It has been most stimulating and enjoyable to be back for the last 5 months in Auckland after Cambodia, which was stimulating in other, sometimes frustrating, ways. I am soaking up being back in an information overloaded society in which I can pay partial attention to everything and full attention to nothing. In particular are the various reality TV shows on in New Zealand at the moment, a brief run-down follows:
- The Apprentice: Donald Trump teaches Capitalism 101 to eager students. A show that takes the saying ‘pride comes before a fall’ to a new level. Watch as hopefuls who overrate their leadership abilities take on the role of project manager, and in most cases end up fired if their team loses. The real clever ones hang on by staying in the background. The moral of the story: avoiding responsibility is a profitable survival strategy.
- Dog the Bounty Hunter: Dog Chapman, a reformed criminal turned bounty hunter, hunts down bail skippers for a living. US law means Dog’s civilian justice is not only legal, but he is given powers to enter private property and make arrests. If the concept of member-of-public-as-police-officer isn’t enough to get you going, on top that is Dog’s born again zest, the “deep and meaningful� talks with the caught fugitive, and the patriotic picture of George Bush behind his desk. Peace out bra.
- America’s Next Top Model: Tyra Banks gets a chance to act like the fantastic mother you never had in this show that tells you there is more to modelling than just being a pretty face. Young hopefuls practice the art of looking blasé whilst “keepin’ it real� in a competition to be America’s next top product marketing tool. No, it’s not a comedy.
Advertisement
