Reality Ravings

From www.crikey.com.au

So You Think You Can Dance - The winner Jack Chamber's Gave $10,000 each to the other Final Four.

Yes we thought Jack Chambers was a nice guy, but really this just confirms it. Out of his $200,000 winnings he gave $10,000 each to Kate Wormald, Rhys Borbridge, and Demi. They were the other three people in the final four.

Kate revealed this act of genorousity when she was being interviewed as a promo for the upcoming So You Think You Can Dance Tour with will at the beginning of July. The full article is here.

Australia's Next Top Model - Demelza says Alex to old to win.

Now Demelza has decided to tell us what she really thinks, and said Alex Girdwood at 21 was too old Australia's Next Top Model next week.

Below is Demelza's quotes from an article in The Australian:

"I guess I'd be a little more concerned if I was her," Reveley said."I mean, she's 21 now, so she's kind of running out of time to do this and to make it in this industry.

"There is a short shelf-life being a model and that's just the way it is.

"I'd feel worried if I was in her shoes."

I wonder what she would have thought of Jade in the US series who was 26 years of age when she was on the show.

For the full article from The Australian including a few back handed compliments from Alex to Demelza click here.

Big Brother How Desperate Can You Get.

Obviously the Big Brother producers are prepared to try anything this season for ratings. Already we have had midgets, a grandparent, and so many intruders I cannot keep up with them. Also there have been outside visitors to the house eg Carson Kressley, and a hypnotist.

However now it has been revealed that Pamela Anderson, yes she of Baywatch and notorious sex tape fame will spend two days in the house. Apparently she is filming her own reality tv show which may also film whilst she is in the house. So now we have a reality TV show filming a reality tv show. This stunt is just sheer desperation to prop up ratings.

Your Not a Reality TV Star If You Haven't Had a Court Appearance.

Todd McKenney is not the only reality TV star having to front court this year (we won't go into the planted drug saga) with AJ Rochester, the host of The Biggest Loser, being charged with Centrelink fraud.

Ms Rochester was meant to be in court today, however her solicitor appeared for her. The magistrate decided that was not good enough and has deferred the court case until July 8 and ordered her to appear.

She is currently in Fiji on holiday, so any relaxation she gets will soon be negated by her upcoming court appearance. Related article here.

Big Brother Must Have Been Hoping For Renaee To Be Pregnant To Improve Ratings
It has been revealed that Big Brother made Renaee take a pregnancy test whilst on the show. It was reported that she was showing symptoms of nausea, vomiting and weight gain.

Unfortunately for BB producers it was negative. Kyle Sandilands return has not improved the mediocre ratings for this years series.

The full report on the preg scare is here.

Australia's Next Top Model "Style Director" Johnathan Pease Dating Model.
Johnathan Pease is a walking cliche as he is now dating model April Pengilly. At least he is not dating any of the girls from the show. Apparently they have been dating for about a month.

Personally I find him particularly unattractive but then again he is on TV and some girls like that. Link to article here with a particularly ordinary photo of Pease.

Gretel Killeen Like Most Off Us - Cannot Watch Big Brother.
Former Big Brother host Gretel Killeen says she has no regrets about leaving Big Brother. Gretel sums it up nicely when she talks about the low rating show saying "I think it is much better not to have seen it." I couldn't have said it better myself!

Full story here.

Apparently Kyle Sandilands had been taking note of the positive publicity Mike Goldman was obtaining when he was stand in host, and he showed a much warmer side to himself on last nights eviction show.

Rumours have also been flying about the show (probably started by the Producers) that Tara Reid, and/or Adam Sandler would be on the show - I will be surprised if either appear.

For Rami fans of Project Runway - he designed a dress out of money for Heidi Klum.

Blogging Project Runway has a great photo of Heidi Klum, Project Runway host, dressed in a dress by Rami Kashou. It looks amazing even without his signature draping.

Kyle Sandilands Doesn't Give A Rats That People Prefer Mike Goldman As Host of Big Brother Then Him - More concerned about having to cut down on Coca-Cola.
Kyle Sandiland was off sick for two weeks while he battled pneumonia, whist Big Brother battled falling ratings said he was unconcerned that Mike Goldman was better received as host then Kyle and Jackie have been.

