My Favorite Realities
Of the numerous reality shows on tv, my favorites would be The Amazing Race, Girls Next Door and just recently, Survivor.
The amazingly Amazing Race is what I call it. It is like a tour around the world with a twist. I've only started to watch it in June and I actually started with Season 9, the last season although we had seen episodes from other earlier seasons before on One TV. It is now on its 10th Season and a four times in a row winner of the Best Reality TV Show at the Emmy's; and has definitely made its producer Jerry Bruckheimer millions of dollars. Eversince we watched Season 9, my husband and I have become big fans. Since then Tian has tried downloading all the other previous seasons. We haven't watched all of them but we are watching Season 7 as well as the current one (Season 10) at present. It is truly amazing and it never ceases to amaze me. In this show you'll get to see how relationships are affected by pressure (mostly of getting eliminated at the end of the leg), physical and mental challenges (like bungee jumping, rapeling, eating a live octopus) and other circumstances (the cab driver, stalling vehicle, flat tires, flight booking, etc.) during the race. You'll also get to see man's very nature in the face of difficulties. This game tests your patience, endurance both physical and psychological and courage as you face your greatests fears and phobias (fear of heights being first on the list). It's a game of twists and turns, that you'll never really know who's going to make it to the finish line. It is only on this show that the contestants get to do things that they can only dream of doing (like flying a plane, riding a racing car or a bobsled) This reality show makes you realize that it ain't over till it's over, that is to never give up.
The success of The Amazing Race has paved the way for the launching of Amazing Race Asia this year. They have actually started showing it about 3 weeks ago. Only here, as the title suggests, the contestants only get to travel in Asia. Two Filipino pairs made it through the auditions, the first one husband and wife Ernie and Geena, the other one gal friends Aubrey and Jack. By the way, Aubrey is a popular sexy actress in the Philippines. Sadly her sexiness does't count in the Amazing Race, as they were the 2nd to get eliminated from the race, next to Ernie and Geena. Oh well, I guess the next Filipino contestants should be more aggressive if they want to get past at least the 2nd leg of the race. Christian has actually expressed his interest in joining the contest, of course with me no less! But I suppose that is not about to happen yet in the near future because I should learn how to swim first, and second I should be able to overcome my acrophobia. I don't want to go there and be crying on tv when I'm faced with these vertical challenges. I hope someday we can join.
We've also recently loved watching the Girls Next Door, only on its second season. It's a reality show on Hugh Hefner's (yup Playboy's big boss) three girlfriends Holly(being the main girl and stays in Hef's room), Bridget and Kendra's life in and out of the Playboy Mansion. Originally seven, it has been reduced to three, for two years now. This one is really fun to watch. The girls are all blondes as it is the first requirement in becoming one of the girlfriends but they're definitely not dumb, except for Kendra who is not the brightest of them all. And no, they're not all Playmates, as I think it was only Holly who used to be one. Every episode they have a special event or activity to prepare for, like birthdays, launchings, haloween, anniversaries, etc. Everytime, it would be Holly and Bridget who work their asses during the preparation while Kendra spends the day sleeping in her room. Sometimes we always end up thinking why Hef still keeps Kendra as his girl. Then we would always think that maybe, he finds her rather amusing. I find it amusing how all three girls can share with one guy and live harmoniously. But it is more amusing how Hef, at the age of 80 can still keep three girlfriends. It is also entertaining to know about the perks that come with being Hef's girl.
Recently becoming one of my favorites is Survivor. It's been around for quite sometime now, as it is now on its 13th season. In this reality game show, contestants become cast away in an island where they learn how to survive. They learn to find and eat the food that they can find on the island and wear the clothes they're wearing for more than 30 days. They're divided into two tribes and every episode the tribes compete to win two challenges, the first for a prize and a chance to send a team member of the other team into exile overnight where he has no food and shelter at all; and the other challenge for the much coveted immunity idol. Winning the immunity, saves the team from voting off their team member. Here it is the votes of the team members that determine elimination, thus the game often shows how the contestants form alliances and betray these alliances in order to survive and stay on. It is interesting to watch because it is also full of surprises.
