reality tv – Page 194

Lance and Keri Amazing Race 15

Lance Layne & Keri Morrione
Age: 41/33
Hometown: Salem, MA/ Peabody, MA
Occupation: Lawyer/ Finance Manager
Relationship: Engaged

CBS Bio
Lance and Keri have been dating each other for over two years. Lance proposed this winter, and the two are planning to be married soon. Both are looking to the Race to test their relationship, communication skills and their physical breaking points.

Lance and Keri are very athletic, love animals and the outdoors. Some of their fondest memories include recent vacations in Jamaica and the Dominican Republic, and they are now looking forward to traveling around the world together.

Lance, a self-made trial attorney and black belt in karate, has an Ã¼ber-aggressive personality and is admittedly confrontational â€” he describes himself as having a “street persona” and will do whatever it takes to win. Keri is a health care finance manager and while she likes to take the kinder and gentler approach to dealing with certain situations, she admits that she is equally as competitive.

Keri’s hobbies include jogging, jet skiing and shopping. Lance’s hobbies include karate, weight training, and following the Red Sox, Patriots, and Celtics.

Lance loves the competition aspect of the Race and Keri loves to travel. Both are eager to compete and put their relationship through the rigors of the Race. They have not lived together around the clock before, or necessarily had to work as a teamâ€¦.and believe this experience will be good practice for the rest of their lives together.

Marcy and Ron Amazing Race 15

Marcy Maloy & Ron Shalita
Age: 60/59
Hometown: San Francisco, CA
Occupation: Advertising Photographer/Stock Trader & Math Tutor
Relationship: Dating

CBS Bio
Marcy and Ron both believe that at 60 you can be strong, sexy, vibrant and energetic. They met one year ago on an online dating website and are looking forward to sharing the intense experience of the Race. They hope the Race will reinforce the strengths of their relationship and identify potential areas of conflict.

Both are exceptionally fit, have great people skills and a high energy level. Marcy is not your typical 60-year-old; she attends flying trapeze classes, studies Kung Fu and rock climbs with Ron. To keep pace with Marcy, Ron is in the gym lifting weights, running, swimming or kickboxing. After being selected for the Race, he found a new physical challenge in a course that allowed him to confront his fears of heights.

Marcy is a nationally recognized advertising photographer, while Ron spends his mornings as a high-volume day trader and his afternoons as a math tutor. They both have traveled extensively and Marcy speaks several languages. Ron is personable and extroverted. Trained as a lawyer, he is cautious and likes to take his time to think things through while Marcy is spontaneous, impulsive and easily distracted. Marcy finds balance in Ron’s pragmatism and calmness. While he likes to process his thoughts, she prefers to tackle problems head-on. Both are concerned about their different approaches to problem solving, but believe the Race will give them greater insights.

Maria and Tiffany Amazing Race 15

Maria Ho & Tiffany Michelle
Age: 26/25
Hometown: Arcadia, CA/Los Angeles, CA
Occupation: Professional Poker Players
Relationship: Professional Poker Players

CBS Bio
These two female professional poker players have been best friends for three years, and were also the last women standing in the World Series of Poker Championship Event in 2007 and 2008. From Vegas to Monte Carlo, the two have competed against the toughest fields across the world and hold their own playing for high stakes in a male-dominated sport.

Maria is currently ranked 33rd in the Top 100 Women’s All Time Money list among poker players and finished 38th out of 6,358 people in the 2007 World Series of Poker Championship Event.

Tiffany, who is known throughout the poker community as “Hot Chips,” fell into poker via Hollywood home games that she played with fellow actors while working in film and television. At the 2008 World Series of Poker Championship Event, Tiffany broke records when she finished 17th out of 6,844 players, the largest field ever conquered by a female in live tournament history.

Maria was born in Taipei, Taiwan, and moved to the United States with her family when she was just four years old and is fluent in Mandarin Chinese. Maria graduated from the University of California, San Diego with a degree in communication and a minor in law. When she is not busy traveling the poker tournament circuit, Maria enjoys singing with her sister’s band, “Another Sky.”

Born with a love for the stage and competition, Tiffany naturally found her way into competitive sports, pageants and the college Speech & Debate team. She got her start in theatre at the age of 10 and began performing and touring with shows across the country. A far departure from poker, Tiffany is a former beauty queen, having held the titles Miss Teen Newhall, Miss Teen Santa Clarita Valley and was a finalist in the Miss Teenage California where she was named Miss Congeniality.

As a team, these two are well traveled, extremely competitive, strong-minded, savvy players who can deal with any hand they are dealt. Even though they are known as two of the hottest young females in poker, they are willing to put pretty aside when it is time to battle it out.

Meghan and Cheyne Amazing Race 15

Meghan Rickey & Cheyne Whitney
Age: 23
Hometown: San Diego, CA
Occupation: Account Executive/Brand Manager
Relationship: Dating

CBS Bio
Meghan and Cheyne met while playing a competitive game of tetherball in elementary school. After 10 years of friendship, Cheyne realized he could not let the most athletic girl he knew get away. Other than a six-month period where Meghan studied abroad in Italy, this couple has been essentially inseparable for nearly five years.

