Monday Jan. 30th

Air Date 1-30-12

Before I talk about raw, I have a few thought about the Royal Rumble.  I watched only the rumble match not the whole PPV, so I'll only talk about that.

It seems hypocritical to run an angle leading up to the rumble where an announcer criticizes semi retired wrestlers for trying to get a spot in the rumble only for the announcer to take one of the spots.  Also you can have old guys show up for cheap pops, or non wrestlers come in for comedy bits but don't do both over 1/6th of the rumble spots were taken by non active people while there were handfuls of guys who didn't get in.  All this does is lead to no new stars being made.  Kane never won a rumble but I can recall how impressive he has been in past rumbles.  They could have used the three announcers spots to get three newer guys some face time and maybe get them over.  Imagine if Trent Baretta had gone out and lasted for 25 minutes and eliminated even only 5 guys.

The Foley/Marella dueling cobra/socko bit was funny but seemed out of place in the rumble match.

The Kofi Kingston handstand to avoid elimination who very impressive.

So they build Jericho up with this recluse gimmick, only to have him enter the rumble and act like normal and then not even win the thing.  I wonder what the plan is now?

Ok now onto RAW.

I love heel Danielson. Please please please let him start doing the "I've got till 5" thing soon.  They also need to start letting him be a vicious technician.

Conjoined twins that he keeps locked in the attic,  this show need more William Regal.

They could give Punk and Danielson a hour every week and I would want to watch every match they would have.  The amount of storytelling and in ring psychology in this one match was greater than a normal months worth of shows.

If this is building to Punk/Jericho at Wrestlemania,  I might have to find some way to watch it.

I don't think there is anyone who want Undertaker/HHH II.  What they need to do is have some of the brash new guns trying to get the ultimate feather in their cap by ending the streak.  Ziggler, Swagger, or The Miz would all work nicely in this role.

Sundy Jan. 29th

"El Greco" Air Date  1-20-12

Every week its always the same, a restaurant that is failing due to family turmoil.  Can't it ever be a bad cook, or a owner who needs help marketing and focusing.

I wonder what game he's playing that keeps him up so late.  I wish they had said.  I bet its a MMO.

Why would you interrupt Ramsey eating to talk to him, when you don't even speak the language?  But it was pretty funny him running through the list of all the languages that he speaks to find that the only other language she speaks, he doesn't.

If you only show up to work three to five hours a day, and then you cook everything in the microwave.  You have to know that the main problem in your restaurant is you.  And to think you can make a high end product when everything is just warmed in the microwave is plain delusional.

Also if you are going to cook everything in the microwave, don't you think you'd have more than one of them.

How awkward must it have been for Gordon to be standing there while the owners had a giant shouting match at each other, the whole time speaking a foreign language that he doesn't understand.

Relaunch is always the same on this show.  It starts off great, only to run into some problem that completely shuts down the kitchen, before they get things back on track and rally to make a triumphant comeback.

"Michael; Melba"  Air Date  1-27-12

The concept of this show is an interesting spin on the weight loss show genre.  Having it be about people whose job not only contributes to, but potentially has caused their weight problem is a new take and something I have wondered about every time I've seen Gordon Ramsey cook anything on F Word.

Is 4 months enough time and 25% enough weight to really make a difference.  Don't get me wrong losing 25% is a great accomplishment, but compared to similar show where people routinely lose 45-50%, it just seems like it might now visually appear satisfying. 

So, Melba is a top notch chef that has all sorts of food related businesses and has beaten celebrity chefs in cooking competitions and yet when its her sons birthday all he gets is a crappily frosted cupcake?

I didn't even know you could buy a bathroom scale that goes up to 550 pounds.  That kind of makes it mean on Extreme Makeover: Weight loss Edition when they weighed the people on a freight scale because they couldn't get a scale that would hold them.

Michael is noticeably smaller when ever they show him in a talking head shot.  Usually show do a better job of hiding the outcome than this.

On the logo thats used for the commercial bumpers the word chef gets thinner as it airs.  That's a nice touch.

I wonder if Michael is going to have a moment where he feels like he cant be a pastry chef anymore because he now knows what harm his food can do to people.

The quickest way to failure on a diet is to feel that you deserve a reward because you have been doing so good and to make that reward be some food that you shouldn't be having.

Well all in all it was an ok show.  I don't know if I'll watch it again, there was nothing special about it that made me want to see another, and with the number of weight loss shows currently on the air you need something more than Fat Chef delivered.

Friday Jan. 27th

"An injury hinders Wes' fighting"  Air Date 1-16-12

So Wes hurt his hand and went to the doctor because he hurt his hand.  The doctor tells him he broke his hand and Wes decides to just tough it out.  Is that being "country strong" or county dumb?  Also why even go to the doctor in the first place?  About the worst thing he could tell you is that it's broken, I understand not having insurance and not being able to afford a cast, but then why waste the money going to the doctor?

Red graduates nursing school and her friends take her out....to the restaurant she works at.  If they don't live in a one horse town where that's the only place to go, those are pretty crappy friends.

You know Red, you might get better tips at work if you smiled and acted like you wanted to be there.

I know the show has said that the cast is all 23ish, but they all look and act as if they were about 17.  Who hangs out in a garage at 23?

If Danger is so dedicated to his career that he quit his job and moved back home, you'd think cutting weight wouldn't be a problem.  It's a known part of training and fighting, its not like its something new that the league sprung on him.  It seems unprofessional to be out running in the parking lot in hopes of making weight.

The show might be better if the focus was on the training camp, with the head trainer being the main character, instead of focusing on these three knuckleheads.

In between rounds the coaches brought in a 5 gallon pail for danger to sit on.  They did it again between rounds two and three, the only difference is it was a completely different bucket.  How many 5 gallon buckets do they have sitting around at ringside?

"Dance Like Nobody's Watching"  Air Date 1-12-12

I like the little things this show does.  The slight little sight gags and background jokes that could totally be missed if you're not paying attention.The white grape Squirt during Americas Kidz Got Singing, is a good example of it.

The only way the people magazine crossword puzzle could have been funnier is if Esai Morales was filled in as one of the answers.

I would watch a show with Frank and Toofer staring as AK-47 Santa and Black Jesus.

"The Comeback Kid" Air Date 1-12-12

When ever a show flashes a newspaper to show the headline I always pause it to try and read as much of the other stories as I can.  I then wonder if someone had to write all this stuff that almost no one will ever even see or if they just steal it from a different newspaper.

