Love Letters from Key West

Real World

By B-Side | Wednesday, June 28, 2006 | 7:29 pm | 109 Comments

note062806 Wow. I haven’t been this fired up about a Real World episode in quite some time. Sure, there was some dull stuff about Paula and Keith and mildew and flooding, but then there was Tyler. And Svetlana. And Svetlana’s mom. And the burn book. And Janelle. The entire second half of this show was ridiculous. In a good way. Or actually, a bad way maybe. I don’t know. It certainly incensed me. It took me literally an hour to get through the episode simply because I was pausing and taking notes so often. Tyler was out of control. Either you love him or hate him, and after seeing the way he treated Svetlana — and her mom — I’m inclined to fall in the “hate” camp. There once was a time when I thought he was capable of mature reflection, but ever since the Burn Book surfaced a few weeks ago, he’s been on a downhill spiral — a total high school, nay, middle school regression — and tonight, he finally hit a new low: telling off Svetlana’s mother, penning a nasty note, and essentially pulling the whole “I know you are, but what am I?” routine. I can understand some people really enjoying Tyler’s brash, outspoken self-confidence, but for the rest of us, I’m pretty sure we all were left thinking one word: jerk.We knew right off the bat that something terrible was going to happen this episode when the “Previously on The Real World” segment focused on Tyler’s notorious anti-Svetlana Burn Book. For those of you who may have missed it, the Burn Book was a growing archive of Svetlana’s most annoying moments, at least according to Tyler and Janelle (with a little help from Jose, but not really). The very creation of the book seemed hurtful and immature, and we all knew it would lead to bad things. Judging by its placement in the pre-show recap, we knew that tonight would be the night when the Burn Book would rear its ugly head again. I could not wait.

After the opening credits, we then found the kids holed up in a small hotel room in Orlando where they eagerly awaited a return to Key West. In case you forgot about last week, the gang had to flee the islands when Hurricane Wilma came to town, and unfortunately, their retreat to Ft. Lauderdale just wasn’t quite good enough. The storm managed to kick the city in the nuts, nearly destroying the roommates’ hotel in the process. Well, we assume it was the hurricane that caused all the damage. There’s still a large chance that it was merely Keith busting down walls in search of Paula.

Nevertheless, from their cozy outpost in Orlando, Zach told us there were rumors of Key West being totally devastated by Wilma — water had submerged cars, rains had flooded all the island, and giant pieces of styrofoam were still flying about the Home Depot parking lot. Sadly, Zach did not then share one of his Very Deep introspective musings with us, which meant we didn’t get any dumb comments like, “It’s ironic to me that a hurricane would hit us when all we were trying to do was live without a hurricane.”

Well, with nothing else to do, the roommates all hung out in their hotel room and waited for the call to go back down to Key West. Man, sucks for them. Too bad there’s like nothing to do in Orlando. If only there were a major theme park there. Or two. Or five, really. Oh well. That’s okay though. If there’s anyone who knows how to pass time, it’s kids on The Real World. All they have to do is talk about each other, and before you know it, fun times are had by all. Take, for example, Zach and John who giggled about how dramatic Svetlana was being with Martin on the phone. Apparently, when they had chatted, she had said something along the lines of “I can’t believe you weren’t afraid for me” and “I almost got electrocuted!” Zach and John couldn’t help but laugh, and when Svetty overheard them, she lightheartedly chided them, insisting that she never said any of those things. I didn’t know whether to believe her or not because apparently “Fitz” had a penchant for saying lots of silly things. John informed us that she even once asked, “Is the Everglades a mall?” Oddly enough, she thought the Mall of America was a nature preserve. Who knew?

Anyway, John and Zach were having a fun time laughing about Fitz, but then we cut to Tyler, and we could already tell he was pissed. In his head, “Is the Everglades a mall” probably sounded like, “Is the Everglades a mall? Because I’m young and spoiled, and I don’t have to worry about learning things like geography because no one’s ever going to tell me that I have to!”

Well, before Tyler could start spitting venom (don’t worry, it would come), the kids then learned it was safe to go back to Key West. Yay! Unfortunately, the island was a total mess. Boo! But at least the roomies’ mansion looked like it had survived. Yay! But not the fence. Boo! Yes, Key West was a disaster area. Trees were down everywhere, junk was in everyone’s yards, and any lingering hopes for Fantasy Fest looked to be completely dashed. Things got worse inside the Real World house as items were strewn everywhere and fake cobwebs dangled from the ceiling. It was then that I realized this had nothing to do with Wilma. The kids were just all major slobs.

My heart then skipped a beat as I began to fear for the fate of something very important. No, not the fish in the fish tank (although, I did wonder how they were — probably dead or massively confused). I’m talking, of course, about Tyler’s seminal piece of art, RED GOD! The house seemed to be in good condition; so chances were that the painting was safe and sound, but then again, you just never know. Keep an eye out, people. If anyone sees it in the background, let me know ASAP. Losing RED GOD would be like someone slashing the Mona Lisa.

After inspecting the house to make sure everything was intact, the group then went outside to the backyard where the pool was now filled with what looked to be nasty, black sludge. Everyone recoiled at this unsightly image, and ever the jokester, John grabbed Jose and pretended to throw him in the nasty waters. This was followed by light chuckling, and I was surprised that Jose didn’t then walk off screen, waving to the cameras and saying, “That’s all for tonight, folks! Thanks for having me! Goodnight!”

Tasty!

While everyone surveyed the house, Paula instead took a seat on a stoop and talked to Keith on her T-Mobile Sidekick. She was all sad because Keith was supposed to visit that weekend, and with the hurricane and stuff, all the plans had been put into question. Would Keith come down and visit? Of course. In fact, two seconds later, they were already planning a very special night out with just the two of them. Yay rebuilding relationships! Nothing’s quite as exciting as the joyful optimism that comes with the “forgiving” stage of an abusive cycle.

The kids then decided to go to the tanning salon, but one problem: their car was dead — another victim to the flood. Luckily, the group’s SUV was still intact, and so everyone except Paula and Svetlana headed into town to see what cruel fate may have befallen Mystic Tan. Tyler and Janelle happily took this opportunity to bash Svetlana as much as they could, with Janelle specifically harping on how Svetty had complained to Martin about him not caring that she nearly died (air quotes) in the hurricane. Janelle explained that Martin’s stoic behavior “wasn’t ’cause Martin didn’t care about her dying. It was because Martin knows that she was embellishing.” I don’t necessarily disagree with Janelle, but I think Martin’s reaction may have had more to do with some sort of coping mechanism in the wake of his father’s death. Of course, all this conjecturing is based on the assumption that Svetlana even said that she nearly died, and for all we know, Tyler and Janelle could be on the receiving end of a very long game of Operator (not that that would ever stop them. Rumor is fact).

Nevertheless, Tyler announced, “I believe twenty percent of what comes out of her mouth.” He then added, “And I am going to make a painting about that twenty percent and call it LYING GOD!” Okay, he didn’t say that, but he did suggest a new way to monitor Svetlana: CPM. Crap Per Minute. Funny, that’s similar to the gauge I use for Tyler: SBPM. Sanctimonious Bullshit Per Minute. What a coincidence!

The background music then came to the foreground, which was pretty amusing since the song was about talking behind people’s backs, the main lyric being, “That’s all so high school!” Ha. The producers were totally making fun of Tyler and Janelle. They probably thought they’d emerge from this episode as the heroes. Dumbasses. The scene eventually ended with Tyler pondering, “Maybe we can get her to go home. I wouldn’t mind.” Of course he wouldn’t mind. More spotlight for him.

We then went to commercial, and when we returned, we found the roomies entering the Mystic Tan salon with the help of their random forty-five year old friend. I didn’t know who the guy was, but I assumed he spent most of his time on a houseboat, throwing bread crumbs to sea gulls, smoking bud and telling stories about his old friend Carl from college (who probably died in ‘Nam). Anyway, the gang entered the salon and were met with the warm and comforting odor of damp carpet. And feces. And just nastiness in general. “The smells are disgusting: from mildew to sewage. It’s just disgusting,” Zach said, and no, he wasn’t describing his hair. Apparently Wilma had flooded the salon. It was sort of like Mother Nature’s passive-aggressive stance against artificial tans. It’s real sun or nothing, BITCHES!

Anyway, the kids then called Ricky and let him know the extent of the damage: mildew, debris, general nastiness. It was awful. Even I could smell the dank atmosphere. Oh wait. Those were my socks. RIMSHOT! Wait, I just dissed myself. That’s not cool. Stop laughing.

Well, Ricky told the gang to clean everything up, which sort of sucked for the Key Westers, but what can you do? Zach then asked if they should file an insurance claim, but Ricky notified him that there was no flood insurance in Key West. Doh! We then cut to an ironic sign that read, “Paradise. Nowhere like Key West.” And no, Zach didn’t illuminate us by explaining, “You see, that was ironic because it really wasn’t like paradise at all, even though the sign said it was paradise.”

Nevertheless, just because a cloud of depression and devastation hung over the island didn’t mean that everyone had to be so glum. Next thing we knew, it was nighttime and Johnny Bananas was walking around happily in a keg costume. Wilma may have been gone and Fantasy Fest may have been postponed, but no one was gonna ruin his Halloween. Joining him in the costume department was Tyler, who was dressed in some sort of professional bathing suit outfit, and Janelle, who opted for an uninspired set of fairy wings on her back — pretty much the staple costume for uncreative girls at Halloween.

Well, the gang all headed into town, and in the meantime, Paula was having an extra special night with her boy, Keith. Let it be known that his official title had changed from “ex-boyfriend” to “boyfriend.” Congratulations! To celebrate, you should get punch drunk! Uh, bad choice of words. Anyway, the two lovebirds talked about their relationship and how it was built on not such a great foundation. But that was okay because Keith then noted, “ours hit rock bottom and had no place to go but up.” Well, no place to go but up. And then down. And then up again. And down again. And so on and so forth. Some might call it a cycle. A special sort of cycle. A cycle of… I forget the word. I think it rhymes with “abstruce.”

Paula then spouted off some psycho-babble about her and Keith, saying, “He had to treat me the worst way to know now that he’s never gonna do that again.” Yeah, I’m pretty sure domestic abuse isn’t cured via Pavlovian conditioning. It’s not quite the same thing as touching a hot pot on the stove. Still, they both seemed to think they were on track towards a loving, healthy relationship; so who was I to pass judgment? Okay, I’m a blogger. Of course I’ll pass judgment.

“Mmmm…”

“Wow. That felt like a fresh beating.”

Later on, the two met up with the other roommates, and Paula asked Tyler and Janelle if it was okay for Keith to stop by and see the house. With forced looks on their faces barely disguising their contempt, Tyler and Janelle both unenthusiastically said that it was fine for Keith to stop by. The only thing that could have made them look any more dissatisfied would have been if Paula had asked if she could invite over Hitler. Because this entire situation wasn’t already very comfortable, Keith then told Paula that he wanted to have a little talk with Tyler. Great. “This will be awkward,” Tyler said proudly. Awkward was an understatement. “I love awkward. Whatever,” he then said — right in front of Keith’s face. Okay, even I was feeling awkward. Seriously, I was cringing on my couch.

