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Tntitanfan
Member
08-03-2001
| Tuesday, July 20, 2010 - 8:06 pm
Guy Fieri's show on Sunday night featured a Nashville Greek restaurant called Athens. It is basically a Mom and Pop type place with great food and all day breakfast!
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Reader234
Member
08-13-2000
| Wednesday, July 21, 2010 - 7:03 am
well Tnt I may break my - 'never watch Guy Fieri again', just to catch a look at a place by you!!
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Tntitanfan
Member
08-03-2001
| Wednesday, July 21, 2010 - 8:23 am
Reader, I am flattered! Athens is actually a place where I have eaten several times. I heard - from my friend who is the food critic for the Nashville paper - that Guy was much enamored of Nashville when he came through here with his road show!
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Marej
Member
09-19-2002
| Saturday, July 24, 2010 - 12:14 pm
Bad Girls returns on Oxygen on Aug. 3, 8 Central. They are now in Miami. Another train wreck I am addicted to.
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Tntitanfan
Member
08-03-2001
| Thursday, July 29, 2010 - 5:35 am
Is anyone else watching 24-Hour Restaurant Battle? I have seen two episodes and enjoyed them. Talk about HUSTLE!!
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Texannie
Member
07-16-2001
| Thursday, July 29, 2010 - 12:54 pm
thought this was an interesting article from cnn.com You've heard all the criticisms. Reality TV is fake. Reality TV is hypocritical. Reality TV glorifies bad behavior. Indeed, "reality TV" has become a shorthand for everything wrong with America: shallow, artificial, attention-craving phonies looking for their Warholian 15 minutes of fame. To the naysayers, MTV's "Jersey Shore" -- which returns Thursday for its second season -- is Exhibit A, from its spray-tanned stars to its overly dramatic situations. But that's not the whole picture -- or even the half of it, says Andy Dehnart, who writes about reality TV on the site realityblurred.com. Indeed, he says, there are some current reality shows that are up there with the best of TV, period. He singles out Discovery Channel's "Deadliest Catch" and Animal Planet's "Whale Wars" as two standouts, observing that "Catch's" handling of cast member Phil Harris' death was "more raw and intense than anything we've seen on TV this year." Reality TV has "absolutely evolved as it's gotten older," he says. "Today I think we have some of the absolute best unscripted TV we've ever seen, television that consistently outperforms and is more interesting and more entertaining and better quality than scripted TV." Praise and criticism of reality TV go back to the genre's earliest days. "An American Family," the 1973 PBS documentary sometimes considered the precursor to modern reality TV, was lauded by no less an eminence than anthropologist Margaret Mead. She believed the show was "as new and as significant as the invention of the drama or the novel -- a new way in which people can learn to look at life." Just six years later, the Albert Brooks film "Real Life" was taking potshots at the genre, noting how much of "reality" could be manipulated in the name of entertainment. At one point Brooks, as the film's neurotic director, laments, "The studio is right. The audience loves fake. They crave fake. Reality sucks." The contradictions have become plainer since the birth of the modern reality show, MTV's "The Real World," in 1992. That show, which took several strangers, molded them into an artificial "family," placed them in an artificial environment and let their drama play out in front of the cameras, created the reality TV template. The form has been tweaked by "Survivor" and "Big Brother" (which added a competitive aspect), "Jersey Shore" and the "Real Housewives" series (which cater to over-the-top personalities) and "The Hills" (which apparently blended the "real" with the scripted, right down to its clever finale). By now, the term "reality" has become such a selling point that many shows lumped under the reality umbrella, such as "Cops," "American Idol" or "Minute to Win It," are actually examples of old genres, Syracuse University professor and pop culture expert Robert Thompson points out -- straight documentary, talent show and quiz show. With so many versions of reality being offered, executives say it's a challenge to create compelling TV. Tony DiSanto, MTV's president of programming and development, says his network produces upward of 60 pilots and 60 to 70 series a year -- and that's not even including all the outside pitches the network sees. What MTV looks for is "a great hook" -- "16 and Pregnant" being an example -- and "amazing characters." "I think that's the key for reality television, finding these amazing people who will engage and draw you in," he says. Characters are also top of mind for Nancy Daniels, senior vice president of production and development at TLC. And it helps, she says, if a character's work lends itself to storylines. For example, Buddy