Trashy reality TV :)

[Curegirl]

I'm an OC girl too! Miss the first few seasons with Jeanna and Lori, etc. I miss Bethenny too-the firecracker is missing in NYC. Have you checked out her talk show? I caught a clip of the first episode and she seemed understandably nervous.

OMG, please read Carole's book! It's about the journey from a small town to becoming a producer for ABC to losing her husband, cousin-in-law JFK Jr, and best friend Carolyn Bessette Kennedy all in one summer. I couldn't put it down but be prepared for a lot of heartbreaking moments.

I agree, Atlanta is at the bottom of my list but I heard they're bringing Miami back! I heard they were filming Dallas? And apparently there's Vancouver and Dublin but not sure if those are actually Bravo produced. Real Housewives is going to be like the Real World, cities everywhere.

[MDPhDWife]

Real Housewives is going to be like the Real World, cities everywhere.

I grew up watching the Real World! Loved the SF one! I still think about Pedro every now and then. That show actually influenced a lot of my adolescence!

I think that's awesome they're bring Miami back. Will they keep some of the former cast members?

I haven't heard about Bethenny's talk show, how did that slip past my radar? Is it on Bravo?

ETA: I put Carole's book on hold at the library yesterday.

[Curegirl]

Me too! SF and London were my favorites...Isn't Pam a doctor? Poor Judd should come join this board

I think they're keeping all the Miami peeps but don't know for sure. This is for your viewing pleasure: http://www.bethennytv.com

Let me know what you think of Carole's book!

[MrsK]

Oh, I miss Pedro. I knew him, personally, in high school before he came out. Initially, he thought he could educate others about AIDS without sharing his personal life. His family was very old school Cuban and he felt like telling his father that he was gay would have been worse than telling him he had AIDS. So, the story was "If this handsome, Cuban high school stud could get HIV, it could happen to you too." Pedro was presenting at local high schools and someone would always ask if he was gay. He's get flustered and launch into a lecture about how HIV affects straight people too. Coming out so publically for The Real World was huge for him and I always admired his courage. Also, he was a genuinely sweet guy. His death was a real loss. a

[MDPhDWife]

Pedro and his story touched me deeply and I have never forgotten him. Mrs K, you were very lucky to have personally known such an inspiring, courageous person.

Thanks for the link Curesgirl! Can't wait to check it out!

[diggitydot]

Oh, wow. I had no idea you knew Pedro. I cried like a baby when he passed. He really seemed like such a sweet guy. I think he had a huge impact on a lot of my generation's compassion and understanding for those living with HIV and AIDS.

[Curegirl]

Oh, I miss Pedro. I knew him, personally, in high school before he came out. Initially, he thought he could educate others about AIDS without sharing his personal life. His family was very old school Cuban and he felt like telling his father that he was gay would have been worse than telling him he had AIDS. So, the story was "If this handsome, Cuban high school stud could get HIV, it could happen to you too." Pedro was presenting at local high schools and someone would always ask if he was gay. He's get flustered and launch into a lecture about how HIV affects straight people too. Coming out so publically for The Real World was huge for him and I always admired his courage. Also, he was a genuinely sweet guy. His death was a real loss. a

Pedro was my favorite on SF and I'm so happy to hear he was just as sweet in person as he was on TV. I'm sorry you lost your friend...how lucky you were to have known him and how lucky he was to have known understanding and compassionate people like you...

[MrsK]

It's so nice to know that he is remembered so fondly so many years after his passing. I cannot believe that it was nearly 20 years ago. I have such a vivid memory of being in my dorm room and hearing the local radio DJ say "what's-his-name, the AIDS guy from the Real World, died". I was so angry that DJ referred to him that way and didn't remember Pedro's name; the only time I ever called a radio station.

[MrsK]

Funny, the SF Real World was made before reality tv became such a distortion of reality. I could not imagine a medical resident (Pam) or serious activist (Pedro) doing a reality show like that now. When Pedro did the RW, it was so he could reach a larger audience. He knew his time was limited and he wanted to educate as many people as he could. He had to come out publically and be completely honest about his life so that people would trust him to tell the truth about AIDS. It was a dilemma because at that time it was still thought of as a gay disease and he was afraid that his message - that HIV affects everyone - would be dismissed because he was gay. Now, when people do reality TV shows, they play characters, they hope to earn money or false fame.

[moonlight]

You are absolutely right. It's all about their own personal selfish agendas, nothing else. That stupid show I watch has even changed from last season. The people from last season really wanted find someone, these people are clearly all actors and other TV personalities in the making.

[Liisi]

Has anyone watched the first two episodes of The Week the Women Went? I don't really watch reality TV, but this one caught my eye because I was big into women's studies classes in college and this seemed like an intriguing concept: all of the women in one South Carolina town leave for seven days - what will the town be like when only men and children/teenagers are there for the week?

Of course, I should have known better... the show is horribly sexist, sets EVERYONE up to fail, is very narrowly focused on only heterosexual couples, most of them with kids - no lesbian or gay people, no single people living alone, no single moms or dads who aren't dating anyone, etc. (Because there would be no story there, I guess? If my childless girlfriend and I were a part of this social experiment, us leaving town for a week would = yay, vacation!, and there would be no men or children left traumatized by our absence. Similarly, if a family with two dads lived in this town, having all the women leave for a week would be a total non-issue.) The show makes me so angry, and yet I keep watching because it's a train wreck. Of course reality shows have to create drama. So instead of simply following the dads and kids with a camera to see what happens, they create stressful situations for the dads to deal with - e.g. the dads must organize and implement a beauty pageant for every female child in the town, in only five days. So stupid. Even the mothers or mothers and fathers together would have a hard time with that. So it's not a realistic social experiment at all. WHY DO I WATCH?

[diggitydot]

The show's premise bugs the shit out of me. The Dude and I have both dealt with our responsibilities solo while the other person went out-of-town. No one died. Kids were fed and clothed. Garbage was taken out. Cars didn't explode. No one was scarred for life. Well, no more than they would be normally, anyway. I just don't get how it's a big enough deal to warrant an entire TV show. Having to deal with life when your partner can't be around isn't the end of the world -- it's just less fun.

[MrsSz]

I'm currently laying like a sloth watching Keeping up with the Kardashians.. Mason is quite possibly the most adorable little boy...

[niener]

I just saw a commercial for the latest episode of The Week the Women Went in which the men struggle to put on a pageant, complain that it's women's work, and then two flamboyant gay men swoop in and save the day. Throw in a couple racial slurs and this may be one of the most insulting shows ever produced.

[Liisi]

I just saw a commercial for the latest episode of The Week the Women Went in which the men struggle to put on a pageant, complain that it's women's work, and then two flamboyant gay men swoop in and save the day. Throw in a couple racial slurs and this may be one of the most insulting shows ever produced.

I think you're right, niener. Ugh! Although - I think Toddlers & Tiaras is the absolute worst.