I like how they always work in the towns blatant racism against native americans.   On a side note, I would totally root for a team called "the drunken savages", it doesn't even matter what sport they played, even if I hated it I'd be a fan for life, also "the chupacabras", I'd root for them too.

The scene on the ice should have been funnier than it was.  I don't know if it was ruined by showing it in previews, but it was not as funny as it could have been.

Thursday Jan. 26th

"Love Is a Battlefield"  Air Date 1-25-12

I never like it when a show starts off at the end and then rewinds back to the beginning and then flashes a tag saying 30 days earlier.  I always find that to shatter the illusion of reality TV.

The concept of this season is pretty funny.  Everyone who shows up has to have some initial strategy, and said strategy has to be completely throw out the window once the twist is announced.

As much as I ragged on Tyrie last time for always saying he's in the best shape yet.  He actually looks like he dropped about 30 pounds in preparation for this challenge.

When all the rookies were talking in the bedroom, I had to wonder if this is the start of the changing of the guard.  Where the once powerful group loses their control over the game to the new up and comers.  Evan and Johnny took the power away from Coral, are Heather and Naomi going to take it from them?

I wouldn't trust Heather, she comes across so doe eyed and innocent, but if you spend any time watching her you can tell she can be calculating and completely ruthless.

This challenge is disgusting.  There is no way they are changing out the tubs of honey between rounds, so how ever goes last is jumping into a tub full of all the other teams hair and sweat and who knows what else, plus they're jumping into a tub of honey.  At least they are cleaning off the beam so all the teams are on the same playing field.

It looks like everything Tyrie lost, Vinny found.  Take a good look ladies, because when your muscle bound boyfriend no longer has time to go to the gym six hours a day, that is what you will get to come home to.

Wait, maybe they aren't cleaning the beam.  When Mark first stepped on it honey came splashing up.

The way the rules are for this season make it so the only alliance that could be made that would do any good would be an alliance of the strongest teams.  And if the strongest teams all make a pact not to put each other into the dome, they run the risk of going into the final challenge against the strongest teams.  So in one since it could make for a good season, but it does mean another season where the underdogs won't be able to rise up and take over and that makes Wes' plan to round up all the rookies and take over laughable.

Is this going to be another season of CT redemption?  The way Rivals underlying plot was him repairing his relationship with Adam, is this seasons underlying plot going to be him and Diem?

I just realized they never gave any prize to the winners of the competition.  In the past they used to give physical prizes then last season they switched to just straight up cash, and now nothing!

"One Man Down"  Air Date 1-12-12

I knew there would be burn out, you can't spend that much time with anyone even your best friends and not have a need for some quiet alone time.  I think it was a mistake to film back-to-back like they did.

Pauly's sunburn makes him look like he has Ultimate Warrior

 

I've come up with two new shows that I should pitch to MTV, one that probably won't happen and the other that's only a matter of time. 

1. While the cast is away filming, move a new cast into the shore house, then have them compete in challenges to win their place in the house a la The Challenge.  

2. Celebrity Rehab: Jersey Shore Edition

Jionni started dating Nicole after the first season had aired, all you'd have to do is watch the show to know how she acts.  His getting upset should be on him for dating an idiot, not on her for acting like an idiot.

I was going to write about how I wondered if that chick stole Pauly's necklace because it was valuable, or if she stole it because he was famous.  But then she came back and it turns out she stole it so she could come back, stupid tramp.

The "Guest Room" is just a mattress on the floor.  Stay classy Jersey Shore.

When Vinny and Ronny go to the boardwalk to play games, you can see in the montage one of the games they play involves throwing balls at statues holding plates.  The thing is the statues are of Pauly and Deena.  How surreal must it be to there filming the show and have the entire community around you be so heavily influenced by the things that you have just done or are currently doing.

Deena put on so much perfume, I was coughing at home.

Wednesday Jan. 25th

I don't know how you can go on a reality show where you know that people will get voted out and not have a back up talking plan.  What I mean by "back up talking plan" is a go to story or idea that you can use to jump to the middle of if someone comes into the room and interrupts your game talk.  It can be as simple as what to cook for dinner or what you think you'll be doing that day, but to just stop your conversation dead in its tracks because someone walks in has to put a target on you so why would you not plan ahead.

I like it when challenges are based on something that will happen in the real world.  No matter how well you diet there are going to be times in your life when you are outside your new comfort eating zone, and its better to be prepared as to what and how much of things you will be able to eat and still maintain your new lifestyle.  I think this concept was lost on some of the teams, this wasn't a temptation but a test to see if you could put your new food knowledge to practical use.

If your going on a reality show, any reality show, learn to swim before you go.

Wouldn't yellow have a huge advantage in this competition due to the fact that there is only one person who has to go across instead of two? or did they average the couples times together.

I find I lose interest almost completely when it comes time to weigh in, which doesn't happen on the American version, I think its due to the use of weighing in stones.

It's interesting everyone is having week two type numbers in week three.

"Hook, Line and Sucker" Air Date 1-17-12
"Operation Hobo" Air Date 1-17-12

It seems that no matter where the auction is they some how have some pie-in-the-sky idea as to how this will be the time every single locker is perfect.  If its by the docks, it will be full of shipping stuff.  If its by a retirement home, it will be full of old people's valuables.  If its by the movie studios, it will be full of movie props.  Instead of no matter where it is, it will be full of junk people didn't want in their house anymore.

Hmmm... it seems everyone is driving brand new trucks....guess the A&E money has started to roll in.

My mouth hurts just looking at that tooth key.

"A covered car lures buyers to bid big" Air Date  1-24-12

A pretty mediocre episode.  A covered car lures buyers to bid big may have been the title, but as far as I could see there never was a car and no one really bid big.

If you go up to some one from behind and push them and knock them to the ground, wouldn't that be considered assault.  Charges should have been filed on those guys.

Tuesday Jan. 24th

"I forgot to write down the episode title" Air Date 1-24-12

Getting exclusive access to the gym is a pretty good prize for a challenge.  I would have liked it at the end if they had gotten to pick between the gym and a "x" pound advantage with the other team getting the other prize.  It would be interesting to see what teams would do with the option between the gym and say three pounds.

You'd think they could have come up with more obstacles than just mud pits, and if they decided to just use mud pits they could have made them deeper and more treacherous to traverse.