Valastro, the bakery owner in "Cake Boss," spends most episodes creating cakes and pastries for clients, even as he navigates the family dynamics of his Hoboken, New Jersey, shop. The jobs provide an endless source of fodder for the show. "You can be driving towards an individual [design] masterpiece at the end of each episode," Daniels says. Of course, sometimes the storylines can get out of hand, even as the network reaps the ratings bounty. "Jon and Kate Plus 8" began as a pair of documentaries on TLC's sister network, Discovery Health, then turned into a series. As the ratings climbed, the story of a striving married couple, Jon and Kate Gosselin, and their eight children became grist for supermarket tabloids, which played up the couple's romantic lives, family squabbles and sudden financial success until the show had become a minor part of the Jon-and-Kate soap opera. The title of the show is now "Kate Plus 8," reflecting the couple's divorce. DiSanto says he is wary of the same thing happening to "Jersey Shore," which became a breakout hit last winter. "It's dangerous. If a show is built on authenticity, and people who are not self-aware of the cameras suddenly get propelled to a certain level of fame ... that can start coming through on screen," he says. "We made a decision to quickly ramp back up in production [for season two] and not go back to Jersey -- go to Miami, somewhere warm. And as soon as we pulled them away from the real world, and they all got back together, they got back right to where they were in season one." He's aware of the skepticism that greets the word "authenticity," but stands firm: "They're 100 percent not actors. As a writer you probably couldn't even conceive of the stuff that happens in the show." Sure, says Thompson, not every reality show is top-drawer TV, on the level of "Survivor's" first season -- but the same can be said of scripted television. Besides, he adds, there's something to be said for solid entertainment. "These programs can be really, really compelling," Thompson says. "[Even] trash can be really good at what it does. Let's face it: Not everything is a Henry James novel."
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Lexie_girl
Member
07-30-2004
| Friday, July 30, 2010 - 7:33 am
Did anyone watch The Colony the other night? I recorded it and was wondering whether it is worth my time.
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Kitt
Member
09-06-2000
| Friday, July 30, 2010 - 12:33 pm
Did you watch last season's? It started much the same way as that did. The only difference seems to be this time the interlopers are a bit more fierce. (If you didn't watch last year they are staging a mock world killer flu, and the group of people they've chosen supposedly survived the flu, and have been relocated to an old building and given a few basics. Then they have to find their own food, supplies, work out how to get clean water, defend themselves from interlopers etc. Last year was worth watching just to see how inspired some of their ideas were, they had such imagination in how to make useful things out of the rubbish they found.)
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Brenda1966
Member
07-02-2002
| Friday, July 30, 2010 - 12:38 pm
I've never heard of this show. Sounds interesting!
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Lexie_girl
Member
07-30-2004
| Friday, July 30, 2010 - 1:39 pm
I didn't realize that this wasn't the first season of the show. Brenda, it comes on Tuesday nights at 9:00 EST on Discovery Channel.
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Nyheat
Member
08-09-2006
| Monday, August 02, 2010 - 10:49 pm
Caught the Rachel Zoe Project today and can't believe the nasty drama that Tyler brings every single time. And yet they kiss her butt, it boggles the mind. Most business would have fired her many times over for her terrible attitude. I think she needs to go work at McDonald's for a while. 
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Dipo
Member
04-23-2002
| Tuesday, August 03, 2010 - 10:57 am
Oh crap did the new rachael zoe project start already? I thought that Taylor was let go or something and I wanted to watch it, darnit.
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Costacat
Member
07-15-2000
| Tuesday, August 03, 2010 - 11:04 am
The new season starts tonight. And yes, Taylor's gone. And apparently this entire new season is all about how freaked out Rachel is trying to replace her. LOL!
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Nyheat
Member
08-09-2006
| Tuesday, August 03, 2010 - 11:36 am
I totally am behind the curve. She was let go? The meeting I saw where Rachel's husband is talking over the business side of things. I hope they fired her. Seriously. And I loved Rachel in Paris. She and Brad are vapid little things but are so entertaining. And if you guys like this show I'll start a new thread
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Jasper
Moderator
09-14-2000
| Tuesday, August 03, 2010 - 8:03 pm
Did anyone see "Styled" and if so who won? I never caught the final episode.
