The adventures of a boy and his personal video recorder.

Alternate Reality Shows
Reality show I would like to see: "Changing Cars", where a group of auto enthusiasts take your dad's Lincoln and converts it into a lowrider. The look on your dad's face when he sees it, priceless.

We are a voyeuristic culture. If there is a car crash we want to see it. It is no surprise then that our television or reading habits (tabloids and celebrity magazines such as People and US continue to sell well) would be any different. We also want to feel like we belong to something. Since the breakdown of the expanded family unit, the disappearance of small communities and the reduced role of organized religion in our lives we have substituted popular culture for these things. I was amazed at how many people I know got caught up the Survivor craze, and the Millionaire craze and recently the American Idol craze. We empathize with these "real" characters hoping they fill some void in our lives. I feel it goes beyond entertainment.

What is sad is that most of these shows are British and European imports. Culture all over the world has taken a blow. The country that gave us the Beatles, Rolling Stones, The Kinks, the Sex Pistols, Monty Python, and others now is giving us American Idol! I wonder how bad the winners are getting screwed out of royalties by Simon and his slimy record industry friends. Of course I could be wrong, and this could just be good clean family entertainment.

This week I will look at two reality shows that aren't receiving much hype (and probably rightfully so). Comedy Central's "I'm with Busey" and Showtime's "Family Business".

Adam's dream was to make a show with Gary "I should of worn a helmet" Busey. He gets his wish in a new show on Comedy Central "I'm with Busey". Watch Gary act crazy and do crazy stunts while abusing the poor schlep Adam. Busey acts as some "way out" guru for Adam, spouting incoherent babble such as, "Death you are not to be afraid of, because it comes with the dinner on the unconscious menu". This show is unfunny and pointless. The only positive is that at least Gary Busey is getting some work. I would prefer Anna Nicole Smith instead of Adam as Busey's sidekick. Now that WOULD be funny.

Following in the formulaic footsteps of "The Osbournes", Showtime brings us "Family Business" (adult material, not for minors) which follows the life of porn director Seymore Butts. This guy looks like a porn director, with a perm that always looks wet and his cut off muscle tee's. For comic relief we have his cousin Stevie, who plays the dirty old man and his business partner. His mom rounds out our "perfect family" as the accountant of the business.

There are some funny moments, such as when cousin Stevie shows up at the S&M convention instead of the Adult Video Awards, and when his Mom has lunch with the new neighbor and she asks her, "What kind of business are you in?" and Mom tells the neighbor complete with video titles that we can't print here.

The problem I have with this series is that it seems to sugar coat the porn industry, which I am sure is rife with corruption, drug use, and abusive behavior towards woman. Butts is portrayed as "the sensitive" porn director, with sappy scenes of him and his son shopping and playing together. I get the feeling that this series is too scripted. It lacks the spontaneity of real life and doesn't accurately portray the seedy side of the porn business.

Aqua Teen Hunger Force, your fast food neighbors
I have no idea what this show is about, all I know it is the funniest 15 minutes on televsion. As part of the Cartoon Network's Adult Swim on Sunday nights Aqua Teen Hunger Force is a giant French fry (FryLok), Milkshake (Master Shake), and a Meatwad (Meatwad) living in a suburban home next to their white trash neighbor Carl. At the beginning of each episode a short scene features Dr. Weird at his lab in New Jersey.

Not quite a superhero takeoff, although Frylok does have a deathray that he can shoot out of his eyes (and they did have a helicopter ala the batcopter in one episode), this show is more about a dysfunctional fast food family. Frylok is the patriarchal head of the family, with Meatwad being the growing teen and Master Shake his thorn in the side.

My favorite episode is "Interfection", in which Internet popup ads take over. Anyone on the Internet and in particular AOL users should check out this episode. http://www.athf.com/media/interfection_clip.mpg

AquaTeen Hunger Force is the creation of Matt Maiellaro and David Willis. If you interested in finding out more check out the excellent unofficial website, http://www.athf.com/home.html

Hepburn and Tracy
I will let Andy Lalino's comments about Katherine Hepburn speak for themselves, plus I think Ashley Lauren did an excellent (kudos!) job of responding to him in her column last week. I will take this time to quickly mention one of my all time favorite movie scenes with Hepburn.

In 1957's "Desk Set", Spencer Tracy is a computer hotshot installing his latest creation in a research dept. headed up by Hepburn. In a scene that takes place on the rooftop of the building they work in, while having sandwiches on a frigid day, Tracy gives Hepburn a personality test designed to trip her up. Of course Hepburn trips up Tracy instead. The timing of the dialogue exchange between these two fine actors make this a classic scene of all time moviedom. It should serve as a lesson to young filmmakers, and as an illustration of when actors actually acted in movies.

Coming up Next Week: "Catching up".