Joe Schmo 2: Episode 1
One Was Funny, Two Is Hilarious
Recap By C.C. McCandless
June 16, 2004
In the burgeoning world of American reality television, there are three types of humor: the sporadic but planned funny stuff on certain shows, the unintentional comedy on…well, just about all the others, and finally, the sheer, unabashed comic brilliance that is The Joe Schmo Show. If you missed the hilarious first season, here's a quick primer on the concept: Joe Schmo is a faux reality show in which all of the participants are in on the joke except for one hand-picked contestant. Last season's Joe Schmo was Matthew Kennedy Gould, and Spike TV should be commended for finding the perfect guy for this concept. The "big reveal" in the season finale was simply priceless. The complete season is coming to DVD next week and if you missed it, you should definitely check it out.
The very idea of a second season of Joe Schmo sounds crazy. Can this possibly work again? Not only is Spike TV trying it, but they are upping the ante by employing a Joe Schmo and a Jane Schmo this time around. Tim Walsh and Ingrid Wiese are the patsies for season two, and judging by the premiere episode, this year's show will be bigger, funnier, and even more outlandish than last year--and that's saying something.
For starters, take the host. Season one featured the hilarious Ralph Garman playing a smarmy Jeff Probst-type guy dripping with condescension and sleaze. Simply put, he was a great character. So great, in fact, that he returns for season two-in disguise, with a ridiculous bleach job and goatee, to play pompous British host Derek Newcastle. In a word? Genius. He spins comic gold from his very first scene; uttering ridiculous statements such as "can anyone smell that? It's the infectious scent of love." Kudos to Spike TV for having the guts to bring him back.
Another aspect of Joe Schmo's success in season one was the incredible cast of supporting characters, like Hutch and Kip. Well, Spike TV has not let us down with their choices this time around: Austin, the bachelor; Piper, the bachelorette; Gerald (with a hard "g"), the "gotta be gay" guy; Rita, the drunk; Bryce, the stalker; Eleanor, the weeper; Ernie, the heir; Ambrosia, the bitch; T.J., the playah; and Cammy, the moron. After just one airing, it is clear that the Joe Schmo producers have assembled another winning team.
The kicked-up concept this time is that Tim and Ingrid are both competing on a dating show called "Last Chance for Love," vying for the affection of bachelorette Piper and bachelor Austin, respectively. The participants arrive one at a time, and a visibly nervous Ingrid is very chatty with her cast mates. A one day bit player makes the producers nervous immediately by revealing to Ingrid that she got this job just yesterday through her agent. But T.J. quickly steers the conversation in another direction and potential disaster is averted. Host Derek Newcastle then makes his triumphant entrance-riding in a motorcycle sidecar. "I'll be serving as your captain on a ship that's fueled by romance," he announces, "sailing in search of life's greatest booty… love." As if this arrival isn't preposterous enough, Austin and Piper follow him by literally being carried in, Cleopatra-style. And the game is on.
Newcastle informs the bachelor and bachelorette that the first eviction ceremony will occur immediately, via three black balls given by each. The producers elect to set the tone for this season early, and the entire reality dating genre is squarely in their sights. "On all these relationship shows, the minorities get thrown off first," says executive producer Rhett Reese. Thus, Austin and Piper quickly boot out half a dozen people of color. Ingrid makes note of this and is none too pleased, while Tim is just happy that he'll be around long enough to see the house's pool.
Once inside, a luau-themed mixer allows everyone to mingle. Rita the drunk quickly gets into character, pounding cocktails and acting sloshed. Other actors begin to sprinkle in bits of their stories, including Ernie revealing that he is an heir to the Gallo wine fortune. Soon after this, all of the participants give a gift to the bachelor and bachelorette. "It was one ridiculous gift after another," Ingrid sagely observes. Gerald gives Piper a basket of emollients in a gesture that is, as he cleverly puts it, "planting seeds in the garden of gay."
The first ridiculous challenge follows. Men and women pair up to perform "Lap Dance for Love," with everyone in outlandish mascot-type costumes. Watching normal people attempt a sexy strip tease is usually funny enough, but seeing them do it while dressed as dogs, cats, and gorillas is simply absurd. Cammy exhibits quite a bit of, umm, "skill," in this area. I'm guessing it wasn't her first lap dance, put it that way. "Even as a woman, I couldn't stop staring at the perfection that girl is," says Ingrid. Good call!
Ingrid and her partner, Ernie, win the rigged contest, earning them some hot tub time with Austin and Piper. But before they can hop in the Jacuzzi comes the defining moment of this first episode: the falcon twist. The mere act of describing what occurred will be bizarre, but here goes: Derek Newcastle greets the contestants outside. "You may be wondering why I'm wearing a leather gauntlet on my left hand," he states, before summoning a falcon that swoops in from nowhere, buzzing the players before landing on Newcastle's arm. "Thank you, Montecore," Derek deadpans, taking a note from the falcon's talons. Newcastle reads the message, revealing that the winners will receive $100,000.
The show ratchets the comedy and absurdity up a few more degrees for the final segment, the inevitable eviction ceremony. One woman will be sent packing, while four lucky ones will get to stay. They will receive "Austin's ultimate symbol of love…a pearl necklace." Yes, folks, it's the Pearl Necklace Eviction Ceremony! And if you don't get the joke, I'm certainly not going to be the one to explain it to you. Tim gets the reference, as he stifles laughter throughout the segment. But Austin plays it straight, with nary a smirk as he asks four ladies, including Ingrid, the lovely question "may I give you a pearl necklace?" Rita the drunk was left with a bare neck, thus leaving the show.
The show ends with an ominous tag scene, as Ingrid already smells a rat. She feels that the brief speeches her fellow ladies gave at the eviction ceremony sounded planned. "I felt like I was on 'The Truman Show'" she says, sending producers into a panic, scurrying to get Tim away from her for fear that the entire joke will be up.
Kudos to Spike TV and the producers of Joe Schmo 2. They've taken what was a clever concept in season one and raised the stakes and the humor to insane levels of hilarity. It is hard to imagine what lies in store for Tim and Ingrid this season but I cannot wait to find out.
If you missed Tuesday nights premiere you can catch an encore performance on Sunday night at 8 e/p on Spike.
Tonight (Wednesday, June 16th) at 9 e/p Spike TV will host an online chat with evicted "Rita The Drunk." You can visit Spike TV by clicking here.
C.C. McCandless is an independent filmmaker and freelance writer. He has a Bachelor’s degree in broadcasting from the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University.
