It seems like the whole “we have to rush around, you’ll see Carson next, the big party is tonight, run, run, run” business is staged for effect. I don’t think it’s really possible that they can do all they do in one day.
Also, I just saw the holiday reunion episode, where they go back to check up on guys they previously rehabilitated to ensure that they’re still with the program.
In that episode, one guy had these long, skinny, wiggly cut glass mirrors that they got rid of in the original episode, but somehow, he had reclaimed them. I thought when they threw something out, it was thrown out. Apparently not. What’s the real deal on their throwing away the stuff? Is making the huge pile of detritus just for show? Does the guy have any say as to what he gets to keep?
Other than opinions, does anyone have the “straight” dope on this? (Couldn’t resist.)
It’s usually a four day process during which time the family stays in a hotel. It’s made to look like an afternoon outing for whatever reason, but it’s not. (It really is the first time they see the new house/apartment but otherwise much is staged.)
We’ve seen Thom take the SG shopping after a noon lunch, and all the furniture they picked out in Manhattan is in place in the suburban house by late afternoon (along with all the painting and redecoration).
The running is truly moronic, especially in icy weather or when the subject is middle-aged. I’m looking forward (in vain, as they won’t show it - but hopefully someone else will film it for AFV) when the gay guys sprint to their van, while the subject ambles along behind, or even pops into another shop to have a look around.
I read an interview with Jai where he said there is loads of research that goes on before the 3- to 4-day blitz even begins. I took this to mean that Carson, for example, already knows what store he’s going to shop in (or has it narrowed down to one of a few), and has already scoped out their inventory and has some clothes in mind to pull off the rack. He probably makes some adjustments based on what he actually finds in the guy’s closet, but I’m sure he doesn’t go in cold. I’m certain Thom and the others do the same.
Let’s face it, Jai’s redundant. Don’t know why they need a “culture” guy when “culture” can be integrated more naturally within three of the other categories, i.e. food, clothes and decor.
Do they specifically want a guy in his 20s to offset the middle-aged appeal of the other four? If so, they sacrifice much of the quality of the show, as Jai’s immaturity and sophomoric striving is painful. “You got to tell your wife you love her” is something that Carson or Ted could pull off, not least because they would be aware of the incongruity of it coming from them.
Strange that the two best looking fellahs on the show should be the most boring and one-dimensional. Or maybe not.
Hah! I knew it couldn’t be one day! Glad to see it confirmed.
I’ve always believed that they can’t possibly start painting in the afternoon and still have the walls dry enough to hang art on in the evening. Assuming they’re doing a decent job they’d have to at least wash the walls down with sugar soap before painting, particularly in the case of the families with kids. Allow time for washed walls to dry, time for the first and second paint coats to dry, and you’re looking at a job that’s not going to be over in just a couple of hours, even with a number of people working on it. Heaven forbid they also need an undercoat.
I was prepared to concede that maybe they only do one coat and don’t wash the walls first (since it only has to pass a cursory inspection), but even so - in some of those places* they’d have to have spent at least the first 1/2 of the day just shifting furniture and stuff out before they could even consider painting. Some of those pre-makeover homes make mine look neat, and that’s saying something.
The two original “culture” guys (the one from the pilot, and Blair from the first month of the show) did look closer to the group age-image, but that is hardly “middle age”, except in the youtholatric world of showbiz (and the pilot team did affect a more youthful look, but if you want to gain the trust of middle-class fathers, you do need to at least look “grownup”).
My hypothesis:
In developing the concept, it was expected that this cabinet would require a Minister of Culture, based on the stereotype of the Average Straight Schlub Husband as someone whom wild horses can’t drag to the ballet or opera and whose idea of fun is spending an afternoon watching football and drinking beer, or rebuilding the car and drinking beer, or listening to old BTO records and drinking beer, or… you get the picture. And that would need “civilizing”
However, turns out that because you need “interesting” subjects for the show, you end up with makeover victims who write and play their own blues music, who are into rediscovering their Jewish roots, who are talented painters and photographers, who are active participants in community activities. People WITH a culture, but just different lifestyles.
So the “Culture” Guy ends up being the Relationship Advisor and “Mister Manners”… and often, the driver/gofer (had to be the Puerto Rican, wouldn’t you know… )
Yay, it’s moved to Cafe Society, so I can blather on!
Jai has really grown on me. I think he’s useful for moving the thing along and for some of the interpersonal stuff. I am sure there are some episodes where they have to spend days brainstorming something for him to do, but I think he’s not bad at what he is given.
Frankly I think Kyan is the useless one. He seems like he’s along for the ride as other people do the makover work. His obsession about shaving “the right way” makes me want to leap through the TV and murder him. He’s eye candy with a flair for using hair products, and that’s it.
I always appreciated Jai’s role. On some episodes, he has more focused roles than on some other episodes, no doubt. But even on episodes where he doesn’t contribute much specific expertise, he does help out the other members of the Fab 5 (especially Thom). It’s not like Jai consistently does nothing.
At the risk of setting Otto off again, he has a formidable collection of sleeveless T-shirts.
How I see it:
Thom - does all the work; nice bloke; dry sense of humour
Ted - top bloke; TV natural
Kyan - male bimbo
Jai - striver
Carson - without whom the show would not work; really grows on you; makes me wonder if I could ever get away with wearing red trousers
Dang!
I quit cable (pissed off) a while back, but there are some programs I really miss. Not enough to make me re-subscribe, but some of it was alright. This is one of those good ones.
)