# Stars Earn Stripes **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 15, 2012, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stars-earn-stripes/631524 "2012-08-15T02:59:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Folacin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folacin/32/3195_2.png) [@Folacin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folacin)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2012, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stars-earn-stripes/631524/1 "2012-08-15T02:59:37Z")
OK - this is as hokey as I thought it would be, but kind of fun. Of particular note, the two African American stars both nearly drowned, and had to be pulled out of the water. I consider myself a strong swimmer, and I’d guess that I’d be 50-50 on panicking when dropping into a lake with all that gear. I just found it humorous that an old canard appeared true on national TV. ---
**Author:** ![Lamar\_Mundane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lamar\_Mundane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamar_Mundane)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2012, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stars-earn-stripes/631524/2 "2012-08-15T03:27:27Z")
What? ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2012, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stars-earn-stripes/631524/3 "2012-08-15T03:53:37Z")
[I’m with Desmond Tutu about this show.](http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-505245_162-57492659/desmond-tutu-calls-for-axing-stars-earn-stripes/) It just rubs me the wrong way. ---
**Author:** ![Simplicio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c37758/32.png) [@Simplicio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simplicio)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2012, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stars-earn-stripes/631524/4 "2012-08-15T04:03:00Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > [I’m with Desmond Tutu about this show.](http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-505245_162-57492659/desmond-tutu-calls-for-axing-stars-earn-stripes/) It just rubs me the wrong way. I dunno? I’m pretty close to a peacenik, but it doesn’t bother me. A lot of Olympic events have their roots in military training exercises and skills (biathlon, penathalon, fencing, judo), no one complains about those. ---
**Author:** ![MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MPB_in_Salt_Lake)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2012, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stars-earn-stripes/631524/5 "2012-08-15T04:16:30Z")
When Rigoberta Menchu Tum speaks, the mollyfocking debate is over, crypto-martial bitches!!! ---
**Author:** ![charmstr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/53a042/32.png) [@charmstr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/charmstr)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2012, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stars-earn-stripes/631524/6 "2012-08-15T04:23:42Z")
> [@MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](#): > > When Rigoberta Menchu Tum speaks, the mollyfocking debate is over, crypto-martial bitches!!! Do you mean “crypto-martial”? If so, I get what your saying, although I don’t necessarily agree with it (or I wouldn’t if you were serious). If not, I don’t understand at all. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2012, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stars-earn-stripes/631524/7 "2012-08-15T04:29:10Z")
> [@charmstr](#): > > Do you mean “crypto-martial”? If so, I get what your saying, although I don’t necessarily agree with it (or I wouldn’t if you were serious). If not, I don’t understand at all. I’m pretty confused by that post myself. I think it’s valid to bring up this issue around the show since it’s gotten some press, but I’m concerned it’s going to come off as threadshitting, so I am going to withdraw here. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2012, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stars-earn-stripes/631524/8 "2012-08-15T04:40:02Z")
I found the Bourne-style rapid-cut editing distracting and opted out quickly. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2012, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stars-earn-stripes/631524/9 "2012-08-15T04:42:43Z")
> [@charmstr](#): > > Do you mean “crypto-martial”? If so, I get what your saying, although I don’t necessarily agree with it (or I wouldn’t if you were serious). If not, I don’t understand at all. First, I think you guys crossed in the edit window. Second, Nobel Peace Prize winners generally hold some moral authority. Third, WHOOOOOOOSH! It was a play on trash talking, like athletes do. ---
**Author:** ![DKW](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dkw/32/3118_2.png) [@DKW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DKW)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2012, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stars-earn-stripes/631524/10 "2012-08-15T04:52:22Z")
Oh, good, I was hoping someone would start a thread on this. Saw about half of the premiere; will catch the rest when I have the time. I like the premise. After the endless (well-deserved) griping about biased judging, far too powerful voting blocks, and strong contenders being knocked out by ridiculous flukes, it’s amazingly gratifying to finally have a reality show where success is EARNED. It’s you, the objectives, and an unforgiving course, and all the powervoting teenyboppers in the world aren’t going to save you. And these tasks are not only grueling and unpleasant, but can get genuinely dangerous. No free rides, no shortcuts, no easy outs, put up or shut up. Wonderful. One thing I could really do without is all the platitudes about the sacrifices our armed forces make and the risks and dangers and how you wouldn’t want to blah blah blah. Look, there’s something you need to understand…_this never needed arguing_. We know how dangerous it is. We know it’s a harsh, thankless road. Trust me, this song is going to get old _incredibly_ fast. If NBC has any sense, they’ll put it in a 20-second blurb in the intro and leave it at that. As for the contest itself, it looks very well done. That’s what all the good reality shows do, challenge the participants and make advancing a real achievement. C&C that to Robyn and Clemenza in Hell’s Kitchen, who pretty much coasted their way to black jackets. Neither would’ve lasted fifteen minutes here. In all, this is shaping up to be a must-see. I’ll know for sure in about a month. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2012, 5:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stars-earn-stripes/631524/11 "2012-08-15T05:10:41Z")
