Fun & Games
The lighter side of reality TV
It's easy, sometimes even enjoyable, to disparage reality TV, a genre so notorious for bottom-feeding it just asks for abuse. (When I heard someone was shopping a show reuniting
Amy Fisher with the
Buttafucos, I thought about early retirement.) Despite all the soul-numbing creepshows we've witnessed —
Anna Nicole Smith, the
Gottis,
Danny Bonaduce, we know ye too well — there is a gratifyingly popular trend to deliver shows with one goal in mind: to entertain, leaving you with a grin instead of a grimace for having wasted your time. Here's my ranking of the current crop.
American Idol
Tuesdays and Wednesdays, 8 pm/ET, Fox
The hook: Watching someone’s musical dreams come true — eventually. But not before we endure weeks of painful auditions by people who are way too desperate to get on TV. I much prefer Idol when it gets down to business and we start rooting for our faves.
Cruelty factor: Simon “Not to Be Rude” Cowell is an equal-opportunity offender, and a pro at it.
My score: 8
Dancing with the Stars
Thursdays, 8 pm/ET, ABC
The hook: The marginally famous — gorgeous lady wrestler Stacy Keibler was new to me — trot around the ballroom floor, begging for our votes. Last summer’s harmlessly cheesy surprise smash doesn’t appear to have been hurt by last fall’s misbegotten “dance-off.” Still, best not to take any of it (including Master P’s participation, or lack thereof) seriously.
Cruelty factor: Minimal
My score: 7 (out of 10)
Project Runway
Wednesdays, 10 pm/ET, Bravo
The hook: Designs on fame, as young and hungry fashionistas compete in weekly challenges to create fabulous getups (one for Barbie, even) on tight deadlines. I marvel at what most of them come up with each week.
Cruelty factor: The judges can be tough (especially guest Jay McCarroll, Runway’s first winner), but the sniping among the contestants as they buckle under pressure is much nastier.
My score: 9
Beauty and the Geek
Thursdays, 9 pm/ET, WB
The hook: Nerds and nubiles pair up, but not for love. (This is so much sweeter in spirit than NBC’s appalling Average Joe.) The geeks coach the babes on brainy things, while the girls help the dweebs understand social essentials like clothes and pop culture. It’s adorable watching them cheer each other on at test time.
Cruelty factor: Everyone is made to look ridiculous, but all are in on the joke.
My score: 8
Skating with Celebrities
Mondays, 8 pm/ET, Fox
The hook: Welcome to the Schadenfreude Olympics. This blatant Dancing with the Stars rip-off asks quasicelebs (like Dave Coulier) to risk humiliation, even injury, on the ice. The skating is slow and rarely pretty, and it’s not live.
Cruelty factor: Judge John Nicks is as grumpy as Simon, with half the enthusiasm. But Dorothy Hamill is agelessly perky.
My score: 6
