william p. bohlen
Monday, June 30, 2003
RedEye, 6/27/03
Reality is sleazy in 'Paradise'
By William P. Bohlen
"Paradise Hotel"? More like Sleazy Motel.
Last week, Fox debuted one of its sketchiest reality shows yet, "Paradise Hotel," where the concept is simple: hook up or go home.
The prize is an indefinite stay at a lavish mansion--probably not a real hotel--with a pool or two, a view of the ocean and all the other trappings of reality TV fantasy. The producers have a suggested end date if the show does poorly, but good ratings could keep it alive for months, nay, years to come. Dear God, don't let that happen.
Another problem: The show's creators have left wiggle room to commit the cardinal sin of reality TV--the ability to change the rules at any time.
There are 11 guests, meaning someone is left out of the pairings, and the odd man (or woman) out has to break up another couple in order to stay. Bed-hopping appears to be encouraged. It's a reality TV "Melrose Place."
At the end of each week, the man (or woman) without a partner is dismissed. The remaining guests replace the booted one with a member of the opposite sex from a pair of wannabes in a Los Angeles studio.
Fox claims these contenders to be People Just Like You! (and in fact, It Can Be You!), but they're really hand-picked. It would be so much more fun if it was a truly random audience member--like a 70-year-old vacationing grandfather who thought it would be fun to see a TV show taping and, next thing he knows, he's thrown into "reality" with twentysomething hard bodies who have too much liquor and libido.
- Who doesn't get their own reality show? "Chuck Woolery: Naturally Stoned" follows the life of the game-show host on the Game Show Network at 8:30 p.m. Sunday.
- If you liked "Bridezillas," you'll love "My Big, Wild, You're-Not-Going-To-Believe-This Wedding," at 9 p.m. Monday on ABC.
RedEye, 6/20/03
'Sex' you've been missing is back again
By William P. Bohlen
Carrie Bradshaw would pout, but after a nine-month layoff--long enough for, say, a baby to be born--new episodes of "Sex and the City" fit like a worn-in pair of shoes.
This season's first episode, which premieres at 8 p.m. Sunday on HBO, is satisfying in a way that all other television shows aren't right now: It's scripted; it's clever; it's refreshing. One doesn't realize how stale reality television can get until a better alternative comes along. Getting the hint, networks?
In the first episode, Carrie (Sarah Jessica Parker) and pals Miranda (Cynthia Nixon), Charlotte (Kristin Davis) and Samantha (Kim Cattrall) are in fine form as they explore love through their newest metaphor, the stock market. Predictably, there's a fair share of up-and-down stock jokes.
But the sexually charged banter isn't the only thing you never knew you missed. There's still the shoe-porn close-ups so viewers can obsess over $600 heels. There are still the love trials of the four stars (look for Miranda-Steve developments); a surprising sighting of Carrie's lost love Aidan; a candidate for the awkward date hall of fame; and a semi-touching moment between Charlotte and her hairy Harry, the self-described putz who objects to Charlotte not being Jewish.
Most of all, there's that hope that Carrie has found Mr. Right this season. Jack Berger (Ron Livingston), the writer who intrigued Carrie last season, is back for their first date. And, like Carrie says, their stock is on the way up.
- MTV debuts two shows, Snoop Dogg's "Doggy Fizzle Televizzle" variety show and Magic Johnson's "Who's Got Game" street hoops reality series, at 9 and 9:30 p.m., respectively, Sunday night.
- Episode two of "Boarding House: North Shore," a superior surfing reality show to MTV's "Surf Girls," airs at 7 p.m. Wednesday on the WB.
- ABC premieres "The Dating Experiment," in which two strangers follow the directions of a mysterious red diary for two weeks, at 9 p.m. Wednesday.
RedEye, 6/13/03
Too much TV and too little talent
By William P. Bohlen
Talent search television is, almost without exception, great. It's the American dream--neatly packaged to fit between commercial breaks--with some unknowns stumbling under the pressure and others rising to the occasion.
But soon there will be too much of this good thing. The more "Star Search" and "American Idol" clones there are, the less special the accomplishments, the more likely the American dream will look like the American reality--or the reality television reality--with hundreds of desperate contestants clawing for their 16th minute.
This summer alone, we are deluged with "Fame," "American Juniors," "America's Next Top Model" and "Last Comic Standing."
They're hoping to ride the "American Idol" coattails, but there's one major difference between Kelly Clarkson's launching pad and these second-generation shows. "Idol" started out as a campy show and became a cultural touchstone. The new shows are fun but clearly inferior, and the audiences have been modest compared with "Idol."
