zenithwit

Damn. It'll be interesting to see how this plays out. Also reading the allegations puts this post I wrote back in April 2022 into a new perspective: Side note: Vox had a good article detailing all of the allegations: https://www.vox.com/culture/2023/8/3/23819049/lizzo-sexual-harassment-lawsuit-dancers-hostile-work-environment

Yeah and the super frustrating part is this is a show where we don't need producer shenanigans to have a dramatic and captivating show. This isn't the Bachelor. The most interesting parts to me were the very technical parts. I loved seeing the actor auditions, Meko visiting the different filming locations and any of the behind the scenes shooting stuff from on set. Project Greenlight should take a note from shows like the Great British Baking Show and let the technical parts shine. For example, I would love to have seen more from the Location Manager and learn why the getting the permit for that one outdoor location was so tough. That would have been WAY better than seeing the producers give the "same" note over and over again (which somehow wasn't a deal breaker to the movie, it's production timeline and anyone controlling the purse strings but that's a whole other rant).

Just finished the season and oh boy I have a lot of thoughts on this. Full disclaimer: this is actually the first season of Project Greenlight I've watched so I may be missing some historical context. First, to echo a lot of similar sentiments expressed here, while it's admirable they intentionally picked a director from an underrepresented background, it's clear that the "mentors" didn't think through what would be needed to support that director for a successful project. Every industry has norms and unwritten rules and instead of helping Meko navigate that, everyone just complained to the cameras about how she wasn't following them. And honestly, some of this wouldn't be hard at all. For example with the whole "Meko not providing feedback in-between the pre-table read and table read", well why didn't you just add that to the schedule?! Seriously, how hard is to have a very structured agenda for the day showing pre-table from time X to Y, then 30 minutes director feedback and then table read at time Z. I wish Issa, Kumail and Gina took some time to think what they wished they had known or done at the start of their careers and then provided that guidance to Meko in a firm way. Gina was the closest to this but didn't seem super available due to her own commitments. But of course, the elephant in the room is that "Gray Matter" isn't the main product here, it's "Project Greenlight". Even though Issa repeatedly said that she wouldn't want her name attached to a poor movie, it's hard to take that statement seriously when she is also an Executive Producer on Project Greenlight. If Project Greenlight is actually the cash cow, who care if the movie is any good or makes money. Any money Gray Matter makes is probably icing on the cake. This dynamic became more and more clear when they kept talking about the friction between the two productions and eventually had that HBO Exec order Meko to wear her mic. I don't think I've seen that happen in a real documentary before. Maybe the documentary would try to convince a subject to continue participating but never order them. That interaction between Meko and the HBO Exec showed that this was more of a reality show than a true documentary/docuseries. But not to let Meko completely off the hook... her lack of ability to articulate her thoughts was frustrating to watch. There's nothing wrong with needing a minute to digest and process a note but she needed to say that to all of the Type A producers she was working with. Otherwise they just assumed that she was ignoring them. Also, when Meko was struggling with the script, I was dying for her to tell the producers that she didn't have a enough bandwidth to fix their script AND do all of the other stuff. Lastly, I just started the 4th season of Project Greenlight and it's infuriating seeing Matt Damon/Ben Affleck bend over backwards to accommodate the dude they selected. I'm only an episode or two into that one but it's clear how much more respect and support that guy got vs Meko. Overall, it appears that Meko is a talented director. Hopefully she can learn from some of her mistakes and how to better to manage Hollywood producers/decision-makers and have a fruitful career.

Gabriel probably had the strongest strategy of the episode. Not only did he manage to see Shayne's clue but Shayne still thinks Jane is the only other person who has seen it. Of course Chris knows this isn't true but if Gabriel stays under the radar, Jane will be a larger target than him. Except Chris called BS on her lie after two seconds. Kinda surprised she didn't think of a better answer to what Travis' clue looked like. Wild speculation time... i kinda wonder if Olivia's celebrity relative is Elizabeth Berkeley. She said that her relative won a Razzie, right? I don't know just something about her face looks similar to Elizabeth's.

Just watched the first episode and I think this show will perfectly fit the empty "mindless trashy show" void in my life at the moment. I don't hate the concept either but the format is a bit confusing and the incentives of the show feel off. The premise of the show is divorce exes helping each other move on but they are eliminating the contestants one by one. They should either eliminate the contestants as couples or have some cash incentive for the winning couple and their exes to push the "helping" narrative. Plus from the preview, it looks like they'll be bringing on additional contestants. Not sure why they couldn't just start with a larger group to begin with. For example, while it may have been editing, Casey claimed Brooks was holding her back but she didn't seemed to have an issue going on a date with someone else with him there. Now without him, she'll be free to date while the other contestants are still dealing with their obstacle of an ex. Also, JoJo and Jordan seemed like an odd choice as hosts for this show. I know they were probably picked because of their popularity with the target demographic of show (as evidenced by the girls' reaction when they saw JoJo), but I'm not sure how well they can relate to the contestants' situation. We'll see I guess.