Meghan and Cheyne both work in fields where they deal extensively with different publics. She is an account executive at a public affairs firm and he works for a social change marketing company where he develops after-school programs and deals with a diverse group of teens, school administrators and corporate executives. When not in the office, Meghan can be found coaching competitive girls’ soccer â€” a sport that she and Cheyne have shared a passion for since they were kids. The couple feels strongly that their occupations and experiences with team sports have taught them effective communication skills and the virtue of patience, which they believe will benefit them in the Race.

Even though they are head-over-heels for each other, they still have their pet peeves just like any other couple. Meghan does not like that he tries to diffuse tense situations with laughter rather than by talking things through. The biggest thing about Meghan that frustrates Cheyne is her stubbornness. He claims that once she has her mind set on something she is difficult to reason with and it can be impossible to change her mind.

Ready to tackle the Race head-on, Meghan and Cheyne are very eager to use the power of positive thinking and their athleticism to compete as a team and hope that this experience further validates their friendship and love.

Survivor: Thailand Episode 2

For one reason or another, the Chuay Gahn tribe decided they didn’t like John and voted him out in Survivor: Thailand Episode 1.

Chuay Gahn is awakened by Clay’s snoring. Funny, they don’t seem overly concerned about the bats in the cave they’re sleeping in, but the snoring is a problem.

Helen and Jan go to get water. Helen insists on not bothering to take the map because she believes she can get there with no trouble. Well, everybody knows right away that’s a mistake. While the girls are exploring abandoned islands full of snakes, the boys stay behind and play golf with Clay’s luxury item. Then it starts to rain. As Helen and Jan continue to paddle toward an unknown destination, Helen wishes for a pistol so that she could shoot them both.

Over on Sook Jai, they’re still obsessed with their shelter. Stephanie and Jed aren’t bothering with it, thereby making themselves outcasts. Jed views this as frivolous. It’s day 4, and they’re still not anywhere near done. However, for their part, although nobody appreciates it, Jed’s taking care of food, while Stephanie takes care of water.

Back to the water crew. Helen’s so dehydrated she’s about ready to pass out, but she’s finally found the water. Meanwhile, Jan’s floating in the water relaxing. It took them 4 or 5 hours, but they have managed to complete their task.

5 people from Sook Jai go to find food. The other three (Stephanie, Robb, and Jed) don’t want any part of this food. Shii Ann notices a strange atmosphere amongst the tribe. Further alienating themselves, the three who didn’t want any food refuse to sleep in the shelter as well, so they end up sleeping in the rain. Jed goes under the shelter whether anyone likes it or not, but Stephanie just stays out in the rain all night long. Interestingly, they speak negatively of him for coming in the shelter, and they speak negatively of her for not coming in the shelter. Ultimately, though, the key point here is that getting sick out there is not something you want to invite.

Helen ends up spending her 20th wedding anniversary on their beach, the price you pay for the chance to win $1 million (she can go anywhere in the world she wants when this is done, whether she wins or not). Everybody puts together a little celebration for her.

Each tribe will select one tribe member to be their guide at the reward challenge. Everybody else will be blindfolded and will carry the guide through a figure 8 course and collecting colored bags along the way. Reward is an extra lantern, fishing hooks, a fishing line, and a 30 meter fishing net. Stephanie sits out for Sook Jai. Tanya and Penny (whoever they are) will be the guides. Chuay Gahn starts off with a pretty good lead. By the time they get to the fourth station, it’s a dead heat. The guides are doing a pretty good job of running people into trees and posts along the way. Sook Jai gets the lead and retains it to end up winning reward.

Tanya’s still struggling as her tribe tries to nurse her back to health.

Clay’s walking on the beach and notices a bunch of squid washed up on shore. So they decide to eat it. Who cares if they died due to a nearby toxic waste dump?

The immunity challenge is to get six missing pieces from a floating puzzle by swimming and diving underwater. They will get the pieces and finish the puzzle. Shii Ann sits out for Sook Jai. Jed and Brian face off first, and Jed gets a slight lead. Helen and Jake go next. Jake increases the lead. Robb and Jan are next, and Robb has about half a lap lead. Penny tries for Sook Jai, but she eventually gives up and tags Jed. This gives Ghandia the lead, but it doesn’t last for very long as Jed retakes the lead. Ted and Erin are next, as Sook Jai retains a slight lead. Stephanie and Clay are next. This could very well be do or die time for Stephanie, and she manages to keep the lead and win immunity for Sook Jai.

Jan ends up taking the blame, but it’s really hard to point fingers because there’s no one person who necessarily lost that challenge. Sook Jai just in general outplayed Chuay Gahn. If anything, I’d blame Ghandia, who had the chance to run away with it but gave up her rather large lead.

Ghandia is tired of Helen, but she may vote for Tanya, who may be ready to go.

