Note: So-called reality TV swept the nation during the last couple of decades. It would seem to be proof positive of how absolutely bone-desperate many Americans are to be entertained. It also comes on the cheap for TV producers, who do not have to meet the wild salary demands of established stars. At base, the thing that makes this kind of programming so attractive to viewers more than likely is that it gives the audience a bevy of nice looking young people dressed--barely--in skimpy outfits and placed in circumstances that allow for some degree of fooling around with one another.
One of the most popular of all the many reality shows has been Survivor, which in the Untied States started in 2000. Its concept is that a load of contestants are plunked down in an exotic, remote location, divided into competing "tribes," and given a series of ridiculous tasks to perform.They then begin to vote one another off the show. The idea was taken from a similar TV show in Sweden.
One of the best liked of all the U.S. show's contestants was not just a pretty face. In fact, Rupert Boneham isn't pretty at all. He is a bearded, bear-like fellow who looks if though he really could survive if left on his own for real in a remote place.
The U.S. audience took to this American everyman, who had studied nursing and worked at many hard jobs, including gravedigger.
That he is a good fellow can be seen in his use for some of the money he won on the show: setting up Rupert's Kids, an organization in support of troubled kids.
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Reality TV Figure Lorenzo Borghese
In stark contrast to their usual practice of selecting their male characters from the ranks of hunky working stiffs, ABC's reality show The Bachelor ran in an honest to gosh 34-year-old Italian prince, Lorenzo Borghese on its 9th season.
Young Borghese was the real goods, and surely the female contestants on the show must have considered him to be Lorenzo the Magnificent. He is dark and handsome and is descended from one of Italy's most noble families--one that was instrumental in building St. Peter's in Rome. Among his ancestors are a pope and an especially influential cardinal. More recently, one of his grandmothers founded a successful line of cosmetics in the 1950s.
Lorenzo was born in Milan but moved to America when he was a small boy. Now living in New York City, he holds an MBA and owns the pet spa company he founded, and also works with his father in the human cosmetics business.
By now he has made the usual round of talk shows, but his brush with celebrity came in 2006 by way of The Bachelor.
Young Borghese was the real goods, and surely the female contestants on the show must have considered him to be Lorenzo the Magnificent. He is dark and handsome and is descended from one of Italy's most noble families--one that was instrumental in building St. Peter's in Rome. Among his ancestors are a pope and an especially influential cardinal. More recently, one of his grandmothers founded a successful line of cosmetics in the 1950s.
Lorenzo was born in Milan but moved to America when he was a small boy. Now living in New York City, he holds an MBA and owns the pet spa company he founded, and also works with his father in the human cosmetics business.
By now he has made the usual round of talk shows, but his brush with celebrity came in 2006 by way of The Bachelor.
Monday, June 29, 2009
Reality TV Figure Anh-Tuan Boi
Nail salon manager Anh-Tuan Boi, better known as "Cao Boi," ascended to temporary celebrity as a contestant on Survivor: Cook Islands.
The married Virginia Tech graduate and former member of the Army's 82nd Airborne was popular for his enormous smile and winning manner. He came to the United States at age 11 as a war refugee.
The married Virginia Tech graduate and former member of the Army's 82nd Airborne was popular for his enormous smile and winning manner. He came to the United States at age 11 as a war refugee.
Reality TV Figure Jesse Camp
One of those aspiring performers who would likely make most older people wonder just why he might be popular is Jesse Camp, who was on MTV's show I Wanna Be a VJ.
Camp, way, way out there in dress, hairstyle and overall persona, ironically came from conservative roots in Connecticut. The punk-style drummer/singer/guitar player would seem to have fit in where he came from about as well as Liberace at the Southern Baptist Convention.
Camp, way, way out there in dress, hairstyle and overall persona, ironically came from conservative roots in Connecticut. The punk-style drummer/singer/guitar player would seem to have fit in where he came from about as well as Liberace at the Southern Baptist Convention.
Reality TV Figure Sonja Christopher
Music therapist Sonja Christopher of Walnut Creek, California, gained a fleeting measure of celebrity in 2000 at age 63 by, despite her likable persona, being the very first contestant to be voted off the show Survivor. Christopher, a breast cancer survivor, was known for her happy smile and her ukulele.
Reality TV Figure Richard Hatch
Corporate trainer Richard Hatch was the first winner (survivor)on the popular reality show Survivor, set in Borneo. This series conclusively proves there is no limit to how silly a show can be, provided it offers its viewers a sufficiency of comely young people cavorting about wearing skimpy outfits.
Hatch himself was no youngster but did like to go about as nearly nude as possible. His work experience had been varied and included a five-year hitch in the Army. On Suvivor, he showed a political ability that might be the envy of politicians everywhere, taking home the $1 million prize.
He was less clever when it came to paying his income taxes, however, and he spent around four years in prison as a result. Hatch had been offered a deal if he would plead guilty, but he turned it down, hoping to win over the jury. He didn't. His appeals did him no good, and in the end, the U.S. Supreme Court refused to grant certiorari. An older but presumably wiser Hatch emerged from prison in May 2009.
Hatch himself was no youngster but did like to go about as nearly nude as possible. His work experience had been varied and included a five-year hitch in the Army. On Suvivor, he showed a political ability that might be the envy of politicians everywhere, taking home the $1 million prize.
He was less clever when it came to paying his income taxes, however, and he spent around four years in prison as a result. Hatch had been offered a deal if he would plead guilty, but he turned it down, hoping to win over the jury. He didn't. His appeals did him no good, and in the end, the U.S. Supreme Court refused to grant certiorari. An older but presumably wiser Hatch emerged from prison in May 2009.
Reality TV Figure William Hung
A 21-year-old Asian aspiring performer named William Hung found brief celebrity on the show American Idol in 2006.
Young Mr. Hung had a most unusual appeal. He was sort of an Asian nebbish, had strange hair and acted rather like Pee Wee Herman in that he seemed a sort of child-man. This engineering student took time off from his studies to sing and dance with an earnestness matched only by a Hollywood Elvis impersonator who calls himself Thai Elvis.
Hung emigrated from Hong Kong to Los Angeles when he was a boy.
Young Mr. Hung had a most unusual appeal. He was sort of an Asian nebbish, had strange hair and acted rather like Pee Wee Herman in that he seemed a sort of child-man. This engineering student took time off from his studies to sing and dance with an earnestness matched only by a Hollywood Elvis impersonator who calls himself Thai Elvis.
Hung emigrated from Hong Kong to Los Angeles when he was a boy.
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