"American Juniors," a Gerberized "Idol," has been a documentary of the much-feared Stage Mom in her natural habitat. "America's Next Top Model" has been a surprising delight as the vapid contestants vie for vapid Tyra Banks' attention. "Last Comic Standing" will be interesting once the comics move into a house together and start ripping on each other.
Beware, though, the third generation of these talent searches. There might not be any talent left.
- NBC has many quality shows, just not at 8 p.m. Saturday when the "Maxim's Hot 100" special airs.
- I'll watch "Outrageous Celebrity Look-Alike Behavior: Caught on Tape" at 7 p.m. Monday on Fox, but I won't tell anyone I did. It's followed by "Anything for Love" the self-billed "first relationship-reality-variety TV show."
- "Paradise Hotel," an interactive pretty-people parade with unlimited potential for hook-ups, premieres at 8 p.m. Wednesday on Fox.
Monday, June 09, 2003
The Boston Globe, 6/9/03
Breakers eject Freedom from first place
By William P. Bohlen
Globe Correspondent
RedEye, 6/6/03
'Real World' forever young
By William P. Bohlen
The premiere of "The Real World: Paris" Tuesday night seemed quaint in the modern television landscape, studded as it is with talent-searches and relationship-searches and extreme fish-out-of-water scenarios.
The stubborn "Real World" sticks closely to the same gimmick-minimal formula it had 13 seasons ago: Seven bratty kids live undeservingly in fabulous digs in a hip city and work at a contrived job. Turn on cameras, let hormones take over, mix well and presto! Instant drama. Serves 20-plus episodes.
But as the show gets older, the cast gets younger, making it difficult for fans to stay devoted. It could just be us passing the age of the cast members, but didn't it always seem that Puck and Pedro (from the San Francisco season) had lived so much more? Watching the Paris cast whine reminded me that they haven't really lived. At the end of the season, perhaps they will have grown enough to change that.
"Real World's" audience perpetually outgrows the show, keeping "RW" an eternal young person's series, just like MTV has remained a young person's network by appealing to the musical tastes of the 17-year-old rather than following its audience into adulthood. Folks who watched the original New York "RW" have more important things to do than watch blurred body parts and bleeped 20-year-old tirades, just like they'd rather listen to their Nirvana albums than see Linkin Park's latest video.
That said, if you're more likely to be monitoring the hallways than gossiping in them, "Real World" still fits like an old high school sweat shirt: a little tired, but dependable and comfortable for those occasions when you feel like indulging.
Shows to watch
- Lawyer Rob Campos makes Evan "Joe Millionaire" Marriott look like a genius on "For Love or Money," NBC at 8 p.m. Monday.
- Get your VCRs ready. Tuesday at 8 p.m., there's drama "Keen Eddie" on Fox, reality stand-up competition "Last Comic Standing" on NBC and "America's Next Top Model" on UPN.
RedEye, 5/30/03
'Fame' isn't worth time commitment
By William P. Bohlen
The already-crowded field of talent-search reality shows expanded by one Wednesday night, and the two-hour premiere of "Fame" was just ho-hum.
The NBC show, inspired by the old drama, is good enough for killing time but not good enough to become part of a weekly viewing schedule.
"Fame" is basically "American Idol" with good dancing and bland judges. Debbie Allen, star of the original show, serves as the contestants' never-negative coach and the show's godlike figurehead. 'NSync's Joey Fatone hosts and does a decent job, although with the pounds he's put on since his group's hiatus, he's got some work to do if they want to reunite.
Allen and Fatone repeatedly mentioned that the show is looking for a "triple threat"--someone who can sing, dance and has undeniable star quality. To the show's credit, the group of 24 semifinalists, narrowed after the nationwide search, could comprise a United Colors of Benetton commercial, and there are several who aren't conventionally attractive.
And at least "Fame" calls a spade a spade: The show's title boldly proclaims what it's about. Problem is, the desperately seeking stardom goal is getting old. And we haven't yet seen "America's Most Talented Senior," coming this summer, featuring rapping grannies.
- A stand-up comedy bonanza featuring Tina Fey, Adam Sandler and Jon Stewart, among others, helps raise money for autism research on "Night of Too Many Stars," 7 p.m. Saturday on NBC.
- The season finale of "Six Feet Under" airs at 8 p.m. Sunday on HBO.
- Juiciest show since "Joe Millionaire"? "For Love or Money," in which 15 women compete to win one guy or $1 million, and he doesn't know about the money. Two-hour premiere is at 8 p.m. Monday on NBC.
- "American Juniors" premieres at 7 p.m. Tuesday on Fox.
- MTV puts a bunch of spoiled brats in lovely Paris for the latest "Real World." Premiere is at 10 p.m. Tuesday.