Also they gave both teams the same questions and answers without mixing up the correct letter choices.  All the black team would have had to do after they fell behind was look at the red teams door to see if it lead to a mud pit and then choose accordingly.

The Aqua team seems ultra focused.  They should make it back on the ranch easily.  It seems that the producers gave them enough help, so they will actually be a twist that pans out instead of fizzles like the last few at home teams have been,

It seems that reality show are getting more and more relaxed about letting you see other camera crews in the shot.  It was only a few years ago that if there was a shot with a camera man in the background he was blurred out, but in this episode alone there were multiple times camera crew were visible and they even had text onscreen that the producers were saying to contestants.  And its not just this show, this year alone I've seen it on Biggest Loser, Jersey Shore, Storage Wars, and something else that I can't remember.  I wonder if its laziness or if something changed the mindset of the producers about showing other cameras.

So they can't use the gym.  Does that mean they can't use the pool also? 

Again I wish they were exploring the breaking of these excuses better.  The fact that they lost the weigh in wasn't really the issue because they all put up good numbers.  It was more they way Bob was treating the lack of gym.  If anything it made me feel like not having a gym was a huge burden instead of a small obstacle.  Also not having gym access would seem like a bigger deal on the show, if they didn't have an episode every single season dealing with this issue.

I wonder when they knew that this episode would only be an hour long?  Did they know when filming that it would be aired with the state of the union?  Was it during editing and if so did they film challenges or temptations that they had to cut out?

The show never seems to focus on any of the politicking or scrambling that tends to dominate the second half of an episode of Survivor.  I wonder how much it goes on and if they just don't want to focus on it or if there are really no alliances and every body just votes how they feel.

"Unclaimed airline luggage"  Air Date 1-17-12

Sometimes cars are a part of an auction and sometimes they are excluded from the auction, even though they are inside the storage unit.  I wonder how it is decided if a car is included?

I thought all unclaimed luggage went to a warehouse in some southern state where they opened it and sold it in a store front.  I know I've seen something about it on television.  They had one on the puppets from Labyrinth on display there.  Also that truck that was unloading the luggage seemed fishy to me.

If half the show is spent on the bidding process, they really shouldn't show who won units in the intro.  All it does is spoil half the show.

Monday Jan. 24th

1-23-12

Jericho has been back for a month and all he had to do was talk and the crowd popped.  He should be teaching classes on how to work the crowd.  And WWE should give more wrestlers the freedom that they give him.  I wonder how many people could get themselves over if the chains were off.

They keep saying "for the first time ever every superstar is eligible" when talking about the royal rumble.  The way that they are wording it makes me believe that they have something interesting planned to surprise the crowd, and on that note when exactly did the rumble have to have some shocking return or other big surprise?

I'm digging Brodus Clay.  The only thing is he needs to be about 10% more deadly and he needs a new finisher.  A running crossbody splash isn't lethal enough.

"Cash for Tanks"  Air Date  1-18-12
"Bullship" Air Date 1-18-12

It seems everyone has either no stars or all five stars.  It would be nice if they had someone who was not yet a master but had been doing it long enough that they were not making rookie mistakes.

So is everyone who isn't doing a run's job just to make fun of and criticize those who are actually working.

Who knew that you could get overnight storage for a bull for $15.00 a night. 

After two episodes I don't care for the commentary from the talking heads.  It seems fake and forced, like on Big Brother when you know they are feeding lines to the people just so they will say what the producers want, and it always seems stilted and disjointed.

Sunday Jan. 22nd

"Hoffman's Bistro"  Air Date 1-11-12

I know it's easy to throw good money after bad especially if your too close to the problem, but I think well before you get to two million dollars in debt you should be willing to throw in the towel.

Robert seems to like to just go around and break things and then leave the mess for everyone else to clean up.

Here's some free advice. Never ever work with family, nothing good can ever come of it.

It's about time that they have a restaurant that they don't have done on time.  It always seems suspicious that they get finished mere minutes before they need to open every single week.

There seems to be like three hundred people waiting for the restaurant to open up.  There's no possible way that they could feed all those people especially if you consider that they are not even opening till after 8 at night.  Also do you think that the meals are comped for the people while the crew is filming,  I can understand waiting around two hours if its your friends restaurant, or if you are going to get a free meal, but to wait that long to sit in a crowded restaurant with a kitchen that's learning a new menu doesn't seem like anything I'd ever do.

You'd think that with the amount of work the crew is doing and the amount of money the show is spending there would be nothing off limits and the family wouldn't be allowed to say you can't film that.

Did they already have a liquor license?  If not you'd think it would take longer than two days to get one.

For this show being on the food network, it always seems to spend the majority of the time on the redesign of the restaurant and very little on the food itself.

"JFK to LAX" Air Date 1-8-12

I never like it when a show jumps forward in time a great number of years between seasons.  It always seem that the writers have started to run out of ideas and need to do this just so they can spend half the season reintroducing all the cast that we already know.  It screams of laziness.

That kid is awfully big for two and a half.  He looks more like almost five.

Samurai Apocalypse was wearing dog tags that were too close to his mike.  When ever he was on screen he was hardly able to be heard over the clanging of the dog tags.

And in complete contrast to Runkle's son, Bekah who is supposed to now be in college looks to be about 16.

"Egg Drop"  Air Date 1-11-12

I'm having a hard time coming up with anything to say about Modern Family.  I don't want to just recap the episode, and the show is constantly funny so if I were to write about what mad me laugh it's easier to say everything than try and list all the good parts.  I guess its safe to say the show always delivers and outside of a few episodes in the second season is one of the best shows on television today, and this episode is a classic example of how they do things right.

I do like it better when the three families are more intertwined with each other.  This episode Cam and Mitchel's story arc took place entirely without any other family members involvement.

"Meat the Parrots" Air Date 1-11-12

The racists parrot was pretty funny.  They did a good job of working it so every possible group that he could say something about came in contact with him.

As someone who knows a number of people I share a birthday with, (Mr. T., Andre the Giant, Joey Ramone, Malcolm X, Pete Townshend) it was nice to see that Brad knew who he shared a birthday with.  Although he left off Bart Simpson and for as current referential as this show is you'd think they would have included that.

I'm glad that Sunday is the start of a new week because I might have to go back on my saying that Jon Hamm had the best guest appearance this week because Ed Begley Jr.'s scenes were hilarious.  This show does a great job getting people to make guest appearances.