On the plus side: Terry Crews, Picabo Street, and Laila Ali. On the iffy side: Nick Lachey, who seems to be back from wherever he spent the past few years and I’m not sure I’m glad, and Todd Palin, though he may not be the PITA that his wife is. And it’s a step down for Wes Clark. Six out of nine celebrities I’ve heard of and some of them I like, so it beats most reality shows. It’s on Hulu so I can watch some of it. ---
**Author:** ![FlightlessBird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/cdc98d/32.png) [@FlightlessBird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlightlessBird)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2012, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stars-earn-stripes/631524/12 "2012-08-15T16:40:08Z")
> [@Folacin](#): > > Of particular note, the two African American stars both nearly drowned, and had to be pulled out of the water.. While that’s the easy joke to go for. it’s more important to note that those were the 2 most ‘built’ actors with close to no body fat. Muscles are heavy and adding all the extra weight, them drowning was not unexpected. When they caught up with Terry Crewes, his ‘Op’ said, 'We gotta get some fat on ya." > [@dropzone](#): > > , and Todd Palin, though he may not be the PITA that his wife is. I’ve never seen this guy before, but fall into the ‘hate his wife’ category. He certainly showed well in the first episode, but I’m not ready to root for him yet. But I’m turning… ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2012, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stars-earn-stripes/631524/13 "2012-08-15T17:24:10Z")
I don’t know the opinions of all the rank and file but the the show is almost universally loathed by all the posters on Army pages I frequent. I’m living in a tent right now so I haven’t seen it. ---
**Author:** ![Lanzy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/74df32/32.png) [@Lanzy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lanzy)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2012, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stars-earn-stripes/631524/14 "2012-08-15T17:36:08Z")
Watched it, still trying to figure out how bullets explode targets and how come the rifle grenades that missed the tower didn’t blow some trees up. And what exactly is being shot at them when they landed on the shore? Can’t be real bullets can it? ---
**Author:** ![RikWriter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/49beb7/32.png) [@RikWriter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RikWriter)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2012, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stars-earn-stripes/631524/15 "2012-08-15T23:49:17Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > [I’m with Desmond Tutu about this show.](http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-505245_162-57492659/desmond-tutu-calls-for-axing-stars-earn-stripes/) It just rubs me the wrong way. Yeah, I’m not with him and I frankly think he sounded like a complete idiot. ---
**Author:** ![RikWriter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/49beb7/32.png) [@RikWriter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RikWriter)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2012, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stars-earn-stripes/631524/16 "2012-08-15T23:50:18Z")
> [@dropzone](#): > > Second, Nobel Peace Prize winners generally hold some moral authority. Like Yassir Arafat? ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2012, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stars-earn-stripes/631524/17 "2012-08-15T23:52:59Z")
> [@Lanzy](#): > > And what exactly is being shot at them when they landed on the shore? Can’t be real bullets can it? I can only hope they are. It’s high time TV started playing for keeps and if Nick Lachey happens to be killed I won’t weep. ETA: > [@RikWriter](#): > > Like Yassir Arafat? Like I said, “generally.” I usually use weasel words to give me an out so I don’t have to remember, for instance, every last person who won the Peace Prize. ---
**Author:** ![RikWriter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/49beb7/32.png) [@RikWriter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RikWriter)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2012, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stars-earn-stripes/631524/18 "2012-08-15T23:53:07Z")
> [@Lanzy](#): > > Watched it, still trying to figure out how bullets explode targets and how come the rifle grenades that missed the tower didn’t blow some trees up. And what exactly is being shot at them when they landed on the shore? Can’t be real bullets can it? The rifles were shooting at reactive targets probably with something like Tannerite in them. The grenades were colored blue, which usually indicates training grenades wtih no explosives, so I would hazard a guess that if they hit anywhere on the tower, it triggered a pre-rigged pyrotechnic setup that blew the tower. What was happening on the shore was simulators and squibs, most likely. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2012, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stars-earn-stripes/631524/19 "2012-08-16T00:22:26Z")
> [@dropzone](#): > > On the plus side: Terry Crews, Picabo Street, and Laila Ali. > > On the iffy side: Nick Lachey, who seems to be back from wherever he spent the past few years and I’m not sure I’m glad, and Todd Palin, though he may not be the PITA that his wife is. > > And it’s a step down for Wes Clark. > > Six out of nine celebrities I’ve heard of You never heard that Dean Cain was Superman? ---
**Author:** ![Folacin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folacin/32/3195_2.png) [@Folacin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folacin)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2012, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stars-earn-stripes/631524/20 "2012-08-16T01:50:11Z")
> [@FlightlessBird](#): > > While that’s the easy joke to go for. it’s more important to note that those were the 2 most ‘built’ actors with close to no body fat. Muscles are heavy and adding all the extra weight, them drowning was not unexpected. When they caught up with Terry Crewes, his ‘Op’ said, 'We gotta get some fat on ya." > > I’ve never seen this guy before, but fall into the ‘hate his wife’ category. He certainly showed well in the first episode, but I’m not ready to root for him yet. But I’m turning… Yeah - I meant to add a comment about body fat somewhere just before where I said I’d likely drown too (and no lack of body fat here). And props to Terry - he got on his back and damn near made the boat. I was surprised when they pulled him out. And even though they stretched the meaning of ‘star’ pretty much beyond recognition to include him, Todd did OK. I’m guessing his general level of outdoors-iness is going to serve him well. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stars-earn-stripes/631524.md?page=2)