reality tv Archives - Donna Barstow Blog #2

Jake Pavelka is okay, Ali not so much.

Note: I wrote this two years ago. Why post it now? It makes me laugh. And I found Jake’s season of the Bachelor more interesting than Des’s right now. *

I would like to take this opportunity to say this season of the Bachelor is a big snore, Rozlyn for the next Bachelorette, and I hate Facebook, not necessarily in that order.

Oh, and Barnes at Television Without Pity still sucks.

jake pavelka as bachelor, season one million and ten

This is a short season of The Bachelor, with only 2 more episodes to go, Women Tell All and The Final Rose. Jakey is demanding and picky, always hot in our Bachelor, and kicked Bachelorettes off left and right. As many of us on the boards (I’m not on the boards, rhetorical here) have said since the first episode, the most appealing lady, the pilot for the Army or Marines or something was absolutely our first pick, even though she got booted off the first show. I’m not sure why we all liked her. But producers take note, and make her the next Bachelorette, pls.

I liked Gia a lot, but she had a lot of strange mannerisms with her hair in her face, ducking her head, and standing knock-kneed. Hell, they got rid of Jen’s huge mole when she became Bachelorette, so these aren’t really obstacles. Many viewers thought Gia was gorgeous; I thought she was just pretty, but honest and playful, which won me over. I do think she and Jake were pretty hot together – steam rising there, and that was a nice change from watching him try to be interesting.

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By Donna Barstow

Murder cartoon.

For Illustration Friday: swell. I assume that means they want a swell cartoon, so here’s a cartoon about murder, or at least carelessness. Originally published in Psychology Today. You can…

New Yorker cartoons

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By Donna Barstow

Donna does DWTS in her head.

From the Hollywood Reporter, a news item they claim is exclu. (their ridiculous made up half word, not mine.)

According to a source involved with casting, the network approached Facebook creator Mark Zuckerberg to join the dance card for the show’s 11th cycle but was unable to secure him. The network also lobbied unsuccessfully for Sylvester Stallone, political commentator Ann Coulter, former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, the real Erin Brockovich, billionaire Richard Branson, comic actor Tim Allen and former TV darling Suzanne Somers.

Bristol Palin, daughter of former GOP vice presidential hopeful Sarah Palin, already has been dubbed this season’s Kate Gosselin, who was famously difficult at times last season.

“Bristol was really annoyed by all the questions about whether her mom would be in the audience to support her,” the source said. “She kept complaining about the amount of press she had to do. She is acting like this is all a big pain.”

I don’t believe that about Bristol. Kate wasn’t at all difficult last season – everything we saw showed she was hesitant, maybe reluctant, and she didn’t work very hard, but she wasn’t the problem – Tony was the prima donna, refusing to listen to her, not letting her finish talking, and totally assy acting. I wouldn’t trust anything Tony says now. He’s the teacher, not the star.

patrick swayze and Jennifer grey hot - okay, superhot

Anyway, this just sounds like a disgruntled Lib. Lots of them on Hollywood sets.

But the best part of the article is the MONEY!

According to the casting source, all contestants earn equal compensation for the show, subject to their ability to avoid elimination.

With a $345,000 pot up for grabs during the 10 weeks of airtime, the source said each star makes an initial $125,000 for signing, three weeks of rehearsal before the premiere and competing in the first two episodes, even if the cast member is cut after the first dance.

The breakdown for the remaining weeks is $10,000 an episode for Weeks 3 and 4, $20,000 an episode for Weeks 5 and 6, $30,000 an episode for Weeks 7 and 8, and $50,000 an episode for the final two weeks.

The production source said contestants forfeit a portion of their salary if they fail to meet the ultra-strict rehearsal schedule.

“Initially, they rehearse six hours a day, every day,” the source said. “Then it moves to eight hours a day. If they don’t comply with the entire schedule, the network will deduct it from their paycheck.”

Read MoreDonna does DWTS in her head.

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By Donna Barstow

Six stinkers suck on Bachelor Pad.

Of course, I mean the remaining six on Bachelor Pad.

This was such a CHEAP, CHEAP show – get out of my life. The dates are so lame – I think they were all within 3 miles of the house or so. So boring to look at. And since it’s cheaper to film in daytime, the lame “contests” – as if spin the bottle was a contest in any way – and I hope they saved money on that one by using one of their own empty wine bottles – have the contestants all squinting, all ugly, in the hot sun.

Now, the people: I really liked Gia, even though she played the game so poorly. Wes seemed pretty sincere – I was one of the few who liked him in Jillian’s season. It was Fleiss who did a number on him.