I also like how every week the six of them seem to split up into different groups in every episode.  It adds to the belief that they are all real friends and could hang out with anyone within there circle.  Most shows never attempt to have the characters that connected with each other. 

Saturday Jan. 21th

"Todd makes things worse" Air Date 1-6-12
"Todd and His Valet Arrive in Leeds and What They Saw There" Air Date 1-13-12
"How The Liver and The Salad Conspired to Ruin Todd's Good Deed" Air Date 1-20-12

A triple shot of Todd Margaret to start off the days post.

I like that they picked up exactly where they left off last season.  I always prefer it when I get to watch things unfold on a show.  I might have to go back and rewatch the first season, as even though I saw all the episodes there seems to be a lot of in-jokes that I need to brush up on.  I think the show would play well on DVD where you have the whole collection to watch in one or two sittings.

It's because of his role on this and Arrested Development that I could not take Will Arnett seriously as the father on Up All Night. 

I don't remember it being known that Dave was any thing more than a idiot kid in the first season, It'll be interesting to see how this pans out.

The Jon Hamm Cameos are perfect and one of the funniest things I've seen on TV all week.

The biggest problem I'm having is coming up with things to say about the show, that will come out the right way if you are not watching.  I could talk about Alice's rape kit, or young and not legal boys, or The Death Wish Foundation for Dying Retarded Women, but to say you laughed at any of that would seem crass if you didn't know the context.

"Hampton Roads Regional Jail" Air Date  1-19-12

All the kids on this episode seem to live in houses that are above what is usually seen on these kind of shows.  I wouldn't be surprised if most of them are making a change at the end.

That albino prisoner with the dread locks could be on the poster for the show.  He's one of the scariest looking dudes I think I've ever seen.

It seems that most of these kids had the same name as their father.  I wonder if there has ever been any studies as too a correlation between not having your own name and disobedience?

I'm all for the re-education of inmates, but I don't think the periodic table is were the focus should be.

I feel this show might work better as a two-hour special with new episodes airing every couple of months instead of six or eight episodes in a row.  When this season first started it was one of the shows I was looking forward to, but I was barely able to make it through this episode and it was solely due to it being too much of the same thing. I think six or eight specials a year where they could spend more time on each kid would be a better format.

"The Map" 1-11-12

It's nice to see a show devote a whole episodes main plot to the death of a bit character.  They could have just as easily cut out the two aunts as characters.  It's a nicer way to honor someone than just a dedicated card at the end of an episode.

I know it's basic sit-commie stuff, but I enjoyed Axel and Brick making and then eating all the different foods while trying to make the state.  The only thing I would have done differently was have had Axel eat the pizza until it went from looking like Indiana to looking like Texas.

"Out in the Burbs" Air Date 1-11-12

The schools mascot is the Labradors. That in and of itself is pretty funny, but I think to drive home the superficiality of the town having it be the Labradoodles would be a better fit.

Jeremy Sisto always looks like he has dip in his mouth.

In the background at the grocery store scene, an entire display case was full of Vitamin Water.  I can't decide if this was supposed to mean that only rich white suburbanites drink the stuff, or if the props department was just lazy and spread out four cases of water to fill up the background.

For as new a subdivision as the shows supposed to be set in.  I don't think the school would actually have a bell to dismiss kids from class.

Those paperweights were actually kind of cool.  I wonder how much they cost to have made?

"Off-Campus Arrests"  Air Date  1-21-12

We'll see if that kid is still talking about being homeboys for life once he sobers up and realizes that the only reason he went to jail is because of his idiot friend.

I don't think I could be a cop just because I don't think I could keep a straight face when the criminals say unintentionally funny things.  Case in point when the drunk kid kept asking for a breathalyzer by saying "give me a breast test, give me a breast test.

They used pink handcuffs on those kids, I wonder why there handcuffs were pink? Maybe to signify they are minors?

I laughed out loud when the second kid got in the paddy wagon, after being told that they would both be spending the night in jail, and went up to his friend and said "we've got an overnighter dogg".

I like it when there is variety on Cops, I think every episode should try and have each segment be a different kind of police work.

I can understand if a hotel has a problem with drugs or prostitution and lets the cops use a room to make arrests, because it would have to show that this is not the place to go to get that kind of stuff.  But to let the cops use a room and then have the cops just call up drug dealers and have stuff delivered to the hotel doesn't seem to make sense as to whats in it for the hotel.

Also, and this is based entirely on information gathered from watching The Wire, aren't you burning your leads by calling drug dealers and arresting the delivery boys.  It doesn't seem that it would really eliminate the problem.

I also laughed when the lady who was just arrested for selling crack said "All I'm trying to do is make a couple of bucks, so I can get some dog food."

If bath salts are legal to buy, can it be considered an illegal drug?

Man this was a funny episode of cops.  Two more things that made me laugh:

When the cop asked the twitching naked man who had used bath salts earlier in the day.
Cop: "have you been like this since then?" 
Suspect: "Well not naked."
and later when the paramedics were taking him away.
Cop: "do me a favor before you go, say one thing."
The suspect without skipping a beat: "One thing."

"A Crash, an Arrest & a Baby"  Air Date  1-21-12

If I was getting pulled over, the last place I'd try and hide something would be in my mouth.  The cops are obviously going to ask you some questions and are going to see you mumbling because your mouth is full of stuff.  If you hide it under your seat maybe you'll get caught and maybe you'll get away with it.

That baby shouldn't have toys in her crib. 

For as stupid a thing as that guy did, by holding his wife hostage at gun point.  He might be the smartest person to every appear on Cops by asking for his lawyer.  If you ever are in the situation where the police are reading you your rights, don't talk to them and GET A LAWYER, even if you did nothing wrong especially if you did nothing wrong.

Friday Jan. 20th

Sadly, nothing to report here. After getting home from work and spending about two hours shoveling snow, and finishing up the Challenge preview.  I watched the first hour or so of UFC on F/X and went to bed.

Thursday Jan. 19th

Only one show today, I've been falling farther and farther behind on my TV viewing, but this weekend looks to be the perfect weather to just bunker down and watch a ton of TV.  So hopefully next week the updates will be longer and more current.

Of all my guilty pleasures in life "The Challenge" shows have to be one of the guiltiest.  I would never admit in public to watching them, but I cannot get enough of them. The drama, the backstabbing, the drunken debauchery, the ongoing evolution of their intertwined personal lives, all leads to can't miss trash TV.  They have a can't miss formula using The Real World as a feeder show insures they will always have a new fresh crop of young beautiful idiots to populate the challenge arena for as long as there is a need for it (something the jersey shore producers are sorely lacking).

