This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2007, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
There's such a barrage of reality shows swallowing up our television time, it's hard to keep track of who's schmoozing whom and who's been doing the backstabbing. Here's the cooler talk about last week's episodes of some of your favorite reality fare, written by The Salt Lake Tribune's resident unscripted-TV buffs. (Warning: Spoilers ahead. If you didn't watch last week, read at your own risk.)
Survivor: Fiji
Thursdays, 7 p.m., KUTV Ch.2
What happened?
Yikes! Didn't we learn that Yul Kwan could outlast, outwit and outplay everyone on Cook Islands just weeks ago? Now, a new group of 19 survivors has been plopped on an island for another season of our favorite reality show. And this time, the winners of the challenges get to sleep in a luxurious camp that everyone built at the start, complete with a couch, hammocks, and a portable toilet. The losers sleep with the snakes in another camp. Jessica, the L.A. stylist on the Ravu tribe, was the first to get booted.
Best whine & cheese moment
And boy, did the losing Ravus let us know how much they missed the comfy camp they just built. The poor saps had to spend the night with no fire and a belly full of coconut milk.
American Idol
Tuesdays 7 p.m., Wednesdays, 8 p.m., KSTU Ch. 13
What happened?
Yes! The last of the bad-audition episodes took us to San Antonio and the end of the longest streak of horrendous singers. Some screamed, some flirted with judges, and one in particular, Jacob Tutor, left, looked as if he was ready to stalk Simon with a knife (especially after he was rejected by the judges). Now it's on to Hollywood and the group auditions. The death march to the finals continues . . .
Best whine & cheese moment
At least two hopefuls began sobbing uncontrollably right in front of the judges as soon as they heard the first negative words. Maybe Randy, Paula and Simon should have been more succinct and just said: "You suck!"
Beauty and the Geek
Wednesdays, 7 p.m., Sundays, 8 p.m., KUCW Ch. 30
What happened?
The last three teams got down and dirty on the farm. They had to move hay bales, milk a cow and catch sheep. Baah! Niels and Scooter got so hot and dirty they decided to hose down one another. Megan and Scooter, left, won, which meant love-birds Nate and JennyLee faced off in the elimination room. In the end Niels and JennyLee had to leave the mansion, but not before JennyLee was enraged by Cecille's comment: "You can take the beauty off the farm, but you can't take the bikini off the beauty."
Best whine & cheese moment
Megan decided to wear the cute cowboy boots instead of practical ones, and then complained how much they hurt her feet.
Contributors: Vince Horiuchi and Alicia Greenleigh