Okay before I get to the shows let’s talk about commercials – or one in particular.. The Gap’s very long and apparently very expensive ad featuring Missy ‘Misdemeanor’ Elliot and guess who… Madonna!! I just happened to be flipping channels in my room where I am sadly Tivo-less, and I thought what I was seeing was a video, and it was almost as long. Then I realized it was a commercial. Then I realized it was a commercial for the fucking gap! Madonna is advertising for the Gap?! Am I the only one who is disappointed by this? Am I the only one who remembers the 80’s or her roots, and I don’t mean the dark ones on her head? I mean I’m no huge fan or anything - of Madonna that is, and I pretty much detest the Gap and all the uniformity that it stands for – but what a sell out!! And for what? It’s not like she needs the money. And I’m no purist either, I know she didn’t sell out, she bought in. There was actually nothing to sell out, like artistic integrity for example. It’s just lame, that’s all, and I’ve called Madonna a lot of things but never lame. But in a world where Ozzie is the new Ward Cleaver, what do you expect? But what’s next? Mick Jagger performing on stage with Justin Timberlake?? Oh wait – that just happened too! And to quote Craig Kilborn on the matter, “this is surely the beginning of the end of the world.” But never mind the commercials, I have a TiVo – greatest invention of all times.
Now on with the shows! There is a gaggle of new reality shows on this summer –especially, I’ve noticed, for people lookin’ to get married. What? Doesn’t anybody ‘chat’ anymore? The only one of these shows you don’t have to apologize for watching…
“The Amazing Race” - this is such a great concept, there is literally never a dull moment. And while the 4th installment’s contestants are a bit less compelling than in seasons past, they still manage to build the suspense every week. at this point, I’m hoping the clowns pull it off – they’re the only ones who haven’t annoyed me at some point. But really I’m just glad Millie & Chuck, aka Dating/Virgins, are outta there and have no chance to win. I don’t know why they felt it necessary to leave that ‘Virgins’ part in their team description, but I’m glad they did because I laughed about it every single week.
The reality shows I do have to apologize for watching…
1) For Love or Money – the first one was actually really entertaining as I mentioned here multiple times. Then they wrapped it up with a pleasantly surprising ending. He picked the likeable girl instead of the doe-eyed do-do, and she picked the money. I can’t tell you how happy we were about that! It was so funny! Part 2 however, where the likeable girl, who I no longer consider the smart girl, is trying to pull one over on 15 guys to win 2 million, is pretty lame. I guess because guys aren’t catty enough to keep it interesting. In fact they’re down right dull and they all keep saying the same things as each other and they say them over and over, blah, blah, blah. As a result there’s even more filler fluff time wasting going on. But now I’m invested so whatta ya gonna do?
2) The Restaurant – I watched the first episode because 1. they put it in as a replacement for Crime & Punishment which I am puzzled by and unhappy about, but I had a time-slot to fill, and B. because I was curious as to why they thought the concept of a ‘behind-the-scenes’ look at the opening of a restaurant would be interesting to anyone. Well, guess what… I can’t look away! It is really addictive. And I can’t even tell you why, which is weird. What I can tell you is that Rocco guy is a total Dick!

I also apologize that I actually tried to watch Big Brother. geeezzus! That is un-fucking watchable, boring, stupid, bad, bad, tv.
I just have to interject something here.. “Last Call with Carson Daily” is on right now, only because his guest is Denis Leary, one of my favorites. I really need somebody to explain the Carson Daily thing to me!? He couldn’t be more white bread! He’s Mr. Average McPlainwrap. Why the hell is this guy famous?! There can only be one explanation for it which is revealed straight out in the movie “Josie and the Pussycats,” but they played it off as a joke. Carson is in the movie and explains how he is an integral part of MTV’s “conspiracy to control the minds of america’s youth thru pop music.” Check it out sometime.. it’s not horrible it has some laughs, then you tell me – fact or fiction?
Okay, some how it got to be 2 a.m. and I have to work in the morning so I will finish this later. And I will finish because I still have to talk about my new favorite show, possibly my favorite show ever! “Queer Eye for the Straight Guy.” I will cover the whole Fab 5 phenomenon tomorrow.