We're proud to say that the Class of '99 has the lowest mortality rate of any graduating class in Sunnydale history.

Jonathan ,'Touched'


Non-Fiction TV: I Reject Your Reality and Substitute My Own

This thread is for non-fiction TV, including but not limited to reality television (So You Think You Can Dance, Top Chef: Masters, Project Runway), documentaries (The History Channel, The Discovery Channel), and sundry (Expedition Africa, Mythbusters), et al. [NAFDA]


Morgana - Mar 14, 2013 11:20:48 pm PDT #20407 of 23273
"I make mistakes, but I am on the side of Good," the Golux said, "by accident and happenchance.” – The 13 Clocks, James Thurber

Yay on The Sing Off news! I find I'm not really looking forward to the next round of The Voice... maybe if I just record it and fast-forward through the inevitable sob-stories (my mother has cancer/my father died when I was young/I quit my job for this chance/I spent 6 months in the hospital and almost died, etc. etc. etc.) and get to the actual singing and bitching amongst the judges it won't be as annoying.


Stephanie - Mar 15, 2013 5:36:12 pm PDT #20408 of 23273
Trust my rage

Dana - Mar 17, 2013 6:36:59 pm PDT #20409 of 23273
I'm terrifically busy with my ennui.

I had The Amazing Race on in the background while I talked to my mother. I've never watched it before, but it seems to mostly be white people wandering around foreign countries yelling "English? English? Do you speak English?"


Theodosia - Mar 18, 2013 3:45:25 am PDT #20410 of 23273
'we all walk this earth feeling we are frauds. The trick is to be grateful and hope the caper doesn't end any time soon"

That's what a friend of mine dubs "Spock's Brain Syndrome" in miniature, that is, a casual glance at a show will inevitable see the worst and uncharacteristic moments.

The short explanation is that at this stage in the race, the teams are hitting both Killer Fatigue and culture shock, and some of them are just... foundering. Not as much screen time is given to the teams that coped better.

The longer explanation involves very long plane rides, sleeping rough overnight, so the teams had easily been racing continuously 24+ hours, and landing in Vietnam, which doesn't get much English-speaking tourism. (Given its recent history, wouldn't be surprised if English-speakers are reluctant to admit they can understand.)

My girls Pam & Winnie (Team Over-achieving Asian-American Women) seem to have cruised through the activities. With U-Turns in play, it's a real advantage to be in the lead in the pack. But some of their achievement was just calmly observing and figuring out what they were supposed to do, like holding hands when hopping over the bamboo clackers.

Also: reading the instructions carefully -- like noting you're supposed to bring your chickens along, or NOT play chess.

Very little physicality needed for these tasks this week, aside from the ability to walk (and hop) -- navigating and interacting with locals was more the focus, as well as a cool memory task. That stage production of a patriotic song was wonderful, including the lyrics which the teams weren't privy to, alas.


Jesse - Mar 18, 2013 4:15:36 am PDT #20411 of 23273
Sometimes I trip on how happy we could be.

I would probably be one of the people yelling "English???" when given a grocery list in English to fulfill in a market where none of the vendors speak it....

I was especially impressed with Pam and Winnie, but generally impressed with all of them, in the Glorious Communism section -- I would have had a terrible time memorizing the phrase.


Theodosia - Mar 18, 2013 5:53:19 am PDT #20412 of 23273
'we all walk this earth feeling we are frauds. The trick is to be grateful and hope the caper doesn't end any time soon"

I liked the pho-tasting judge, who seemed generally pleased that the foreigners could successfully cook soup. :-) Me, I'd probably be tasting the soup, too.

Loved Pam & Winnie grabbing the living chess pieces by the hand to lead them onto the board. There's more than one way to overcome a language difficulty than yelling.


Jessica - Mar 18, 2013 5:58:20 am PDT #20413 of 23273
And then Ortus came and said "It's Ortin' time" and they all Orted off into the sunset

the Glorious Communism section

That cracked me up. I assume showing the subtitles was part of CBS' deal in being allowed to shoot in Hanoi.

Also: reading the instructions carefully -- like noting you're supposed to bring your chickens along, or NOT play chess.

Yup. Although I'm still not sure why they had to bring the chickens along, given that they were not plucked and put into the soup. (Maybe just so that the camera crews could catch locals laughing "look at those Westerners carrying chickens"?)


Theodosia - Mar 18, 2013 10:31:41 am PDT #20414 of 23273
'we all walk this earth feeling we are frauds. The trick is to be grateful and hope the caper doesn't end any time soon"

One aspect I like about TAR is that the producers are going for "laughing at the clueless Westerners" rather than "laughing at the quaint locals."


Dana - Mar 18, 2013 2:37:53 pm PDT #20415 of 23273
I'm terrifically busy with my ennui.

That's what a friend of mine dubs "Spock's Brain Syndrome" in miniature, that is, a casual glance at a show will inevitable see the worst and uncharacteristic moments.

Heh. I know.


brenda m - Mar 24, 2013 3:43:57 pm PDT #20416 of 23273
If you're going through hell/keep on going/don't slow down/keep your fear from showing/you might be gone/'fore the devil even knows you're there

TAR 45 minutes late tonight.

ETA: Oh man, but don't miss the opening. Crazy.