Real World/Road Rules Casting Special 2000

B-M introduces us to a whole new set of Real Rules hopefuls while an alumni of experts cash in their two cents.

Analysis

Yes, it is that time of the year again, where B-M gives us an behind-the-scenes look at the arbitrary casting process. Castin Special 2000 gives us a whole new look with a live studio audience and a host of Real Rules alumni (Judd, RW: SF, Sarah, RR: LA, Dave and Janet from RW: Seattle, and Shawn from RR: S.A.S) who succeed in telling us what we already know.

Apparently B-M feels that the viewers are too stupid to form their own opinion on the finalist, and thus, must be forced fed a mediocre opinion! There were at least a dozen instances where I muttered, "Well, duh." after a casual commentary. I'm sure the vets could've made themselves more useful had one or two of them gotten off their rumps to scope the audience for a question or comment (I bet someone out there had their own 2.7 cents to deposit)! And dare me to start criticizing someone based on their appearance, but when did Sarah start experimenting with the shoe polish? Honey, the goth look does not suit you well!

Moving on... our panel of "experts" introduced us to the 13 or so fortunate contestants who made it to semi-finals.

And let me be the first to blow a sigh of relief that none of the black semi-finalist were immediately dealt the "race card" upon sitting for the interview (Those who recall my Casting Special review from last year know that this was a BIG gripe of mine). It is also my hope that we finally see an end to the Angry Black Man stereotype, which Teck graciously denounced last year; however, at the same time he may've inadvertently sparked another cliche "The Playa"--Hence both Laterrain and David's abrupt portrayal as "womanizers". Hopefully I'm jumping the gun here, but if history's any indication my concerns were warranted. And while I'm on the subject, let me point out a couple other things...

What moron ever decided to hire Kamelah as part of the casting staff anyway? This girl has not changed one-eye-oda since Boston! Upon conducting the interview with some preppie name Jamie, she immediately condemns him as a "rich privileged white boy". Oddly enough though, Preppie's counter attack wasn't any better, "I wake up to a poster of Nelson Mandela every morning!" Gee, and I thought guys like to wake up to Carmeron Diaz or Tyra Banks? I hope he was being sarcastic.

And then there's our RR hopeful Theo (A.K.A "Bumpkin"). Here's a guy who addresses African Americans as "colored people" even though the term has been obsolete for over 30 years, and takes a firm stance on interracial relationships. Ok, so that's his opinion, fine and dandy; but Bumpkin contradicted himself about acouple times during the interview. First he bragged about his self made independence at 14--claiming that his early experience in the real world opened his mind to love all of God's children; then he pulls a 180 by saying that "coloreds" and whites shouldn't mix (even making a retarded analogy to cookies and cream); but then he announces that he'd date a black girl in a heartbeat, thus completing a full 360 spin over the course of the interview!

C'mon! I know B-M's casting department has a sense of humor, but this is ridiculous. Maybe M'Sadda could teach him a thing or two on tolerance and perhaps drop her interracial bombshell while she's at it.--Then again, she may feed him a can of freshly squeezed jokes instead. She did threaten to open up a traveling punch line if B-M set her up with any "ignorant people". Suffice to say, it doesn't take Shakespeare to map out this play! I think Dave said it best... "It'll be a trip if these two get on the show!" Amen to that! If this isn't the most blatant display of "casting for conflict" then I don't know what is!

And as typical, the other usual stereotypes abound: I guess Danny's our "gay one" this season; Melissa's our token ethnic girl--gotta have that ONE ethnic girl thrown in there! BTW, I want to give a shout out to the first runner up in the token ethnic girl slot, Rachna for her brilliant impression of Kaia, which undoubtedly was the highlight of the show! Of course Rachna does sort of resemble Effe with a personality, but don't let that visualization screw ya up!

And ad whoa folks! It must be the year of the blond! B-M's reinforcing one of their long-running stereotypes with a vengeance. And even though things became blurred after a while, I was able to discern two of our female Roadies: Kathryn, a cowgirl from Oregon who uses duct tape as a sexual impedance cure, and Holly M. a sheltered Cali girl with sex on the brain. And it's painfully obvious that both are vying for the alias "Calamity". Kathy showcases a blown out knee, and Holly M. has suffered just about every injury known to man. It's a shame Holly G. didn't make the cut. She displays the same down-to-earth spunky, spontaneous Sarah-from-Miami attitude that I like. But of course we can't have too many real people on Real Rules now can we?

I've also noticed another trend as of late, that is the producers' tendency to cast only college students. Every single semi-finalist in this special--regardless of whether they made the cut or not was in some sort of post H.S. institution. Gee, remember the old days of New York, LA, San Fran, London, Miami--even the first couple seasons of RR actually had some diversity regarding college, non-college, and post college cast members. Now everyone's a wet-behind-the-ears loan blowing college coed (it really does make the season look immature)! Besides, this is a reality based documentary isn't it? Well the reality is that not every 18 - 25 year old out there is a college student.

So overall, Casting Special 2000 scores points for organization, style, and of course Rachna's Kaia skit, but little else. More private collaboration among the casting producers would've been nice as opposed to our alumni gossip show. And has Mary Ellis confiscated Piggy's passport or something? Can't this chick find any legitimate work other than pimping for Madame Ellis? Piggy, to quote yourself from "Wheel of Wrestling" GO AWAY!!!

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