Since this is a preview show I'm going to handle things a little differently.  First I'll talk about the episode itself, then I'll break down the different teams in terms of entertainment value, quality of pairing, and chance of winning.

First off, the concept of this season should lead to about as much fun as Rivals should have been. As long as the pairs really have some real deep seeded issues with each other that they have to put aside so that they can work together and try and win, this will be a highly entertaining season.

The arena with the giant dome reminds me of a piece of playground equipment we had at my elementary school.  There was a kid in my class who could curl up in a little ball in the center of it and the teacher couldn't reach him, so he would do that whenever recess was over and the teacher would have to crawl through one of the openings to get him out.

As always with these games the challenges are only a small portion of the actually game.  Most of the actually playing is done on the political front.  The rules for this challenge seem to be: The team that does worst in the challenge is put into the Duel and the team that does the best in the challenge gets to pick the team that goes against them.  This hopefully will lead to some interesting back and forth momentum changes within the house.

The challenges themselves look like some of the most brutal that they have ever done.  But MTV has a way of editing previews to make things look tougher than it really is.

Wait, in showing the seasons preview did they just give away the final 3.  The part where they are wearing wedding clothes and shoving cake in each others mouths had the look of a final challenge.  If so you can clearly tell at least two of the three teams that makes it to the end. That's poor editing, Boo MTV.

I like the idea of releasing the first ten minutes after they get 5,000 people to tweet using the hash tag for the show.  That's a clever way to use new media.

Now as for the teams, I'm going to include pictures since when I was looking over my notes while writing this less than a day after watching it, I could not remember who a couple people were.

Paula & Dunbar:

Paula is in with most of the powerhouses currently in the game.  They should be safe politically until very close to the end.  Neither are great at challenges so they might end up in trouble on that front.  They never seem to be on the same page, so they could be a complete disaster trying to work as a team and it will be great to watch.
Pairing: ***
Chance to win: ***
Entertainment value: ****

CT & Diem:

A true real long term relationship that has ended, it would have been nice if all the teams were at this level.  Between CT's strength and Diem's tenacity this should be the powerhouse team to beat.  They are not in any alliances and CT is usually the number one target of  any alliance, but even with no political support their strength and intelligence should take them far.  That is if they can keep their emotions in check.  They have the most history and that might make for the most problems.

Pairing: *****
Chance to win: *****
Entertainment value: ***

Wes & Mandi:

Is it possible to have a team where both members are the weakest link?  Wes always seems to be on the outs with the political powerhouses and has a tendency to gas out in long endurance challenges (which the last one always is).  Mandi has made her fair share of enemies with her abrasive attitude and is always a question mark in challenges, she seems to get cut some slack due to the time on Fresh Meat II where she outlasted Wes at The Exile elimination, but again that was a long endurance challenge where Wes gassed out.  As far as their relationship, they only started fooling around on Rivals so they are a bit of a wildcard.  They could hate each other, or be amicable and focused to win,  we'll just have to wait and see.  Oh...watch for Wes to try his cunning plan of telling the political leaders he's going to round up all the newbies and get them to overthrow the ruling group.  He tries that cunning plan every single time.

Pairing: ?
Chance to win: ***
Entertainment value: ?

Leroy & Naomi:

Leroy has only done one challenge, Naomi is a rookie so they have little power, but Leroy seems like a nice guy who's easy to get along with so who knows what friendships he formed during Rivals.  He was also able to make it all the way to the end on his first challenge, that takes some power and the ability to stay out of the drama.  Naomi seems to be a hot mess of drama and could be the downfall of this team.

Pairing: ***
Chance to win: ***
Entertainment value: ***

Dustin & Heather:

A complete rookie team who only know Leroy & Naomi.  I believe Leroy's relationship with Mike puts him at odds with Dustin so while not enemies I don't believe their friends either.  So they have no political power at all and will more than likely be one of the first teams to go.  Their only saving grace is Dustin seems to have a horrible competitive streak which could benefit the team.  On the other end of the spectrum his past will surely be brought up constantly by the other contestants and that has proven to be his kryptonite .  As far as their relationship goes, she knew about the gay porn thing while they were still together, so that won't be a huge issue for her.  Another where we'll have to wait and see what page they are on.

Pairing:***
Chance to win: Zero stars
Entertainment value: * in terms of in-fighting, ***** if he goes nuts from being picked on.

Nate & Priscilla:

If Real World: San Diego was not the worst cast to ever be on The Real World, I don't know what was.  I hope we don't see much of any one from this cast in future shows because on a whole they were about as unlikeable as any seven stranger could be.  Nate & Priscilla are complete rookies with no political support.  They don't seem very fit or smart. And they hardly even fit the criteria for this challenge.  It seems they were shoe horned in just to have someone for the most recent cast of RW on the show.  If they are not the first to leave I will be shocked.

Pairing: Zero stars
Chance to win: Zero stars
Entertainment value: Zero stars

Abram & Cara Maria:

A team of true odd ball underdogs.  There is no love loss between Cara Maria and Wes, or Paula.  So from the get go they are on the outs with both sides of the major political struggle.  Abram is a solid competitor and has been a proven leader.  A good strategy might be to align themselves with CT & Diem another team that's outside of both side of the political game.  They seem to have a long standing on-again-off-again relationship.  Where ever they are in that cycle will determine how well they do in the game.

Pairing: *** if together, ***** if broken up
Chance to win: ****
Entertainment value ***, ***** if broken up

 
Tyrie & Jasmine:

For as much as I would rather see long-term exes working together, this paring of one time hook-upers is near perfect. When I was taking notes while watching this episode, I only wrote down one thing for them:  Lazy & Crazy.  Jasmine is a powder keg waiting to explode and Tyrie is such a sloth, I don't know why he keeps coming back.  Especially since he always says the same thing.  He's in the best shape of his life and wants to avenge his poor performance from last time, and then he always does the same thing: Lazily fail at the challenge. 

Pairing: *****
Chance to win: *
Entertainment value: ** unless they get into it in-which case: *****

Emily & Ty:

This might be the team that dislike each other the most.  Ty has been known to fly completely off the handle when ever his buttons are pushed and has also never fared well in the duels.  All his muscles seem completely for show.  I don't see them being able to function as a team and feel this will lead to a early exit.  Now they should be a train wreck of quality TV until they go, but I still think they will go sooner rather than later.

