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Archive through May 20, 2004

The TVClubHouse: Other Reality Shows: Archives for 2004-1: Colonial House - Starts May 17th - PBS: ARCHIVES: Archive through May 20, 2004 users admin

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Marysafan
Member

08-07-2000

Tuesday, May 18, 2004 - 9:16 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Darn! Tabby. If it's that cold in June...what's it gonna be like in October!

Lumbele
Member

07-12-2002

Tuesday, May 18, 2004 - 10:05 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
We all enjoyed this show and will be tuning in again tonight. Love the governor's servant, Paul. Looks like he may become the much needed comic relief in that group. But like with Big Tom, I may need to turn on the captions to get what the heck he said.huh
Looking forward to all that "lettering" in the next episode, esp. the ladies Vorhees' and Heinz' reactions.exp13
Were we the only ones who caught that nasty remark by the governor's wife about natives? Lovely way to impress Christian values, so important to that family, to her 9 year-old son.x


Reiki
Member

08-12-2000

Tuesday, May 18, 2004 - 10:38 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Lumbele, I thought the same thing about Paul from Manchester - where are the closed captions!

I enjoyed the show very much. Some of my own ancestors were part of the Plimouth Plantation and it really made me think about what they went through. One of my ancestors was one of the first children born in the colony - Benjamin Baulch (born 1628).

Broxi
Member

03-11-2004

Tuesday, May 18, 2004 - 10:49 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
I love Paul of Manchester! I don't find him hard to understand... but Big Tom.. well he reminded me of a old time man of the Highlands. {They have a language that is all their own lol}

Spunky
Member

10-08-2001

Tuesday, May 18, 2004 - 11:18 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
I had to speed up the tape several times... actually every time their 21st century mentality became too annoying. What bugs me about this type of series is that I don't want to hear all the comparisons, I just want to see them as they would live in 1628, no complaining, no 2 hour discussions on how to treat the women (I doubt the meetings in 1628 dealt with women's problems!).
In 1900 House I felt that their talking to the cameras was okay at first, but then it became very irritating.
And so, here again, when they talk to the cameras I just can't stand it and I speed it up. This is why I don't think it will ever be a genuine experience, you can't have 21st mentality people in that environment and expect to truly live and behave as they did back then.
Maybe I'll appreciate it more towards the end of the series when their mentality will have changed a lot, coming very close to that of 1628 and not wanting to go back to 2004. If I see that kind of change then the experience will have been worthwhile.

Marysafan
Member

08-07-2000

Tuesday, May 18, 2004 - 11:44 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Hubby wondered why no one was hunting or trapping game. (He is a Yooper and that is the first thing he would have set out to do). I am assuming that they have some sort of agreement with the people who own the land, that they would not be permitted to do that.

He even asked what they did with the muskrat skin...he said he would have saved it and used it to make gloves out of.

I was thinking, that if ever I am foolish enough to put myself through something like this...I am taking hubby with me! (NAH! I would have gone crazy because of the flies).

Broxi
Member

03-11-2004

Tuesday, May 18, 2004 - 1:20 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Marysfan I believe the reason they were not hunting or trapping was they were a sizable amount of meats. Granted all the meat was salted but all they had to do was soak it. But I agree with your hubby when it came to the skins. Most people from those times would have done something with the skins from the muskrats {I would think since back then nothing was wasted}.

Puckerbutt
Member

07-21-2001

Tuesday, May 18, 2004 - 1:28 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Marysafan -

Muskrat Glove - one of my favorite Captain & Tennille songs.

Amchess
Member

08-27-2002

Tuesday, May 18, 2004 - 3:50 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
LOLOLOL ROFL

Riviere
Member

09-09-2000

Tuesday, May 18, 2004 - 5:38 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
This show is too cool! Many of my ancestors were early planters pre 1640, I can't imagine stepping back in time to live the roles. And you're right skippy men were not troubled by 'women's issues' because they had the kids to raise and cooking & cleaning to oversee! What would be more 'normal' in Colonial House is a family with 6 to 14 kids and I think the women were so busy with their work, they simply didn't need to fret about their husbands working, hunting, building, politics. Good thing those gals were so tough! A lot of us wouldn't be here today without them.
:-)


Tabbyking
Member

03-11-2002

Tuesday, May 18, 2004 - 10:10 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
i don't care for the 21st century--17th century back and forths. i was hoping for a continuous 17th century story. the guy heading into town for a beer and being gone 2 days was way out of character, for example. people not being 'punished' for things they would have been punished for 400 years ago didn't make sense, either.
i had to smile at the baptist preacher (governor) during the 'coming out' speech by the gay male. you could tell he was not accepting of it--by 17th century OR TODAY's standards.
i was really hoping we would have something more completely about the 1600's, not something where they talk about 'today' as part of it.
not even sure i'll finish watching, and i was really looking forward to this.

