Flashback Friday: The Simple Life (2003-2007)

The fish out of water narrative has compelled humanity for generations.

The Simple Life aired between 2003 and 2007. Then Hollywood socialites Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie leave their 1% world behind to see what life is like outside of their bubble. This reality show followed them as temporarily lived with other families and worked low paying jobs.

This show is nothing more than the reality television drama at its worst. Now granted, this program aired when the genre was in its infancy. As it was then, this is television trash and will always be television trash. It also set the stage for other “reality” television shows that took viewers into the lives of the rich and famous.

Do I recommend it? Absolutely not.

Flashback Friday-Grease: You’re the One That I Want! (2007)

Reality television has a way of worming itself into every niche of the television world that it can.

In 2007, it made it’s way to Broadway. Grease: You’re the One That I Want! aired for one season. The purpose of the program was to use the reality show format to cast another revival of Grease. Using the competition show as a backbone, the format was not unfamiliar: the contestants would perform every week. One by one they are eliminated until the winners are cast as Danny and Sandy.

At the time, it was good television. Looking back I can see that it was not that good. It was not completely lifeless, but it was one of the shows that was only destined to last one season.

Do I recommend it? Maybe.

Help! I Wrecked My House Review

From an outsider’s perspective, renovating one’s home is a simple process. But those who know better can easily say otherwise.

Help! I Wrecked My House premiered last night on HGTV. On the series, homeowners who have attempted and failed to do DIY home renovations turn to Jasmine Roth. The goal of Roth and her team is to complete the process that the owners were unable to.

I enjoyed the show. Though it is reality television, it is not as much of a brain drain as other programs in the genre are. Roth comes off as both amiable and knowledgeable. As a viewer, I was engaged, eager to see the final results of the renovation.

I recommend it.

Help! I Wrecked My House airs on Saturday night at 8PM on HGTV.

Flashback Friday: My Big Fat American Gypsy Wedding (2012-2016)

There has been a fascination by those in the majority about those who are in the minority. This fascination has, for better or worse, become a gold mine for reality television producers.

My Big Fat American Gypsy Wedding aired on TLC from 2012-2016. This reality show told the story of the marriage ceremonies of Romani Americans (otherwise known as Gypsies).

This program is trash, there is no other way to put it. I will freely admit that I am completely uneducated on this segment of American society. However, regardless of how much knowledge the viewer has of Romani-Americans, it comes off as the typical brain drain over-dramatic reality program.

Do I recommend it? Absolutely not.

Flashback Friday-Flipping Vegas (2011-2014)

Even in the best of times, the selling and buying of homes has the potential to be a crap shoot. Especially when the purpose of buying a home is to fix it up and hopefully sell it for profit.

Flipping Vegas aired on A&E from 2011-2014. The show followed the careers of real estate investors Scott and Amie Yancey. They earn their bread by buying dilapidated homes, flipping them, and then selling them to new homeowners. As anyone who watches this sub-genre knows, the process is not as simple as television makes it out to be.

What is most interesting for me is not the process of the home renovation, but the conflicts between Amie and Scott. In most shows like this where the main attraction is a married couple, most couples have a cohesive vision for the final product. Amie and Scott don’t always agree, which I think makes the show unique.

Do I recommend it? I am leaning toward yes.

Flashback Friday-Sorority Life (2002-2004) & Fraternity Life (2003-2005)

For some in college, the experience is incomplete without at least the attempt of pledging a sorority or a fraternity. But does that experience live up the images seen on the big and small screens?

Back in the early 2000’s MTV included Sorority Life (2002-2004) and Fraternity Life (2003-2005) on their schedule. Both series followed pledges and members of a handful of sororities and fraternities from across the country.

When both programs originally aired, I was the target audience. It was easy for me to get hooked on both series. But two decades later, both programs are showing their age and the questions that come with how real a “reality show” is.

Do I recommend it? Maybe.

Throwback Thursday: Mario Lopez: Saved by the Baby (2010-2011)

Impending parenthood often brings a mix of emotions. Especially when this is the first pregnancy.

From 2010-2011, Mario Lopez: Saved by the Baby aired on VH1. It followed actor and TV host Mario Lopez (Saved by the Bell) and his then-girlfriend (now wife), Courtney Mazza as they prepared for the birth of their first child.

As most celebrity centered reality shows go, this was far from the worst program within the sub-genre. But it was not all that special either.

Do I recommend it? Maybe.

Throwback Thursday-Man v. Food (2008-Present)

When it comes to food and eating, we all know that it is time to stop when our stomachs are full. But what happens we are challenged to eat well after our stomachs have told us that they are full?

Man v. Food (2008-Present) originally aired on the Travel Channel before moving to the Cooking Channel three years ago. Hosted first by Adam Richman and then by Casey Webb, the show profiles different restaurants with extreme and unique dishes on the menu. The challenge is to completely consume the dish, sometimes within a limited amount of time.

This show is a joy to watch. Not just for the huge meals that fill you up just by looking at them, but for the challenge the host takes up to finish the meal.

I recommend it.

Throwback Thursday: Cake Boss (2009-2017)

For those who love to be in the kitchen, baking is more than final product that comes out of the oven. It is the love and pride that comes with creating something for someone else to enjoy.

Cake Boss aired on TLC from 2009-2017. The show followed Buddy Valastro, the owner of Carlo’s Bake Shop, located in Hoboken, New Jersey. Audiences were introduced to Buddy, his staff and his family as they created edible masterpieces for their customers.

I really like this show. It is entertaining without the mind numbing feeling that comes with some reality shows. As a viewer, I enjoy the challenge of watching these cakes go from conception to reality.

I recommend it.

Flashback Friday-Ace of Cakes (2006-2011)

When one normally thinks of a cake, the image is that of a square or a rectangle covered in frosting with a topping or two.

On Ace of Cakes, Duff Goldman and his team create much more than the basic cake. Their task is to create custom and extremely detailed cakes within a very short amount of time. Once the cakes are completed (sometimes using unorthodox methods), they often travel hundreds, if not thousands of miles to their final destination.

I think this show is fabulous. I love the idea of the challenge of creating cakes that go well beyond what most of us think of a cake. I also love to camaraderie between the team and the creativity it takes to put together their masterpeices.

I recommend it.