Kyle's constant sarcasm and rudeness is not captivating the viewing audiences.

The 37 year old has been told he needs to 10kgs, and cut down his caffiene consumption - all of which he does not think he will do at this point of time.

Full story here here.

Big Brother Now Seen As A Career Move.
Whatever happened to just appearing on Big Brother and once your time was over you just went back to your normal life. Now most contestants seem to think that once they have appeared on TV that their further fame must continue. Now most of the girls just do a mens magazine thread. However last weeks evictee Renaee said she would like to host an extreme sports show.

I liked Renaee (what I have seen in the three BB episodes I have watched.) But seriously does she really think she has the personality, charisma or intelligence to host a tv show! Sadly I think she will back to Dubbo sooner then she thinks. If she wants a career change maybe she should go to Uni. Article here.

I think it is doubtful if there is another Big Brother next year that he and Jackie will be hosting.

Clearly Jackie's and Kyles publicity machine has been everywhere this week, every paper I have opened there has been an interviews of one or the other. Personally I think Kyle has become far too over exposed. One of Kyle's interviews from the Sunday papers if interested is here.

Model Agent Criticises Australia's Next Top Model To Promote Own Model Search.
In the SMH today Chic Management's Kathy Ward criticised the very popular Australia's Next Top Model.

She said that while the reality TV show might occasionally uncover some talent, the format was a far from ideal environment for young women aspiring to a career on the catwalk."It takes them away from their families and exposes them to controversy," she said. "I think that with young girls who really want to get into modelling, their families will protect them and not let them go into a house and expose them to other girls like that. Obviously [they have some protection] but I just don't think it's a particularly good environment for young girls to start in."

However it was revealed her agency was involved in the show for the first two season, before Priscilla's Management took over. Clearly Kathy had no qualms about the show then.

Nor of criticising the show to promote the new modelling competition they are involved in.

Chic Management is one of the sponsors of Replay Faces 2008 (www.replay.it/faces), a new national online model-search competition, to be launched by Erin McNaught on Wednesday.

Link to SMH article here.

Guy Sebastian and wife Jules Home from Honeymoon after Shock Death In the Family.
Season 1 winner of Australian Idol Guy Sebastian and his new wife Jules have flown home from their honeymoon in Paris after the shock death of Jules older brother Andrew.

Andrew who was at their wedding a few weeks ago is suspected to have taken his own life. He leaves behind a wife and young child. A very distressing situation for all their family.

Condolences to all.

Big Brother Continuing to Decline - Gretel Must Be Watching With Amusement.
Big Brother lost me weeks ago with all the twist and turns, and over manipulations. And they continue to try and revive it by adding more intruders to the house. Just leave it be and let the personalities evolve by themselves. Remember the first three seasons???

Anyway the new hosts continue to come in for criticisms. Today Jackie who is suppose to play good cop is now heard to be cold towards the housemates.

The former housemates have said she is cold" and "rude" to the contestants. Link to Daily Tele article here.

For those who care Dixie was evicted last night.

Big Brother Evictee Rebecca Morgan Bags Out The Communal Bed.
Rebecca who voted herself out of BB yesterday clearly didn't want anyone spooning her in the house, as she intensely disliked the communal bed. She said the lack of personal space really got to her.

However she did say that the handling of Travis's shingles has been done well.

Full article here.

Big Brother new format is also struggling for ratings, with last weeks budget out rating it. Well that is probably a positive thing. With Corey Worthington having now left the house, the producers will probably try and get some liquor into the house to try and liven it up.

In A Shock Move Guy Sebastian and new wife Julie decide to party the night away on the wedding day.

Guy Sebastian, who was once Australia's most famous virgin, apparently partied the night away rather then doing what most people expected by consummating the marriage. I suspect they realised that they have the rest of their lives to do that, and if you are going to pay good money for a party why not enjoy it.

By the way loved the wedding dress.

Link to article here.

The good news is The Chopping Block is Back.

Channel 9 have commissioned another series of the seriously underrated, entertaining show The Chopping Block. However one thing will be missing Catriona Rowntree. They are not going to have a host. Not a bad idea as she did not add anything to the program. Hopefully Matthew Moran, and the critic have re-signed. But how will the critic be able to disguise himself for series two?

