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Reality Bites [Remote Control Freak]

There are so many different kinds of reality shows these days, I don’t even know where to start. I’m going to focus today on three categories of “reality” for you.

project_runwayThe first kind takes people with actual talent and either showcases or hones that talent while at the same time entertaining us and making them a little cash and recognition. These are shows like Top Chef, American Idol, Project Runway. I’ll even lump America’s Next Top Model into this category though the drama meter on that one is pretty high.

Second are reality game shows. Survivor, Big Brother, The Bachelor/ette, etc. I think we’re supposed to believe that these are real people that just want a vacation from their lives, to win lots of money, or to meet Mr(s). Right. But I have a friend who has a friend whose entire career is being on reality shows of this nature.

She makes her living this way. She doesn’t have to win, she just has to get on and stay on long enough to make rent, and with each new show she becomes more and more recognizable to the point that she’s known as a “star of reality television” — much like Kendra Wilkinson who has never done anything to warrant having her own show, but got one because she’d been on so much reality TV, they figured they’d let her star in her own series (see category below).

New-gypsy-wedding-NF-finished2The third category is strictly mindless entertainment for no purpose but getting big ratings for very little production value. Shows like Duck Dynasty, any of the Kardashian/Jersey Shore/Honey Boo Boo/Gypsy Wedding style horrorfests, and the like. You know what I mean.

We should be embarrassed that most of these shows are not only on the air, but that they continue to make more of them because so many people actually watch them. Will wonders never cease? We will not be discussing this category today in hopes that it will one day die the uninteresting death it deserves.

So You Think You Can Dance falls into group one. The good group. If you haven’t seen it yet, this is no Dancing With The Stars. But if you like that show, you should check this one out. You’ll never appreciate D-list celebrities making fools of themselves again, because this will blow your mind.

36109The first round of actual competition started last week, which you can probably catch On Demand but should set your DVR’s now to make sure you don’t miss another week. #SYTYCD is like the American Idol of dance competition, only better. It’s head judge, Nigel Lythgoe, used to be the Executive Producer of American Idol, so I know this to be true.

Trained and untrained dancers from all over the country go through a grueling audition process to make it on the show. Only 24 will make it to the big stage. Some of the most amazing choreographers I’ve ever seen (and let’s face it, the ONLY choreographers I’ve ever seen) produce routines for them to learn week after week that will evoke literal emotion as you watch.

These kids are talented. They might be an animation street dancer (2 made it on this year) or a trained ballroom champion – but they all have to go outside of their comfort zones and master every style of dance to make it to the end. This year the bar already seems to have been set ultra-high.

I’m so excited that the famed Mia Michaels is back. And all the favorites are still on board – Sonya Tayeh, Nappy Tabs, Travis Wall, Tyce DeOrio. Some of the previous winners and favorite dancers have gone on to make great careers that are out of the limelight completely – because their focus is not to become the next big celebrity – but to actually be a dancer. Check it out. Fox Tuesday nights.

I mentioned during my summer preview that I was going to watch the crap out of Whodunnit? because it looked completely awful. I was not disappointed. Except I kind of was. While I did expect it to be silly, I didn’t think the people involved wouldn’t be real people. They’re totally actors. Totally. Either that or they’ve been in on the game from the beginning and the fact that someone was “murdered” in front of them was not only not a surprise, but they’re also being coached along the way. It’s the fakiest of fake shows I’ve ever seen and I will not be watching it again. I love CLUE, it’s one of my all time favorite movies, but this show does a great disservice to it. I know there are a lot of people that are enjoying it, but I would guess that they also enjoy that third category of reality shows and believe those people are real too.

Next WeekUnder The Dome. All I can say right now is, it’s very Stephen King.