I liked a lot of the women – Nikki, Ashley, and especially Krisily – she’s an outspoken girl of my own heart! That’s exactly how I would have played it, too, and lost! All gone now.

Peyton was the last girl I liked, and now she’s gone. I could call the remaining six names, but why bring myself down – they’re all undeserving of the win. I have to say, however, that even though Kiptyn fancies himself a good person, I DON’T THINK SO. Cannot stand fake Tenley, and David Good is the worst.

On a much more interesting note, I saw Vienna today!!! I hardly ever recognize anyone, and it’s not a spot where I would expect to see even a reality star: in Joann’s Fabrics, in Glendale!

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By Donna Barstow

Am I a famewhore?

That is one of the most popular names on Television Without Pity (TWOP). The other one is bitchface, most often used to describe dancers (only women, of course) on DWTS who don’t smile enough. Pageant like. Because a beautiful woman who doesn’t smile is…dangerous? I’ve never figured that out.

But I think last night was the first time I heard a reality star use it herself on TV, when Vienna called Jake a famewhore in the first 2 minutes on the Bachelorette. (Note to Mike Fleiss: I don’t like ambiguity in the start times of MY tv. Make the show an hour or a half, but don’t split it at 40 minutes or whatever. It doesn’t become you.)

Apparently, I’m the only one in the civilized reality TV watching world that thinks Vienna is trash. I liked her on Jake’s show, and I liked her with Jake, although I didn’t like Jake. I was interested that they poked him to be on Dancing with the Stars, though, and I found myself rooting for him there! I thought he’d be a big fat instant Fail, because he’s not much of a body/toucher/mover boy, but he has instinctive rhythm and grace, tried really hard, and was actually much better than many of the other amateurs.? I was really disappointed when he was voted out.

Also: unlike most of the TWOPers, I thought Chelsea was the douche as her dancing partner. Wow, totally lost respect for her (and for Tony, with Kate Gosselin.) They are supposed to be supportive pro teachers, figuring out how to bring out the best from their partners. If you can’t teach, leave, and just perform in the pro dances. I mean, wth, don’t start fights with your partner in that arrogant way.

Anyway, was sad to hear Jake and Vienna split, but SHOCKED to hear she actually sold the details of her sex life to a tabloid!!! Okay, you can drop the “fame” part of that word, now. Wow, how low-class can you get.

Again, no one on TWOP agrees with me, so thank goodness I have my little blog! :)

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By Donna Barstow

…and then God invented women.

The women are better than the men this year! At least so far. Part of the fun is watching things change.

I didn’t like the opening pro dance at all. At first I blamed myself: am I too boy-crazy? Do I need men in each dance? :( But thinking more about it, I think the dance itself lacked a focus. I don’t know what it was trying to say, and I can’t remember one frame from it.

dancing-with-the-stars-natalie-coughlin-and-alec-mazo-cast-picture The LA Times this Sunday came wrapped in a full color plastic bag advertising DWTS! (It also had their Fall Season New Shows reviews, FINALLY, but that’s another story.) I’ll include? their description on the bag before my opinion!

Debi Mazar (the actress with attitude) had a great personality, and set up a nice dynamic with Maks. I do think Maks is a little sexist. But he can laugh at himself. She was good, not the best.

Joanna Krupa (the sexy supermodel) – very pretty, not that super. She and Derek are a great team though. I think they got the highest scores of the night, and I thought their salsa was the only sexy dance so far! The only part I didn’t like was at then end of the relay, when she screamed and flopped all over. Gloating is bad manners, Joanna.

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By Donna Barstow

Dancing with the Stars, Season 9 – the men strut their stuff

Well, it began last night, but I had to do my term paper on why the evil USDA is killing coyotes in the city of Los Angeles.

Anyway, here is a list of the new competitors this season, from People, with my comments after:

Mya, singer, and Dmitri Chaplin Never heard of her. He’s a popular hunk on the show – he’s okay.

Melissa Joan Hart, actress, and reigning DWTS champ Mark Ballas She’s from TV, right? I really don’t like Mark at all – boring, boring, boring, with a fake smile.

Michael Irvin, former Dallas Cowboy, and Anna Demidova Never heard of him. She’s the newly elected teacher. I didn’t vote for her.

Ashley Hamilton, actor, comedian, singer-songwriter, and Edyta Sliwinska Never heard of him. Edyta is…okay. Shows her privates too much. Not the best choreographer.

Read MoreDancing with the Stars, Season 9 – the men strut their stuff

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