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Reader234
Member
08-13-2000
| Wednesday, August 04, 2010 - 8:44 am
The View has the New Housewives of Washington DC - its amazing how much they are getting publicity! I was NOT going to watch this - but I loved the clip of Stacey (she said DC is a chocolate city - its like have Housewives of Jerusalem but only one Jew on! She's been married 12 years... another lady talked about her getting publicity for kissing Prince (Harry) and her and Stacy went at it in a clip - about her dissing Obama another HW Mary Schmidt Amons' grandfather was Arthur Godfrey
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Tntitanfan
Member
08-03-2001
| Thursday, August 05, 2010 - 6:09 am
I enjoyed 24-Hour Restaurant Battles last night. I am amazed at how much can be done in a single day! Is anyone else watching this show?
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Reader234
Member
08-13-2000
| Thursday, August 05, 2010 - 7:11 am
Tnt - who "won"? OMG - I hate having interruptions!! lol - I couldnt believe the girls the meatball sandwich seemed so odd - in comparison to what they usually serve (the higher end restaurants as opposed to a sandwich shop) I couldnt believe the guys - a little to arrogant (for lack of a better word) When he needed salt - he wouldnt say please - ok that's weird, now we have a line drawn in the sand, I think the least you can do is say please!! No just give it to me, its my pride, I wont say please!! LOL good tv moment tho so whatever.. they ran out of food - but the food was high end, and looked good.. so i figured they won hands down...
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Tntitanfan
Member
08-03-2001
| Thursday, August 05, 2010 - 1:11 pm
Good thing you are not a betting person, Reader! The gals won it -
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Jezzedout
Member
09-07-2006
| Thursday, August 05, 2010 - 7:17 pm
This was in today's Hollywood Reporter. Reality TV has come a long way in ten years. Will be interesting to see how attendance goes for this. Reality TV fan convention to launch in L.A. Reality Rocks Expo is Comic-Con for unscripted television By James Hibberd Aug 5, 2010, 01:23 PM ET A reality TV fan convention is launching in Los Angeles next year. Titled the Reality Rocks Expo, the event is conceived as a sort of Comic-Con for unscripted television. It's being launched by e5 Global Media, the owners of The Hollywood Reporter. Some major names in the reality TV landscape are on the event's advisory committee: Mark Burnett Productions; Shed Media; LMNO Productions; CMT; Oxygen Media; Casting Duo, Inc.; Sundance Channel; RDF USA and A. Smith & Co. Productions. "It's the only place where they can get up close and personal with their favorite stars from reality, lifestyle, factual television as well as the producers who fill their TV screens with interesting, entertaining and informative programming," said Amy Freeman-Cohen, co-managing director, Reality Rocks. "They may even get a shot at being cast on one of their favorite shows." "Reality Rocks is destined to become a signature event for reality TV," added David Eilenberg, head of development and current programming for Mark Burnett Productions. "We relish the opportunity to connect with our amazing fans and give them the opportunity to connect with all the great on-camera and off-camera characters of our genre." Reality Rocks will include show floor, live demonstrations, stage performances, celebrity panels and an online Reality TV Awards voted on by fans and hosted at the event. "This is a unique opportunity for the networks and producers to connect with their fans on a whole new level, and maybe even find the next great show or personality," said Bailey Beeken, vp of the film and entertainment group at e5 Global Media. "Measuring the excitement and engagement of the fans during the expo, gives the producers and networks real, experiential feedback from the fans as they head into the May Sweeps and before many of the new season's shows kick-off." The event is April 8-10, 2011, at the Los Angeles Convention Center. http://www.hollywoodreporter.com...
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Reader234
Member
08-13-2000
| Thursday, August 05, 2010 - 7:31 pm
LOL all right THANK YOU TNT!! (now I know why I dont even play the lottery!!) I thought the girls were better organized, but it looked the guys had higher end food!! so much drama with the housewives of DC - a new Danielle - in that salhie chic and her dh! lethal combo!!
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Jezzedout
Member
09-07-2006
| Friday, August 06, 2010 - 9:08 pm
Am I the only one who is jazzed to see "Dating in the Dark" returning next week? I tuned in last season thinking it would be a train wreck of epic proportions, but was pleasantly surprised to see something that was an intriguing social experiment.
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1jetsfan
Member
07-21-2010
| Tuesday, August 10, 2010 - 3:34 pm
Looks like Fantasia Barrino overdosed last night. She was upset that her hubby's(?) ex is filing suit against her. Such a troubled soul.
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Dipo
Member
04-23-2002
| Tuesday, August 10, 2010 - 8:26 pm
Flipped out starts again tonight, did we have thread and I just can't find it?
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Connies
Member
03-11-2010
| Wednesday, August 11, 2010 - 8:57 am
The Happy Family was supposed to be on last night, but Cupcakes was. Anyone know why?
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