Pairing: *****
Chance to win: *
Entertainment value:*****

Rachel & Aneesa:

Both are proven competitors, but having seen previews of the challenges and knowing the history of the eliminations, I don't know how it is fair to have a team of two females.  Don't get me wrong, I'm not discrediting either of their abilities, its just that I don't know how they could beat the likes of CT or about half the other guys at any physical grappling elimination challenge. And they don't have the political connection anymore to skate to the end without seeing an elimination.  I think their relationship has been over for so long that they will be able to work well as a team, I just don't know how long that will take them.

Pairing: **
Chance to win: **
Entertainment value: *

Johnny & Camila:

Ahhh Johnny, the true evil puppet master.  Always willing to let Kenny or Evan look like they were running the show while all the time pulling the strings from behind the curtain. Camila tends to be polarizing but unless this is the season where a new regime takes over, these two are almost certainly final three bound.  As far as their relationship goes, Johnny is so sneaky that their relationship has only ever been hinted at in past seasons.  Another couple where we'll just have to wait and see.

Pairing: ?
Chance to win: ****
Entertainment value: *** (would be higher, but Johnny is smart enough to keep his dirty laundry hidden)

Mark & Robin:

Hasn't Mark "officially retired" from doing challenges like twice?  By far the most veteran team, but will all that experience help them in the long run.  Mark is over 40 and Robin has never been much of a competitor.  Mark is almost universally liked, but will that be enough to get them far in the game?  On the plus side their relationship was so long ago things should be relatively smooth sailing, as long as Robin can pull her weight in challenges.

Pairing: **
Chance to win: ***
Entertainment value: **

Sarah & Vinny:

This guys been on two different challenges and I have almost no recollection of him at all, except I think he's a bit of a chump when it comes to the challenges.  Sarah has been around enough that she has some political swing, but I don't know if it will be enough to make up for her teammates shortcomings. 

Pairing: **
Chance to win: ***
Entertainment value: **


So that's the cast, like I said there is potential for this to be a pretty good season.  I would have liked to see more teams that had longer relationships that have ended with animosity towards each other, instead of all the one time hook-ups, but maybe all the drama will come from the crazy one timers you never know. 

Wednesday Jan. 18th

"Pilot"  Air Date: 1-10-12

The bidding is interesting, it's a reverse auction that almost ends up being like a dare.

Driving the price down seems a way more risky venture than say driving the price up on Storage Wars.  If you drive the price up and it ends up getting dumped on you, you at least have the opportunity to find something hidden in the locker and hit it big.  In driving the price down on Shipping Wars, if it gets dumped on you, you have to do all the work, waste your time, gas, and wear and tear on your vehicle and what do you get out of it? The low ball amount you underbid.

Only an idiot would plan to drive cross-country with a trailer that wasn't his that didn't have any plates on it.  I could see maybe going across town or even a few hours away, but to think that you can go cross country without ever seeing a cop is just plain stupid. 

Are the drivers responsible for doing the packaging and loading?  It seems to very from job to job.

The license plate on the commercial bumpers is "SHP HPPNS" that's pretty funny.

I don't think I'd let that idiot Jarrett try to take the drive shaft apart on anything I owned, especially since all he was using was a screw driver.

When they are loading the burger family into the truck in the background you can see this:

It's Officer Big Mac from the McDonalds Playland!!! I bring this up for two reasons:
1. How awesome would it be to own your own McDonalds Playland equipment.
2. If you ever talk to anyone who played on this as a kid they will tell you one and only one story: "I was able to climb up it without any problem, but somehow it was physically impossible to climb back down.  So in the end my parents had to pull me through the bars to get me out."

When Jarrett got the ticket for driving without plates, which every sane person who has ever driven a car knew was bound to happen, the map showed him as being in Arkansas but the paperwork for the ticket was clearly from New York.

That horse went from Ripley's believe it or not in what appeared to be downtown Manhattan to a  Ripley's in Florida.  You would assume this Ripley's would be somewhere close to all the theme parks, but no it appeared to be some tourist trap rest stop on the side of a podunk stretch of road.

"Double Down and Bean Town" 1-10-12

I like the star ratings on the name overlay, it gives a good sense of knowing at what level each of the characters is at.  But they haven't shown one for the married couple that's odd.

I think he drank more gas than he siphoned.

I understand Roy was a day late getting the phone booth to Chicago, but wouldn't it be the sellers fault for not having access to the area because it was the weekend and not the shippers fault for being late.  Also I wonder who exactly lists the shipping auction.

What did Scott & Susie do that made them four days late in delivering those boats?

Well that's the first two episodes of Shipping Wars, it seems like  a decent enough little show, not ground breaking or award winning television by any means, but a nice piece of fluff entertainment.

Tuesday Jan. 17th.

"Papa Bear sees a profit in a dumpy unit" Air Date: 1-10-12

When they were checking out the pitching machine and Sean kept hitting Papa Bear with tennis balls it made me laugh.  Also they couldn't find a baseball bat? Instead he used a caveman tree branch club. That also made me laugh.

I thought the black girls were a team of buyers to begin with, they only ever show up together and always seem to be standing next to each other.

I don't like the way the auctioneer Sean touches things and points stuff out in the unit before the sale.  If the rules are you cant enter the unit and you can't touch stuff, then the rules should apply to him also.

Oh look, another episode...another fight.  It's the kind of thing that becomes pointless and boring when done ad nauseam.  If there was only one fight a season, or every few episodes it would be more meaningful and more of a spectacle.

$12,000 seems like a pretty reasonable price for a hot air balloon, you'd think they cost a lot more than that.

I can kind of understand bidding on a unit that appears to be full of junk.  You never know there might be some hidden treasure buried deep inside.  But why would anyone rent a storage locker just to store a giant pile of trash?

"Chinese buffet temptation"  Air Date: 1-17-12

I like the concept of "no excuses" but find the execution somewhat lacking.  Last nights episode was supposed to be about not having time to eat healthy.  One would think that would lead to some teaching of quick and easy healthy recipes, but the only way this was addressed at all was to say go eat at Subway.  I'd like it better if they took a Mythbusters-esqe approach to the excuses, proving how your better off doing the right thing even if it is a little harder or more time consuming.

