I am cynical about how much "reality" is in reality TV. Anything after the very first Real World, I just assume that there is a lot of producer manipulation going on.

A good friend of mine knows someone (yeah, I know, but I trust my friend) who was approached to do a reality show, was told that he would win the competition, and told what the challenges would be so that he could prepare.

Okay, I didn't think it was that bad.

ETA: And I just reread my tag. Sigh.

A good friend of mine knows someone (yeah, I know, but I trust my friend) who was approached to do a reality show, was told that he would win the competition, and told what the challenges would be so that he could prepare.

We know a reality casting producer (this is a different person from the writer above. It's LA). He was asked if he knew someone with a nerdy/fun vibe. He suggested Bob Bob. The producers of that show auditioned Bob for a role in a Pawn Stars-type reality show where he would be the video game expert.

N.B.: Bob knows nothing about video games. This was not a problem.

This whole conversation reminds me about back in the early 90s when I learned about make-up on the covers of women's magazines, except I didn't read those, so I didn't care.

Oh, but you guys -- apparently shit did get real on Real World this week! [link]

And no one should ever ever ever sing Adele. Don't these fools learn?

Hee. I haven't even seen the Voice this week (though I TiVo'd it) but this makes me giggle and want to hang out with le nubian and kat perez and just listen to them snark on people (watching SYTYCD with kat and bonbon and bob bob was awesome!)

Also, I didn't think I had watched that much Real World, but y'all are mentioning stuff I was like 'Oh yeah, Ruthie"..apparently I watched more than I realized.

And I was very disappointed in Pam and Winnie--WTF, ladies? You coulda been CONTENDAHS!

I would totally watch the Voice with meara and le Nubian. And that's my family's "family show" so we might even get my mom and dad to come over and watch with us. They taught me everything I know about snarking.

The Real World sucks you in with the marathons. Before you know it, you've spent an entire Saturday watching Real World Tucson and exclaiming, "Jon is such a jerk. John should just punch Jon in the face and then get over Courtney #1. Kourtnay would be so much better for him anyway" in a very heated manner.

Loved the get real moment from the current Real World. I'm gonna drop a bombshell on someone and use that "Let it get silent" because that was all kinds of awesome.

Actual people I liked on The Voice tonight. What? I loved the last dude with the beard and was surprised by the coach he chose. I also really liked the Black girl in the red dress who sang Dixie Chicks and was once again surprised by her choice of coach. And I thought the two young girls (the country one with the cute dimples and the Cuban girl who sang Selena) were both just adorable and had decent voices and I wasn't surprised at all by the coaches they chose. And I liked the quirky country girl with the Priscilla Presley hair who sang These Boots Are Made for Walking. In fact, there were very few people that I didn't like and the ones I really hated didn't get picked for teams, so yay!

I'm still loving the vibe of all the coaches this season. So much better than watching Cee-Lo hit on all the pretty girls or watching Christina hate flirt with Adam while her breasts did their level best to share themselves with the world. I really wouldn't mind of Shakira and Usher just stayed on all the time from now on. I guess Cee-Lo could come back, too. He was delightful with Nicholas David, after all, and I miss the cat.

I really wouldn't mind of Shakira and Usher just stayed on all the time from now on.

So much this.

Shakira and Usher bring a lot of positive energy to the show, which was sorely needed IMO.