Podcast Episode 3: Audrey Gater on why we need to watch Hands Maid Tale and the best of Reality TV

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Sue Funke sits down to chat with her former TV Land co-worker, Audrey Gater. They discuss Ed Sheeran's surprise cameo on Game of Thrones, the very first show Audrey ever binged watched, and how she's a SNICK kid, not a Disney kid.

WARNING: This podcast was recorded while Sue was working, so there are some keyboard noises and weird cuts. We're living and learning audio editing slowly here, so apologies for the side noise.

Bad, But So Good: 'Celebrity Rehab'

Dr. Drew has an entirely new crew of drug addicts on VH1, and if you can pull yourself away from Teen Mom or The Real Housewives, I highly recommend getting addicted to this season's group of washed up stars.

First of all, Leif Garrett is still alive! Who knew? He's trying to get off heroine and looking like an extra for The Walking Dead. But he's one of the more quiet contestants on this sobriety game show. The loud mouth, as always is Janice Dickinson. Kudos to her for getting better, especially after that Finland incident...


The true star though, has to be Jason London... or is it Jeremy? Darn twins...
It's the one who said he was kidnapped and forced to do drugs.
Um, hello, Six Feet Under did it years ago!

If nothing else, tune in for his tale of that wild ride. It's really amusing to watch 'actors' try and believe his crazy tales.

*UPDATE*
(OK, I really only like adding that because it makes me think of Unsolved Mysteries.)
The most recent episode where they're all really into withdrawal stages was when it stopped being fake, and started to get real. (Why, yes... I am too lazy to look it up that exact episode right now and decided to go with the cheap video clip joke.)
Best of luck to all of them on their road to sobriety.

Tabitha Salon Takeover Tuesdays

I cannot wait for Tuesday night TV.

This is not a common feeling, and TV watchers know that. We will rarely get great programming on Tuesday. If there's anything at all, it's usually later on at night and dramatic (I'm thinking Rescue Me)

But lately, I find myself on Mondays jonesen for Tuesdays with Tabitha...

Even though Tabitha Salon Takeover is basically Gordon Ramsey's Kitchen Nightmares re-purposed for beauty salon's, it's probably the best makeover show on television.
It has everything you want from a reality show:

• Rags to Riches: They give salons that are in total debt money to restart their business
• Ugly to Pretty: The salons are always, disgusting. Each episode without fail Tabitha will say in her charming accent that the salon she's in is, "Covered with dirt!"
• Person with Accent Putting Down an American: We really love that. Pretty much every competition show has a judge with a charming, foreign accent.

What really makes this show fantastic though, is Tabitha. She's a lovable bitch, because she's always right - and she's fierce. I know it's so Project Runway to go there, but she is - I mean look at this:

I wish someone followed me around work shooting footage of what I do and then editing it to show that I'm just always right, always. Maybe, if I just learn an accent...hello? Fox? I've got an idea for a reality show...

Top Chef Season 5: And The Winner is...

Hosea.

My reaction: zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

He's a nice enough guy, but can't one of the winners ever be a big personality?
Hosea is all fish, AND he wimped out on dessert.

Carla, man, what a heart break. Why did she not listen to her heart?
It's funny because you would think the bad pick was Hosea giving Stefan the alligator, but really the dud of the evening was Carla having to work with Casey. Her willingness to work with others' ideas was her downfall there.

I still would rather go to Alchemy Caterer's than Hosea's fish place. But either way, at least he showed Leah.

For more on Top Chef winner Hosea, read this interview where he basically admits that it's Richard that put him over the top.

Howie- Don't Do It

Today a co-worker of mine brought up the show Howie Do It
and asked me, "So, do you know about that show?"

"No," I replied.

"Oh, ho ho really miss-I-love-tv-more-than-you? YOU don't know about a television show?"

"No, I only watch good tv."

I blocked this show from my brain after seeing the commercial. My question is, who was really longing for Punk'd and Candid Camera and decided, ya know who I can't get enough of? Howie Mandel.

It's not enough to watch him host the most pointless game show on television.
-Deal or No Deal is the equivalent of "How many fingers do I have behind my back?" except there's money. It's an hour long, and then a person that's not you gets money. I've literally optioned to watch paint dry instead.

Honestly, NBC, we have enough to fear on our minds right now, we don't need this...

Reality TV Report February 2009

There are a ton of new reality shows out there and some old ones that are interesting this year. Here's what's worth watching on the Sue Funke scale:

You HAVE to see this:

RuPaul's Drag Race - Do I really have to explain it after that tittle? Honey! It's hilarious tranny messes and successes at their bestests. Check out FREE Episodes by clicking here.

You Should Miss this:

Real Housewives of Orange County - Midlife rich bitches being catty. Here's your cliff's notes version:
Gretchen's fiance is wicked old, and dying. It's tough for her, and she claims not to get out of the hospital much but is never shown there except for some interviews taken in front of a sign that says HOSPITAL.

Tamra's a bitch. She also has a bizarre relationship with her son who obviously wants to bang a woman just like her. Oh, but feel bad for her because her parents got divorced when she was like 18.

I'm pretty sure if you put your ear to Lynne's you could hear the ocean. She's desperate to be the cool Mom, so her daughters are spoiled annoying brats. She seems to still be in love with her husband and vice versa, which is kinda sweet.

Jeana and Vicky? A little more crazy than previous seasons. It's a little disturbing how depressed Jeana is and Vicky's power hungriness has left her with no appetite at all for her poor good natured husband.

And Lauri left because even though she's got the story book life, her son's in prison and she wants to take care of her family. Wise choice Lauri. The ship is sinking. You got out!
Now, please add the f*ckin' E to your name.

If you haven't seen it by now...
You HAVE to see this season's Top Chef.

The characters that are cooking this season are THE best.
If you see one episode only make it Season 5's Kitchen Wars.
This regularly fan favorite episode of every season, pits two teams of 3 against each other to open a restaurant within a very limited amount of time.

Click here for the recap, and do yourself a favor and check out the next airing of this dramatic and fun episode.

Fun to watch if you're a chick

Jon and Kate Plus 8. The kids are adorable and the marriage squabbles funny, because it's not me.
If you ever felt your life was disorganized, Kate will make you feel worse.
Jon's reactions to Kate's understandable madness are also hilarious.

I don't understand the appeal, Ladies...
Of The Bachelor. I watch it and fear for that poor man's life. They all seem like crazy stalkers.
My pal Andrea blogs about it though and her humorous take aways almost make it seem worth while... I'd rather read her take though.
Click here to read Andrea's blog on the most awkward episode of the Bachelor.
Yipes. Mighty Awkward!

And, show of hands, who is still watching...

American Idol? It was on at a bar I was at (it was a very slow night) and I saw the judges sitting on thron-like chairs in a house setting. It was rather creepy. It looked like there was a rape room somewhere behind a wall facade.
That was probably the most exciting thing about Idol I have seen.

Girls Next Door? It's lost it's charm. We know the axe has fallen and they're going seperate ways, who cares if they go to New Orleans and realize Katrina still hasn't been cleaned up?

Let us know what you think, and if there are Reality TV shows out there I'm missing.
I'm guessing no.