Penpoint
Member

03-27-2001

Tuesday, May 18, 2004 - 10:19 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Some of you have mentioned your irritation with the participants who have not come into this situation with the proper 17th Century mindset. Actually, I think that's the point of the show--and really the most interesting aspect of it--to show real 21st Century people trying to deal with 17th Century values, customs, behaviors, and conditions. If they had all been able to abandon their 21st Century personas, the show would just be a staged reenactment of the hardships that colonists faced. Instead we are seeing those hardships through the lives of dynamic, interactive, modern people. That's what makes this show so fascinating. This truly is reality TV.

Goddessatlaw
Member

07-19-2002

Wednesday, May 19, 2004 - 5:30 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
I got the impression in the second half of last night's show that the producers had a "come to Jesus" meeting with the cast and said get your butts to church. All of a sudden everyone was going, even after the governor suspended enforcement of the sabbath laws. I was very disappointed in the cast for turning their backs on the requirements of the community they signed up for. I especially LOL'ed when Mrs. Heinz decided to tell the governor she would not be wearing headwear, since no one was being required to listen to her husband's didactic drone for three hours every Sunday. I'm really starting to like the Voorhees family, though, even though I thought they shouldn't have pushed the issue of Sabbath attendance. Mrs. Voorhees handled her punishment with humor, and so did her husband. I thought Amy-Christine got rooked by having to wear a "P" for saying crap, but she handled that with class, too. It was funny watching the governing council come around the corner like Wyatt Earp and his posse to take on that one little woman over the issue. I also thought the guy who decided to take a two-day vacation should have been banished from the colony, that was extremely unfair to the rest of the colonists who were left to continue struggling without his help. Then again, maybe he was about to crack and that's the only way he saw to get reinvigorated to complete the show. I'm completely unsure why the Heinz's servant felt so burdened by not announcing his sexuality to the group that he had to get it out at the church service. Right or wrong, I think the governor was unhappy to have that happen in front of his 9-year-old during a service of worship. I don't think anyone in the colony is getting it on except the Voorhees couple, so why is it so important for (crap, I can't remember his name - the Heinz servant) to announce his sexual orientation? Maybe there's more of a back-story to it that they haven't shown. I was happy to see most of the Wyers come back, and for the new people to come into the group. They seriously needed an infusion of new blood and new attitude. Things were just getting too bogged down and depressing.

Marysafan
Member

08-07-2000

Wednesday, May 19, 2004 - 6:17 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
I agree, I think the producers met with the cast and explained to them that they signed on to live life as it was back then...that meant going to church, wearing the appropriate head gear, and accepting their "roles".

I can understand the problem the Heinz servant (I can't remember his name either) was having. I think it is the same problem that the Voorhees woman was having. Once you have experienced liberation, it is hard to put the toothpaste back in the tube.

I also can understand why he wanted to get it out in the open all at once rather than having to do it over and over again in smaller groups.

The good news is at least he had the comfort of knowing that they weren't going to kill him.

Koko586
Member

02-25-2004

Wednesday, May 19, 2004 - 6:25 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
I've been disapointed in the cast for not making more of an effort too. Governor Wyers doesn't have the same firm hand with them that the butler in Manor House did. They just don't seem to care that part of the experience is to follow 17th Century behavior whether you would do so in your real life or not. When the workforce is small because people are being punished I would expect those still working to tell those being punished to shape up and pull their weight. Instead they whine and say they don't want to follow the rules.

I'm unsure about why the Heinz's servant felt he needed to make a public announcement as well. It felt like Mr. Heinz set it up. No offense to anyone who is gay but I don't think this was handled well in the context of this project. Accepting him is wonderful in 2004 but you can't have a project to live as they would in 1628 and slip in something from 2004 whenever you don't like the reality of 1628. That goes for some of the other behavior as well like skipping Sabbath or the women not staying subservient, not just this situation. He would not have been accepted in the 17th centrury and he only had three choices that stay true to the project. Keep it hidden throughout the 6 months and share how it felt to have to do that. Admit that keeping it hidden was too much and leave on the boat along with Amy Christina without telling anyone his sexual orientation and again share how it felt to make this choice. Or since he couldn't be killed which is what would have happend in 1628, banish him from the colony and have him tell how that felt and let the others talk about how that afected them. I think he could have made a powerful statement that made people think while still being true to the project.

Goddessatlaw
Member

07-19-2002

Wednesday, May 19, 2004 - 6:42 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Excellent points, Mary and Koko.

*** A bit of spoiler here, don't read if you don't want to know ****

From what I gleaned over the past couple of days, a new governor shows up next episode and kicks their asses from hell to breakfast (I don't know why the Wyers go home this time, I hope it was an exit planned by the producers rather than related to the circumstances under which they left last time). Anyway, I'm looking forward to how the Heinz's and Mrs. Voorhees take it - I'm predicting not very well. And Paul from Manchester might well spend the rest of the show in the stockade, LOL.

Spunky
Member

10-08-2001

Wednesday, May 19, 2004 - 7:39 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
I can see Penpoint's point , I am now ready to accept that view as well.
A re-enactment of 1628 life would have been just that, a re-enactement. To see 21st century people trying to cope with 17th century laws and hardships is becoming more interesting with the second episode. But really, isn't that already obvious even without a show like this one?
Knowing history we can fairly have a good idea of the differences...well, I guess seeing it on tv adds to the visuals...
One little thing is still irritating to me.. the intrusion of 21st century people and life in the series, it spoils the whole "back in time" effect for me. They should keep it to a minimum and later on eliminate it altogther.
I still think much of what we see was staged by the producers, (especially the "gay" thing, the producers knew that already and used it the way they wanted).
And I still believe I would like the series more towards the ending when these people's mentality will be very close to that of 1628...

