We're getting closer to the end. That's right. This week's episode of The Real World saw our plucky team of reality stars cum landscape designers finally complete their long gestating playground. That can only mean one thing: the end is nigh. With any luck, we'll be done with this season in two or three episodes and then sweet silence will reign supreme on Tuesday nights, at least until Real World Austin starts up. Curiously enough, even though the Philadelphia season has not yet ended, some of the stars (Karamo, Shavonda, and Landon) will be pulling double duty starting this Monday on The Inferno II. What's that you say? Two nights a week of Landon and Shavonda? Why yes, life DOES suck!
I guess I shouldn't harp too much on the Real World/Road Rules Challenge considering that I'm here to report on only The Real World. So let's take our mind off it and see what the Philly kids were up to this week. Why, they were dining at Chili's, home of the $300,000 Chili's bucks provided on the Real World/Road Rules Battle of the Sexes 2. Aww. Thanks corporate sponsorship! Sadly, no Saturn Ions came crashing through the front door. Dammit, I said I'd stop talking about the Challenge...
Amazingly, the mere mention of Chili's did not cause the producers to bust out some bungee chords and pig intestines. No, the roommies were simply eating at the fine establishment. Well, almost all the roommates were at least. Sarah was on her no-food diet which consisted of, you guessed it, no food. Yes, it was time to reacquaint ourselves with Sarah's eating disorder, but something was different this time around. Unlike the beginning of season when Sarah was eager to broadcast all her problems, ailments, and sexual conquests, our favorite law student has mellowed out over the past few months and become, dare I say it, affable and agreeable. As she detailed her history with food and her body, we got a sense that this was a woman who might not be using her eating disorder as a means for screen time. Shavonda, meanwhile, fainted at Sarah's inability to hoard attention with such a good hook. "I would die to have an eating disorder! Do you know how much more face time I'd get?"
Around this time, the producers decided to punctuate Sarah's battle with the bulge by providing ample cutaway shots of people waiting in line for Philly Cheesesteaks. It's the subtle touches that make The Real World so special.
Back at the mansion, Sarah languished in her bed. Shavonda attempted to make Sarah feel better by pledging to eat a cucumber a day with her, but I didn't really see how that would benefit anyone, save the local cucumber peddler down the street. Way to go Shavonda. There's no better way to tackle an eating disorder than to impose a strict cucumber-only diet.
In all fairness, Shavonda was just trying to cheer Sarah up (seriously, she had no intention of eating all those cucumbers. Such a gesture would be like... sincere. ewwww). When the cucumber tactic failed, Shavonda resigned to do Sarah's makeup in bed. Yes, nothing is more helpful to a girl struggling with her self-image than tackling the problem with cosmetics. It's kind of like saying "You feel ugly? Well, we'll pretty you up so that you can have an artificial sense of security now, only to feel increasingly more hollow and desperate later!"
Meanwhile, back at the job for the Philly Soul which has nothing to do with Arena Football, the roommates were nearing completion of their playground. This was evidenced by several lingering shots of playground, playground, playground, and... T-Mobile! Hey, when you've got to shill, you've got to shill.
While everyone toiled on the jungle gym, Karamo meanwhile revealed his stealth plan to... buy a trophy for Landon? Whaaa? A selfless gesture? But he's supposed to be the angry black man! That's what the editing has always told us, and the editing always reveals the truth! I don't understand. This show has jumped the shark!
After some solid playground construction, Sarah hit the gym to work off that Chili's meal she didn't have. MJ meanwhile told us that in the giant city of Philadelphia, he happened to find Sarah's parents. Huh? Were they just begging in the streets or something? Actually, no. They were in town for a planned visit to their daughter, who they saw for about two seconds when she stepped out of her workout to greet them on the street. And then the real shit began.
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Comments (12)
Hey did anyone see Lame shavonda's lame boyfriend On MTV's "Wanna Come in?" It was for sure him because of his gay way of spelling shaun. To my surprise he got rejected. Can you believe that? I mean he sends cuddle cards.That is so pimp He is a gentlemen. NOT!!! He and Shavonda are two most annoying people in the world. I wish Karamo would get rid of them, but did anyone else see that episode or was I the only one who got tortured?