Full article here.

Project Runway Australia is proving to be tiring already.

In an article here it says the first days shoot for Project Runway Australia went for 20 hours, and one contestant needed medical attention due to an intense migraine.

However good reports are coming out about the show's host Kristy Hinzes.

There looks like there is going to be one interesting contestant on Project Runway with Helen Manuell a Melbourne designer who is not afraid to give full and frank opinions. As we all know a reality tv is only as good as its talent.

For her views on Pamela Anderson and Naomi Robson click here.

Other contestants revealed are Leigh Buchanan, a designer from Eastern Pearson, Juli Grbac, and Mark Antonio will be flying the flag for Queensland. Article from the Courier Mail here.

American Idol Contestant Apparently Likes to Bite.
The Jeff Pulver Blog reveals some negatives and positives about Michael Johns who previously was known as Mike Lee. The blogger who first met the singer in 2000 thinks that his band EP was one of the best he has ever heard from an indie band. The negative Michael was pissed and bit someone really hard.

Hopefully the positives will outweigh the negatives.

Woman's Day have a nice little puff piece/interview with Michael Johns from when he was out here the other week. He talks about how is wife is his idol.

Ok so we are about 3 weeks into Big Brother, and we are starting to get to know the housemates and have settled in for the long haul.

But now we are ready for some inhouse romance, and it appears that one is starting to simmer.

Renee who has been spooning with Rory a few times has now switched her affections to Nathan, and it appears he may be interested.

She has told the housemates she thinks Nathan is hot, and he has now offered her a backrub, which in BB terms is the equivalent of going steady. Article that talks about romance here

However blogger Aussielicious would advocate Renee would have been better sticking with Rory due to showing he has the goods when it comes to the all important shower scenes.

Michael one of the intruders who was eliminated from Big Brother yesterday, is having a brain explosion now that it has been revealed that his girlfriend is a stripper.

He states she was in sales and promotions, but just knew a lot of girls that were strippers at Kittens nightclub in Melbourne. It was even confirmed by the club that she worked there.

In an interview with Garth Montgomery of the Daily Tele is a lesson in how not to handle the media once they have gotten some unwelcomed gossip on you.

After Garth queried whether he was being a hypocrite about bitching about Brigette's wanting to make money out of her boobs the brain explosion begun.

Is there some hypocrisy in this given your girlfriend is a stripper? Garth asked.
She’s not a stripper, how do you know that. What? That’s so stupid. My girlfriend does sales and promotion. She knows a lot of girls who are strippers. She’s definitely not a stripper. The fact a strip club says it is a load of crap, and a friend could have been joking.

Things turned ugly with further quotes like these.

If you write that then I can get things done. I have a bit of pull, that’s how I got on the show. I can post things about you and question whether it’s true.

It’s crap, you’re just trying to come up with some gossip, is there someone higher up I can speak to?

Do my lawyers have to contact you?

What you’re saying is total…the fact you posted that is lame. I’m saying right now that she’s not a stripper. The fake my girlfriend has fake boobs and dolls herself up…I will write stuff about you and the Daily Telegraph.

Full article here.

Also apparently Michael's girlfriends career sideline is going to be a shock to her parents with another article here

The girlfriend Amy is probably dumping him about now.

Max Markson must have decided this was the last money he was going to make out of notorious party boy Corey Worthington. Most managers try to ensure that any press appearances are stage managed, but Max has put Corey on a show where he will be scrutinised 24 hours a day.

My first impression is he is just another not very bright pimply teenager well actually it confirms what I thought after the 'party' incident.

People will be bored of him within 48 hours, as he really is not appear to be a likeable nor interesting person.

Now the new inmates Nathan, Michael, and Barney look much more interesting. As they are older it will be good to watch how they handle the younger crowd.

Corey Worthington is set to enter the Big Brother house on Sunday and he is the only one in the house at this point who is getting paid. Rumour has it he will get paid $20,000 for the first episode and $10,000 for any further episodes.

He is much younger then the BB contestants as they still have not been told what first prize will be this year.

