking again. She seems to think that since they cut part of her lung out that all the cancer is gone. Sure. And I'm going to win Powerball this week too.

She does like the doctor she's currently seeing, though, and he may be just the one to change her mind about chemotherapy. We'll see.

In reality TV land, Survivor: China has come and gone, with Todd, our little cutie mormon gay flight attendant walking away with the million bucks. He deserved it. Kid Nation is also over and probably won't be back. I liked it, but it raised a lot of concern over child labor laws and such. Pshaw.

And last but not least, we're down to the final four on The Amazing Race 12: Grandpa Don & Nick, Nate & Jen (please let them lose this week, please, please, please), Ron & Christina (Asian father and daughter -- he really treats her like crap), and the hippies, Rachel & TK.

I'm pulling for the hippies and grandpa & Nick. It's been a great year so far. Too bad the Goths are one. They were pretty funny.

Alfred E. Newman courtesy MAD Magazine

Reality TV update

So now it's Survivor: China and Kid Nation.

The Chicken Man and the pro wrestling chick are gone from Survivor, which is probably best. Though the Chicken Man would have been pretty entertaining if he had remained. The other chick was just annoying.

This season's cutie is Todd, a 22-year-old Mormon gay flight attendant. His parents must be proud (note the sarcasm). He's smart and should go far.

As for KN, not sure what all the hub bub was about. Child labor, uncaring parents, blah, blah, blah.

This is probably the best thing that has and ever will happen to these kids. It's tough, but I think they are getting a lot more out of it than just a $20,000 gold star.

I guess we'll find out soon enough. When does Amazing Race 12 start???

Todd photo courtesy CBS

My Reality TV

OK, so here are MY latest updates on Big Brother 8 and Pirate Master:

BB8 is coming down to the wire, and thankfully, we won't have to hear Amber cry about it all the way to the finish line.

Zach is this week's HOH, and he nominated Jessica (revenge) and Jameka (just doesn't like her and knows she would beat him in the final two). Danielle chose not to use the POV, so one of them is going home. BUT -- it's a double eviction week, so it will be interesting to see how that unfolds.

I do feel sorry for Eric -- he's definitely in an unenviable position having to juggle his own interests along with being America's Player. And then he falls for Jessica, which just complicated everything.

PM rode off quietly into the sunset -- on Internet video -- with cutie boy Ben going home with the $500,000 first prize. I was glad he came clean with Louie on throwing the competition that ultimately cost Louie his stay on the ship.

Still can't wait for what looks to be the final season of Amazing Race, with the 12th version of the chase around the world for $1 million starting in January or February.

By then, I'll also be into American Idol, Desperate Housewives, Lost and House.


Ben photo courtesy CBS