Hollywood Secrets: Reality Show Edition

I always love demystifying Hollywood whether it is from the "days of yore" (Guess which show that quote is from) or taking current accepted practices in the entertainment industry and revealing the truth. Today's edition of Hollywood secrets is telling you the truth about reality shows.......they aren't real.  Here are three things to think about:

1. The Kardashian House:  Yes, I try to keep this site as Kardashian-free as possible, but this fact irks me.  The house that they show in Keeping Up With The Kardashians is not even in Calabasas.  It is in Studio City on a heavily-traveled street that not only counts George Clooney as a neighbor, but it is also the exit of a well-trafficked canyon and hiking trail in LA.  This house is so recognizable, I have no idea why the producers tried to pretend that it is their home. (I know the Kardashians want privacy, but this home is SO well-known.)  In fact, they need to figure out what they are going to do for next season because the house is for sale. I hope the new owners negotiate a fat fee to pass their home off as a Kardashian home.  Below are a few photos I took on my recent hike and check out a recent real estate article about this farce.

2.  Housewives:  Let's all just admit it, most of us watch one franchise or the other.  I am a huge fan of the Beverly Hills edition because it is so close to home.  The stories that have evolved from this series are dramatic and often tragic, but they are real.  It's is sometimes hard to remember that what we are watching on camera is a person's real life.  This fact hit me on Friday when I was at the GBK Productions MTV Movie Awards gifting suite when I interviewed Taylor Armstrong who has had a tough year.  In my mind, she is always crying, breaking down, and fighting demons in her life because that is what I have watched on the show the last two seasons.  Well, it was refreshing to see her happy and full of joy during our interview.  She couldn't confirm that they were currently filming the next season, but I can confirm they are.  Let's hope her story takes a turn towards happiness:



If you want to see the Chagoury Couture dress we both wore and mentioned in this interview, click here.


3.  The Bachelor:  This is probably one of the most fake shows on TV.  I used to watch it for the cheese factor, but it is amazing to me how many people buy into this fantasy. If you don't believe me, go visit my friend, Reality Steve.  He will give you the inside scoop on the smoke and mirrors of this franchise.  I honestly think this show needs to fade away, but y'all keep watching.  Stop it!  Anyway, here's a 2010 interview with Vienna Girardi, "winner" of Jake Pavelka's season.  She debunks the fancy food and timeline of the show.  You can see her comments at the 1:14 mark:



What do you think about the "reality" of reality television and why do you keep watching The Bachelor?

Bachelor Pad 2: Vienna Girardi

I've been notoriously critical of The Bachelor franchise, but we all know it is my own fault for even watching the manipulative, scripted (UPDATED:  One of my Bachelor pals corrected me and she would know, there is no scripting whatsoever on The Bachelor franchise.) reality show.  After spending another Monday night wasted on the couch watching Bachelor Pad 2 with the immature shenanigans of Kasey and Vienna, I was reminded of an interview I did with Vienna Girardi in September 2010 during Emmys Week.  I spoke a bit about my interview in a post I did after the event.  Hmmm, after last night's episode, I am not sure my 2010 assessment was correct.  If she hated the manipulation of The Bachelor franchise so much, why is she appearing on Bachelor Pad 2?  If it was so bad, wouldn't you stay far away from ever participating in a reality show again?  Money talks and when Mike Fleiss calls, most former Bachelor contestants say "yes".  Watch my interview with Vienna Girardi and let me know what you think:

My Tabloid Life

Okay, I'm not really leading a tabloid life, but I need to rant here for a little and some of it is my own fault.  See, I have a bit of an addiction to a little US Weekly and perhaps I have Perez Hilton bookmarked on my tool bar.  I'm part of the problem even though I now refuse to read any Kardashian, Lindsay Lohan, Paris Hilton, or Palin Family articles anymore.  I'm just tired.  Give me scoop on Sandra Bullock and her cute baby or Shiloh's "Montenegro" style outfits, but save me from these famous-for-no-reason-people.  I like light and fluffy, not overexposed, talentless hacks, but lately I can't seem to avoid these paparazzi-on-speed-dial-manufactured-"stars".  Besides my willingness to buy the magazine or click on a link, I blame Alexis Neiers.  Why?  She started my tabloid month.

I was in downtown LA at the courthouse sitting on a bench one day (I'm not a criminal, just helping out someone on a case.) when I see this wild-eyed woman walk past me with a huge entourage.  Holy cow! It's that wacky, hippy dippy mom from Pretty Wild on E!.  I scour the crowd and see her daughter, Alexis Neiers, in the middle of the pack.  Ah, she's turning herself in today.  That's what you get for being part of the "Bling Ring" and breaking into Orlando Bloom's home.  (And Mazel Tov to him for getting married yesterday!)  This encounter led to a series of F-list encounters that comes full circle back to Lindsay Lohan and Alexis.

Earlier this week, I head off to the opening of SPiN Hollywood at the Mondrian.  This is a hip new ping pong bar owned by Susan Sarandon. Great, my reality show luck has turned as I see Susan, her gorgeous daughter, Eva Amurri, and a slew of ICM agents circling the VIP table.  An Oscar winner?  Score.  This is an A-list night.  Well, it WAS an A-List night until they all decided to go to dinner and the riff-raff took over.  Over in the far corner stood The Bachelor's, Vienna Girardi.  She looks much softer and prettier in person, but I just wanted to tell her that Jake Pavelka really did ping my gaydar, so she's much better off.  Then, the ultimate F-lister joins us.  Oh yeah, Michael Lohan.  He had been on every news outlet that would have him crying about how upset he was that Lindsay was jailed that day.  Waaahhh, waaaaahhhh.  Yeah, he's so upset that he HAD to attend the opening of a ping pong lounge.  Would you be out partying if your daughter was sent to jail that day?  Just saying.

Yep, that's Michael Lohan at the SPiN Hollywood party. See how upset he looks?  (Snort)  The best part is the SPiN employee's shirt:  "Balls are my business".  Awesome.


That's when we knew it was time to exit the building.  Susan's out, Michael's in, and with that, we hustled right back out onto Sunset Boulevard.  And Lindsay Lohan?  Well, she's sitting in a prison cell right next to Alexis Neiers.  Yep, Lindsay was a victim of the "Bling Ring" too.  Poetic justice or just another day in Hollywood, kids?

**UPDATE** As of Saturday, July 24th, Alexis Neiers has been released from jail.  Uh-oh, do my tabloid run-ins start all over again?  Stay tuned.......