This is something I usually don’t admit in RL, but I’ve been a closet “Real World” and “Road Rules” fan since…oh sheesh, it seems like forever. Yes, I know a lot of people say that they’re both banal, with all the pettiness and whining, but I find both of them quite fascinating at the same time – certainly a lot better than the other reality-based shows that’ve been popping up all over the place. Are there any over-30 Dopers out there who share my secret? 
Yeah, I like RW, but I quit watching this season about a month ago because this cast has to be the most boring assemblage of humanity ever. They managed to be even more vapid than the Los Angeles cast, and most of NY2 don’t even have the excuse of being in show business.
Now, “Tough Enough” on the other hand. There’s a show for ya.
I’m (cough) 35, but still watch RW on occasion. Haven’t checked out this season’s cast yet, but really enjoyed the London cast.
[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by Otto *
Yeah, I like RW, but I quit watching this season about a month ago because this cast has to be the most boring assemblage of humanity ever.
Hmmm…even more boring than the London cast? Wait, I take that back because individually they were interesting, but as a group, they weren’t.
This season the males are the vapid ones. And have you noticed how one of them looks eerily like Bill Clinton?
**Now “Tough Enough” on the other hand. There’s a show for ya. **
I’ve only caught “Tough Enough” in passing, so I don’t have an opinion on it. And for some strange reason the title reminds of of that “Scared Straight” program they aired a couple of months ago…
A Neil and Lars fan, eh???
I didn’t see the London cast when it first aired (nor did I originaly see NY1, Seattle, Boston or all of Miami…didn’t have cable for some or all of those seasons) and I still haven’t seen London all the way through in repeats. Those episodes of it I have seen didn’t interest me that much, but the people did not rise (sink?) to the level of horridness of either LA or NY2. Coral and the other black woman are just idiots and were I a black woman I think I would find it embarrassing that they were representing me in some way. The female “singer” is just dull, the younger woman could be interesting but because of her age she didn’t seem like she was going to be featured so much. Malik might be complex but they seem to have forced him into “black man” mode to counteract some of the racial nuttiness of the two women. The two white guys? Not cute enough to keep me watching, and not much personality either.
Best season is still San Francisco, with New Orleans a close second. I still tear up over Pedro’s scenes, and I lose it every time I see the last episode with Rachel saying something about how she thinks Pedro will beat AIDS and live a long time, when he was already dead by the time that episode aired. I bought Judd’s graphic novel “Pedro and Me” and just bawled reading it.
New Orleans, especially Julie (who is from Milwaukee just down the highway a piece) and the things she went through I liked a lot. I remember from the casting special, Julie got sort of set up. They aired a couple of comments from her about black people and “homosexuals” and sort of unfairly cast her as the bigot in residence. Biggest problem with NO was that like half the cast just sort of faded out. Kelly, David, Matt and Jamie didn’t have a whole lot to do throughout. Danny’s role got progressively smaller and the focus went increasingly to Julie and Melissa. Which if that’s where the drama was, fine.
Tough Enough is pretty much RW on steroids. Thirteen men and women competing for a World Wrestling Federation contract. What can I say, I’m partial to beefy shirtless guys throwing each other around on a mat.
I have recently written a lengthy essay about RW. I used to love it, but since the Miami case it has just continued to decline to the dreck which is the NYC Redux. I used to adore this show, but I just cannot watch it anymore. And when I learned that this season of Road Rules had the Survivor “vote one off” thing happening, I made a point of not even bothering.
It’s a shame, these shows started the reality genre, and they’re both pale imitations of what they once were.
I have recently written a lengthy essay about RW. I used to love it, but since the Miami case it has just continued to decline to the dreck which is the NYC Redux. I used to adore this show, but I just cannot watch it anymore. And when I learned that this season of Road Rules had the Survivor “vote one off” thing happening, I made a point of not even bothering.
It’s a shame, these shows started the reality genre, and they’re both pale imitations of what they once were.
I was a huge Real World fan until this last season. Are they totally boring or what? I think I watched the first three episodes and never went back. Same with Road Rules…Maybe next year they will get some interesting people. Being over 30… maybe it’s just me… but I am SOOO tired of these 18-25 year olds that just over analyze the crap out of everything. They are so uninteresting! They need to put about 10 35 year olds together… and then watch the fun 
[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by Otto *
I didn’t see the London cast when it first aired (nor did , but the people did not rise (sink?) to the level of horridness of either LA or NY2.
I started watching RW during the LA episode…even now I still think Beth S. was unfairly treated a lot of the time by the others. Yeah, she was a bit of a drama queen, but compared to Melissa (NO) or Flora (Miami), she doesn’t even come close!
Coral and the other black woman are just idiots and were I a black woman I think I would find it embarrassing that they were representing me in some way. The female “singer” is just dull, the younger woman could be interesting but because of her age she didn’t seem like she was going to be featured so much.
I like Nicole, but Coral…who is she to pass judgement on everybody? I know if I were a black woman, I wouldn’t want either her or Kameelah (Boston) to represent me. There’s a fine line between being a minority and shoving the fact down others’ throats. I was horrified how they passed judgement on Malik for wearing that shirt (can’t remember whose image was on it) and branding him not a true “brother” because he’s dated white women. Excuse me, but he IS a brother whether they like it or not.
Best season is still San Francisco, with New Orleans a close second.
Oh, I absolutely agree with San Francisco! Back when it first aired I had no idea just how ill Pedro really was. I think he died not too soon after the show started airing. And I read somewhere that Judd and Pam are married 
I don’t know where I’d put New Orleans on my list, but my second favorite would either be Seattle or Boston: Seattle because of Dave (who’s from my neck of the woods) and even Irene before the slap. Boston because…well, how could I turn away from my hometown? 
Plus it was a fascinating group of individuals.
It just occurred to me that we’re talking about these casts as though we know them in RL, which is more than you can say for “Survivor” and the other assorted clones…
Now that’s interesting, tlw…why do you think it’s “declined to the dreck”? I’m sincerely curious.
I admit that both shows have lost their “innocence” to an extent, and, because of that, the producers have to invent something bigger and/or better and/or different each succeeding season. This past “Road Rules” wasn’t bad (I didn’t catch all of it), but at least it wasn’t as horrific as the one in Latin America.
Oh, man, if they ever have a RW for us over-30s (and I don’t mean “Big Brother”), I’ll be there!
You do have a point about the over-analyzing and such…and yes, it’s quite tedious. But sometimes I wonder if we were all like that to an extent when we were in that age bracket…