back in the reality world

i used to be obsessed with reality tv. it was a serious problem. however, i've found that the shows don't hold my interest for more than a season or two. i get bored fast. i need new characters, new challenges, more catfights.

my first reality obsession was survivor in high school. i watched the first few seasons of that religiously, it carried over to college, i bought myself one of those bandana things that i can't remember the name of now, and then i got over it.

sophomore year, i got into american idol, but that faded after awhile, too. i flirted with other reality shows like the bachelor, high school reunion (remember that one?) and beauty and the geek (still one of my favorites i think).

for the first few seasons i loved the apprentice, but i didn't even watch the la season. i did watch martha stewart's version, though.

i know a lot about reality tv now, if i do say so myself. i have gotten very good at picking the winner, or at the very least the last three or four.

but recently, my two favorite reality shows have been on bravo: project runway and top chef. i am super excited because the third season of top chef starts tonight. its now in the third season and i'm not tired of it yet! its still clear the calendar, event tv for me. maybe that's because it has to do with my other favorite: food!

but tonight was another first: the first live show of my new favorite reality talent competition show, so you think you can dance. it is a two hour event! usually by the time a show makes it to the live shows, there are clear winners, clear favorites, and obvious duds. but i have been shocked.

i was told by a serious sytycd fan that the show would get better once they strated going live. but i didn't really know what to expect. tonight, the final 20 (10 women, 10 men) have been placed into pairs. they're each assigned a different choreographer and dance style. i've seen hip hop, waltz, contemporary, tango, and some crazy deconstructed cabaret thing imagined by former *nsync hanger on wade robson (i used to be a huge *nsync fan, too, but that's another story).

and i have to be honest. i knew these dancers were good but i didn't expect them all to excel at every dance. i have been watching each routine intently and going "wow! they are so good!" almost every time.

if i had to handicap people, i would have to say the tango and second hip hop teams are a little weaker than the rest. i think tomorrow there are results or something...eek. i'm just going to watch and soak it all in.

i'm getting my fill of reality tv tonight!

pictured: me and my friend nicole pose with a wax version of simon cowell. i don't look scared, but i was freaking out because the fake simon *spoke* and i was afraid he was going to come to life and grab me