Well, after a bumpy beginning, the two began to talk about this and that, using all sort of convenient language to avoid the words “abuse” and “violence” and “punched in the face.” Keith explained that he wasn’t proud of what he’d done, and Tyler replied that he wasn’t sure if he wanted Paula hanging out with him. Then Keith noted that he didn’t create crazy Paula; he had “inherited” her. Well, in that case, punch away! Anyway, the two seemed to connect and come to an understanding, and Tyler said that he appreciated the talk and just wanted to make sure that Keith would help Paula in her upward growth. Well, we’ll see how that goes. I mean, I do feel badly because Keith does seem to be trying to make an effort to improve himself. It’s just that when it comes to writing jokes, he’s such an easy target. Much in the same way that Paula’s an easy target for his fists. Awwww yeahhh!!! STILL GOT IT!!!

Later, Paula brought Keith to the house where they cuddled on a mattress. “Can’t wait till we get to do the home stuff,” Keith said. I wasn’t sure what “the home stuff” was. I assume it had less to do with shopping at Williams Sonoma and more to do with wild, crazy sex. But who knows? Paula then told us that Keith wanted to get married and have babies, which sounded all romantic and stuff until you remembered what sort of household these poor children would be growing up in. I can just imagine their first day of kindergarten. The teacher asks what their names are and the kids say, “My name is KISS MY ASS!!! KISS MY GODDAMN ASS!!!”

The next day, we gazed upon the still-messy backyard, and thanks to the unsettling music in the background, we could sense imminent danger. I didn’t know what was about to happen, but it couldn’t have been good. Sure enough, the camera then trained on Svetlana. Uh oh. That’s never a good sign. And then we saw the BURN BOOK. Oh man. This was about to get crazy. I could already tell. Anyway, since the roomies still hadn’t finished unpacking from their trip to Orlando, Tyler’s burn book was sitting out in the open on top of his bags. Why he felt the need to bring this juvenile volume with him during a hurricane evacuation is beyond me, but apparently one can never be too far from something that instills a false sense of superiority. Well, Svetlana saw the burn book, and being the curious creature that she is, she opened it and read all the nasty things Tyler and Janelle had written about her. We already knew this would lead to massive drama — not because Svetlana would be so devastated by the cruelty of the situation, but because Tyler was totally going to flip when he found out that Svetlana had invaded his privacy. You see, he’s the real victim here.

Anyway, Svetty told us, “The book was there; so I open it, thinking I’m just going to find a few quotes about me.” Wait a second. Did she just imply that she already knew about the burn book? She was already expecting the awful comments? Hmm… kind of undermines the evil-ness of the situation, but nevertheless, I was still intrigued about the outcome. I personally thought she was going to devolve into tears, lock herself in the bathroom, and yell at everyone to leave her alone. But then I realized that I had become so used to Paula’s lunacy that I half expected everyone to do that in any situation. Surprisingly, Svetlana dealt with the burn book rather well. She didn’t cry. She didn’t bawl. She didn’t go on a rampage. Instead, she vented to Paula, saying “I’ve maybe embellished. I’ve never fabricated.” This coming from the girl who allegedly claimed that her cat could say her name. But nevertheless, I understand the value of making hyperbolic statements for comedic effect (and I’ll assume that’s what she was doing with the cat story. Otherwise, well, I have no response really to that).

Well, Paula reminded Svet that Tyler just likes to make people look stupid because he was an insecure guy. She also warned Svetty not to open up to Janelle because she’ll always run back to Tyler. And so concluded Paula’s Obvious Advice of the day. However, Svetlana was still not contented with the situation and began toying with the idea of burning the burn book. Oh, Zach would have loved that irony! It is the burn book which receives the last burn! Such is the poetic nature of The Real World!

Before Svetlana turned the burn book into a flaming piece of irony, she decided to call her mom first, noting, “I usually don’t come to my mom and tell her about things because I know that she gets very dramatic.” NO! Svetlana comes from an overly dramatic mother?? I would never have guessed!

Well, Svetty told her mom all about the burn book and how Tyler and Janelle were being mean to her, and just when it seemed like this whole situation was heading into anticlimax territory, there stood Tyler, proudly eavesdropping in on Svetlana’s entire situation. You see, Svetty was talking on the T-Mobile Sidekick, and because the producers seem to have a speakerphone only policy (better for us to listen in), Tyler was able to hear everything. And yes, he certainly had quite the smug, prissy, and haughty expression on his face. By the way, I hoped he wasn’t about to chew out Svetlana about reading his burn book because he had now lost any and all right to accuse her of invading his privacy.

Anyway, when Svetlana’s mom heard what Tyler and Janelle had been saying about her little babushka, she was angrier than Stalin after Trotsky had skipped off to Mexico. I couldn’t quite understand what Mom was saying (Russian accent + T-Mobile speakerphone = unintelligible. Seriously, I rewound about ten times at a high volume, and still couldn’t get it. Thanks for the subtitles, MTV), but whatever it was, it was not good. “Where does this woman come off saying these things about me?” Tyler asked us incredulously. I don’t know, Tyler. I CAN’T UNDERSTAND A DAMN WORD!!!

A few more rewinds later, and I think I could decipher Svetlana’s mother saying that the people who were being mean to Svetlana were morons and “You should treat them like low-lifes.” Personally, I didn’t see anything wrong with what this woman was saying, especially since most parents would probably disparage anyone who was mean to their daughter. Besides, I’m sure that when she told Svetlana to treat Tyler and Janelle like low-lifes, she was really trying to say “act above it” (it’s the same thing, really. Just said in a different way). Even if that’s not what Svetty’s mom meant, it didn’t matter because Tyler complained, “Her mother doesn’t know anything about me, Janelle, or the rest of the roommates!” Well, duh. Of course not. She’s just trying to make her daughter feel better.

Update: I just re-listened again. This time I heard Svetty’s mom say, “I’m sure they’ve been abused many times in their lives because usually something bad happened in their lives.” And “they’re two losers” and “they belong in a nut house, that’s the way I would feel.” Okay, that’s fairly rough, but again, it’s a mother trying to comfort her daughter!

WELL. No one calls Tyler a low-life! Would a low-life ever be able to paint RED GOD? I THINK NOT! Tyler could stand in the shadows no longer. He marched out, revealing his presence to Svetlana, and said loudly as to be heard on the phone, “Hey, um, does your mom want to talk to one of those low-lifes?” Totally unfazed, Svetlana tried to shoo him away, but personally, I wanted to see Tyler talk to Svetlana’s mom. As if he’d even have a chance going up against a stubborn old Russian lady. Those women don’t budge!

Tyler then barked, “No, if you’re gonna talk shit… talk to our faces!” Technically, I’m pretty sure Svetlana wasn’t really talking shit. And besides, this is a pretty hypocritical demand coming from the guy who’s been penning a burn book. Wow. I’m already getting fired up again just writing about this. Anyway, Svetlana explained to Tyler (again, surprisingly calmly and rationally) that she found the burn book, it made her upset, and now she was talking to her mom about it. No matter. Tyler was not going to accept that. He had a spotlight to shine in, and he was ready to take the stage!

“Hi Mrs. [whatever Svetlana's last name is],” Tyler said. “I actually have a lot of good stuff going on in my life. Before you make judgments, you should get the full story and listen to the lies that your daughter tells on a regular basis.” Oh no he di’int! Wow. He did just say that. Clearly this accusation of being a low-life truly hit a nerve. Tyler’s need to suddenly cluck about all the “good stuff going on” in his life coupled with previous boasts from past shows about all his great accomplishments led me to believe that perhaps Tyler had a massive inferiority/Napoleon complex raging within. But whatever. No time for psycho-analysis. Tyler was being a major dick and probably didn’t realize how dumb he sounded. I already feel bad for whoever will have him as a boss later in life.

I also was somewhat amused at Tyler’s constant harping on Svetlana’s alleged lies. Okay, she claims that her cat can say her name — fine. It’s ridiculous and dumb. But why did Tyler become so enraged that he felt the need to tell of Svetty’s mom? Perhaps he always wanted his cat to say his name. Jealousy? I think so.

Nevertheless, Tyler continued to harass Svetlana until finally she walked away and barked, “Get away from me! Go write about it!” Excuse me? Where would he write about it? In the burn book? Whatever. That doesn’t exist. It’s just one of those LIES you’ve been telling on a daily basis, SVETLANA!!! Besides, Tyler is not so much a writer as he is a painter. RED GOD!!

Anyway, as Svetlana hurried away, Tyler called out, “Bye Mrs. [Svetlana's scrambled last name]. It was nice talking to a low-life!” Wow. We’ve seen a lot of rude displays on The Real World, but this had to be one of the most despicable. You see, when Svet’s mom called Tyler a low-life, it came from a place of protection and motherly love towards her daughter. Actually, I take that back. She didn’t even call Tyler a low-life. She just said Svetlana should treat him like one. When Tyler, on the other hand, called the mother a low-life, it came from a place of anger, hate, insecurity, and hurtfulness. It was so truly obnoxious — like it revealed a dark portal into his soul — that I was way more revolted than I ever thought I would be (simultaneously, I loved it because it was great TV. But that’s just the cynical viewer in me).

Well, Svetlana wisely switched over to her native tongue and began complaining in Russian (something she should have done originally, but then again, from the first episode, we learned that Tyler speaks a little Russian, so I guess it wouldn’t have helped that much). “Now he will go back in the house and say dirty things about you,” Svetty told her mother. Sure enough, we then cut to Tyler who was furiously writing something down on a piece of paper. “It’s time for war, bitch,” he seethed, perhaps confusing The Real World house for his middle school cafeteria. He then took his note and attached it to the front door. What did it say? Oh, just the typical mature follow-up to a friendly spat:

“You should have stayed in Philly, you low-life bitch! Love, Low-life Tyler.”

On the one hand, I was laughing — I mean, how ridiculous could this guy be? He literally was regressing before our eyes. On the other hand, I was somewhat horrified. I mean, there seemed to be no limit to his hurtful actions. Well, we then went to commercial break, and when we returned Zach had come outside to talk to Svetlana about what had just happened. She described the scenario (with very little embellishment — except the burn book had now grown from four pages of evil to eight), and soon Svetlana began to sob. Big, shoulder-shaking sobs. I really did feel badly for her. Yeah, she’s a spoiled brat and something of a drama queen, but she really didn’t deserve the constant bashing from Tyler, and this latest incident just seemed to cross the line.