Hopefully the show will portray Corey as the twat he is and will end his post party media career. Obviously Max Markson, his manger, is milking Corey for all he can as he must know that his 15 minutes of fame must be ending soon.

It appears Terri, who was evicted after less then 12 hours in the house will be back in the house as well. It was a pretty unfair ballot as it was not secret. Which meant the people at the end of the line were able to flip their votes as they knew what the numbers were to ensure they remained safe.

It appears BB is manipulating the house more overtly this season eg deciding what meals they get to can mindf**k inmates with bad meals eg a bowl of seaweed, so can effect their moods, with the consequence of it effecting their interactions with their house mates. Also the banishment of a inmate to the backyard. Even thought Nobbi is a nob it makes it a very uneven playing field. Then again I would prefer to sleeping by myself in the Kombi then in the big bed with everyone else.

One person who was impressing me in the house was tiny Rima she was coming across as very savvy in her dealings with people. However unfortunately it has been reported she broke her leg on Friday night doing one the games. Full story here. No news whether she will enter the house again.

Jack Marx from a journo blogger on news limited site has given BB a literary perspective. It is both interesting, and amusing with a let me show you how intelligent/well read I am feel to it.

The link is here./

Terri the 53 year old baby boomer got rumbled by the Gen Y's or more specifically the male Gen Y's to be eliminated from Big Brother after only spending 8 hours in the house.

Big Brother surprised the housemates on the first night by first making them stay outside all night ala Survivor, and secondly told they would have to eliminated someone at sunrise.

Personally I would have eliminated on IQ though I think it would have taken me more then 8 hours to work out the dumbest.

Rima the vertically challenged contestant has apparently got porn photos circulating around the internet.

The explicit shots come from a porn website that refers to itself as a public art project that makes a bold statements about nudity, fame and the internet. The site displays naked self-portraits, shots of “women in control of their own image. It’s also performance art, it’s fun, it’s liberating, and it’s reality.”

Chances of Channel ten leaking this story themselves to boost ratings???? High.

Full story here.

The Difference Between Two Newspapers Commentating On The Todd McKenney Incident.

The Daily Tele article here takes a more cynical view of the incident with them saying when the police arrived and searched him he told them the vial was GBH. Also witnesses said he was dancing until 5.00am in the morning.

Whilst the SMH(hard copy only) have taken a more compassionate line saying that the Sydney Star Observer had reported last week there was a increase in drink spiking incidents in the gay and Lesbian community.

Aussie American Idol Contestant May Be Coming Out For A Promotional Visit.
Michael Johns the Aussie blues/soul/rock singer who was a shock a elimination a few weeks ago may be coming out to Australia next week for a quick promotional visit for Fox 8.

Another highlight for the singer has been being invited to the White House and meeting Condeleeza Rice, Secreatary of State who apparently was a big fan.

He also said he has some record labels interested in him and an album may be out next year.

Full story here.

Big Brother to have a snap eviction
Their first night was more Survivor then BB after the 14 contestants were told they were staying outside the house for the night. Also they were told they had to choose one person to evict today. It will be interesting to see who they pick.

Full story here.

I knew it was time to change channels after watching the first 40 mins of Big Brother tonight when the conversation in the lounge room had turned into a debate over what would be more interesting to see in the house.

A Harold and Maude type romance between Travis the 20 year old and Terri the 53 year old, or Rima the veritcally challenged contestant who I quite like having an extra marital affair with one of the boys.

Is this the sort of conversation BB has managed to reduce me to???

Also Kyle I found being snide and patronising to the contestants just off. It is a pity Kyle does not know any other type of humour except the put down. Jackie was just his glamourous looking side kick.

And speaking of Kyle he looked like he could do with not eating as many pies at work.

Tim Brunero's article here has a list of who has entered the house. Personally I think they have tried to pick to many extreme and over the top individuals. The diversity is not in age there is one 53 year old and one 32 year old and the rest are younger then 25. I am not sure if all the supposed manipulation is going to work to make enjoyable tv.

In today Sunday Telegraph it is revealed that an Afghani Muslim who was to enter the Big Brother compound has decided to pull out of the show citing "family reasons". I suspect they realised they did not want to be set up on a national tv show and have their religion perceived in a negative light.

