I don't think Earl premieres until next week, if that's any help.

I chose against Ugly Betty last season because it can be caught up with via reruns and rebroadcasts on ABC Family and SoapNet. That may not be the case this year.

Ooh, thanks, bon! My Tivo's still out of order what with the move and all.

Ugly Betty doesn't start until next week, either. Too.

Yeah, but the completist in me needs to decide this now. I can't watch the first episode of Survivor and not watch all. the. rest.

My willingness to jump off survivor the second it got boring is how I missed the good parts of last season. But if you want to watch the whole season, then it stands to reason you prefer it to Ugly Betty, right?

if you want to watch the whole season

It's not so much want as need. I can rationalize testing out new programs with 2 or 3 episodes, but generally my completism makes me sit through the whole season of shows I choose to watch (see also Lost ). I also find it really difficult to pick up something that people recommend after the fact. I need to watch from the very first episode of the first season. I think the only exceptions have been The X-files, Buffy, and, now, Beauty and the Geek.

ETA: I realize this is whack.

The cable guys just left. I have internet, and the tivo is updating as we speak. There was a tense moment when they couldn't find the cable box and I couldn't get a-hold (sp?) of anyone. I got intrepid and walked down to the construction site and got one of the guys to let me into the electric room so they could turn on the cable.

I wonder how many of the kids actually buy the "abandoned mining town" backstory and how many are aware that they're on a movie set playing Color War.

Uh huh. And do they realize they hadn't achieved any organization or structure beyond barely feeding themselves until that (completely random) adult-planned challenge? I wonder if the town council will have to face elections at some point.

One question I have about the gold stars -- does being "worth their weight in gold" (because...they're made of gold...) mean that the kids have to exchange them for cash if they want to actually have $20k at the end of the show?

I doubt the producers are putting anything of serious cash value in the kids hands. My guess is they get a check and keep the trophy star.

I'm strangely fascinated by this show. I keep mentally comparing it to the summer camp I work at. Sure, apples and oranges but... not entirely. I'm not quite sure how to articulate my thoughts on that yet. I'm mean even in a much more highly structured and presumably safer environment an 8yr old will be homesick and weepy. And sometimes a 15-16 yr old is too.

I probably wouldn't have chosen to fund this experiment, but I do seem to be interested in the results.

Did anyone see Kitchen Nightmares? I had to watch - Gordon Ramsey! failing restaurant! much swearing!

It was a restaurant I'm very happy I never ate in. shudder