Well, just when the situation couldn’t get any more Mean Girls-ish, Janelle came strutting out of the house, and instantly, we smelled trouble. She had her most ticked-off bitch face on, and we just knew she was ready to bust out that palm for some emergency “talk to the hand” action. “Fitz, can I ask you a question?” Janelle said. “Does PR stand for Public Relations or Personal Relations?” Okay, she didn’t ask that. Instead, she said, “When you were on the phone, did you say anything negative about me?” Oh my god. Yes, Janelle literally asked that. Apparently, Janelle could happily contribute to the burn book, but hell to the no if Svetlana thought she could say anything negative to her mother.

“Um… you don’t mind if I act like a bitch to you, do you?”

Anyway, Svetlana denied trash-talking Janelle, but the diva was unconvinced. “From what I heard, something about me being a low-life,” she said, trying to sound all rational and level-headed, but clearly she was just restraining herself from clawing Svetty’s eyes out. Never mind that Janelle was basing this info on inaccurate gossip that Tyler had spread. Once again, rumor is fact. I was hoping that Zach would then stick up for Svetlana and tell Janelle to stop squawking about things she had no idea about, but clearly the conversation was moving too fast for him. He can only take about ten words per minute before the ol’ brain shuts down.

Nevertheless, Janelle then began attacking Svetlana, again accusing her of fabricating stories and embellishing and whatnot. She then said that everyone in the house has problems with Svetty. “It’s not just Tyler. It certainly isn’t just me. It’s everybody!” Janelle yelled. Yes, John, Zach, Paula, and Jose also had major problems with Svetlana — as demonstrated by them not talking shit about her behind her back all the time and not bashing her in a burn book. The evidence was overwhelming! Again, I still couldn’t figure out why Janelle and Tyler hated Svetlana’s embellishments so much. I mean, really. Get over it already. It’s one thing to poke fun at her, but quite another to launch World War III.

Janelle then managed to blame Svetlana for why she and Tyler had ganged up on her. “You gotta think why isn’t anyone else in this situation and you are?” Janelle asked. I think the easy answer to that would be because Janelle and Tyler are bullies, and Svetlana is their punching bag. That’s why she’s in that situation. Of course, you could always take Janelle’s logic and say, “You gotta think why isn’t anyone else all fired up and you are?” Again, if I may do some armchair psychology, I think the reason why Janelle and Tyler were acting so evil was because they knew they were busted with the burn book, and it’s easier to lash out at Svetlana than to accept the reality that what they did was wrong and obnoxious. You see, they’re not bad people. Svetlana put them in a situation where they had to do bad things. That’s why the low-life comment hit so close to home. They knew they were acting like low-lifes and couldn’t deal with it. Wow, I’m so taking over for Dr. Phil when this is over.

Well, tempers soon calmed down, and everyone went inside. Luckily, Svetlana didn’t see Tyler’s little missive on the front door, but Zach found it and was repulsed, saying it almost made him vomit. He then showed it to John, who was equally disgusted, and finally, Zach showed some small balls and confronted Tyler about it. For whatever reason, I expected Tyler to be calmer, rational and apologetic now, but instead, he snipped that Zach didn’t know the whole story — much in the same way Tyler rarely knows the whole story (like when he overhears only one side of a telephone call or like when he passes judgment on Svetlana’s tales, despite knowing whether they’re true or not).

Tyler then complained, “She lies and manipulates!” Who cares??? MOVE ON!

Nevertheless, Tyler’s false sense of responsibility in “fixing” Svetlana reached new obnoxious lows when he told us, “Svetlana’s like that bad puppy that pees on the carpet. She needs to be punished. And that’s why I punished her.” Okay, whoever beat Tyler as a little boy, please step forward. You’ve clearly screwed him up interminably.

“You are twenty-three years old. She is a nineteen year old child who we all know is immature and young and has been spoiled her whole life!” Zach yelled. Unfortunately, he yelled it at us, not at Tyler. Damn. It was a good rant too.

Ultimately, Tyler showed no remorse, even when Zach tried to talk some sense into him. The only thing Tyler regretted was never being able to see Svetlana’s face upon seeing that note. “She’s a little baby whore, and she deserves every tear that she’s crying now,” Tyler scoffed. But seriously, he’s not a low-life.

Later on, Paula and Zach had dinner, and the two talked about how much they loved, loved, loved Fitz. Not only that, they believed that Tyler had a fond place for Svetty too. “He doesn’t hate her. He just thinks she’s an idiot,” Zach said. Oh. Okay. Of course, if Tyler thinks Svetlana is an idiot, it still doesn’t grant him the right to be totally obnoxious and condescending to her all the time.

“It’s not his right to say, ‘Your life plan is stupid,’” Paula then said. I agreed with her… and then I felt shame in knowing I had spent the past seven or eight weeks condemning her relationship with Keith. Awkward guilt… Hey, maybe I shouldn’t be so mean to Paula. Looks like I’ve learned a little something from today’s episode! Thanks Real World!

Well, with all this craziness going on, the show came to a screeching halt as we headed back to the house and listened to Jose babble on about the cleaning plans for Mystic Tan. Fascinating! Way to kill all the momentum, Jose. Hey, I thought you already said your two lines of the episode anyway.

Nevertheless, the big plan was that a professional cleaning crew would come into the salon and take care of bidness. Sounded great, right? Well, there was a catch. The next day, the kids went to the shop and called up Ricky to let him know what was going on. He said he admired all their hard work and dedication but… he was closing down shop! HAHA! That sucks! I mean, we knew it was going to happen (thanks to Reality Blurred), but I always figured it was because the idea of having a tanning salon in the Keys seemed somewhat redundant. I didn’t realize it was because of all the hurricanes. Well, the kids all dropped their jaws in shock and then on the bottom of the screen, we saw “TO BE CONTINUED”! Oh my god!! What will happen!! The fate of the Mystic Tan salon will haunt my thoughts all week long!!!!

“Oh shit.”

“But I was going to do Personal Relations!”

So what did you think about this turbulent episode? Did Tyler cross the line? Or did Svetlana deserve a good scolding? Shouldn’t Tyler just get over it already? Oh, and what about Paula and Keith? So much to discuss!

Comments (109)
More About Author

About B-Side

109 Comments

1

Firecat

Posted June 28, 2006 at 8:33 pm

AS the season goes on, Tyler gets meaner and Paula gets crazier. Somehow it must be Svetlana’s fault…right?

Tyler and Janelle are both low lifes, I hope Fitzs family puts a hit out on them.

The hypocrisy is just mind numbing.
2

ATCmurph

Posted June 28, 2006 at 8:51 pm

They all looked so shocked when they found out the shop was closing down. What they were really thinking was “Woo hoo! More drinking time!”
3

Fetita

Posted June 28, 2006 at 9:43 pm

Just to help you out a little, B-Side, Tyler was not calling Svetlana’s mother Mrs. “Svetlana’s last name.” He was calling her Mrs. Fitzsimmons, though I have no fucking clue why because that is not her last name but it doesn’t seem like a very evil or hateful thing to say (I assume his purpose was to be evil and hateful at this particular moment in time… I am sure I am missing some pop culture reference here).

Oh and they did go to DisneyWorld .
4

J-Balls

Posted June 28, 2006 at 9:46 pm

I really hope someone tries to defend Tyler here. I’m just curious – I want to hear what it sounds like.

SO fucking tired of the old “I tell it like it is! You either love me or hate me!” People, this is not what having a society is about. Guess what, Tyler. WE HATE YOU. FUCK OFF.
5

B-Side

Posted June 28, 2006 at 9:51 pm

Fetita — it sounded like the producers took Svetlana’s last name and played it backwards. I don’t think Tyler said “Fitzsimmons.”
6

Fetita

Posted June 28, 2006 at 10:01 pm

Okay, I just used my captioning because I knew it sounded nothing like her surname, and that is what it said.
7

ILUVMTV

Posted June 28, 2006 at 10:32 pm

Holy Shit.
8

Steve

Posted June 29, 2006 at 12:16 am

Svetlana’s last name is Shusterman.

And I’m sure someone has already bitched about this, but what’s up with the nice one-page recaps being turned into six-pagers? Trying to get some views or something by use opening 6 pages rather than 1?
9

B-Side

Posted June 29, 2006 at 12:27 am

Just click the “All Pages” option and you can get the classic one-page format.
10

Steve

Posted June 29, 2006 at 1:50 am

I bow my head in shame to B-Side. Blame it on my Tyler-like “massive inferiority/Napoleon complex raging within.” Or Miller Light, it’s up to you.
11

g3

Posted June 29, 2006 at 1:52 am

Tyler is a malicious, conniving, evil, evil, evil man. I can’t believe that he behaved that way. His craziness was like Paula’s – except Paula only gets like that when she’s drunk. Tyler’s hated Svetlana since day 1. He’s out to get her for whatever insecure crazy reason. I feel sorry for that girl.
I was so worked up by the way he acted and when Janelle came out with that “i just smelled shit” face – I wanted to scream.
Why do they have such a tremendous disgusting vile hatred for Svetlana? Poor girl didn’t even fight or argue back.
12

waytointothis

Posted June 29, 2006 at 6:07 am

This episode was ridiculous. I felt sooooo bad for Svetlana. Janelle and Tyler have serious issues. I love how Tyler gets all offended about being called a low life then does something as classy as posting a bitch out letter on a door. That guy is a complete asshole and Janelle is a bitch.
13

jash

Posted June 29, 2006 at 6:28 am

tyler, ok his behaviour was somewhat expected despite its amazing degree of immaturity.

janelle, WOW WTF is going through her head? girl is crazy.

i was VERY disappointed to learn that keith was hot (IMO). such a shame for a wife beater.
14

IHeartTV

Posted June 29, 2006 at 6:32 am

This coming from the girl who allegedly claimed that her cat could say her name.

Wait. What? Really?
15

jash

Posted June 29, 2006 at 6:50 am

and defend tyler? yeah that’ll go over about as well as the time i tried to defend triumph of the will as a misunderstood non-propaganda cinematic work.

(for the sake of argument that is–it was totally hitlers made for movie commerical)
16

megan

Posted June 29, 2006 at 6:58 am

jash – i agree that keith was good looking… i was expecting someone more KFed-ish.

