Wednesday, June 16, 2004

ON WITH THE SCHMO: Faithful readers of this blog -- all fifteen of you -- will recall my fandom for the first season of The Joe Schmo Show.

Well, they're back, and it's as good as last season.

For the uninitiated, Schmo is The Truman Show done for laughs, a parody of reality tv conventions acted out by a troupe of improv actors and, in this case, two unsuspecting dupes who are along for the ride. The target this time is the reality dating shows, as Joe and Jane Schmo believe they're contestants on the new program, "Last Chance For Love."

The producers have it worked out well. You've got the model-perfect Bachelor and Bachelorette, and all the types done well among the other cast members: The Girl Who Cries Too Much, The Bitch, The Stalkerish Guy, The Guy Who's Vaguely Gay and more.

Not only is the casting right, so to is the parody of the structure of reality dating tv. An excessively sincere and pompous British-ish host. Hot tub dates. Game twists announced by a message from a swooping falcon named after the tiger who mauled Roy. "Pearl necklace" ceremonies for the women who move on to the next round. And, yes, as in all reality dating shows, the minorities get kicked off first.

It's all good. What's more, the producers want to let you in on more of the behind-the-scenes thinking -- just read the Schmo Blog.

It's summer. TV choices are slim. This is one of the better ones.

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