P.S. I really like the Preacher, what a jolly fellow (in 1628 he may have been a totally different man...) and the Governor, so right for the part... too bad he's leaving again...

Amchess
Member

08-27-2002

Wednesday, May 19, 2004 - 9:10 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
The interesting aspect of this is that there have always been dissenters of one sort or another. But dissenting for atheist reasons in a religious community is asking for trouble! In real 1600's, this family would have understood what was expected of them and may not have chosen that particular group. I read somewhere that groups to the south were not so puritan.

Reiki
Member

08-12-2000

Wednesday, May 19, 2004 - 11:44 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Other colonies were motivated by economy more than religious "freedom". I use quotations around freedom because the Puritans did not want everyone to be free to worship any way they wanted. They wanted to live in a community where everyone worshipped their way. They didn't think the reform of the Church of England had gone far enough away from the Catholic Church.

In Boston, a group of freemen broke away from the 1st Church and 2nd Church and establish a 3rd. The Old South Church of Boston was founded in 1669. The Old South Meeting House would later be a gathering point for the Sons of Liberty.

Lurknomore
Member

07-07-2001

Wednesday, May 19, 2004 - 4:14 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
I think when they were at Plymouth Plantation they should have paid better attention to how the "colonists" live. For those that have never visited, the houses look similar but are MUCH older. There are villagers throughout that NEVER deviate from their colonial role. You can ask them anything you want BUT they ALWAYS remain colonial settlers. There is no back and forth. They explain how they live ONLY as it pertains to the colony. A visit there seems much more real than hearing them go back and forth in time.

Personally I think they should have set this up the same way, and along the way have time devoted to them discussing the differences/problems etc. (Be it a separate episode or 10 min in the middle devoted just to that). I think that would work much better.

Is anyone else having a hard time following the comings and goings of folks? Certainly I could understand Bethany's real life heartbreaking news and need to go home. But beyond that folks sure seem to come and go, with little or no explaination, and I'm finding it confusing and distracting personally.

BTW, if you ever get to visit Plymouth Plantation or any similar living museum, plan on hugging your car, your bathroom, your computer, etc afterwards. For about 10 min it sure makes you take stock of how easy we have it, and the conveniences we take for granted. Luckily a good soak in the jacuzzi cures all that LOL (Hey I was tired from walking around the village watching them work hehe).

Lurknomore
Member

07-07-2001

Wednesday, May 19, 2004 - 4:17 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
OH one more thing. There is a neighboring Indian settlement that was even more fascinating, and I wish they set up at least a visit to one to show the differences in how they lived at the same time. Personally, if I was forced to live in one of the villages, I would have preferred the Indian/Native American setup and traditions. (And clothes).

Madelane
Member

08-20-2001

Thursday, May 20, 2004 - 7:47 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Just wanted to say thanks to Penpoint - I agree that this is the concept of the show and otherwise we could just have actors re-enacting the olden days. I actually wanted to see more footage of these people in their 2004 lives, but hey, that's just me.

Texannie
Member

07-16-2001

Thursday, May 20, 2004 - 8:20 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
http://www.realityblurred.com/realitytv/

colonists Amy-Kristina and Jonathon talk about lingering effects of colonial life.
In a chat with WashingtonPost.com visitors, Colonial House's Amy-Kristina Herbert and Jonathon Allen answered questions (The Wyers family chatted on Tuesday). Among the revelations: Amy-Kristina is dating Danny Tisdale, and she says her departure was pre-planned because the producers, not knowing that the Wyers family would leave, wanted to see what would happen if someone left the colony. She also says that the effects of colonial life linger to this day. She says, "everything was too sweet for me when I got back, and I still have to water down juice. I don't eat a lot of sugar anymore. I forget to turn lights on in the house." The show concludes next Monday and Tuesday with four more episodes. Like the DVDs of the other House series shows, this series will be released on DVD June 12.


Spunky
Member

10-08-2001

Thursday, May 20, 2004 - 9:07 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
So soon? Why is it ending so soon? I thought we would be able to see the portion with Oprah staying there briefly.

I agree with those who said people coming and going without much of an explanation are distracting and I think we can't see the changes in them that such experience would bring.

I think the experiment was a gutsy one as it not only deals with the hardships of living but touches on social and religious issues which took years to correct. Those scarlett letters were a sad reminder... Anyway, it's very interesting to see 21st century people struggling to adapt to those absurd laws.. (not matter how great their sense of community was, I could not have lived in such a restricting society..)

Tera
Member

08-10-2000

Thursday, May 20, 2004 - 10:32 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
That is how Frontier House was too, Spunky. 4, 2-hour episodes.

Oprah shows up at the very end of the project. I remember the colinists showing Oprah a "calendar". They said they had been there just a little over 4 months.