As for Tyler, although he’s clearly a dick I can’t help but love him. He makes for GREAT tv. I hope they just end up putting him on every Real World season. I would have loved to seen him on the Austin cast, then maybe it wouldn’t have been so boring. Then he could picked at Melinda/Danny relationship!
17

Lobstar

Posted June 29, 2006 at 7:07 am

Damn, I missed this last night. I’ll have to catch one of the million repeats, but Tyler has been a petty, self-absorbed, cruel bitch since the minute he arrived. He gives gay people, and people in general, a bad name.
18

Emilita33

Posted June 29, 2006 at 7:16 am

I can’t believe how Tyler and Jannelle acted in this episode, I actually felt sick to my stomach. I think must of us have done immature/mean things in our lives similar to the burn book, but I can’t believe that after they got caught Tyler and Jannelle were still on the offensive and not apologetic. I was seriously disgusted and felt so bad for Svet, she doesn’t seem to have done anything bad enough to deserve this treatment! And so concludes my rant, but seriously nothing on tv had gotten me this worked up maybe ever…sad, but true.
19

maefarre

Posted June 29, 2006 at 7:16 am

I’m ashamed I thought Keith was hot too. And a little saddened that at two different points in this episode, Crazy Paula was actually the sane person making some sense. When Svetlana told her she was upset about the burn book and she said Tyler makes fun of other people to make himself feel superior and then later when she made the comment about Tyler not being able to judge someone else’s life plan. Damn. Hurricane Wilma changed everything. And Tyler is horrible.
20

cappy

Posted June 29, 2006 at 7:27 am

Tyler might possibly be one of the most hateful people in the world. Janelle is ignorant. But Johnny Bananas in his keg costume? LOVE IT. Never thought someone like JB would be my favorite cast member.
21

MrsB

Posted June 29, 2006 at 7:41 am

Tyler and Janelle are just pathetic pieces of trash. Their “self esteem” (riiight) comes from making someone else feel like crap. Real mature guys.
22

MissKatrina

Posted June 29, 2006 at 7:43 am

I had often heard as a little girl that a rare breed of self-righteous, indignant beasts roamed the earth, but I always thought such beasts were too ridiculous to actually exist. That childhood myth has come true in the forms of Tyler and Janelle.

Poor Svet is an easy target for Tyler’s pent-up aggression. The fact that he tells everyone how wonderful his life is just shows that beneath his hard shell of Speedo and chemical tan, he is squishy and insecure inside.
23

hannahthehun

Posted June 29, 2006 at 7:49 am

Tyler showed what an insecure little bitch he really is. At this point I’m hoping he’ll make it onto a RW/RR challenge so Coral can put a serious beat-down on him. Dick.
Dead on with the analysis, B-Side. You can psycho-analyze me any day.
24

Terence

Posted June 29, 2006 at 7:55 am

Fun recap. I laughed at the last caption. Tyler is pretty evil. And yeah Meg(#16) I was expecting K-Fed himself to be Kieth!
25

Volcat

Posted June 29, 2006 at 8:00 am

My God- I thought I was back in middle school during that episode. Tyler and Janelle reminded me of the “mean girls” that I dealt with in the seventh grade. I know that Tyler is on a reality show and is a bit (okay, more than a bit) of an attention-whore, but seriously, yelling at Svetlana’s mom, posting that ridiculous letter, and calling Svetalana a puppy who pees on the carpet?? And Janelle showing up to confront Svetlana while Zach was talking to her? Both of them need to go pass some notes during study hall and leave poor Svetty alone.

One thing that I noted during this episode-John and Zach may sometimes act like idiots, but they have really been there for Paula and Svetlana when Tyler has reared his ugly head. It’s nice to see that sweet side of them, as opposed to the one-dimensional Danny and Wes of RW Austin.

I had to laugh at the preview for next week. Our store has closed down, we’re out of a job, so what will we do? MTV sends us to Spain! Yeah, that’s the “real world”. But who am I to complain, it makes for great TV ; )
26

Amma

Posted June 29, 2006 at 8:12 am

I cannot believe how Tyler acted, and then Janelle. My temper first flared when Tyler scolded Svetlana about talking behind HIS back. Are you f*cking kidding me?! He does the same thing ALL THE TIME! Then when Fitz is out there crying, the I-Don’t-Have-A-Brain-In-My-Head Tyler following Janelle comes out to say her piece. JANELLE is the stupid puppy that follows Tyler around. It’s sad.

Tyler is so insanely jealous of everything Fitz has, and he is SO quick to turn on anyone in the house and talk about them – the really SAD thing is he doesn’t realize how all of America thinks HE’S the dumbass, low-life, and now petty little prick.

That’s enough of my venting. Tyler will get what is coming to him, believe me.
27

B-Side

Posted June 29, 2006 at 8:22 am

I agree with pretty much everything everyone’s been saying.

Similar to what one person said about Austin, I will say that I do hope Tyler winds up in a challenge with Danny. Tyler may be an immature bitch, but I’d sure love to see him go prissy on those Austin kids.
28

RealityMonkey

Posted June 29, 2006 at 8:24 am

I was hoping for a screenshot/comments of when they were in the car talking trash about Svetty and Janelle rested her head on Tyler’s shoulder with a look of pure glee. “YAY- I’m back to fag hag status!” I think I hate her more than Tyler, just for propping up his actions and making him think they’re acceptable.
29

chubbyballerina

Posted June 29, 2006 at 8:30 am

I love that Janelle tried oh-so-hard to share the Bitch Spotlight with Tyler. Come on, “Did you say something negative about me?” vs. “You should have stayed in Philly, you low-life bitch!”
I think we all know who belongs in the background and who belongs in the spotlight.
30

dsher

Posted June 29, 2006 at 8:39 am

OMG! Could Tyler and Janelle be any meaner? If Svet has been saying all these ridiculous things wouldn’t MTV have put them in the show. Sure she’s not too bright and plenty spoiled, but like B-Side said “Get over it!” Big Deal! Ignore her and move on. I thought Tyler was a complete pscho and I can’t believe the entire house doesn’t gang up and put the smack down on both of them. Janelle is all, “Ah Fitz did you say something negative about me?” WTF. Every chance they get they are bashing that girl. MTV kicks off people who physically abuse others, but why keep these mental abuser, bullies on? Yes it does bring ratings, I know! Sorry I’m so worked up about this episode. They are trying to teach kids in middle and high school about bullying and this is what MTV has come up with? And what kind of example is Paula? I feel like vomiting every time she starts with their relationship is so great now that he beat me up? Again another horrible example for girls to follow. Hello! Any girls out there? Get away from the abusers. Even if they get help! Get away from them! There are a million other guys out there who would NEVER lay a hand on you EVER! And yes, although Keith maybe somewhat attractive, he still has that look of an abuser. UGH!

That’s B-side your re-cap was dead-on. Love it! Hate Tyler and Janelle!
31

Lisa

Posted June 29, 2006 at 8:49 am

Ditto to what everyone said. I can’t believe that even when Zach called him out on the note, Tyler had absolutely no remorse. Anyone else might get crazy upset about being called a low-life and maybe go as far as yelling at someone’s mom and writing a childish note, but then a normal person would feel at least a little badly about it afterwards. But not Tyler. I don’t understand why he and Janelle let Svetlana’s “lies” bother them so much. Is she hurting anyone by embellishing her stories a little? Seriously, are their feelings hurt by her being a little dumb or (gasp) acting her age? Get over yourselves.

On a lighter note — B-Side, how could you not notice Jose’s best moment of the entire season so far? When Zach (or was it John?) was trying to start the red car but it was flooded, Jose was standing there HOLDING A FIRE EXTINGUISHER!!! So he could put out the fire in the flooded engine? Maybe. Or maybe he’s realized that he needs a gimmick in order to get on camera.
32

sarah smile

Posted June 29, 2006 at 9:08 am

i wonder how tyler would fare in a bitchfest with rachonica.
33

stacyrocks

Posted June 29, 2006 at 9:15 am

I was so disgusted with these people. First off, Paula saying “Keith had to treat me that badly to know not to do it again”. WHAT?!?!?!?!?!?! Are you serious? He had to beat you until you were hospitalized to KNOW “Ok, bad move”. That’s just messed up. I can’t believe MTV aired that part. I hope no one who’s in a similar situation as Paula is thinking it made sense and then should give their abuser another chance to ‘finish the job’. That’s complete bullshit.

And secondly… TYLER! OMG. I was shocked he even talked to Svetty’s mom like that! UGH! What a rude dick! Even if I hated someone, I would never think about addressing their mom/parent like that. He is such a hypocrite! However, it made for a great episode.

*Thanks B-Side, good recap.
34

Chee-Z-TeeVee Addict

Posted June 29, 2006 at 9:21 am

Wow.

Tyler is out of control. In the REAL real world, that note might have been construed as threatening, and/or harrassment. Maybe Svetlana should introduce Tyler some real lowlifes by having him arrested, and slapping a restraining order on him. That would definitely put an end to his pathetic quest for screen-time – I wonder what all of his “high-level” friends think of his antics?

His behavior towards Svetlana’s mother was completely inexusable.

Janelle is a stupid bitch. I wish Svetlana would have held her ground, looked her straight in the eye, and said “Yes, I was talking about you – why shouldn’t I? You have exercised your right to talk about me; I don’t like it, I don’t like you. You don’t get to decide how I feel about you, or how I express it, and right now you’re interrupting a private conversation so please leave.” DB’s like Janelle NEVER know how to handle direct, logical confrontations.

I usually think Zach is a putz, however I did respect his willingness to call Tyler on his repugnant behavior. When you are dealing with an Alph-Bitch it’s always hard to potentially put yourself in their sights. It looks as though the tides may be turning against Miss T – Maybe the slap-down Tyler received from the Atlantic Ocean last week was really some clever fore-shadowing…
35

BethW

Posted June 29, 2006 at 9:25 am

I just really can’t believe Tyler’s behavior. I would NEVER ever speak to somebody’s parents like that. I’ve been trying to type this comment for about 5 minutes but his utter disrespect just leaves me at a loss for anything coherent to say.
36

Trent880

Posted June 29, 2006 at 9:28 am

TO BE CONTINUED???? You mean this show is a SERIES???
37

scorpiella

Posted June 29, 2006 at 9:31 am

dsher –
The roommates will not gang up on Tyler because they’re scared of his wrath. That’s how bullies get away with being bullies. The other roommates feel bad for Svetlana but as long as he’s focusing on her and not on them, they are safe. I can’t wait for the reunion show when he has to face the fact that everyone thinks he is the immature one, not Svetty.
38

juxtapoeser

Posted June 29, 2006 at 9:38 am

I think he said “Mrs. Fitz’s Mom
39

hollabackboy

Posted June 29, 2006 at 9:46 am

I was really disgusted by Tyler in this episode. He just seems like he’s always out to get Svetlana no matter what she does. Ok, so she’s a drama queen and makes up stories every now and then. But why does he feel like he needs “to punish” her. It’s one thing to put her in her place when it’s needed. But it’s another thing to write burn books, insult her mother, and write such a nasty and immature note. If he would have talked to my mother like that, that would have been it. He had no right to call her mother a lowlife. Especially when her mother was only trying to console her own daughter. And besides, people who have nothing better to do with their lives(like Tyler claims he does) than pick on someone and try and humiliate them everyday are essentially lowlifes. “She deserves every tear she’s crying”. Tyler is a sadistic, heartless person and he really showed his true colors this episode. He’s just upset because he can’t be a pretty Russian girl with big boobs and rich parents. For someone who claims to be so mature and worldly, he sure is a self-righteous little bitch. Oh, and to think, on his MySpace he claims to be a “very sensitive” person. Yeah, because people who take sad pleasure in other people’s pain are real sweethearts.

