S28.E01: I Should've Been A Boy Scout

[Kromm]

You say potato . . .

I'd buy that if they were really the same job. Admittedly being an entertainment journalist (vs. an actual one focused on real news) isn't that prestigious, but it does involve writing your own copy, reading it coherently on air (or in this case on video), etc. That's not really identical to being an Instagram Model--unless you're typecasting all young pretty girls who appear on Social Media as inherently the same. If that's your opinion, I doubt I'd be able to change it, but I don't agree with it.

[Jobiska]

I'm 55, only knew of Tyler Oakley (from the Fine Brothers' YouTubers React show, one of several React shows, of which I like the Teens, Seniors, and Kids best).  But I have no problem with any of these people's jobs/hobbies/claims to fame.  I also don't mind Cole's crying at all--he's young.  Not fond of the loudness of the one Frisbee guy (and not convinced they are quite the ladies' men they imply, heh).  I'm pretty mug-proof, but I am not scream-proof.  (I was also perhaps the only TWOP fan of Dave and Gary way back when).

As it has almost all been said, I will just add that I loved how gleeful the various mariachi non-players were when they got to run along with the teams to the judge, and pretend their instruments were broken.  They were such cute hams (or were they mugging? heh).  Maybe they were happy to get away from "Cielito Lindo" for a few minutes as well.

[henripootel]

As I said, they have done nothing different, collectively or individually, than anyone in previous seasons ...

Ah, now I see where we diverge.  I disagree, strongly.  You may not see it but I do, and I'm not alone here.  All good though.

[NewDigs]

Didn't even know another season was starting 'til I saw a commercial for it Friday night. I bowed out last season so wasn't sure if I even wanted to take a stab this time around. And I'm glad I did.

The YT thing was kind of off-putting to me because of the idea of teams being cast instead of winning auditions. And I am still concerned that their comfort in front of cameras could lead to over-the-top mugging and look-at-meing. And I saw plenty of that but chalked at least some of it up to Race excitement.

But all in all it was an enjoyable first leg. Mariachis! Fireworks! Tears! It had it all and then some. Hopefully as the race progresses some histrionics will be dialed back.

Oh and, Hi Phil! Good to see ya'! I like the NE first Leg!

[jhlipton]

I was one who was fearing the worst when I heard it was a group made of of social media folk. I was pleasantly surprised.

That's not irrational.   Clowns are creepy.

 

To fear clowns is Pennywise (and probably not pound foolish).

 

 

I disagree that most of these contestants are just trying to advance their career. The models probably are (but there are models doing the same on most seasons). But Tyler, the dancers, the gamers, Zach the Vine guy etc. are all as big in their particular niche of entertainment as they possibly can be. They don't need the show to help with access to agents and sponsors, or whatever else they might want, because they already have those contacts and opportunities. 5 million twitter followers > a few episodes of TAR in the media world these days.

It depends on if they want to stay on social media or branch out. Zach might want to get a gig doing FX for a studio, for example.

On the other hand, Wil Wheaton went from TV and movies to YouTube...

[Kromm]

It depends on if they want to stay on social media or branch out. Zach might want to get a gig doing FX for a studio, for example.

On the other hand, Wil Wheaton went from TV and movies to YouTube...

Hah!  Clearly that Wheaton is a total famewhore!!!

[Anati]

It depends on if they want to stay on social media or branch out. Zach might want to get a gig doing FX for a studio, for example.

 

 

I actually think that if that's what he wanted, he could get that pretty easily. But the Vine thing is a pretty good gig. If I could be paid thousands and thousands for a six second video, I'd probably want to stay in the industry.

 

I'm actually surprised that I haven't seen people criticising that aspect of things more, considering how much criticism the cast is attracting in general. Some of these people truly don't need the money.  I'm fine with the cast, but "rich people don't need a million dollars" is a more winning argument against it in my view than "anybody vaguely involved in social media is a narcissist and bad person". (I'm sure several of them could do with the money, but all in all, this cast must have the highest average income of any season in history)

 

Maybe it's because it's bad manners to talk about money matters.

[Netfoot]

I'm fine with the cast, but "rich people don't need a million dollars" is a more winning argument against it...

 

I'm always annoyed when this socialist clap-trap comes up.  (It happens a lot in survivor.)  We're playing a game, here.  Who has the most money has no business playing a part in the final outcome of any game, unless the game happens to be Monopoly.  Otherwise, the champion would always enter the ring to face the underdog with one hand tied behind his back!

[Jersey Guy 87]

I'm always annoyed when this socialist clap-trap comes up.  (It happens a lot in survivor.)  We're playing a game, here.  Who has the most money has no business playing a part in the final outcome of any game, unless the game happens to be Monopoly.  Otherwise, the champion would always enter the ring to face the underdog with one hand tied behind his back!

 

I agree that who has money from outside the game is irrelevant to who should win the game.  In fact, people who are racing because they want to race is fine by me.

 

I also don't believe that this cast is necessarily wealthier than other casts.  I'm sure some of these guys make decent money from their social media thing, I don't know if any of them make huge amounts of money.

[HurricaneVal]

And I am still concerned that their comfort in front of cameras could lead to over-the-top mugging and look-at-meing. And I saw plenty of that but chalked at least some of it up to Race excitement.

 

I think NewDigs here really gets to at least MY definition of a famewhore--someone who is always mugging at the camera, and doing a lot of look-at-meing and upstaging other participants.  We've all certainly seen a lot of that on Big Brother, Survivor, TAR, and other shows.  It isn't what you do--being on a TV show or YouTube or whatever--that makes a you a famewhore, it is how you go about doing it tinged with the desperate air of "I'm going to get discovered and then I'll be a STAR!!!1!!!"

