Reality TV has never been a favorite genre of mine, but it remains a popular one in the eyes of most Americans. Shows like The Real World and Survivor helped to kick-start the current trend, although they certainly weren't the first pioneers. Television history offers classic examples like Candid Camera (which premiered in 1948, believe it or not!) and 1955's Wanted (which influenced later shows such as America's Most Wanted and Cops). Although these earlier shows didn't follow the same patterns as our current crop of reality TV, the effect is largely the same.

It's true that this phenomenon of programming is only the retelling of an age-old fact: by and large, most people are inherently nosy. Plain and simple, they like to compare themselves to others, even if they're complete strangers...Read the entire review

Just south of Long Island in New York lies a popular vacation spot called Fire Island. Though it's not an exclusive resort, it's popular getaway for members of the gay and lesbian communities (though certainly not exclusive). It's about as close to paradise as one can imagine, and a virtual safe haven for individuals that may not always be accepted by society. Much like gathering areas for other groups with similar interests and backgrounds, Fire Island provides a very unique atmosphere that brings in thousands of guests each year.

Shot on location, the aptly named Fire Island was a reality-based documentary/reality show created by John Cadwell and Tim Curran. Originally appearing on the Bravo Network, four episodes of the show aired back in 1999. Basically, the show follows several groups of gay and lesbian "tourists" d...Read the entire review

The Program

Paparazzi: Vol. 1 presents two episodes of a documentary television series that delves into the world of celebrity obsession and virtual stalking. The episodes presented on this DVD follow the exploits of renowned celebrity photographer Louie D in his real-life efforts to get "the perfect shot." Louie himself began his career as a rock photographer, and was one of the first people to chronicle Madonna's career from the very beginning to the modern day. He moved to Los AngelesRead the entire review

The Movie:

While I've discussed my irritation with some forms of reality TV previously on this website, I'm actually not against all forms of the new format. I enjoyed the clever "Mole", which was hosted superbly by now-reporter Anderson Cooper (the show can now be seen in a "Celebrity" format, with Ahmad Rashad hosting). "Amazing Race" is both thrilling and, in it's own way, educational about different cities and countries around the world. "Survivor" manages to be an interesting social experiment, although it isn't quite as fresh as it was when it first started.

"Big Brother" is a beast that I can't say I've been familiar with, given that I've never been interested by the show's advertisements, which made the show appear to be born from both "Survivor" and "The Real World", simply taking elements of each. Simply, contestants (Lisa, Chiara, Amy, Josh, Jason, Gerry, Roddy, Lori...Read the entire review

I enjoyed Dave Foley's The Kids in the Hall: Same Guys, New Dresses, but every time a performance clip from the tour chronicled in the documentary flashed on-screen, I found myself wishing the DVD had included a show in its entirety. Though it took close to a year, that problem has been addressed with Tour of Duty, a performance recorded at the Queen Elizabeth Theater in Vancouver for a February pay-per-view special. A mix of new material and classic sketches from their television series, Tour of Duty features the following:

• Intro / The Call: Takes a peek at what the Kids were up to when they got "the call" about the tour, a "Blind Date" parody being the highlight.
• Dr. Seuss Bible: A more whimsical look at the life of Christ.
• ...Read the entire review
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