Who needs reality when you have tv?

It wasn't that long ago that I looked down my nose at reality tv. I think it was the crap I was exposed to on MTV that started it. The Real World? Not really. I never really got into Survivor (still don't care for it) and Big Brother didn't hook me either. Then I caught the 2 part season 1 finale of The Apprentice. I was hooked by the coifed one, as well as the villainy (and stupidity) of some the contestants, especially Amarosa. Next thing I knew I was buying the full season on dvd when it came out not long after and watched it for a few seasons still until I couldn't take it anymore. I began to watch Amazing Race until they screwed Rob and Amber by stopping the plane they were on during the final run and literally making it go back to pick up another team just so the season wouldn't end in an anticlimactic blow out. This was a commercial airline flight, mind you. And yeah R&A wound up coming in second to that other team. Then I remember watching a show starring a beligerent chef and and had some fat guy on there named Dewberry who the chef repeatedly called "Blueberry". Damn near made the guy cry. Actually, he did make the guy cry. So I got hooked on Hell's Kitchen, and eventually Kitchen Nightmares.

Pity points to any of you who remember these events.

These days I'm happy to report that my reality television viewing habits are down to pretty much just cooking shows. I like both the UK and US versions of Kitchen Nightmares, I generally watch some of the reruns on BBC. But the real winners this season for me have been MasterChef and to some extent Hell's Kitchen. For me MC is the better show this season, more likeable people and contestants that can actually cook. Oh yeah, and much MUCH hotter women. Who can cook. Wait, I think I just figured out the reason behind my fixation lol.

Anyway...the only thing that brings these shows down is the insistance on the contestants to bring the douchebaggery. I'm sure the producers encourage it and stir shit up when possible (Mark Burnett is famous for this practice) and you can't always trust the editing since they're piecing blips of reactions and gestures together to tell the story the way they want you to see it. But even still, some people get put in front of a camera and their inner trailer park comes screaming to the surface to show off proudly to the world. But sometimes, like last night on MasterChef, there is genuine emotion that is not a result of editing nor a producer's whim. Watching Jennifer drop a streamload of obscenities directed at Christian (who was like 4 feet away) after putting up with his domineering, arrogant bullshit during the earlier challenge was nothing short of theraputic.

Jennifer is someone who has seemed like a really nice, quiet person to this point who was a marginal cook. Christian totally belittled her abilities during the challenge and over rode her decisions since he was the team captain, and his arrogance blew up on him and their team lost. And then? He blamed her anyway, even though clearly what had happened was his fault. Then during the pressure test (which the team that loses the challenge has to do and which usually results in an elimination) she just went off on him. No one had ever really addressed this guy's ego and childish antics directly, but she just let him have it. It was really cool to watch. And then she kicked his ass in the challenge. Unfortunately although they set it up to look like Christian was going to be the one leaving, they threw us all a curve and no one got eliminated during a segment thats designed to produce an elimination. I've been down this street before though, so tonight (the shows air Monday and Tuesday) most likely 2 will get the boot. Should be fun viewing!

Oh, and for those who don't watch these shows but know what a jackwad Ramsay can be: the little bald dude on MasterChef makes Ramsay look like a life affirmation coach. Easily the biggest prick there. Makes for some good viewing, it does. :)