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Actor Jonathan Torrens fulfills the role of the ‘gotta-be-gay-guy’ Gerald on Spike TV’s ‘Joe Schmo 2.’
 
 
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‘Joe Schmo 2’
Tuesday, 10 p.m.
Spike TV

‘Road Rules: X-Treme’
Monday, 10 p.m.
MTV

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Running out of steam
‘Joe Schmo 2,’ a fake reality TV show, is much funnier and more interesting than most of its counterparts, including ‘Road Rules: X-Treme.’

HOME > ENTERTAINMENT > TELEVISION

Jul 16, 2004  |  By: Bryan Anderton  | COMMENTS      Printer Friendly Version

ANY SERIOUS FAN OF reality television knows there are a few overused formulas in the genre.

The host is generally an arrogant celebrity wannabe. The elimination ceremonies are completely convoluted. And the participants inevitably fall into various stereotypical roles: the naïve virgin, the raging bitch, the token person of color and, of course, the flamboyant gay guy.

Spike TV has taken those concepts and turned them on their head with “Joe Schmo 2,” a reality TV show within a show that isn’t real at all.

“Joe Schmo 2” (the original installment aired last summer) takes two ordinary people — this time, one man and one woman — who think they’re on a new reality dating show, this time titled “Last Chance for Love.” And they respectively try to win the heart of a bachelorette and a bachelor.

But the joke’s really on them: Everyone else on the show is a paid actor working from a script. So “Last Chance for Love” is entirely fake.

Viewers learn on the screen that among the other contestants who Tim and Ingrid — the “Joe” and “Jane Schmo” of the series — are competing against are: Ambrosia (“the bitch”), TJ (“the playah”), Cammy (“the moron”), and Bryce (“the stalker”).

Then there’s Gerald, “the gotta-be-gay guy.” Portrayed by Canadian actor Jonathan Torrens, Gerald is, thankfully, not an over-the-top stereotype of what it means to be a gay man. In fact, for the first few episodes, Tim had few clues that Gerald might be anything other than heterosexual, and considered him perhaps the most normal guy out of the bunch.

But the clues are slowly starting to emerge. During a lie detector test (the results were all rigged, except for Tim’s), Gerald was asked if he found Piper (the bachelorette) the most desirable woman in the house. After a long pause, he replied, “Of the women? Yes.” He also admitted that he did not want to sleep with her, which now has Tim wondering about his pal.

The real reason to watch this show, though, is Ingrid, who apparently was too smart for the concept. For the first few weeks, viewers enjoyed watching her as she quickly figured out that something wasn’t quite on the up-and-up. Not wanting to lose her charisma, the producers let her in on the joke. Now, it’s her charge to convince the new “Jane Schmo,” Amanda, that everything is real.

If you’re a fan of traditional reality shows but recognize the obvious cheese factor that comes along with them, then you should love this hilarious parody.

SPEAKING OF TRADITIONAL reality shows, MTV is now in its 13th season of “Road Rules.” The program follows six “roadies” of various backgrounds as they perform missions and try to live together in a cramped R.V.

The show is definitely starting to show its age — not only has every mission been done before (a bungee jumping challenge, again?), but the kids are all starting to look the same.

Like its sister show, “The Real World,” “Road Rules” frequently features gay cast members, and this season is no different. This year, viewers met Danny, a 20-year-old gay guy from New Jersey who was actually voted off the show this past week for choking (figuratively) during a gross food challenge.

As usual, though, Danny had to confront at least one other cast member who was homophobic before his trip was over. That role this season was played by Derrick, who said on day one that he hoped there were no gay people on the show. Within one episode, however, Derrick had learned the error of his ways and he and Danny were best friends.

While Danny may be gone, gay viewers need not fret. Out magazine reported last month that a second gay cast member, Nick, will be joining the show later this season.

It’s a sad state of affairs when a fake reality show is more original and interesting than a real one.



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