I don't think there was any real advantage to winning that temptation.  Whenever there has been a challenge where one person chose one on one match-ups it always leads to the same things, some one who should do great does horrible, someone who should lose somehow scrapes out a victory, and who ever is given the pound advantage never needs it.  The other problem with it is a design flaw in its very nature.  If you win, the ideal match-up you could make is to pit your best four teammates against their four worst teammates.  The problem with this is all you have left to match-up against their four best is your four worst.  There will never be a time when someone picks the match-ups and their team is able to win every round.  I did however like the fact that there was a consequence if no one partook in the temptation, even though the punishment was pretty weak.  In essence your going against your loved one every week, what difference if this time its one on one.

I wonder if they just happened to cast weak minded players this season, or if all this quitting is due to the splitting of the teams.  I could see losing the support that you had envisioned having the whole time would make it harder, but I don't think it should cause someone to just give up especially when they have been given such a rare life changing gift.

I'm not exactly sure what exercise the girls were doing or how to do it, but I thought while they were doing it that Conda didn't seem to be extending her arms as much as Cassandra.  That made it seem even more like sour grapes when Conda accused her of cheating after she lost.

It would have been better if they had added  the weigh-in point to the reward challenge.  That way it would have still had to be earned, instead of just given to the red team.

It was no surprise that the reward was a chance to talk to loved ones.  I was going to complain that the only reward they get seems to be some form of communication with their families, but after thinking about it, they've been apart from their families for as long as the people on survivor and they are only a third of the way done.

Could the video quality for their family chats have possibly been worse?

If you're going to have a rematch because one person accuses the other of cheating, most often the rematch is the same event.  It made no sense for them to do a completely different exercise.

Conda ranks about equally with the Purple team on Biggest Loser UK.  They both have this horrible self riotous attitude and all I want to happen is for them to go home.  Which is odd because I usually don't root against anyone on TBL due to the fact that they are trying to save their lives.

I have a feeling that keeping a cancer like Conda on your team, and getting rid of Lauren who seemed to be the life blood of the team will end up biting the red team in the butt.  I could easily see them losing the next few weigh-ins.

Monday Jan. 16th

I came home from work last night to find that the gas company had cracked a pipe in the street and had to shut my gas off.  So I spent the majority of the evening messing around with them getting my gas back on (and almost burning my house down), so there wasn't much time for television.

"Remember the Alamo?"  Air Date 1-10-12

I wonder why they chose Texas as the state to film a spin off in.  I suppose with the format of the show it really doesn't matter where they are.  I just wonder the reasoning, is it just cheap to film there? Does it have the highest per capita ratio of storage lockers?  or do only certain states auction off storage lockers?

Moe ends up being a more believable comic relief character than Barry does.  I think its due to the fact that I could see an older semi-retired doctor doing this as part hobby, part way to find interesting and unique things, and part way to make a quick buck.

The sign painted on Lesa's store is about as crappy as the quality of things she sells in her store.  It also makes every storefront that has ever been painted for a homecoming game look like museum quality work.

Much like that bear on storage wars yesterday, I totally nailed the price of the Pac-Man Tabletop.

When the appraiser was appraising the Daniel Boone cookie jar made by McCoy pottery, he told them it was authentic and called it "the real McCoy", it totally went over both of there heads or if they got it they show no signs of acknowledging his clever pun.

1-16-12

Man, Mick Foley looks old.

I'm really liking the slow build they are giving Dolph Ziggler. Let him be an old school heel and when ever the fans start to cheer for him, slightly tweak him so they start to boo him even more.

Even though the tag match started with both teams in the ring the champions music was playing, so it's obvious they came out last and therefor I have no reason to complain like last week.

When Brodus Clay was dancing to the ring, he kept making his hands look like talons.  Which makes sense since he is a Funkasaurus Rex.

Jericho continues to impress with how much he is able to do, while at the same time doing absolutely nothing at all.  When this is said and done the fans are going to break decibel records booing him.

I wonder how much it actually takes to get something trending worldwide?  And you can't spend all of your shows talking about tweeting and all the things you get trending and then when something you don't like is trending call all the people who tweet basement dwelling nerds.  All it does is destroy what you've been building on for weeks and weeks.

Sunday Jan 15th.

I ended up "acquiring" the two episodes that football screwed me out of on Saturday.  What this means is they will probably end up showing them next Saturday and I'll be no better off (Ehh maybe not it looks like they  just posted them on hulu.  And yes, I do see the irony in having to "acquire" a show about law enforcement.

Season 24 episode 13

I bet that Fed/Ex driver almost crapped himself when those idiots came swerving in front of him in oncoming traffic.

As much as I said last week how fun it is when they taze someone, what happened tonight was uncalled for and border line brutality.  The kid had just crashed his car and was clearly out of it, I don't think he know where he was or who the cops were and there were like ten cops there.  I think they could have subdued him without resorting to shocking him.  I'm all in favor of police protecting themselves with non-lethal force, but only if the subject is a danger to the officers or someone else.  I am not in favor of shocking someone because its easier than going hands on.

Exactly when did saying you have ADHD entitle you to not be responsible for your actions?  The kid seemed to think it was some sort of magic get out of jail free card, that would let him just get in fights and then not be punished because he has ADHD.  For that matter when did every kid in the country get diagnosed with ADHD?

Season 24 Episode 14

When the police are chasing someone and they go on private property and end up destroying something who ultimately has to pay for the damages?  That cop totally destroyed that fence when he was apprehending the suspect.  Does the City pay for it? Does the Criminal? Does the Homeowner just have to take it on the chin?  I'd hope not technically it is destruction of private property.

If you look carefully while the cop is fighting to handcuff him a foot comes into frame and starts kicking the bad guy.  There were no other cops around so it had to be either the camera man or the guy holding the boom.

That drunk black guy who was shooting BB's at his mistress better hope his wife isn't a fan of cops.  Man how awesome it would be to be fly on the wall at there house when she sees that episode.  Even better if next season they have an episode where they end up back at his house after she see it.

In the last act it was just a single drunk driver, and there were at least five cop cars there after he got pulled over.  How many cops do you need to arrest one drunk driver?

"Not Your Average Bear"  Air Date 1-10-12

Man there were a ton of people at that auction.  I wonder if Barry just stole those doughnuts from catering?

It seems like Dave Hester follows the advice of Mike Damone from Fast Times at Ridgemont High and point three of his five point plan.

