summer fun

hello loyal hatchmates. it's been too long since my last post. could it be because i was too busy enriching my life by watching educational shows? nah! with our favorite shows on hiatus for the summer, we must turn to the addicting world of reality tv! here is the lowdown on a few shows i watch...uh...once in awhile.

FRESH MEAT: RW/RR CHALLENGE
Mondays 10pm, MTV

the latest installment in the real world/road rules challenge series teams up a reality star with an unknown. each week teams of two compete to win prizes and immunity from exile. the winning team chooses the first team to go to exile and the remaining teams vote for the second team to go. the next week, the two selected teams get a chance to win a challenge that will keep them out of exile. if neither team wins, they will meet in exile, a race to the finish carrying bags of sand weighing as much as their luggage. tj lavin hosts.

why i watch: finally some new blood to freshen things up.
could live without: wes...keep sending him to exile. he's gotta lose some time.
who i'm rooting for: shane and linette (they're so cute!)
could be on the soundtrack: eye of the tiger by survivor

FEAR FACTOR
Tuesdays 8pm, NBC

competitors meet to stare fear in the eye and outlast others to win a cash prize. joe rogan hosts. you can read more here.

why i watch: joe rogan
what i hate (but secretly love): the gross food challenges
could live without: seeing the fear factor puke bucket being used
quotable: "this may be the dumbest challenge we've ever had" - joe rogan (on the family fear factor special)

ROCKSTAR: SUPERNOVA
Tuesdays 9pm/Wednesdays 8pm, CBS

last season had INXS searching for a new lead singer. this year, newly formed supergroup, supernova is on the hunt. supernova is composed of tommy lee of motley crue, gilby clarke of guns 'n roses, and jason newsted of metallica. each week contestants perform a song from a preselected list. viewers vote american idol style and the next day, the bottom three perform again and the group picks one to boot. dave navarro returns to assist. brooke burke hosts.

why i watch: not one of these songs will ever be performed on american idol. oh and i have a mini crush on gilby clarke.
could live without: the nast male contestants hanging all over brooke burke...she ain't having it...neither would i.
who i'm rooting for: storm large, dilana, and toby
quotable: "you have to change it up week to week. this is your 13 week audition" - dave
"dave, do you change it up when you perform?" - patrice
"no, but the difference is i have a job" - dave
could be on the soundtrack: machinehead by bush

REAL WORLD KEY WEST
Tuesdays 10pm, MTV

now in its 17th season, the real world settles down in key west. seven strangers are picked to live in a house, work together and have their lives taped, to find out what happens, when people stop being polite, and start getting real.

why i watch: i've come this far, i can't stop now.
what i hate (but secretly love): i don't think i love any part of this season.
could live without: paula's whiney voice when she's drunk
could be on the soundtrack: you drive me crazy by britney spears

THE HILLS
Wednesdays 10pm, MTV

the hills picks up where laguna beach left off, following lauren aka LC to los angeles as she pursues a career in fashion. the show centers around her, her roommate heidi, her coworker whitney, and her friend audrina.

why i watch: lauren seemed like the only normal one on laguna beach...you just want her to be happy.
what i hate (but secretly love): heidi...she'll grow on you too.
could live without: jason, jordan...pretty much all the boys on the show are useless.
who i'm rooting for: lauren, please pick paris.
could be on the soundtrack: more bounce in california by soul kid #1

PROJECT RUNWAY
Wednesdays 10pm, BRAVO

now in its third season, project runway pits fashion designer wannabes against eachother to compete in challenges week after week to determine who is in and who is out. heidi klum hosts.

why i watch: it has some of the best challenges of any reality show.
what i hate (but secretly love): tim gunn's walkthroughs at the end of the day...he never says anything but his expressions are so telling!
who i'm rooting for: uli and michael
quotable: "make it work" - tim gunn
could be on the soundtrack: stars are blind by paris hilton

Zizou! What did you do?

The World Cup has come to an end, and for most of us, the feeling of withdrawal will last until South Africa hosts four years from now. With Brasil being knocked out in the quarterfinals last week, I have to admit that this tournament was not the same for me, as all my energy and concentration has been with the World's 2nd favorite team from the start. I can't spoil France's victory over Brasil, however, as they were hands down the better side and were rewarded a well-deserved path into the finals against Italy, the nation on the heels of their defence, conceding only 1 goals (unfortuantely, it was an own goal) all the way into the finals.

It was Zinedine Zidane, a maestro midfielder, regarded as a legend by all, who came out of international retirement to lead the French against the Italians in the final of the biggest sporting event in the World. Highly respected and adored, Zidane is one of the best players in the World and is a supestar class act. Having scored early on a penalty kick in the final game, this was Zidane's last match of a glorious career. Win or lose, he was destined to go down as the greatest player of our era, but then something crazy happened...


If you haven't seen Zidane's headbutt to Marco Materazzi's chest by now, you're missing out. The more you watch it, the harder it is to understand. Zidane appeared to be minutes away from leading France to the World Cup title for the second time, and then he committed the biggest and most bizarre moment in sports history. In the 110th minute, Materazzi apparently said something that really got to Zidane. Zidane responded with an amazing and forceful blow to Materazzi's chest using nothing but his head!


It has been reported that maybe Materazzi uttered a racial slur, although we'll probably never know. If so, is this excusable? Could this have waited 10 more mins off the pitch away from live television where more than 1 billion would witness this madness?! Only time will tell what might have really happened out there, but it is a shame that Zidane had to end his career this way. Not only was he red carded, but he left his team a man down, demoralized, and in shock as they made their way into penalty kicks a few minutes later. Zidane may have magically led his team to the World Cup finals, but in the end, everyone will remember how it was Zidane who lost his cool and robbed France of their 2nd World Cup trophy.