Networks aim for ‘reality’
Reality shows regularly have
been one of my pet peeves,
and they always have been
an easy target for the media, with
shallow people mugging for the
camera and playing stupid, shal
low games.
It was easy to poke fun at the
“Survivor” contestants who were
obviously hoping to jump-start
acting or mod
eling careers,
and no effort
was required
to predict the
downfall of
civilization
from the hor
rid influence
of the increas
ingly upped
ante on the
game-show
style pro
grams.
That is, up
until now.
The next
generation of reality shows has
hit "he small screen, and instead
of offering a titillating view of
fresh-scrubbed young bodies, the
new wave gives viewers a peek at
society’s institutions. Some of the
shows are decent, one is great,
and the trend is a refreshing
change from the stupid human
tricks and gross-out fests that
make up “Dog Ea log” and the
ridiculously named “Mole 2: The
Next Betrayal.”
nc networks stalled things off
with “The Hamptons,” ABC’s hor
rible attempt in early June to doc
ument the lives of die nation’s
elite as they loved, lived and
lauglied. Actually might not
have been the attempt that
sucked, so much as it was the peo
ple who sucked. If what was por
trayed is the American Dream, I’ll
neve< sleep again.
Next came, “Boston 24/7,”
ABC’s six-part look at, as their
Kleckner
Editor
in chief
Web site proclaims, “an Ameri
can city and the people who
make it work.” This mid-June
show was halfway decent, but it
was mostly soap opera and what
felt like staged interviews.
Then came the best of the
bunch, ABC’s “State v.” Do you
notice a trend here? ABC is on
the leading edge of the new
wave, and as the networks fight
over reality viewer share, televi
sion audiences win. “State v.”
(Wednesday, 10 p.m.) takes an in
side look at court cases from
three angles: the defense prepara
tions, the prosecution prepara
tions and — here’s the new part
— the jury deliberations.
I recently served jury duty and
saw the setup for a manslaughter
drunken driving case, so it’s excit
ing to see a jury in action. It’s es
pecially exciting to see them argu
ing and thank my lucky stars that
I wasn’t subjected to such torture.
The best part about “State v.”
is it’s even-handedness. On the
first episode, the director
showed both sides with equal
force, and I was genuinely un
sure about the outcome. Contrast
this with the latest in NBC’s
“Law & Order” stable of pro
grams, “Crime & Punishment”
(Sunday, 10 p.m.). In the first
episode, the audience is beaten
about the head and shoulders
with the opinion that the ac
cused is guilty of murdering his
ex-wife, despite the fact that
there is no physical evidence.
Instead of showing both sides of
the case and cutting the footage
together neatly to mimic the “Law
& Order” formula, the audience is
served pointless “intermission”
scenes of the prosecutor relaxing
with a glass of wine while he re
peats to his friends all of the non
evidence he presented in court. I
didn’t have a problem with the
eventual guilty verdict, but the bi
ased portrayal made me throw
things at the screen.
The latest entrant (because I
simply refuse to discuss Fox’s
“American Idol”) is “Houston
Medical,” ABC’s real-life version
of “ER.” Problem is, I know “ER.”
“ER” is a friend of mine, and
“Houston Medical” is no “ER.”
Instead of compelling dramatic
interplay between the characters
(which might have seemed corny,
but I could have lived with it)
and nail-biting emergency room
procedures, audiences are given
pro-hospital propaganda and
gleaming portrayals of hard
working doctors. I’m sure most
doctors are hard-working and
flirtatious; after all, who doesn’t
feel a little randy in the middle of
surgery? But “Houston Medical”
(Monday, 10 p.m.) almost comes
off as an HMO infomercial. I
found myself wondering, is there
some health insurance vote com
ing up in Congress?
When considered as a whole,
the institutional reality trend is
certainly better than the squalor of
“Road Rules” or “Fear Factor.”
Some of the shows are entertain
ing, and viewers may come away
with a deeper understanding of
hospitals and courtrooms.
But if you want to watch the
best reality show currently airing,
tune in to PBS at 9 p.m. today for
“Frontline.” This show is regular
ly the most compelling and unbi
ased news program on the air.
And tonight’s episode, “Shattered
Dreams of Peace: The Road From
Oslo,” examines the Middle East
conflict from the 1955 assassina
tion of Israeli Prime Minister
Yitzhak Rabin to the present. Now
there’s a topic about which Amer
icans genuinely need to gain a
deeper understanding.
Contact the editor in chief
at editor@dailyemerald.com.
His opinions do not necessarily
represent the opinions of the Emerald.
Chumbawamba’s latest:
Simply Dumbawamba?
CD REVIEW
Album shows band
is washed up
By William Mills
The Gamecock (U. South Carolina)
(U-WIRE) COLUMBIA, S.C. —
Chumbawamba’s latest release,
“Readymades,” is a dance album
scattered with the ramblings of a
once-great group of aging British
anarchists. The album is chock
full of electronic beats driven along
by mediocre vocals and lyrics.