Now three, act like wherever you are, that's the place to be. "Isn't this great?"

No matter what he does, it has to be the greatest move anyone has ever done. "I didn't buy any lockers, they were all junk.  I'm so much smarter than those idiots" or " I bought the best locker, everyone else missed out because they couldn't even figure out what they could have had.  I'm so much smarter than those idiots"  The more he says stuff like that the more he thinks it to be true.

I've found I really like trying to guess the price of the things they take to experts to have appraised.  I totally nailed the price of that bear.

"Sullivan's Grill"  Air Date 1-4-12

I like that Robert seems to be willing to go to any small town in America to help a failing restaurant.  Gordon Ramsey on Kitchen Nightmares seems to only go to New York/New Jersey and Florida.

When ever I watch this type of show I always wonder how many places I've eaten in over my life time have had kitchens that look like that, and I always decide I'd rather not know.

Normally I'm not one to be overly critical of decor, but that carpet was hideous and I don't think I would have eaten there based solely on it.

I could have told you before she even took a bite that the cook wouldn't like Robert's dish.  It's almost comical how often that happens.

The other thing I wonder while watching this is why anyone would want to own a restaurant.  It seems like soul crushing hard work with little or no payoff.

The show would be better if they had the same interior designer on every episode.  They have the same builder, why not the same designer?

That cook just needs to be fired. I don't know why the American versions of these show never seems to fire the chief.  It happened all the time on the the British Kitchen Nightmares and the restaurant was always better off for it.

Those custom lamp shades were about the worst thing I have ever seen.  I think if you gave second graders the same supplies they could have made a better lamp shade, at the very least they wouldn't have made worse ones.

I don;t like how the food always seems to be an afterthought to the redecorating on this show.  I'd much rather eat at a dingy place with awesome food, than a beautiful place with just ok food.

Saturday Jan. 14th

It was a pretty bad day in the world of What I Watched Last Night.  First I lost all the notes for last nights post which made for a poor update that was difficult to write due to the fact I knew I was forgetting things I wanted to touch on, but I couldn't remember what I was forgetting.  Then I watched 3 episodes of Celebrity Big Brother which has been so boring and predicable that it just might beat Whitney to the title of first show I stop watching this year.  And then football ran long and it ended up eliminating both new episodes of Cops.  Now I get the game isn't over and they have to let it play out, but to then air over half an hour of post game coverage so that both shows are ruined.  That left a bad taste in my mouth.  So I just ended up watching the UFC: Brazil preliminaries and going to bed.  Hopefully Sundays viewing will be more pleasurable.

Friday Jan. 13th

My computer crashed and I lost my notes for most of what I watched last night, so this post might be lacking.

I really like the British version of this show. The American one always seems to focus on two thing an overly stubborn owner and horrible food storage conditions.  The British version has all sorts of other factors that could contribute to the downfall of the restaurant.  But most importantly on the British version Ramsey seems to care more about the people.  Its less about shouting and fighting and more about problem solving and helping.  It also never involves fixing up or transforming a restaurants interior, its just about fixing the food and working smarter and better.

 This restaurant whole problem in management, its not even being mismanaged its just unmanaged.  I wonder how it was run before the father got sick.  Did it just drastically slide down or was it not that well run to start with.

It seems that both parents are afraid to stand up to their daughter and want Gordon to come here just to give her what for.  Is she a horrible person or a spoiled princess?

The decor of the place seems nice, I don't know what they will fix up later on.

When the cook said they didn't microwave the salad. I thought it was one of the funniest things I'd heard all week.  I've never heard of calling someone a doughnut as an insult before, but I like it and think I'll start using it.

The other thing with the British show is the last act is Gordon coming back to check on them a month or so later.  I find that adds a lot more to the show than the American way of spending the last minute saying everything got better.

It seemed during the first week everyone like Damien and that's why they kept him around.  Now it seems like everyone hates him.  I don't know why he would give up the way it seems that he has.  I wonder if he was this bad last week, but his partner was so much worse it made him look good.

I'm really starting to dislike the purple team, I hope they go soon.

I thought that brown and yellow were combining into one team.  It doesn't make sense they way they did it at the challenge and the weigh in.  Either they should have weighed together and worked together, or they should have done both things apart.

That had to be the least climactic vote ever.  There had to be no way yellow was worried about leaving.

"Return to Oz" Air Date 1-11-12

Finally a show I have notes for.

When it comes to reality show I normally don't watch any where either the contestants are judged by a panel or where the prize is a contract within the field of the show. This is due to the fact that more than likely the winner never amounts to anything. There are 2 exceptions to this rule The Ultimate Fighter and Face/Off.  On The Ultimate Fighter its been proven that if you are a nice guy and a decent fighter and you want it you will get an opportunity to fight in the UFC even if you come up short while on the show.  Almost the entire cast of the first season is still under contract and most are upper mid-card fighters.  While Face/Off doesn't have that pedigree it rises above the average show due to its uniqueness and it seems that if you can get your foot in the door in the hollywood makeup scene then you're golden.

Special effects make-up artists are a weird lot, they seem to fall into one of three categories, Heavy metal guys, Emo girls, or completely nondescript humans, so nondescript in fact I think most of them could rob a bank with out a mask and get away with it because they look too much like everyone else.  (The little mustachey guy is the exception that proves the rule.)

I don't like it when teams are split into guys vs. girls.  It's played out and never really adds anything to these shows, if anything I feel it takes away something from the group dynamic.

During one of the breaks they had a commercial for a new show where they lock people in a pitch black room and basically just screw with them.  It was at this point I realized SyFy airs some fun little goofy reality shows that no other channel would ever think of showing.  And I hope the one were contestants were chased by hunters and the one were they had to get money out of the haunted house both come back this summer.

I liked the Wizard of Oz challenge.  I would have like to see a team think bigger than the post apocalyptic steam punk theme that they both ended up with.  Also I think that if they had to lock in their central theme, the girls would have lost.  While they did a better job, they certainly strayed from the tribal theme they had started with.

Both Tin Men sucked, they were the downfall of both teams and they probably should have thrown the team part out the window and had both tin men creators up for elimination.  Also if the judge visits you and gives you advice and you don't understand his subtlety, I think you'd be better off in the long run to ask for clarity.

I don't know how you can choose between two people who both worked on the same thing and there has been no other work that you can fall back on to judge their talents.  I think they ended up keeping the little mustache guy just for his look.