(End of my rant)
40

J-Balls

Posted June 29, 2006 at 10:01 am

I would love to know what Tyler’s friends and parents think of him today. They should be ashamed. If I could talk to his mom speaker phone I wouldn’t call her names or anything. I’d just explain to her how completely and definitively she failed as a mother.

Judging by the comments here, elsewhere, and people I’ve talked to, I’m just not even sure how Tyler is supposed to get a job, find a boyfriend, or even walk down the street after the shit he pulled. Random people will probably be calling him names, slapping him in the face, pushing him into traffic… He’s ruined his own life and I wonder if he’s figured it out yet.
41

hollabackboy

Posted June 29, 2006 at 10:15 am

#32

I honestly don’t even think that Rachonica would go as far as Tyler just did. They may be the Mean Girls, but they never sunk to the low of writing a burn book. And at least they owned up to their behavior. Besides, Tonya is a lot worse than Svetlana. Evidenced by the fact that few people actually like her.
42

RealityMonkey

Posted June 29, 2006 at 10:32 am

Another thing that irks me about Tyler- Anyone ever notice how he sports the Tufts shirt all the time to point out that he went to college and considers himself intelligent? Yet I have seen many RWers with far less education and a lot more class.

I’m seething at work over this whole thing, days later.
43

zevonia

Posted June 29, 2006 at 10:51 am

Ok, though I know from the tenor and maturity level of some of the comments here, I’ll probably be attacked for what I’m writing, I’m going to try to be balanced and fair (not fair and balanced ’cause that belongs to FOX). First of all, Tyler was horrible and he was the one who peed on the carpet and needed to be punished but as B-Side wrote so eloquently: “When Tyler, on the other hand, called the mother a low-life, it came from a place of anger, hate, insecurity, and hurtfulness. It was so truly obnoxious — like it revealed a dark portal into his soul –”. Tyler is not evil: bullies are made not born. I really hate to think of how horrible his early life must have been for him to turn out this way. Most of the time on Real World, people behave like dicks because they are drunk or immature or have been taught to behave that way (or a combination of all three). When someone behaves the way Tyler does and shows no remorse that means they are in serious pain. Notice I wrote “shows” no remorse. I wouldn’t doubt Tyler felt really horribly after all this but his defense mechanisms for coping would never let him admit that he was wrong. He needs to be in counseling as much as Paula does. I truly feel sorry for him. And before someone starts screaming about Svetty, I feel sorry for her as well but she seems to have a good home life and family who support her. I doubt Tyler has or he wouldn’t be the way he is now. Part of Svetty’s problem is she has been spoiled and never had to deal with people not liking her or not doing whatever she wants. She wasn’t prepared for someone like Tyler so she didn’t know how to react. Actually, when we’re young, we rarely know how to handle someone like Tyler. Chee-Z-TeeVee Addict (#34) is right about how Svetty should have handled Janelle but it is the same with Tyler. If Svetty had been older or had more experience she would have dealt with Tyler in the beginning and it wouldn’t have gotten this bad. Not that I’m blaming her for not knowing but she does antagonize the situation by not fighting back with Tyler’s own weapons. His less nasty ones, I mean. Bullies find that weak person and they attack. Svetty needs to stop being weak and stand up to him. But not by screaming and crying and embellishing. And get ready to attack me on another point but Svetty had no right to look at the burn book. Not that she knew it was a burn book. We all know Tyler keeps a journal. That’s what Svetty thought she’d be looking at: Tyler’s PRIVATE journal. She expected to find something he wrote about her since he would write his thoughts about all of his room mates in his journal. This was very wrong of her and, though she didn’t deserve ANY of the treatment Tyler gave her, she should have known better than to look at it. Being young, spoiled and immature doesn’t give you the right to read someone else’s journal. I have hopes that Svetty will grow out of her problems because they are minor and mostly stem from being young. However Tyler’s personal growth isn’t going anywhere without professional help. As for Janelle, I don’t know enough about her to know why she follows Tyler around like a puppy but a little counseling wouldn’t hurt her either. I’m sure neither of these people are sociopathic, let alone evil. Tyler, and possibly Janelle, come from a terrible background much worse than a “low life”. Believe me, they are more to be pitied than censured.
As for Paula and Keith. I’m scared for that girl. They both need to be in counseling for a long time to be “fixed” and probably should never see each other again. Even if Keith is getting help, being in a relationship with someone you once abused makes it too easy to fall back in the old behavior patterns.

All that being said, doesn’t it make for great TV?
44

TimOD

Posted June 29, 2006 at 10:55 am

RealityMonkey, he does love his Tufts shirts. Obviously one of his “great accomplishments”. He also loves his Princeton Swimming shirt which he must have stolen because he swam for Division III Tufts and Princeton is division I.
45

Lisa

Posted June 29, 2006 at 11:08 am

Woo I’m on the front page! Thanks guys
46

Volcat

Posted June 29, 2006 at 11:09 am

Zevonia-I agree with many of the points that you brought up in your comment. However, I thought that Tyler’s burn book either had the words “burn book” and/or Svetlana’s name on the cover. I remember that it had words and some graphics drawn on it, but I don’t know what they said. I would go back and check, but I’ve already erased the episode from the DVR. B-side, do you happen to have a screencap of it?

I’m normally very respectful of people’s privacy, particularly journals, but if I saw a notebook with my name and “burn book” written on it, I would probably have to take a peek at it.
47

J-Balls

Posted June 29, 2006 at 11:12 am

zevonia, you should have stayed in Philly.

People who have sorry lives should be pitied. That’s true. But anyone who treats others like dirt also deserves to be hated, and I’m not very forgiving about the rationale behind it. By your reasoning here is a list of people we should feel sorry for: Ron Artest, Duke lacrosse rapists, Charles Mansion, and the Klu Klux Klan. They’ve all had tough lives (except for Duke lacrosse). Maybe you want to hug them and cradle them in your arms until they fall asleep? I’d like to kick their teeth in.

Furthermore, let’s put to rest the notion that Tyler’s burn book was private. First, let’s agree on a definition: something is private if other people don’t know it. Good enough? Now, Tyler showed the contents of the book to everyone in the house besides Svetlana. Still private? Tyler told everyone watching TV what he wrote about her. Still private?

zevonia, if I write a burn book about you and show literally every person in the world besides you what I wrote, is that book still private? Just because YOU don’t know about it? It sounds to me more like it’s public knowledge and you just don’t “read the paper.”
48

tvaholic

Posted June 29, 2006 at 11:27 am

Ok, part of me does not want to jump on the “Why Tyler is an ass” bandwagon, but here goes. First of all, Tyler auditioned for Real World because he’s a narcissistic prick who thinks his opinions (and artwork) should be known by all. He does not seem like someone who would be rational and kind over doing whatever it takes to get the spotlight, which he has had all season. Second, I’m partial to believe the producers set up Svetty “finding” the Burn Book to create some drama. Third, even though I have a background in sociology & anthropology, I’m a firm believer that we are all ultimately responsible for our actions, so zevonia I’d have to disagree with you. Tyler may be what he is because of his childhood, but as an adult it is his choice to act like an asshole. I don’t pity him, I pity those who have to put up with his “sanctimonious bullshit,” to quote B-Side.

So anyway, I am looking forward to Tyler’s career as the next Challenge lifer-this bitch ain’t going nowhere but to the next camera-time oppurtunity.
49

sarah smile

Posted June 29, 2006 at 11:39 am

whoa hold on balls – read the news lately? the duke kids were tried in a court of public opinion when now it looks like the dancer made up huge chunks of her story (according to testimony of the second dancer).

sorry for the tangent, now back to the tyler
50

antebellum

Posted June 29, 2006 at 11:57 am

B-Side, the main difference between you judging Paula and Keith, and Tyler judging Svetlana: You are just a loving TV-watcher, a stranger that Paula will probably never know and whose opinion she probably doesn’t care about (no offense, you know we all love you). Tyler is Svetlana’s roommate, and she probably even thought he was her friend at some points. And for anyone to try to dictate someone’s “life plan”… well, I wouldn’t trust anything coming from Tyler. Whereas you, of course, are a very respectable person.

I know a girl who constantly lies about everything. We’re not talking Svetlana-embellishment here, we’re talking flat-out lying and everyone knows it. While a lot of people (including myself) laugh at the stories this girl tells, we also feel really sorry for her because there has to be some issues with her causing her to be this way. Nobody makes fun of or attacks her that way. Tyler is just plain evil. I am happy to report that he will be on the next Challenge, and I wouldn’t be surprised if he tried to blame this whole episode on the editing. I also hope he gets booed reeaallly loudly at the reunion and gets all prissy-pissed at them all.

As for Janelle… whatever. She doesn’t even deserve commentary.
51

J-Balls

Posted June 29, 2006 at 12:09 pm

sarah smile, I hear what you’re saying but I think you’re missing my point. Whether or not those Duke lacrosse players are LEGALLY guilty or not, what do you THINK happened? How do you feel about those guys? Would you be excited to hear one of them was dating your daughter?
52

shazamm

Posted June 29, 2006 at 12:10 pm

Well I didn’t think it was possible…but after veiwing Tyler’s heinous actions I was actually vomiting orange self tanner all over the place.
53

ncgirl

Posted June 29, 2006 at 12:36 pm

I loved this recap Bside This was a good episode and I wonder what Tyler will think when he watches the episode – will he realize how ridiculous he is or continue to keep rationalizing his psycho behavior to himself. Probably the second. It’s strange how much he hates Svetlana so much. I think it is definitely a jealousy thing because she is spoiled and things seem to come pretty easy to her…
I was more disappointed with Janelle. There are some episodes where I like her and I think she has her head on straight but between this episode and the episode with Jose, she can be simply unreasonable. It’s concerning because she is very articulate and she will always be somewhat respected by others, but she uses that to make life hell for certain people and she always has that little smile/smirk on her face when she does it….
54

Chee-Z-TeeVee Addict

Posted June 29, 2006 at 1:03 pm

Zevonia, In theory I agree with most of your comments in post #43. I believe Tyler has probably had a rough time, and from coments made earlier in the season my guess is that most of the bullying he was the target of, came from his father and brothers. I have no doubt that Tyler is damaged, and operates out of a place of pain, but that does NOT excuse his behavior.

He is, by his own accounting, an intelligent and observant person; he immediately selected Svetlana as the most vulnerable member of the household, and proceeded to undermine her with the other cast members. I believe it was the 1st or 2nd episode, when Zach showed an interest in Svetlana that Tyler became overt in his hostility toward her, and essentially manipulated Zach’s initial attraction to her into a tacit group dynamic of derision and ridicule. (That’s when I decided Zach was a putz.)

Janelle is clearly jealous of Svetlana, and with good reason. Svetlana was definitely the object of most of the sexual interest in the house. I know that was a large part of what initially set Paula off against Johnny B., and I’ll bet it pissed Tyler off too.