“Readymades” sounds less like
an album created by members of
the early ’70s Brit-punk scene and
more like a soundtrack to a Japan
ese anime film. Also, the liner
notes are littered with anarchist
propaganda that expired three
decades ago.
One thing that can be said for
them, however, is that they do
have admirable perseverance.
“Readymades” is the group’s
fourth full-length release on a ma
jor U.S. label, and one of the few
albums to not have a name like
“Anarchy,” “Criminal Injustice”
or “English Rebel Songs.”
Chumbawamba hit the U.S.
dance scene with the release of
“Tubthumping” in 1997, a song that
reached No. 1 on the Billboard mu
sic chart. That presence culminated
with “WYSIWYG,” a release that
was voted one of the worst albums
of 2000 by USA Today. They do de
serve some recognition for not total
ly retreating after such a reception.
However, even if “Ready
mades” was graded on effort, it
would not rise above a “D.”
Though the lyrics invoke and
preach against all that is non-PC,
they never touch the listener on
an emotional or intellectual level.
“Readymades” is a death rattle
for a group that began its slow de
mise after the release of its only
American hit, “Tubthumping.”
These one-hit-wonders have dug
a deep hole for themselves, and it
will take a shovel a lot more dy
namic than “Readymades” to dig
up some record sales.
New CD is ‘Readymade’
for success
By Toni Bartone
The Pitt News (U. Pittsburgh)
(U-WIRE) PITTSBURGH —
Chumbawamba’s politically -
charged 10th full-length album
may surprise those who remember
this band only for the Super Bowl
friendly mega-hit “Tubthumping”
from 1997. However, the radical
flavor of “Readymades” is nothing
new for these outspoken Brits.
True nonconformists, Chum
bawamba departs from the catchy
style of “Tubthumper” on “Ready
mades.” Though the band has al
ways dabbled with folk music,
“Readymades” abandons infec
tious, shoutable choruses for a
softer sound with more emphasis
on lyrical meaning.
Walking a fine line between so
called sell-out pop musicians and
DIY punks, the band has unapolo
getically criticized globalization
and corporations, the British
monarchy and the United States’
war on terrorism.
“Readymades” employs elec
tronic beats and haunting vocals
to address specific issues. The
lyrics fully describe the atmos
phere of the larger issue they each
refer to, and each song is ex
plained in the liner notes.
The bottom line is that “Ready
mades” offers a comforting yet
stirring soundtrack for those who
seek change.
Classifieds:
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PO. Box 3159, Eugene, OR 97403
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Horoscope by Linda C. Black
TODAY'S BIRTHDAY (June 27). You're naturally
good at accumulating things and holding onto
them. But it certainly wouldn't hurt to practice.
Learn about investments this year, and insur
ance, and the interest you're paying. Get rich.
To get the advantage, check the day's rating: 10
is the easiest day, 0 the most challenging.
ARIES (March 21 -April 19) _ Today is a 7 _ Let
somebody else take the lead. Show that you can
be a team player. Support a friend who has a
great idea, and you'll both win.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20) _ Today is a 6 _ It
you can figure out what an older person wants,
then provide it, you could earn a nice bonus. It's
not easy, but it's probably something you've
done before.
GEMINI (May 21 -June 21) _ Today is a 7 _ Your
success isn't due to sheer luck. It isn't exactly
easy, either. It takes discipline. Show that you
have what it takes.
CANCER (June 22-July 22) _ Today is a 6 _ The
strain onyour wallet can be relieved by taking on
an extra job. Do something you used to pay to
have done. Time can equal money, so if money's
tight, spend more of your time instead.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) _ Today is a 7 _ Do you
know somebody who actually likes to do home
work? The type who's always annoyingly cor
rect? Ask that person to help you so that you can
relax.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) _ Today is a 6 _ Now
comes the tough part. How do you solve this
puzzle? Start by finding a little more patience.
Then, find the directions. Then, read them.
Again.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct 22) _ Today is an 8 _ Time
to gol You should be prepared by now. Blast out
ot the starting gate and leave the competition in
the dust. Dazzle them with your brilliant yet re
sponsible rhetoric.
SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) _ Today is a 6 _ The
problem you're facing is your own darned fault.
If you weren't so stubborn, you'd walk away.
But, no, you want to have the best and save the
bucks. No pain, no gain
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21)_ Today is a 7
_ You don't have all the answers yet, but you're
getting closer. Shut yourself away in the library
so that you won't be disturbed. Focus.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) _ Today is a 6 _
You may be starting to get tired, but don't fret.
The most difficult part is over. All that's left is the
doing, and the raking in of the goodies. You can
do that in your sleep.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) _ Today is an 8 _ If
it looks as if the deck's stacked against you,
don't worry. You'll win through an amazing last
minute turn of events, maybe late tomorrow.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20) _ Today is a 6 _
Make plans and lists. Look ahead, and figure out
what wifi be needed and how you're gonna get
it. The more careful you are now, the easier it'll
be later.
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