 

Frankie from Big Brother is a good example of that.  Yes, he was already an internet success, but he kept trying to be such a camera hog by being outrageous on BB, until he realized he was in real trouble and he knuckled down and got to business on that one challenge.

 

I'm hoping that once the grinding rhythm of the race sets in, these folks will all equally knuckle down and get to business.  I want to see them race, dammit, not flap their arms around shrieking as they take selfies in front of historic places.

[Anati]

FWIW I agree with you that it it is an irrelevant factor to the game. I'm a Survivor watcher too, and I've seen those discussions there and on other shows. That's why I'm surprised it hasn't been a factor in this discussion, that's all I meant. Probably shouldn't have brought it up, sorry all.

[In Pog Form]

But complaining about YouTubers not being "Real Stars" is like people in 1950 complaining that the Boob Toob was going to turn Americans into glassy eyed zombies.

Well, they weren't wrong.

[Lantern7]

I hit the TAR28 Wikipedia page. It says that Dana & Matt got $2,000 each for winning the first leg. The source was this Twitter post from Matt.

[aradia22]

Happy to see Tyler doing well.

 

I was both surprised and unsurprised at the NEL. I know they're supposed to be planned ahead of time but Blair is relatively big in the beauty guru community. I think they would want to keep her around.

 

I have no idea who anyone else is. I wonder how much they reached out to people from youtube and vine and elsewhere online who said no.

 

The episode started out relatively well (aside from everyone who picked the mariachi task finishing before everyone who picked the bull task) but it got tedious with people struggling at the end. We just started and I'm ready for them to thin the herd.

[Jobiska]

This is in response to several comments on the Episode 2 thread, but it is about stuff that happened here.

Several folks are disappointed that these guys aren't "real fans" and don't know what the show is about/how to race/whatever.

My only response to that is:

 

I have watched almost every episode of every season (I think I missed two half-episodes overall), and yet other than the theme song, I could not sing a single music cue.  I mean I recognized the rattlesnake rattle of making a stupid mistake, etc., but actual tunes, I couldn't reproduce if you asked me.

Tyler and Korey made the appropriate little tune/series of notes when they successfully completed the firework task, and then the sound people obligingly played it as well.  I would never have realized that was the "success" tune, though it adds to my enjoyment when I'm watching the show--I am sure I unconsciously absorb it.

In addition, when setting out, one of the female teams sang the opening bars of the theme song (IIRC) in the taxi.

Maybe they're not all "real fans"--whatever that means--but some of them are.  And that pleases me.

[RCharter]

^^After Justin, I'm okay with fewer diehard fans.  

[auntlada]

This is in response to several comments on the Episode 2 thread, but it is about stuff that happened here.

Several folks are disappointed that these guys aren't "real fans" and don't know what the show is about/how to race/whatever.

My only response to that is:

 

I have watched almost every episode of every season (I think I missed two half-episodes overall), and yet other than the theme song, I could not sing a single music cue.  I mean I recognized the rattlesnake rattle of making a stupid mistake, etc., but actual tunes, I couldn't reproduce if you asked me.

Tyler and Korey made the appropriate little tune/series of notes when they successfully completed the firework task, and then the sound people obligingly played it as well.  I would never have realized that was the "success" tune, though it adds to my enjoyment when I'm watching the show--I am sure I unconsciously absorb it.

In addition, when setting out, one of the female teams sang the opening bars of the theme song (IIRC) in the taxi.

Maybe they're not all "real fans"--whatever that means--but some of them are.  And that pleases me.

 

Also, I've seen even people who say they are really fans (and appear to be from the conversation, although not necessarily on Justin's crazy level) make really stupid mistakes that you'd think people who've watched the show wouldn't do.

[Kromm]

This is in response to several comments on the Episode 2 thread, but it is about stuff that happened here.

Several folks are disappointed that these guys aren't "real fans" and don't know what the show is about/how to race/whatever.

My only response to that is:

 

I have watched almost every episode of every season (I think I missed two half-episodes overall), and yet other than the theme song, I could not sing a single music cue.  I mean I recognized the rattlesnake rattle of making a stupid mistake, etc., but actual tunes, I couldn't reproduce if you asked me.

Tyler and Korey made the appropriate little tune/series of notes when they successfully completed the firework task, and then the sound people obligingly played it as well.  I would never have realized that was the "success" tune, though it adds to my enjoyment when I'm watching the show--I am sure I unconsciously absorb it.

In addition, when setting out, one of the female teams sang the opening bars of the theme song (IIRC) in the taxi.

Maybe they're not all "real fans"--whatever that means--but some of them are.  And that pleases me.

See, I'm getting the impression that these racers singing music from the show is actually one of the things being claimed as the "look at me"/famewhore behavior people are scorning. I can't say I get it, but that seems to be the case.  Kind of makes me sad when stuff this small is being compared to the behavior of that jackass last season.

[Supay]

The lady at the Soumaya Musuem, Cristina, says hi:

 

[Netfoot]

^^^ This video is not available.

[Supay]

Ah, drat, only viewable for those in the US - blasted Geoblock!

[QueBueno]

It played for me. Very interesting to meet the real person whom we had only seen saying "Welcome to Mexico City!" She's quite well-traveled and cultured, and absolutely lovely.

[Ducky]

really wish those videos were captioned (and not the "auto captions by Youtube either)....:(

 

#captionit