My feelings about how Tyler’s behavior is evolving, pretty much mirror my feelings about Paula’s behavior throughout the show. I know Paula is damaged goods, but the fact that she’s a broken person doesn’t give her a license to manipulate, control or abuse other people – especially people who are essentially being held captive to her self-destructive melodramas.

Tyler is sadistic and cruel. He invalidates his own pain by causing unnecessary pain to others. He has a right to dislike Svetlana, he even has the right to say he doesn’t like her; he does NOT have the right to psychologically terrorize her in her own home. And he IS terrorizing her. He has not shown her even minimal consideration or respect, why should she respect him? Or his “burn book”. I would have read it too, had I been in her situation.

PS – I’M also pretty pathetic, I just spent about 15 minutes writing this, while fretting about my deadlines for work – I’m a winner.
55

zevonia

Posted June 29, 2006 at 1:38 pm

J-Balls, get a grip. You are comparing what Tyler did to rapists, serial killers and violent racists?!?!? Talk about embellishing. And in case you can’t figure it out, no, I don’t want to cradle those people. I don’t want to cradle Tyler either but he doesn’t compare to those types. If I were in that house I would have slapped Tyler down a long time ago then driven him to a counselor. They all make fun of Svetty but the stuff he says is over the line and a signal that something else is wrong.
Volcat, I was not aware there was anything on the cover. I was under the impression Svetty thought it was Tyler’s journal (hence her wondering if there were any comments about her in it). If it said her name and burn book on the cover than she should have known anything it contained would be hurtful. I doubt she thought it would say “gee, I wish I wasn’t gay because I love Svetty and want to marry her and make her happy forever”. If someone makes asinine comments to your face, why would you want to read either their journal or a burn book about you and open yourself up for more pain?
tvaholic, I agree adults have a choice in how they behave but that’s assuming Tyler is an adult. To me he’s every bit the immature child he claims Svetty is. It would be nice if damaged people became whole and perfect when they turn 21 but it doesn’t happen that way. Paula is 25 and more self aware than anyone else on this show but she doesn’t always control herself and behave like an adult. Damaged people have trouble controlling their behavior because they can’t control their emotions.
ncgirl, you’re probably right about Tyler but part of me hopes when he sees himself, he’ll realize what an awful person he’s been and try to reform. Hey, sometimes that’s all you can do is hope. Your comments about Janelle are very insightful. She can seem very together and reasonable and then turn into a Tyler wannabe.
Chee-Z-TeeVee Addict, I’m not trying to defend, excuse or rationalize Tyler. I’m just trying to explain him. I’m both hopeful and cynical about people. I agree he’s sadistic and cruel but I don’t agree that his behavior invalidates his own pain. He doesn’t have the right to terrorize her or anyone else but part of the problem is, as I said, the room mates have let him, even encouraged him. And the producers are just as irresponible with his behavior as they are with Paula’s problems. However, I think Tyler (and Paula) has the potential to change and I’m not willing to write him off. You’re right about Paula, as well. But her behavior was more obviously off then Tyler’s so it was easier for the roommates to realize their was a problem and confront her about it. Again, if you read a burn book, you’re just asking to be hurt. Oh, and you’re not pathetic-just a tv addict, like the rest of us.
I’m glad Tyler will be on the next challenge. I just hope Coral will be there- she’s a girl who knows how to take down a bullshit artist but then she’ll be his friend. That’s what he needs is real friends to tell him what’s what. And counseling, definitely counseling.
56

southernbelle

Posted June 29, 2006 at 1:44 pm

Lisa–I too noticed Jose and his fire extinguisher. My first thought (well, after “what the crap?”) upon seeing it was how it would be side-splittingly recapped. But, alas, no mention of it. Eh, we all drop the ball every now and then.
57

J-Balls

Posted June 29, 2006 at 1:59 pm

What is this? A commercial for psychotherapy? Why do we have to drive Tyler to the therapists office? Why can’t we just ostracize him? Or better yet, smack him in the face? With a shovel? Ideally, everyone in the world should have a therapist. But that’s not how the world works.

I guarantee that every person in jail today has something in their past that makes them pitiful and they all probably needed their parents to hug them more when they were children. But I’m not going to give them all probation for that. Why do I have to help Tyler just because his Daddy wasn’t nice to him? Boo hoo, he’s still an asshole.
58

Keyser Soze

Posted June 29, 2006 at 2:17 pm

Tyler and Janelle are uber-bitches. If I were them, I’d be ashamed to be anywhere in public after acting like this on TV. However, I have a conscience, which would make me ashamed. They do not.
That being said, I think that Mrs. Brady belongs on this show giving daily therapy, not the Surreal Life house.
59

tvaholic

Posted June 29, 2006 at 2:47 pm

Keyser Soze (#58)-how freakin’ awesome would that be to have Florence on the show talking to these kids? They should bring her on to host the reunion show instead of Lala or Tata or whatever her name is.
60

Lisa

Posted June 29, 2006 at 2:58 pm

So glad you noticed the fire extinguisher too, southernbelle! I was afraid I had hallucinated it!
61

gasmgrrl

Posted June 29, 2006 at 3:03 pm

wow people are getting pretty angry over a reality tv show. I will not mention the KKK or Duke Lacrosse players, but I will say I LOVE LOVE LOVE Tyler.

Look people, I watch reality TV for the petty drama – the crying, yelling, kiss my ass, kiss my goddamn ass, drunken, childish moments. Why do ya’ll watch?

I would hate this season if it wasn’t for Tyler who reminds us why we watch these shows. Everyone except Tyler and Paula are pretty boring (in my mind) and while Paula is interesting, I am disturbed to see an abused woman and all of her roommates basically forgive a woman beater. Its not funny its; not interesting; it is really messed up and hard to watch.

Now a catty, shrill gay man screaming at a bratty girl and her mom- that is hilarious TV people.

Lets stay calm and remember why we’re all here shall we?
62

tvisreality

Posted June 29, 2006 at 3:04 pm

I know that Tyler’s capacity to be an asshole is stunning, but I can’t believe that no one has commented yet on the shocking preview for next week! I’d never believe it if I didn’t see it with my own two eyes: Paula Walnuts and Johnny Bananas hooking up!!! I was beginning to find this season a little dull, aside from Paula’s flare ups, but shit’s finally getting hectic in Key West!

What on earth is Johnny Bananas thinking? I was really starting to think that he was the best-adjusted person in the house until I saw that preview! Wasn’t he the one who made the comment about how it’s better to sleep with tourists? And yet he has struck out with Fitz and Janelle and now he’s going for PAULA???

I agree with the other posters, Keith is HAWT. And I wouldn’t say that about just any girl beater.

Anyway, Tyler is totally psycho. I can’t believe he actually LAUGHED when contemplating how Fitz would feel when she got his little love letter. That is some serious sadism he’s got going on. Hollabackboy and Cheezee-Tee-Vee Addict are right, he’s just jealous because she is the castmate over whom all the boys are drooling. He would kill to have her body. (And after seeing this episode, I mean that literally.)
63

J-Balls

Posted June 29, 2006 at 3:19 pm

I give up. I looooove Tyler now too. It’s all funny. Especially Paula’s eating disorder. And I loooove Keith. I love that he beats Paula. Hilarious.
64

tvisreality

Posted June 29, 2006 at 3:24 pm

Oh, and Janelle! I have to comment on Janelle! She is, if possible, even more despicable than Tyler! At least he has the initiative to generate his own completely hypocritical, sadistic bullshit! All she can do is pull out her pathetic Tyler imitation! I would wish that the roomies would gang up and expose her nasty fake rack for the cameras again next week if I didn’t know she’d secretly enjoy it.
65

antebellum

Posted June 29, 2006 at 3:26 pm

gasmgrrl, of course we love drama and I enjoyed this week’s episode despite how much it angered and bothered me. But, although Tyler’s treatment of Svetlana is not quite on par with Keith beating Paula, it is still cruel and I don’t see how you think Tyler’s behavior is so forgivable. Paula’s outbursts also make for great TV, but do we not also feel sorry for her and how exploited she is? Let’s not forget that we are much better and more moral people than these reality TV idiots, hmm? (At least I hope so.)
66

J-Balls

Posted June 29, 2006 at 3:31 pm

Lighten up, antebellum. Dehumanizing other people is soooo funny. And smacking girls around makes for great TV. We need a whole network devoted to it, right gasmgrrl? We can call it “PimpHand”
67

antebellum

Posted June 29, 2006 at 3:36 pm

Hmm… I never thought of it that way, J-Balls. Will you marry and then beat me happily ever after?
68

J-Balls

Posted June 29, 2006 at 3:45 pm

antebellum, you’re the only girl for me. You’re so beautiful with a black eye and busted lip. Now get me another Pabst and I’d better not even catch you thinking about watching Smallville tonight.

Off topic: why aren’t kids allowed to bring guns into school? The Columbine Massacre was compelling television.
69

antebellum

Posted June 29, 2006 at 5:35 pm

Awww, isn’t my man sweet?!?!
70

stacyrocks

Posted June 29, 2006 at 6:02 pm

-tvisreality (#62);

John doesn’t hook up with Paula in the previews. It’s some random blonde girl.

-J-Balls (#66);

‘PIMPHAND’, LoL.
71

tvisreality

Posted June 29, 2006 at 6:05 pm

Stacyrocks,
Thanks so much for clearing this up, I was really horrified to think John would be crazy enough to go for Paula. Thank God! Now I can go back to lusting after him!
72

gasmgrrl

Posted June 29, 2006 at 10:18 pm

j-balls and antebellum-are you really comparing Tyler and his burn book to Paula being put in the hospital?

Tyler is cruel and childish but on the grand scale of cruelty it’s not such a big deal. In fact I would go so far as to say it’s not a big deal at all. Fitz bores me and she should thank Tyler for helping to boost her time on air cause cause bitch ain’t bringing it. She is not pretty, slutty, or an alcoholic so if it wasn’t for Tyler she would be our female Jose.

On the other hand, these comments are not nearly as critical of “hawt” Keith the Beater as they are of Tyler. Yes Tyler is mean, but seriously ya’ll until he puts Fitz in the hospital after beating her face in, I refuse to hop on the “we hate Tyler” bandwagon. The man makes me laugh. The man brought us RED GOD!!! and Home Depot jokes.

The lack of outrage – true outrage- over Keith even being allowed to get within 50 ft of Paula is shameful. Its disgusting that people are so upset over Tyler’s stupid acting out and have basically gotten over the fact that Paula is talking about having babies with a monster.

Its called priorites people.
73

MelanieM

Posted June 29, 2006 at 10:37 pm

Paula needs to be 302′d immediately. She’s the biggest candidate for residential psychiatric care I have ever encountered. I love how MTV shows how well the abusive relationship is progressing, and how happy she is in the wooing stage. Zach is one of the most vacant and bland people on tv ever. I love his “wise sage” comments about what is going on. He’s an idiot.
74

J-Balls

Posted June 29, 2006 at 11:10 pm

gasmgrrl, yeah, I guess I am. Albet only to prove a point. What’s the big difference you see between Keith and Tyler? Is it just that one is physical and the other is psychological? You’re telling me that physical abuse is absolutely unacceptable but emotional and psychological terrorism is funny and makes for good TV? Obviously there’s a difference between the twho, but they’re not really that far apart. If you ask me, they’re roomates.

