As crazy as Phillip is, I am not going to discount whether he felt like Steve was treating him with a lack of respect. Sure Steve said he was "crazy", but the overall sentiment of lack of respect is what sent him over the edge.

I agree with this as well. I definitely can't discount Phillip's reactions here and I was very uncomfortable with the rest of the tribe doing so.

Oh yes - I forgot to say Steve & co were also acting like assholes over the rice issue that started the whole thing. (Actually Rob started it by manipulating both alliances into keeping their original tribe's food supplies separate in the first place, but he's done an amazing job of making everyone forget that. He's playing Russell's game right now, only he's doing it right.)

Now that I've finally seen the episode, Jeff did a good job teasing all that out.

All I coil think of during that exchange es te privilege of being white. I doubt Steve meant anything racial by his comment but I think Phil was not crazy for responding as he did.

OMG. I just. I don't even. Here:

The reality series starring a bunch of unlikeable reality stars has been revealed, and despite the fact that it stars Danielle Staub, Jake Pavelka, and Heidi Montag, it is not about reviled reality TV show villains. Instead, those cast members will be opening a restaurant in West Hollywood together for VH1’s Famous Food, a show that also stars Ashley Dupre (best known for her paying gig with Eliot Spitzer), Vincent Pastore from the Sopranos, and Three 6 Mafia’s DJ Paul and Juicy “J.”

Speaking of reviled cast members, Big Brother winner and former genital wart owner Mike Malin is overseeing the group along with his Dolce Group partner Lonnie Moore. They will choose one of the celebrities to become a partner in the restaurant.

The most hilarious part about this, besides VH1 identifying Ashley Dupre simply as a “singer,” is that VH1’s press release insists the show stars “a cast of food connoisseurs.”

Of course, all of this sounds like a ridiculous joke, and there’s good reason: it comes from producers Mark Cronin and Cris Abrego at 51 Minds Entertainment, the company responsible for all of VH1’s ridiculous dating shows and, before that, The Surreal Life, so despite the fact that VH1’s press release takes all of this seriously, perhaps they’re returning to their celebrity-mocking roots.

[link]

Are there any *likable* reality stars? Um, Mike Rowe, Tim Gunn(I don't even watch that show, and I still like him, I guess.) I like Bourdain, but that may be proof that I'm a dick.(Speaking of, I think part of his soul just died, upon hearing that those doofuses were inflicting themselves upon the restaurant business.) Anyone else?

I like Bourdain, but that may be proof that I'm a dick.

Heh. Have you seen his Boston episode of No Reservations? He certainly brought a highly idosyncratic view of Boston (mainly filtered through The Friends of Eddie Coyle, book and movie).

Do the Mythbusters count as reality stars?

I find Adrienne from the first season of Top Model amusing (I'm not sure if "likeable" is the right word...but then I tend to actually like the girls that are not "nice"--Elyse that first season was my favorite!!)

ETA: Adrienne has been on several reality shows, which is why I specify her rather than any of the other Top Models!

There've been several likable TAR teams. Can we have a reality show that stars the clowns and the twin male models?

I thought it was great,Frank, but I'm also the sort of person who could be driven to the Pine Barrens in the dead of night and think "Sopranos shoutout!(sniff) Aw, you guys!"

There may be things wrong with us.

But I do(Halfway, at least, cause I haven't been there myself) understand that All of Boston Doesn't Look Like That. Honest.(I know it's a different part, but that one had a certain Lehane-osity. Kinda missed Dennis, really. He could talk about how he carved some poor, fictional, fucker up and Bourdain can tell us which parts would taste like chicken. *I'd* watch it.) Actually, that one made me more comfortable than when he's talking about the latest trends in calf eyeballs with his buddy who's the sous-chef at L'Enfer Especial or what-have-you.

Sometimes I think they are the culinary equivalent of the guys who write to Dan Savage because they can only come when covered in maple syrup and with a blue lego(and it has to be blue, Dan, any thoughts?) up their asses. And, yet, I still love that damn show.

I told my mother that, because we're so close that I sometimes forget she's not my age and doesn't know who Dan Savage is...she made *such* a face. ETA: Context.