TV: Big Brother (season 13) finale

I was an original fan of the US version of the reality show Big Brother. I watched faithfully from that first season in 2000 through the first All-Stars season in 2006. After that, this show sort of fell off my viewing radar. When this summer started, someone was talking about it on Twitter and convinced me to check it out. The twist this season was that six veteran players were coming back to play along side eight newbies. I decided to tune in, and I was instantly sucked back into all the twists and turns this game holds.

Total Drama Island

What combines two things I enjoy a lot - animation and reality shows? That would be Total Drama Island, an animated series that ran on Canadian television in 2007 and has been showing on US television this summer on Cartoon Network.

The premise of the show is this: a bunch of teens send in audition tapes for a reality show, but instead of being put in a plush mansion they have to go through the rigors of bizarre events in a backwoods camp. The show features a host named Chris who is sort of a swarmy version of Survivor's Jeff Probst. The camp's Chef who is mean and scary also puts the campers through their paces. Like Survivor, one camper each week is ousted at the marshmallow ceremony.

The show is a lot of fun. Both my son and I are enjoying it a lot. Sadly, I missed a few episodes at the beginning, so I am hoping for a huge marathon to catch up.

Update: Cartoon Network heard me! A marathon of the show will run Sunday September 7th from noon until 7pm. I'm setting the DVR so I can catch it all from the beginning. Good stuff.

I Love Money!

No, that isn't a statement declaring any inherent greed on my part. I Love Money! is the name of a new reality show that debuted this week on VH-1.

The concept of the show is pretty straight forward. Take seventeen former contestants on four VH-1 reality shows, take them down to Mexico, and have them compete for a $250,000 prize. Of course, there will be drama, romance, alliances built and crumbled, and lots of trash-talk and back-stabbing. Perfect, mindless summer viewing.

From Flavor of Love and Charm School comes Hoops, Nibblz, Pumpkin and Toastee. From I Love New York comes Chance, Real, White-Boy, Midget Mac, Entertainer, 12-Pack, Mr. Boston and another dude whose name I can't recall (why did Flav and New York have to give these folks such funky nicknames?). From Rock of Love seasons 1 and 2 comes Heather, Destiny, Brandi C., Rodeo and Megan.

Sure, this isn't emmy award winning television. Heck, it is more in line with Jerry Springer than anything else. But it is interesting to me to see what people will do for fame and fortune, and just how low-down they'll stoop for either. Let the games begin!