CD Giveaway - Sam Shrieve, "Bittersweet Lullabies"
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The current student at Berklee College of Music has a rock 'n' roll pedigree, but delivers a pleasing and diverse collection of soft pop on his debut record. Enter our contest for your chance to win! |
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A Dose of Reality: The Next Joe Millionaire - Episodes 7 & 8
by Beth Gottfried
Published: November 18, 2003
Every reality TV show of the season is sporting a “twist.” It’s what “Queer Eye for the Straight Guy” was for BRAVO last season: a dire attempt to boost ratings in a struggling reality TV market. “Average Joe” is doing it. Even “Survivor” has resorted to it. And who can forget this season’s “Bachelor” Bob having to eliminate some of his bachelorettes prematurely. Just when you thought you knew the rules to the game, network TV goes all crazy on you and messes with your head.
FOX is King of this kinda antic and let’s face it, contrary to what the enormous popularity of this column seems to indicate “The Next Joe Millionaire” is NOT pulling in the ratings. So fast-forward to “the twist.” I’m no genius, but I could guess the “twist” before it was ever defined as such. I knew Linda would be back Call it a sick sense, but I knew given her level of neuroses that FOX was not done exploiting this chica. And Linda is ALL about neuroses. If there was a fund where I could contribute to her therapy, I think I’d feel obligated to help this poor gal out. She is not only insecure and highly jealous of Cat, she is her own worst enemy. And Cat, who has now surfaced as the Queen of Manipulation, can play Linda like a fiddle. She knows just how much information to feed the waif to get her to plunge that finger down her throat or playfully take a razor to her wrists. Case in point: Cat (who up until now doesn’t say a word to the girls) “confides” in Linda that she did “it” with David. Call my crazy but coming from a mute this seems like a juicy morsel of unnecessary info.
Linda shows up in Episode 7 and David looks like a boy who has just discovered how to ride a bike again. The others gals: Anique, Petra, and Cat are told that David has requested that Linda be brought back and David is told that FOX brought Linda back because she realized what a mistake she had made and wanted a second chance. Can you see the mind games come into fruition yet? If not, keep reading…
Linda and David reunite on the ranch and play horsey for a while. Then it’s time for Venice. Well, Venice comes after the elimination of Anique, but we all knew it was only a matter of time before the gold digging Dutchwoman was sent on her merry way. Straight to a model agency, if my psychic abilities are serving me right.
Petra, who is the crowd favorite at this point seems the most naturally in tune with David. They laugh and have fun and really seem to connect on both a physical and spiritual level. They are 1…Cat is all about her sexuality and winning the game and David seems to respond to this as well. It is unclear of what her motives are, but having sat through last nite, I’m thinking she’s all about winning and doing anything she has to do to “sex”cure her advantage. In fact, this isn’t all speculation and I’m no Hercule Poirot because she in fact says exactly this prior to going down on him in the closet. Ok, I made this part up but really SOMETHING happened.
Linda’s Venice date with David appeared to be going well until she brushed off his kiss. Even my roommates were aghast when this happened because you could tell how genuinely fond David was for Linda and how HURT he looked after she warded off his advances. Linda’s rationale: She doesn’t just want to be another girl for David to have his way with. Ok, Linda, but remember…You were the one who was DYING to get a piece of him and put yourself thru more Reality TV HELL to get to there, so don’t be sending him any mixed signals. I gotta gripe with Linda right now. Mostly because she has the most annoying laugh in the world and she really let me down. Here I thought she was cool, confident, and classy when she’s really just another insecure, weepy, pathetic model who ultimately ousted Petra out of contention.
In the saddest and most confusing moment of the night, David lets Petra go even though he seems reluctant to do so and describes her (in lay man’s terms) as the Yin to his Yang. David perhaps isn’t mature or smart enough to realize that this is ultimately what every person is looking for: their complement -A person who can complete them and put them at ease. I think at this point, he’s still confusing his libido with his heart. But I can forgive him these trespasses because I think Petra can do better. And because he’s only human and Cat does appear to be physically perfect even if she is mentally deranged. Same goes for Linda…Maybe our cowboy is just in perma-lust with psychos. Hey, been there done that. I concede that it’ll get old for him eventually…
Unfortunately or as luck may have it next week is the season’s show-stopping season finale. And the trailers have me itching to know if David is left standing solo at the end with his diamond engagement ring or if Cat actually pulls through. I’m assuming Linda is long gone by the end, but I could be wrong.
In what promises to be another grand finale twist will Olinda be back in all her leathery splendor? I really hope so. Superficial cattiness is fun, scary and potentially lethal mind games a la Cat are a NOT.
Stay tuned for more…
Episode 1
Episodes 2&3
Episode 4
Episodes 5&6
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