Reality TV Update
Still living in the void left by the ending of American Idol 2, and now dealing with the hole left by the ending of America's Next Top Model, I've discovered another fun reality TV alternative. However, it does not have any form of the word 'America' in the title, so I fear it will not last long. It seems the key to a good reality show is to stick 'America' in there somewhere.

I was very skeptical of this show at first, more so than when first attempting to watch Model. In fact, the ads for the show the past few months seriously turned me off, they were so lame. I mean, enough with the reality TV dating shows. They just get cheesier and cheesier, and it's never anything new. Plus, nothing can really match the fabulousness of The Bachelor. Not even The Bachelorette. But now having watched two episodes, I can confidently promote Cupid as another dating reality show everyone needs to watch.

This dating reality show is not like any other dating reality show. How is that possible? Because Simon Cowell is brilliant. I was concerned that his ruthless American Idol personality and influence would ruin the show from the beginning. I thought, "Simon, you've gone too far. You've tried to capitalize on your persona in a genre that you shouldn't touch. I am thoroughly disappointed and fear the worst." But since he is only the brains behind it, and the narrator during the episode, the show is turning out to be quite humorous to watch. His commentary is quite appropriate. It's good fun.

If you are unaware of Cupid, the goal of the show is to find a husband for this girl, Lisa. Once a selection of eligible bachelors are chosen, the audience then gets to decide who gets kicked out each week as Lisa dates them every episode. The catch is that she brings her two best friends to the auditions, to screen every guy who tries to win Lisa over. In fact, out of the three girls, Lisa is not the star, in my opinion. Sure, she's nice and pretty and personable and likeable enough. But it's the two friends that really make the show interesting. Well, that, and the complete freakos trying to woo Lisa at the auditions.

So, if you're finding yourself in withdrawals from the summer time lack of quality reality programming, I give two thumbs up to Cupid, and I highly recommend you give it a go. These girls are, simply put, a female version of Simon. They hold nothing back in telling off the jerks and idiots who show up for the auditions, pointing out their flaws and ridiculing them in the ways you've wished you could to your ex-idiots. They seemingly have no conscience, and it's hilarious. Plus, it's worth a watch just to see what kind of weirdos are out there, and what they think will woo a woman, and then to be thankful that none of those guys are the guys currently stalking me at this juncture.

In other reality TV news, I'm so far not at all impressed with Big Brother 4. They've managed to pick an entire house full of losers, and the 'Ex Factor' is just the lamest idea ever. So far, I've preferred packing my apartment over sitting and watching any length of consecutive minutes of this show.

Also, Paradise Hotel is mildly intriguing in that Girls-Gone-Wild-Real-Cancun-Not-Good-Enough-For-MTV-Love-Cruise-Sunk sort of way. But the drama and annoying non-game like quality of it reduces it to nothing but a bunch of whiney mid-20's semi-adults getting overly-tanned at a Hawaiian resort, with no real plot, or point, or interest in any of the characters. But, it is mildly amusing from time to time. Good for background noise as I wander through the stacks of boxes in my apartment.

Carry on.

C.T.