Yet lots of people think Tyler is funny. That makes me sick. At the very least Keith seems to be trying to rectify his ways. Tyler is unable to recognize that he has even crossed the line. To me, that’s not funny. That’s scary.
75

ncgirl

Posted June 30, 2006 at 8:02 am

J-Balls, I completely agree with you about Tyler. But I also disagree with you about Keith. Even if he is trying to mend his ways, staying with Paula is not a good ideaa for either of them because they already have this behind them. Someone posted on here before that Paula is very unsable, creates unpredictable, chaotic situations and can sometimes lead people around her to react out of character. If Keith is trying to improve why would he go to Paula when he knows she can be unstable and it would just be so easy to revert back to old ways? I agree that this behavior on both of them looks like it is the better part of an abuse cycle.
76

J-Balls

Posted June 30, 2006 at 8:15 am

ncgirl, I’m not saying I think they should be together. Obviously he’s no good for her. Just saying that they’re both psychos but at least Keith is trying. Tyler has no idea he did something wrong.
77

gasmgrrl

Posted June 30, 2006 at 8:55 am

I guess the difference for me, is that I would not define what Tyler is doing as “psychological terrorism”. Unless you would consider anyone who ever needlessly picked on you in middle school
a “psychological terrorist.” Tyler’s behavior with Fitz reminds me of the way siblings can be really mean and obnoxious to one another. Frankly, I doubt the girl will be permanently scarred by the event.

Speaking of scars lets talk about Paula. When you compare writing a sign that says you should have stayed in Philly to Keith punching Paula in the face and then have the audacity to give Keith a pass by saying “at least he’s trying”, well that makes me sick. You totally epitomize the problem I have with MTV showing Paula and Keith’s relationship on TV at all- namely that people will see him, notice that he’s cute and “trying” and think its OK try to forgive men that beat women.

It’s an unforgiveable stance to take J-Balls.
78

MrsB

Posted June 30, 2006 at 9:46 am

gasmgrrl, I am guessing you were a mean girl in Jr High. I was bullied by the bitches and yes there are long term scars left by the bullying. Do I want Tyler to die? No. He is an abuser and needs to grow up.
79

alienlips

Posted June 30, 2006 at 10:03 am

I WAS one of the mean girls in high school, and I GREW out of it. I would NEVER have disrespected anyones mother, and actually have a conscience and would have felt bad later. As far as MTV goes, they won’t let anyone stay in the house that would physically harm someone, but it’s ok for mental and emotional abuse them? Just as bad!
80

ncgirl

Posted June 30, 2006 at 11:21 am

Yes, some girls here noticed that keith is good-looking but most everyone here agrees it is irresponsible of mtv to show paula and keith together. Whether or not keith and paula do overcome their problems, their getting back together sets a bad example (but its reality tv that is created for ratings, not to teach a lesson). But how can you not say that Tyler is harrassing Svetlana? If Tyler and Svetlana were in a work environment and he treated he the way he did, she could take action against him based on harrassment. It is verbal abuse and I wonder what it is that makes you think it is okay or not important.
81

tvisreality

Posted June 30, 2006 at 11:33 am

The difference between the Paula-Keith situation and the Tyler-Svetlana situation is that Paula WANTS to interact with Keith. All Svetlana wants is for Tyler to leave her alone and stop picking on her, and yet he gets such a sadistic thrill from her misery that he keeps escalating the situation and pursuing the abuse even when she asks him clearly to just leave her alone. Not only was he sadistic enough to start the burn book in the first place, then he was crazy enough to show up when she was trying to get some comfort from her mother and terrorize her further even after she asked him to leave her alone. Paula, on the other hand, perpetuates the abusive relationship with Keith and no one can convince her to stop. One can therefore only feel so sorry for Paula because she is half of the equation. Svetlana, on the other hand, has done nothing to encourage Tyler. If she wants to insist that her cat can say her name, that is none of his freakin’ business.
82

CTVampSlayer

Posted June 30, 2006 at 1:19 pm

Tyler was saying “Mrs. Shusterman,” but the audio was warped each time he said it, maybe for Svetlana’s privacy.

Anyway, I really despise Tyler now. More than I’ve ever hated anyone on TV. Before this episode I didn’t like him, but now I absolutely loathe him. Seriously, how fucked up do you have to be to act like that? Die Tyler, k? Soon.
83

Keyser Soze

Posted June 30, 2006 at 4:42 pm

I feel compelled to respond to gasmgrrl, not out of anger, but to educate a bit.
“I guess the difference for me, is that I would not define what Tyler is doing as “psychological terrorism”. Unless you would consider anyone who ever needlessly picked on you in middle school
a “psychological terrorist.”
I was bullied daily in high school, and it did scar. I would equate it to psychological abuse when you break someone down on a daily basis, whether it be from an abusive parent, partner, or peer.
It is clear that Tyler has perhaps the deepest issues of all living in the house, and may be the one who needs therapy the most. Anyone that acts out of such a place of hate is mentally disturbed.
84

antebellum

Posted July 1, 2006 at 1:56 pm

I agree with what others have said so far–Keith is trying at least to some extent; Tyler’s “abuse,” if I may call it that, is completely unwarranted; and Svetlana tries to avoid Tyler and never provokes him or does anything other than be herself and maybe tell some embellished stories, God forbid. He’s a bully, plain and simple, and I don’t know what his problem with Svetlana is, but his actions are inappropriate and I wouldn’t blame Svetlana for wanting to leave that crazy house. Paula does want to continue with Keith, though, and I actually sort of agree with Paula that that choice is no one’s to make but her own.

Oh, and I never equated Tyler harrassing Svetlana to Keith putting Paula in the hospital, gasmgrrl. I said that Tyler’s behavior is not on par with Keith’s but it is still cruel. And I still don’t think it’s funny.
85

Chee-Z-TeeVee Addict

Posted July 1, 2006 at 6:44 pm

Hi, gasmgrrl #77

I have to say I really do think Tyler is psychologically terrorizing Svetlana. He isn’t just needling her, or goosing her insecurities, he is outright attacking her. When he achieves the result he’s looking for, which is to hurt her, he then tries to cut her off from any avenues of comfort. He has hidden the phone from her in a previous episode, and interfered with her need to seek reassurance from her mother. He has also spearheaded a campaign to try and drive a wedge between she and her only real ally in the house, Paula, by making their friendship seem exclusionary and inappropriate. He is sytematically trying to break her down and isolate her.

I actually believe bullying in any form can be very destructive to all involved – as the terrible tragedy at Columbine illustrated. I was not a victim of bullying, nor was I a bully so I am not bringing my own psychological baggage into this.

Bullying is currently being taken much more seriously than it has in the past, it is not really seen as a schoolyard dynamic anymore. People who exhibit the characteristics of a bully are increasingly being identified as being Narcissistic Borderline Disordered individuals. It is widely believed that OJ Simpson, Ted Bundy, Hitler and Stalin were NPD’s – of course not all NPD’s commit murder – but they are NOT nice people.
86

slutty_whore

Posted July 2, 2006 at 7:12 am

I have to agree with most of what’s been posted so far.

In addition, what makes Tyler’s behavior even worse is that he tries to deflect everything when he is called on his BS. In this episode, Keith talked to him about his comments about not wanting him in the house and, WITHOUT LOOKING KEITH IN THE EYE (a tell-tale sign of lying), all Tyler did is deflect and say he didn’t mean what he ACTUALLY said, he meant something totally different; Paula just misunderstood.

He has pulled the same tactic on John, when Svet told John the truth about Tyler saying those things about him a few episodes back. What did Tyler say? That he did SAY them, but that it wasn’t Svet’s place to tell John! What kind of sense does that make? Svet is John’s friend, therefore, it IS her place, even if Tyler didn’t like it.

What makes Tyler so bad is that he doesn’t want to be accountable for his actions and blames Svet for her treatment! What I don’t understand is how she, in the van with Janelle, John, Zach, and Tyler, she “embellishes”, but when confronted by Zach, Tyler said she “lies and manipulates?” WTF?

Tyler’s dislike for Svet has reached delusions proportions, but I was laughing when Svet got her dig in to Tyler when she said something to the effect of, “If you don’t like it, don’t tell me. Just write about it!” That was the funniest line of the episode.

As J-Balls and others have already indicated, Tyler has painted himself into an unlikable corner and is very far from the appealing, tell it like it is bitch we all love on RW. He crossed the line to vindictive bitter queen.
87

iluvkobebryant

Posted July 2, 2006 at 9:20 pm

Janelle, Understand this, honey! YOUR SHIT STINKS! You and Tyler are a hot mess! Here’s to hoping she’s on the next challenge, and Coral beats this bitch up! Coral will beat the snob right out of her.
88

ncgirl

Posted July 3, 2006 at 8:15 am

That is a very good point about how Tyler tries to isolate Svetlana. In the last episode the whole house was trying to break Svetlana and Paula’s friendship. What would have happened if the roommates tried to break Tyler’s and Janelle’s friendship.
I can see where Tyler is coming from with his dislike of Svetlana. Everything in her life has been handed to her and she has a strong support system and thus a high sense of self-esteem. Not everyone is given all of that. I feel bad Svetlana but she will be fine. She is smart and she’s much more careful about holding on to her self-respect than Paula is and knows to be careful of Janelle and Tyler. She was the one who advised Jose not to take back what he said to Janelle during their fight. She also told John and Paula what Tyler said about them.
Hopefully Tyler will learn at least how to behave from this. Sure he dislikes her and it sucks that they are living in the house togethr for 4 months but it is just ridiculous for him to put so much energy into trying to hurt her and it created a lot of enemies for him. He shouldve just let her be and let the others’ give her a hard time for the ridiculous things she says and hopefully she would get the point. When they watch this season, if Svetlana was hurt by Tyler she will look back and see it was his problem not hers. Their dynamic almost reminds me of Frankie and Cameron from San Diego.
89

painless

Posted July 3, 2006 at 10:13 am

I hope Tyler acts like a big jerk again. It is incredible fun to read B-side going apeshit. Get him B-side! I talked to Ricky, he told me he was standing in line at the Epcot Center when he was breaking the news to these idiots about their pseudojob. Janelle was most alarmed because the personal relations were extremely important to her, as B-side mentions and Jose remembers.
90

J-Balls

Posted July 3, 2006 at 10:31 am

gasmgrrl, you are so unequivocally wrong I am snarking into my soda right now. You compare Tyler to a middle school bully? Where do you think these people are? Tyler is what, 23? Ridiculing another person on national TV behind their back? But you let him use the same excuse as a thirteen year old during recess? Why? Because his cattiness amuses you? He’s a grown man, terrorizing another person on national TV. What if he decided to put you in the crosshairs of his ridicule? Might not be so funny.