1 of 12 | Posted by Kissy | Posted on March 4, 2005 6:19 AM
My DVR did me a huge favor and didn't tape this episode. But the recap provided much more entertainment. How tacky can ING get....I can't think of anything less tasteful at a charity playground opening. "Not only are we not giving you kids any money, we just turned the volunteers into paid workers!! yay!!"
2 of 12 | Posted by chettogirl | Posted on March 4, 2005 6:27 AM
Sarah's family must be seriously screwed up. In an earlier episode didn't Sarah say her parents bought her implants for her 16th birthday or something like that? As much as I initially disliked Sarah, I really felt sorry for her after this episode. The constant message she get from her family is "Your body image sucks. Your tits are too small. Your ass is too fat." Poor thing. I bet they harsh on her for all those moles too.
3 of 12 | Posted by SaveFerris | Posted on March 4, 2005 7:31 AM
Yes, I saw that horrid episode of Wanna Come In with Shaun. That boy is FUGLY!
4 of 12 | Posted by Lisa | Posted on March 4, 2005 10:42 AM
I too had the guilty pleasure of witnessing Shaun's terrifying "Wanna Come In" debut. I was beating myself over the head trying to remember why the hell I recognized his voice (read: the voice of an awkward white kid who thinks he is black). All of my menacing quandries came to a screeeeeeching halt the moment I saw the letters S-H-A-U-N stenciled on his door...
It goes to show you two things. "Wanna come in" is staged (just as much as boiling points and all of those other shows...DUH) AND
most importantly, you dont have to be even remotely good looking (anymore) to be a media whore for this network. Shaun, we already disliked you by association and even more so now because you walked willingly into a self-esteem slaughter house for your 5 minutes(ie "Wanna come in?")...God, I love MTV!!
5 of 12 | Posted by Courtney | Posted on March 4, 2005 11:05 AM
Poor Sarah, I can barely muster any snarkiness or sarcasm on this one. How embarrasing for your mom to put you on blast and in front of a TV audience of millions! Now, I have said myself that Sarah mos def has some chubb potential-please review the swim suit footage from Figi-but she is far from being overweight. But this kind of mother daughter scenario happens more often then you might think, B. My mom does the same thing to me all the time. She'll say: Have you been working out or have you stopped? or when we eat out together she might say Can you limit your entree to just one plate?-meaning in her opinion, I am much too fat to be even considering eating an appetizer. I am a grown women, and this still cuts to the bone to hear, so imagine how thia must feel to a still mentally developing young woman in her twenties. Hopefully, Sarah's mom will realize that Sara will just damage herself more by using food (or lack thereof) to soothe her hurt feelings.
I'm going to label this one a very Special Episode of the Real World.
6 of 12 | Posted by joslyn | Posted on March 4, 2005 1:37 PM
Just an afterthought but did anyone notice how Sarahs mom looked at the bread like it had 5483902205 maggots on it and pushed it away?
7 of 12 | Posted by Courtney | Posted on March 4, 2005 1:44 PM
Just an afterthought-- but did anyone notice how Sarahs mom looked at the bread like it had 5483902205 maggots on it and pushed it away with disgust?
8 of 12 | Posted by Courtney | Posted on March 4, 2005 1:45 PM
Man. That was such a good episode. My heart broke for Sarah. I've been battling with an eating disorder for 6 years now. I just wanted to hug her. I can't even say that I hate her anymore. You know, in fact, I think I like her.
9 of 12 | Posted by Mojo | Posted on March 6, 2005 2:17 AM
Just for the record....S.H.A.U.N. is not a "gay" spelling of the name.
Name: SHAUN
Gender: (male)
Origin: Celtic/Gaelic
Meaning: God's gift
I suppose Kissy is a gay name too.
10 of 12 | Posted by Kathryn | Posted on March 8, 2005 8:01 AM
My parents did not buy me my implants for my 16th birthday- and they did not buy them for graduation either- I got them when I was 21- Mel said the graduation thing- I never did. Just to clear that up
11 of 12 | Posted by Sarah | Posted on March 15, 2005 1:35 PM
My parents did not buy me my implants for my 16th birthday- and they did not buy them for graduation either- I got them when I was 21- Mel said the graduation thing- I never did. Just to clear that up
12 of 12 | Posted by Sarah | Posted on March 15, 2005 1:35 PM