The producers are clearly trying to tick all the boxes to try and create controversy in the house with a 53 year old Pauline Hanson lover who has already said she disapproves of some people who come into the country. Unfortunately Terri will be in a media ban lockdown and will not see that her idol Pauline has again allegedly been caught taking electoral funds. Clearly a jail sentence for electoral fraud did nothing to rehabilitate Pauline's criminal tendencies.

The muslim inmate probably realised that with no control over editing it could have ended in disaster. At least the shopping list has gone this year so they would not have had to put up with the younger inmates disdain when they argued for halal meat rather then alco pops.

A regular reader of the blog who also happens to be Hilary fan ( I am presuming Clinton not Duff) picked what the producers were going to do once Terri the racist was announced. They wrote an aboriginal person (tick), a muslim person (tick even though it did not eventuate I will pay it as it was the producers intention), and a hillsonger (?Travis) would enter the house. Her comments can be found at this blog post here.

So yes you definitely got two out of three, so the drink is on me. However I suspect Travis is in there for another subplot entirely. See See previous post on Travis here.

Another housemate has been revealed a 22 year old guy named Saxon. So much for mixing up the ages so far with have three early twenty somethings, and one fifty three year old. How about some 30 and 40 year olds Big Brother

David Mott, the Head of Programming at Channel 10 said this about the success of So You Think You Can Dance in an article in the Sydney Morning Herald.

He attributes the success to the show's "life affirming" quality. Unlike other shows in the reality genre it focuses less on "train wreck" performances and more on praising genuine talent.

He says the days of "nasty aggressive, type shows, which which look at people's bad sides only" have passed.

I had to laugh that he did not see the irony of the above statement considering Channel 10 have programmed Big Brother to start on Monday, a show that trades in all the said negatives quoted above!

Click here for SMH article.

Travis a squeaky voice flamboyant 20 year old had been revealed as the third flatmate in the Big Brother household.

He has revealed he his a church going and a virgin.

Ok call me a cynical bitch who has lived in the inner city of Sydney for far too long but you do the maths.

Here is what is revealed about him thus far on the Big Brother website:

• He has a unique look and is flamboyant and excitable;


• Travis is a virgin who attends church and is anti-drugs.


• But being a virgin doesn’t mean the ladies don’t like him… Travis is a girl’s best friend.


• His fave movie is “The Devil Wears Prada”.


• He’s had three girlfriends so far.

Is anyone else thinking gay?

Probably not allowed to contemplate his sexuality due to his religious beliefs. I hope they put some hot out gay guy in the house to see how he copes with that temptation. Now that would be something to watch religious beliefs v sexual tension.

For more info on Travis go here to the BB website http://www.bigbrother.com.au/home.htm

Baby boomers who previously who have not been on reality tv shows, except as judges, will now have a inmate in the Gold Coast compound for this years Big Brother.

Terri the 52 year old grandmother was the first contestant revealed on Channel Ten So You Think You Can Dance last night

Apparently she has controversial views on immigration and is a Pauline Hanson fan. Great so now Pauline whose infamy was shown to have run out of puff after her unsuccessful tilt at the Senate last election will again gain notoriety again with a new Gen Y audience.

Clearly Terri is not going to be a rocket scientist, but it should make the house a bit more diverse and interesting.

However I have some tips for her going into the house as she will be the oldest one there to try to ensure some longevity.

1. Don't get drunk this behaviour from a 22 year old is vaguely amusing, on a 52 year old it will just look hideously messy, and voters will turn against you.
2. Do not start talking about your sex life, as it will just make audience queasy. Wrong I know but that is the reality of it. Leave the sex and over 50 year olds to Germaine Greer.
3. Don't strike up a romance with a 25 year old in house.
4. Don't clean up after the little blighters you are not their mother make them stand on their own two feet.
5. Avoid any topic you may have heard on the Alan Jones morning show, none of them watch Big Brother nor do they vote.

Also rumour has it that uber dickhead Corey Worthington is going to enter the BB compound. Why they are giving anymore airtime to this unattractive, non charismatice idiot is beyond me.

The media whinge about him, however they created the myth of him. However if Terri can see some of the home grown Aussie speciman we have developed in the country maybe she will see that by importing some people from overseas is not such a bad thing.