BTW, I was NOT giving Keith a free pass. Please read carefully. I was just pointing out that Keith, at least, knows what he did was wrong. Tyler does not. That’s my point. Is it really so hard to understand?

Of course it’s wrong for a man to his his girlfriend. Duh. I think it’s unforgivable to condone psychological terrorism. You think its funny. I think you’re sick.
91

deb

Posted July 5, 2006 at 1:27 pm

I personally think you and the rest of the people have something against Janelle, she tell it like it is if the person says something to her she confronts right then and there doesnt me that person is bitchy or arrogant thats how mature and normal people deal with conflicts, as for the rest of the roommates they like to discuss it to people that have no clue ie jose to tylers friends or to another roommate which is a punk ass bitch faggot way of confronting an issue another way would be in a joking playful beating around the bush spineless punk ass faggot bitch way that Zack and sometimes Johnny, and Fritz do, as for Tyler he’s immature jealous and is the homosexual version of Paula that want to think he’s rich like Fritz thats why he doesnt like her.
Next week we see Fritz getting mad at Paula for “talking behind her back” hello they all analyze or talk behind each others back but atleast janelle and tyler will admit it or tell how screwed up directly to you.
92

J-Balls

Posted July 5, 2006 at 1:40 pm

Dear Deb: I could barely understand what you were trying to say, so my observation is based almost completely on the very end of your rant. I personally think you’re wrong, and believe your lack of any attempt at punctuation demonstrates your idiocy. Just telling it like it is!
93

TambourineMan

Posted July 5, 2006 at 3:20 pm

Haha, jeeeez….who shot JFK?
94

sillygirl

Posted July 5, 2006 at 8:39 pm

Who the hell made tyler god? and Janelle,?? without makeup and her fake tits she is ugly inside and out. I hope Svet can take their shit and learn to give it back. I hope she doesnt go home early.!!
95

korbigirl

Posted July 10, 2006 at 6:34 am

RED GOD!!
96

nico-co

Posted July 10, 2006 at 12:05 pm

Tyler and Janelle constantly pick on Svetlana’s ass because she takes it and she’s still very weak (not her fault) So by pointing out all of her flaws they feel oh so strong and confident, pathetic!! Tyler wishes he was hot and guys would drool over him like fitz and Janelle is a whore with fake boobs and high eyebrows put that in a burn book bitches!!
97

alligatorwings

Posted July 11, 2006 at 1:30 am

Tyler is simply an immature bully who is taking out his agresssions and insecurities on the weakest person in the house. He justifies it with Svetlana’s dishonesty, ignorance, and rich girl veneer. But regardless of her behavior, good or bad, it’s not his place to abuse and/or correct her.

When you grow up gay you deal with straight people and mainstream society self-righteously abusing and mistreating you because you aren’t like everyone else. I think this causes a lot of pent-up rage and low self-esteem, so gay people subsconsciously become what they hate later on life in order to feel a sense of power–and to keep people from mistreating them.

Tyler is always talking about people respecting him for who he is, but he is a huge hypocrite, since he doesn’t afford people the same courtesy.

Svetlana shouldn’t be vilified for being immature, and if he were really mature and intelligent, he’d have some compassion for her and not give her so much energy. His resentment of her is almost pathological-it’s obviously more about him.

I just think it’s funny how he and Janelle and Svetlana make all kinds of sh-tty and disrespectful comments but then take exception to her saying anything about them in her defense. Tyler and Janelle need to start looking in the mirror and work on improving themselves rather than raking others over the coals in order to make themselves feel superior.

Imagine being gay and having a large percentage of the guys you can meet and/or date at a club being as catty and nasty as Tyler! Unfortuately it’s a sad reality. FYI–in the gay world, there are A LOT of guys just like him!
98

alligatorwings

Posted July 11, 2006 at 1:34 am

Tyler is simply an immature bully who is taking out his agresssions and insecurities on the weakest person in the house. He justifies it with Svetlana’s dishonesty, ignorance, and rich girl veneer. But regardless of her behavior, good or bad, it’s not his place to abuse and/or correct her.

When you grow up gay you deal with straight people and mainstream society self-righteously abusing and mistreating you because you aren’t like everyone else. I think this causes a lot of pent-up rage and low self-esteem, so some gay people subsconsciously become what they hate later on life in order to feel a sense of power–and to keep people from mistreating them.

Tyler is always talking about people respecting him for who he is, but he is a huge hypocrite, since he doesn’t afford people the same courtesy.

Svetlana shouldn’t be vilified for being immature, and if he were really mature and intelligent, he’d have some compassion for her and not give her so much energy. His resentment of her is almost pathological-it’s obviously more about him.

I just think it’s funny how he and Janelle make all kinds of sh-tty and disrespectful comments but then take exception to Svetlana saying anything about them in her defense. Tyler and Janelle need to start looking in the mirror and work on improving themselves rather than raking others over the coals in order to make themselves feel superior.

Imagine being gay and having a large percentage of the guys you can meet and/or date at a club being as catty and nasty as Tyler! Unfortuately it’s a sad reality. FYI–in the gay world, there are A LOT of guys just like him!
99

Fleisch

Posted July 11, 2006 at 1:02 pm

Re: Fitz’s spoild-ness, it’s clear that she is somewhat nouveau riche, but is it really safe to assume she’s had a pampered life? Didn’t she come to the US with her family (from Ukraine or Russia, don’t remember what she said) when she was little? They couldn’t have prospered right away. That must have been somewhat of a struggle, and I wouldn’t be surprised if she can sometimes act so spoiled because her family’s wealth is relatively new.

But regardless of how much or how little adversity one has had to face, NO ONE deserves to be treated like that. I like Svetlana, I think she’s a riot and has a good heart. You can’t fault people because of what they have – it’s the same thing as faulting people for what they don’t have. You can’t control what circumstances you are born into. Same with adversity – just because someone has had an easy life does not mean they are a bad person, and just because someone had a tough life it doesn’t automatically make them a good person.

Tyler is a dickhead and I hope he gets ostracized by the roomies a la Amaya on RW Hawaii (although I think in her case it wasn’t deserved, and in his case it most definitely is).
100

anniedawg25

Posted July 11, 2006 at 4:25 pm

I finally watched the whole episode. Bottom line, Tyler and Janelle are drama inducing bitches who think that by making other people look bad, they look good. Kinda like “Tyler and Janelle save the day by outing other people’s faults…thus, we MUST think THEY’RE SOOOO much cooler”.
what a crock. sad.

Now off, to the other funny stuff of the episode!

1–Does anyone else get the idea the founder of Mystic Tan jumped ship on the project looooooong before Wilma hit? He had an f—it attitude from day one.

2–Jose…is he the designated “sit by the video phone and wait for someone to call” guy?

3. I really loved hearing Svetlana speak in her native language. Next thing you know, Tyler will call her a terrorist or something.
101

alligatorwings

Posted July 11, 2006 at 8:48 pm

Today Tyler paid a visit to the morning show on OutQ, the gay radio station on Sirius Satelite Radio. He is competing in the Gay Games, and supposedly that was his reason for stopping by. But it was funny, because when they started to wrap the brief interview (the show was only mentioned to reference who he was) the host randomly said, “and he’s not a bitch at all, he’s a really nice guy!” Hmmm….if that is true, why the need to clarify that? I’d feel crappy if that were the general impression people had of me–and that the contrary had to be confirmed—publicly. Sounds like that little visit was part of a damage control junket! I hope the event he competes in isn’t “playing nice with others”!
102

alligatorwings

Posted July 11, 2006 at 8:52 pm

Yeah..I like it when she speaks her native language mixed with English! I about died laughing. Why didn’t she just have the whole conversation in Russian(?) and avoid the eavesdropping drama?

safdadfddsfadlkekersfoeserssdsdfsererefs he’s making fun of me and I can’t do anything about it! LOL
103

anniedawg25

Posted July 11, 2006 at 9:44 pm

alligatorwings..yeah that was pretty funny!!!!!!!
Svet should have just spoken Russian from the beginning…unless the RW producers said she couldn’t??
104

alligatorwings

Posted July 12, 2006 at 6:42 am

That’s probably it–she was probably just so pissed she forgot. But then again, it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out what she was saying. Besides, I’m sure MTV can afford a translation/subtitles. That was probably why Tyler got so pissed–cuz he could only half understand of what she was saying. I’m so sick of that bitchy queen. I just know her language mix is hella funny. It was on last night and when I heard that part I fell OUT!!!!!!!!
105

Fetita

Posted July 12, 2006 at 9:00 pm

Tyler speaks some Russian, probably enough to get a general gist of what she says (especially if she says bad things- a cardinal rule of studying foreign language is to make learning swear words and insults a top priority… even if you don’t need to use them, you will probably need to understand them ). Therefore, I am not sure it would have been that effective for her to speak in Russian instead, but I had always figured also that MTV must have told her to avoid it (more work for them lol).

Fleisch: She is from Odesa, Ukraine. They defected in ’89 (and thus, like most fleeing communism in the East, it is pretty safe of you to assume they had very little). I think it is rather daft of anyone to assume that her family has always had it easy, knowing that they fled the Bloc. Her parents worked very hard to get where they are today.
106

alligatorwings

Posted July 12, 2006 at 11:35 pm

I think it’s more that she acts, walks and talks like a stereotypical spoiled little princess.

Usually people who have gone through a lot have a little bit more perspective and life experience. But since she acts like she grew up in Barbie’s Dream House, it’s hard to see her as the rags-to-riches immigrant with a heart of gold…
107

GoldCrayon

Posted July 14, 2006 at 1:49 pm
108

alligatorwings

Posted July 14, 2006 at 5:41 pm

Tyler has a muppet mouth–he looks just like Scooter from The Muppet Show. What do you think?
109

alligatorwings

Posted July 14, 2006 at 5:42 pm

Tyler is Scooter! Proof!

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j96/alligatorwings/TylerisScooter.jpg

Love Letters from Key West

Tasty!

“Mmmm…”

“Wow. That felt like a fresh beating.”

“Um… you don’t mind if I act like a bitch to you, do you?”

“Oh shit.”

“But I was going to do Personal Relations!”

109 Comments

Post a Comment Cancel reply

TV Social

Login

Recent Comments

Subscribe to Blog

Hot Shows

Fresh Tweets!

Love Letters from Key West

Tasty!

“Mmmm…” “Wow. That felt like a fresh beating.”

“Um… you don’t mind if I act like a bitch to you, do you?”

“Oh shit.” “But I was going to do Personal Relations!”

If you like it, spread it!:

109 Comments

Post a Comment Cancel reply

TV Social

Login

Recent Comments

Subscribe to Blog

Hot Shows

Fresh Tweets!

“Mmmm…”

“Wow. That felt like a fresh beating.”

“Oh shit.”

“But I was going to do Personal Relations!”