JS2 Is A Vicarious Thrill
Commentary By Eleanor Meilinger
July 23, 2004
Joe Schmo 2 has continued to fulfill the fantasies of the die-hard Reality TV fan. The fact that it hasn't found its audience can probably be blamed on poor promotion and an awful timeslot. Newly released sequels of more popular and recognizable reality shows have become watered-down and anti-climatic despite the hype and promised "twists", JS2 is a vicarious thrill. It operates on a premise that many have suspected of other shows - the whole thing is rigged and the outcome is a forgone conclusion - but this offering is so entertaining you just want to sit back and enjoy the ride. Ironically, the unscripted events that have altered the intended direction of this new installment have provided more genuine drama than any of the scripted "twists" in other, more popular shows.
While functioning successfully as a "spoof", the show still maintains its core of "reality".
It combines the two aspects flawlessly into what I consider one of the most entertaining shows in recent years. Where the first installment allowed us in on the joke while giving us a glimpse at the behind the scenes machinations of "creating" a reality show, this new version has managed to poke fun at every ridiculous aspect of the genre while at the same time reminding us that, even if the producers, writers and editors do skillfully steer the "real" shows, fate is always waiting to step in. The creators of Joe Schmo 2 have managed to hit on the absurdities of almost every format and the writers manage to mock all of the pretenses with some subtle and many blatant references. They have brilliantly incorporated the more preposterous ploys, such as the "smarmy host" announcing the ludicrously obvious fact that there is one final "pass" (rose, necklace, flame etc.) while foreboding music plays and seconds tick by as if to increase the suspense. The double whammy of this week's episode of Joe Schmo 2 was the moment (long awaited by viewers of any show in the "love match" genre) when Eleanor told Austin where he could stick his Pearl Necklace followed by the continuation of the ceremony according to formula even though the outcome was a forgone conclusion. The only thing that could have made this moment funnier would have been if they cut away to commercial with the burning question "Who will receive the final Pearl necklace?" Personally I was rooting for the dead frog.
JS2 still has a lot of promise in the coming weeks with so much fertile ground to harvest.
I only hope that word of mouth will help this gem of a show find an audience, particularly among disillusioned RTV fans. JS2 is the antidote to the deluge of knock-off shows out there and offers an opportunity to see the true potential of "Reality" shows - the ability to laugh at ourselves for believing that we are watching "REAL" life when it is filmed in front of dozens cameras with the promise of reward. If this second installment does not garner higher ratings in the coming weeks we may be deprived of a Joe Schmo 3. Judging from the new bevy of Reality shows that make up the Fall line-up I would wager that there will be a bountiful crop to harvest should a follow-up be attempted.
Eleanor is a NYC girl living in seclusion in the mountains of PA. She has a story or an opinion about EVERYTHING. (Hence the "If you ask me..." She will tell you!)
She can be reached at ifyouaskme@msn.com
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