Plot Monkeys

Okay, I’ll admit it. I’m still a total reality TV junkie, long after most TV viewers have moved on to the more action packed shows like Heroes, 24, and Lost. Not me. I’d rather watch real people compete for some kind of end prize. For that, I’m grateful that reality TV shows are still around.

This past week and a half has been a round of reality TV finales, and most of those shows have met with my approval or satisfaction. Here’s my reality show recap and how I weighed in on each one:

America’s Next Top Model: I love this show. I have from the beginning, and I’m still hooked on all those catty young girls living together and competing for a modeling career. I think what mostly hooks me on this show is the photographs these girls take, and how much they transform (or not) throughout the season. In the beginning, I wasn’t very fond of Renee (the short blonde haired girl) because of her bitchy attitude toward the other girls, but somewhere along the way she softened and became “real” for me. By the time she was standing in the top three, I was rooting for her and was so very disappointed that she was eliminated at that point because the panel felt she looked “too old” for modeling – this after she excelled in all the challenges and took AMAZING pictures. Sheesh. She was only what, 20? Makes me feel like an old hag in comparison! Anyway, with Renee gone, that left Jaslene and Natasha to strut their stuff on the catwalk for the ultimate win – a modeling contract!

Natasha cracked me up with her Russian accent and her way of turning even the most negative comment into something positive, and she grew as a model from week to week. Jaslene grew on me after time, though with her “slang” talk, she didn’t come across as a great spokes-person. But, ultimately, Jaslene took the prize – and in the end I’m happy for her. She’s the first Latina ANTM, and I love that even though she’d tried out last year for ANTM and didn’t make it, she came back again THIS year and made the cut, and walked away with the grand prize. Good for her! What a great lesson in determination and perseverance!

The Bachelor: I have to confess that this show is my one guilty pleasure. I watch it every single season and I can’t even say why the show is such a draw for me because it really isn’t all that exciting. I even have to admit that this season’s bachelor, Andrew Baldwin, didn’t really do much for me. He seemed like a genuinely nice and sincere guy, but his personality was just so “blah”. But that didn’t stop me from watching from week to week as these women vied for his attention.

In the finale on Monday, it came down to two women – Bevin and Tessa. Out of the two, I was rooting for Tessa. She was much more reserved than Bevin, but she just struck me as someone who was cautious with her heart, but she also seemed the kind that once she made a commitment, she did her best to make things work. Bevin, on the other hand, seemed too “needy” to me, like she wanted Andrew to be her prince who whisked her away from all the bad stuff in her past. Throughout the weeks of watching the show, I never felt she was as “real” as Tessa – until this final episode. During the two hour finale, she truly convinced me that she’d really fallen in love with The Bachelor. And Tessa, who I thought was rock-solid, seemed very wishy-washy about how she felt for Andrew. In the end, she did say she’d fallen in love with him, but she just didn’t fully convince me of that the way Bevin did. So, when it came time for Andy to give out the final rose, I was really torn – because I was beginning to think that Bevin might be the right woman for him. And when Bevin showed up and he had to tell her she wasn’t the one, the look on her face, the look in her EYES, almost made me cry! I saw this heart-broken and vulnerable woman who really HAD fallen in love with him! I never expected to feel so bad for Bevin, but I did. Ultimately, Tessa got the final rose. I really do like her, and time will tell if they make it for the long haul, or not. I really, truly, hope they do!

Dancing With The Stars: Who did not completely and totally fall in love with Apolo Ohno this season? What a cutie! I always liked him as a speed skater, but I LOVE him as a ballroom dancer! From the very beginning, he was the one I was rooting for. I thought Apolo and Julianne made the perfect couple – they were well matched and with Apolo’s athletic background, he was up for anything, not to mention a fierce competitor! I also enjoyed Joey Fatone. He was always doing something to make me laugh, and the judges pegged him correctly as a “showman”. He was definitely that. Then there was Laila Ali, who blew me away with her dancing skills. When it came down to these celebrities being in the final three, I thought it was well deserved for all of them. Every single one of them worked hard, competed hard, and earned those top spots. But from there, I think the winner became a matter of fans calling in and voting for their favorite star. And for me, that favorite was Apolo, and I was so happy that he won. Though it would have been hard to not be happy for Joey if he’d won instead. He was a great dancer, too. All in all, I think this was the best Dancing With The Stars yet, and I can’t wait for next season to start!

American Idol: When it came to the final twelve, there wasn’t any one person who stood out for me – and who could forget the whole Sanjaya fiasco when he managed to knock out some good American Idol contenders week after week, until he finally got the boot. Anyway, once the distraction of Sanjaya was gone, I realized that there really was some good singers in the bunch, and I wasn’t surprised when it came down to Melinda, Blake, and Jordin. Melinda has an incredible voice, and despite her being voted off in the final three, I think some recording label will sign her up, and quickly. So, that left us with Blake and Jordin to battle it out for the title of American Idol. Personally, I love Blake because he’s different and original, and I think that will work to his favor (just like the original and different Chris Daughtry last year, who has THE BEST recording career out of all those finalists, including the AI winner Taylor Hicks). If Maroon 5 ever needs a new frontman, Blake proved that he has the vocals to be that man. Then there’s Jordin, who has an amazing voice for someone who is only seventeen. That girl can sing and blows me away with her vocal range!

I was rooting for Blake, mainly because of that “unique” factor, but I’m just as happy that Jordin won! I think they’re both winners!

Now, all my reality TV shows are over for this season, though I did see an advertisement for So You Think You Can Dance, which starts tonight. Of course, I’ll be watching that show, too, and anxiously awaiting next season’s reality TV line-up!

So, are you a reality TV junkie like I am, or do you prefer the more action-packed series on TV? And if you did watch any of the above reality TV shows this season, who were your picks? Were you happy with the winners, or disappointed, and why?