Two seasons and no thread? It's complete reality fluff but I can't be the only one watching this show? Man, I'm really starting to question my mindless background tv show choices.

That and Lexi's OnlyFans account (from what I gather). I think Sam is the only one who comes out looking good in this show. She worked on her issue and communicates more clearly now. It's really obvious why Sam is a good partner for Aussie but the reverse wasn't so clear. It looks like Aussie might be a decent person but who has a lot of personal/family issues they need to work on. The fact that Aussie's brother was so cool and we were told that Aussie more or less raised him makes me think that Aussie's edit might have been a bit surface level (it just seemed like Aussie ran away after every conversation lol). Hopefully Aussie can be the partner Sam needs while working their issues. Actually it feels like almost everyone got surface level edits. It was hard to keep track of who might be telling the truth in the reunion. This is another one where I don't think the show did a good job showing the dynamics at play. From the reunion, it's clear that Mildred's son is a big priority in her life (rightfully so). While we did get some information about him during her and Tiff's trial marriage, he was barely mentioned in the first set of episodes (I think there was one off-hand mention of her being a single mom). While her communication issues and potential gaslighting are important topics, the focus of her conversations really should have been about her son and what it would be like with him (who we've been told is special needs). Hopefully her son didn't witness his mother throwing stuff at Tiff. That might have been difficult for him to process. Mal and Yoly breaking up two weeks after the engagement was the least surprising news from the reunion. Yoly's yes was so sad and non-committal that I actually had to rewind the episode to double check what her answer was.

There's a reason for that. Just finished watching this and yeah.... it was a really surface level documentary. Which is unfortunate because it had an interesting and robust topic. To echo others' sentiments, it feels like the director wasn't able to gain access so she pivoted and added in her personal story. The fact that she wasn't able to find a creative solution to the access issue honestly speaks to her skill as a documentarian. There are documentaries out that deal with way more delicate and dangerous situations. Sororities aren't that scary and if they are, that's worth exploring more. What I don't get is why the director didn't take a more factual approach. Tell me about each day of Rush step by step (surely there is publicly available information there?), show me how the girls prepare for each day (outfits, etc), show me how they film their tik toks, etc. Overall, I think I learned more about rush from the fictional ABC Family show "Greek" than this documentary.

Ahh that explains a lot. I went to that area once years ago and it was a combination of hyper touristy and sketch... and that was on like a Tuesday afternoon. I bet it gets even more sketchy at night when the tourists are gone. While I agree that the whole situation is probably producer manipulated/fabricated, I think Chelsea's issues weren't so much about Bre's "lifestyle" but more about how the decisions she and others impact the children in that situation. It's a fair point that after so many children, it's difficult to be devote a significant amount of time to each. Nick could absolutely want to be involved and present in each one of his kids' lives but there are only so many hours in the day. Plus with so many households, that makes the coordination extra difficult. And it sounds like Nick does try his best to be there for each kid and usually goes to them (vs having everyone come to him) according to an article I read recently. When Chelsea started discussing her childhood with her mother leaving her to go work in the US, her issues with Bre's situation made a lot more sense. If Chelsea was more upfront with Bre about her experiences, I think they would have had more productive conversations. Instead we got weird producer fed lines about monogamy blah blah blah.

Just finished the first four episodes. Vanessa is definitely auditioning to become a Netflix regular. 90% chance that we'll see her on The Circle in the next year or so. But in all seriousness, I think Vanessa has benefited from being a somewhat conventionally attractive woman with a sex drive. She doesn't need to do much to get a sexual partner and that fact really boosts her ego. She was wayyyy too happy when talking about how Xander "might have been ace" if it wasn't for her. And then when Xander showed a sexual interest in someone who wasn't her, it clearly bruised her ego. Obviously Vanessa is not the magical unicorn she thinks she is. I really like Mal and Lexi as individuals but I don't think they work as a couple. But I could see them becoming close friends and confidants. The Mildred/Tiff and Sam/Aussie switcheroo is a doozy with communication issues plaguing both new couples. Though I wonder how much their respective cultures may be a contributing factor to this. I'm guessing that Mildred/Tiff come from cultures that are more direct in their communication style. Also, they seem like the type of couple that like to fight only to makeup in the bedroom later. Whereas I'm guessing Sam/Aussie come from cultures that more reserved in their communication style. It would be interesting if the show explored this topic more (and in general what it's like navigating different cultures as a queer person). Also, did Mildred say that she's a single mom? If so, that seems like a big factor in whether to marry someone (both from Mildred's and her partner's perspective). Lastly, I'm really digging this season more than the first one so far. I think by having a queer season, there are more interesting and different partnerships for the show to explore. The conversations have also been more mature as well.