Votes
Tanya
Helen
Helen
Tanya
Tanya
Tanya

By a vote of 5-2, Tanya has been voted off the island. Ghandia stands alone, but everybody else opts to eliminate the sick tribe member.

Stay tuned to dingoRUE for another recap of Survivor: Thailand Episode 3 Family Values.

Big Brother 11 Episode 28

Michele’s completely mysterious strategy finally came to an end as she was voted out in Big Brother 11 Episode 27. We left off with the houseguests in an endurance competition for the first part of the final HOH.

For the first time, the HOH will not be crowned tonight. Well, that oughta make tonight pretty close to pointless then. Instead, the season will end in a live 2 hour finale on Tuesday night.

Kevin wants to win HOH to take Jordan with him. Jordan doesn’t trust anybody. Natalie pretty well just hates Michele’s guts and wants to trash her. As promised, the seasons keep changing. They get heavy rains, wind, snow, all the while trying to run on this log that’s moving in random directions. Kevin’s been shaking for a while, but finally Jordan joins him. Not long after that, the log starts moving, and Jordan drops at 3 hours and 27 minutes. Natalie’s thrilled. Thrilled enough to throw the competition? Yes, she is. Dumb move. Kevin wins the first part of the HOH competition.

In the jury house, Lydia and Russell say they want Kevin to win. In addition to the fact that Lydia was Kevin’s partner throughout, she’s also bitter that she was dumb enough to believe that Natalie is 18. They’re all quite happy to see Jeff walk in the house. He has hope for Jordan. It seems everybody has turned on Natalie. In addition to how stupid everybody else was to believe her, she was dumb enough to believe she could trust Jessie, who has revealed the first chance he has to each jury member that she’s really 24. Ironic considering Kevin insists he has to get rid of her. Granted, I’m not real sure it matters for Kevin because it’s going to be hard to justify a Jordan vote unless you’re Jeff and Michele.

Julie will now be talking to 4 1 of the best players in Big Brother history, Danielle. Oh, she will also be chatting with the somewhat competent Mike Boogie and two people whose 15 minutes of fame really should be over by now, Janelle and Evel. Danielle thinks Natalie has played the best game because she’s lied and gotten Kevin to do her dirty work. Janelle says the worst move of the season was Jeff getting rid of Russell. Boogie liked two moves: the coup d’etat (which he himself didn’t use) and Natalie and Kevin’s lie to dupe Jeff. The others agree with this lie. Mike would like to see people cut Chima a little slack considering the nature of the house. Evel, who purposely tried to sabotage his own game so his daughter could stay in the house, says you couldn’t drag him out of there no matter what. Boogie thinks Kevin will win due to his strategy and also avoiding conflict. Danielle would like to see a woman beat a guy for the first time.

The second part of the final HOH competition is to place the Heads of Household in the correct order by tossing balls into holes. If you get the order right but land in the wrong hole, that’s too bad. They will each get 2 minutes. Natalie is first. This is something you’d think they would have learned by now, but Natalie’s struggling with it. Natalie finishes with 2 seconds left on the clock and 5 correct answers. Jordan is up next. Unlike Natalie, she seems a lot more confident in her answers. She finishes with 18 seconds left and 9 correct to win part 2 of the final HOH. Interestingly, nobody expected Jordan to win anything, with good reason, but it’s obvious she figured out that this is something you need to study.

Oh, by the way, how is a tie decided in the final two? That’s right. America’s Choice. Not surprising. Nonetheless, stupid. Of course, this would not be the first time America’s vote has decided the game’s outcome (season 8 comes to mind, and there’s certainly an argument for this season as well), but it would mark the first time it’s been nothing but a popularity contest since season 1.

Stay tuned to dingoRUE for another live recap of Big Brother 11 Episode 30, where we will find out who the Big Brother 11 winner is, which airs Tuesday at 9/8c on CBS.

Big Brother 12

Despite the fact that nobody in the house has the slightest clue how to play the game this year (even the brains were idiots), Big Brother 11 has continued to improve its ratings over previous seasons as the summer has progressed, thanks to the wacky/volatile cast. Combine that with the fact that Julie Chen (wife of CBS president/CEO Les Moonves) says she intends to keep hosting the show for years to come, and this announcement comes as no surprise.

CBS has announced plans to bring Big Brother back for season 12 for next summer. Although no details have been confirmed yet, I guarantee you there will be at least one horribly lame twist with the potential to derail the entire season.

Ellen DeGeneres Joins American Idol

Ellen DeGeneres has been announced as the replacement judge for Paula Abdul for American Idol season 9.

Last season on So You Think You Can Dance, she made an appearance as a guest judge. Entertaining… but didn’t really seem to have much input. Granted, it’s not as if Paula ever really had much input that made any sense anyway, and at least Ellen’s funny.

Ellen acknowledges that she doesn’t have any technical experience in the field, but she hopes to be the people’s point of view, representing all those people at home on the couch with something to say.