Just finished the season. The penthouse looked nice. Wished we saw more of the surrounding area to better understand Chriselle's criticism. It was really nice seeing Maya even if it was just a 30 second FaceTime call. So glad that she's pregnant again. I know she's not in a position to be a season regular (and probably doesn’t want to be one) but it would be so cool if we got a "oh hey! I'm in town let's grab lunch/dinner" scene with her every once in a while.

Just got to the drug accusation part. I think Nicole's reaction of getting a drug test/consult a lawyer is one of someone not used to being a reality TV show figure. If a similar and extremely public allegation was made of a private individual and professional real estate attorney, it would absolutely have a devastating impact on their career. And considering legal recourse would be reasonable in that case. In the faux reality of the reality TV world, being on the receiving end of a drug accusation is a jackpot for more screentime, increased Instagram followers and potentially a sponcon by the Mexican Cartel. While I do think Chrishell was out of line for the drug accusation, she was clearly expecting Nicole to dish it back. I think Nicole needs to decide if she truly wants to continue in reality TV and how that will impact her real estate career. Also, I wonder if her husband is a lawyer and maybe that's where some of the protection measures came in?

I'm 3 episodes in and don't miss Christine at all. Turns out the show really didn't need her after all. This seems to be the season of homes built into the side of a cliff. All I can think about when I see those homes is what would happen if that area got hit by a large earthquake?

Mrs. Kasha Davis AND Jimbo on the same season?!?! Dammit, just when I thought I was ready to move on from All Stars, they know how to pull me back in.

I'm two episodes into this show and so far, I think it's a pretty interesting show. I like how they are having very frank talks about personal finances with clear and exact figures. Also, I like how the host isn't too judgemental on what people choose to spend their money on. He seems genuinely interested in helping them manage their money in a way that makes sense for them. Though I'm not sure I'm on board for some of the advice he's given so far. For example: the whole renting vs buying argument. While there are absolutely legitimate reasons to rent (especially if you live in a high cost and/or high density area), his argument that rent is the max you pay didn't make sense to me. Sure, there are unforseen costs with home ownership but owning a house is an investment in itself that helps build intergenerational wealth. Maybe renting has a more consistent month to month payment but there could be significant hikes in your rent year to year. Plus you are somewhat at the mercy of your landlord.

Streaming on Netflix. Trailer here:

I'm three episodes in and so far I'm really enjoying this show. It's so refreshing to see this type of show with age-appropriate contestants. This isn't a stereotypical Bachelor season with a guy in his late 30s dating 22 year olds. All of the ladies have had serious prior relationships including kids and it seems most of the contestants are in their 30s/40s with significant histories and children of their own. It also helps that everyone has been open about their pasts. You can tell that when the ladies ask about children, they are really trying to get to know the guys and try to understand how well their families would integrate if the relationship worked out. Plus, it looks like everyone is Atlanta-based which helps prevent location conflicts.

Welp, I'll eat my words. They figured it out!

Same. Most seasons' casts are pretty bad at the game but this season's cast has been helpless. The producers have been so heavy handed with the truth booths (including a bonus truth booth essentially when Sam departed the show) and this group still fails to progress. I guess their chances of winning are dependent on how much the producers like them. Hopefully they don't end up like the one season before than actually lost the game.

That was one piece that I liked the concept behind it but wasn't crazy about the final aesthetic (including the pre-show pieces where I'm assuming she had more than a day to construct). It's interesting to think about how the furniture industry may evolve to ergonomically accommodate the body positions that will become more common with the pervasiveness of cell phone use (more arm rests, curved back rests, etc). Though the end result looked like a middle school paper mache project and the models are really needed to drive the concept.

What I like about this show so far: it gives a lot of exposure to different artists and art mediums, no eliminations and most of the contestants aren't too obnoxious (yet). What I don't like about this show so far: the stereotypical assigned challenge a week format just isn't a good fit for the type of work these artists do. Prescribing a theme and only giving them less than a day to execute doesn't really lend itself to deeply thought out works (not surprisingly). Also, the judging is a little stiff. I'm not as bothered about comparing the different art forms. Seeing different types of art (paintings, sculptures, etc) in one room isn't unusual. And I'm guessing the judges are used to assessing one versus another when making decisions about exhibits and their respective spaces. I feel like a slightly better format for this show would be to give the artists X number weeks to build their final Exhibit (so that we can get a glimpse into their artistic process) but then have small weekly challenges where contestants could get advantages/disadvantages/etc (because it's still reality TV).

It's Work of Art all over again. Currently airing on MTV.

You're not the only one watching - trust me. As soon as a new season drops, we'll all be back 😂 Sometimes I re-watch this show (it's a really easy background show) but haven't felt the itch recently.

Anyone watching this show?

Blackout on the first round? Damn, that's rough. So far no one is really sticking out to me but I'm happy that this show is back. Got my spreadsheet updated and ready to go!