Bachelor Pad 2: Vienna Girardi

I've been notoriously critical of The Bachelor franchise, but we all know it is my own fault for even watching the manipulative, scripted (UPDATED:  One of my Bachelor pals corrected me and she would know, there is no scripting whatsoever on The Bachelor franchise.) reality show.  After spending another Monday night wasted on the couch watching Bachelor Pad 2 with the immature shenanigans of Kasey and Vienna, I was reminded of an interview I did with Vienna Girardi in September 2010 during Emmys Week.  I spoke a bit about my interview in a post I did after the event.  Hmmm, after last night's episode, I am not sure my 2010 assessment was correct.  If she hated the manipulation of The Bachelor franchise so much, why is she appearing on Bachelor Pad 2?  If it was so bad, wouldn't you stay far away from ever participating in a reality show again?  Money talks and when Mike Fleiss calls, most former Bachelor contestants say "yes".  Watch my interview with Vienna Girardi and let me know what you think:

Suffering Through an Insufferable Bachelorette

I'm sorry.  This season of The Bachelorette was insufferable. It had everything to do with the person they cast to be The Bachelorette and it's my fault that I watched every second.  I gave Executive Producer, Mike Fleiss, exactly what he wanted:  viewers.  I know enough about this show from following Reality Steve, the former constants I have worked with, and from people who have worked on this show.  Mike Fleiss tactics are anything but honorable, so if you believe that Bentley story line happened organically, think again.

By choosing an emotionally immature woman (girl?) like Ashley who couldn't handle everything that got thrown at her this season, they got drama and the water cooler talk any show runner wants for his series. We watched her cry, whine, and pout her way through the season.  We watched more men voluntarily excuse themselves from the show.  We watched a girl have meltdown after meltdown when clearly all she needed to do was read the book, He's Just Not That Into You.  It drove me insane and it made me dislike her even more.  I wasn't rooting for her one bit, but I sure was tuning in each Monday night.  The icing on the cake happened last evening when she let the "runner-up", Ben, get down on one knee and propose even though she knew she was picking JP.  I found her last act to be cruel and unnecessary and Ben reacted accordingly with some curt and pointed words, "What I don't need you to do is sugarcoat it.  You can't leave something like this on good terms. It's impossible."

That quote summed up my entire season as a viewer watching The Bachelorette.  Sorry, Ashley, I am on Team Ben.  Will I be back next season to watch the latest train wreck concocted by Mike Fleiss and his team?  Oh, probably.  So in the end, Mike Fleiss always wins.

Tell me your thoughts on this season of The Bachelorette.  Do you agree or disagree with my take on this season?

Sony Store Opening: Century City

Some weeks, my world is more glamorous than others.  Other weeks, I am home on my couch in my sweats.  I really enjoy both scenarios, so while this week has been busy with press junkets, store openings, Kids' Choice Awards events, and screenings, I will be spending my Friday night on the couch.  Last night, I was at the Sony store opening in Century City to preview the company's latest offerings in HD technology.  Stars like Adrian Grenier, Melissa Joan Hart, Craig Robinson, Ali and Roberto (for you Bachelorette fans), Spencer Grammer, and Lisa Rinna showed up to support the event and of course, go home with a swag bag.  Sony label artist and Dancing With The Stars performer, Mark Ballas, sang from his CD while the guest played the latest Playstation games and noshed on shrimp cocktail.  It was a lot of fun and I even ran into a few people from the tech and social media world.

In true Hollywood form, it wasn't my only stop of the night as I ran off to the LA Film School to interview James Wan and Leigh Whannell, the creators of the new horror flick, Insidious.  So, expect that article tomorrow on Starpulse. Let's just say, I haven't walked into a dark room in my house alone since I saw the movie last week..........

Mark Ballas is tiny....like really tiny.

Proof that LA will put a red carpet anywhere, including the middle of a mall.

The Q&A after the screening of Insidious at LA Film School

Two notes:
1. This is my second post this week with Lisa Rinna and Melissa Joan Hart in it.  What are the chances?
2. I decided to run upstairs to The Container Store at the end of the Sony party because I needed storage folders for my home office.  Hey, there are only two Container stores in LA and a girl needs to multitask!

Bad TV

Yep, I'm guilty of watching bad reality shows all summer long.  It's my guilty pleasure and I find that the busier my work life gets, the worse my television viewing gets.  I just cannot stop.  My name is Kristyn and I am a crappy TV viewer.  I am the one who keeps reality shows on the air and gets SAG (Screen Actors Guild) up in arms over the lack of work for actors. I am the one who thinks she has seen it all with the each Housewives franchise, but then hops aboard the next city.  Hello, DC!  And don't think I am not excited for the Beverly Hills franchise.  Come on, they are giving us Kelsey Grammer's ex-wife and a Hilton, all in one show!  Then, I scoff at the cheesy dates each bachelor goes on with Ali while she giggles every word out of her mouth on The Bachelorette.  It annoys me--yet I still watch.  I picked up the remote on Monday to watch The Bachelor Pad which basically is a hybrid version of MTV's The The Real World and Road Rules. Yes, we are out of our 20's, so please give us a grown-up version of debauchery in our 30's.  Thanks, ABC.  Yet, last night was a night of triumph for me as Jeff Lewis and his circus of animals and employees returned to Flipping Out on Bravo.  I love his mouthy, lazy housekeeper, Zoila, and Jeff's penchant for fast food.  I can't wait to watch him meltdown all season long over the remodel of Casa Vega in Studio City which has been dubbed the "best place to have an affair in the middle of the afternoon" because it is so dark. Dirty and scandalous things happen there and Jeff is only going to add to the drama.  Jeff Lewis makes me feel so....normal.....and boring.

Now, don't get me wrong.  I love to watch documentaries on Netflix, so I do exercise my brain from time to time.   I even joined the Mad Men band wagon because Don Draper's handsome facade intrigues me.  He will do something so kind for Peggy and then pull such a heartless move on his secretary.  It's just business, my friend.  So, I manage to get in a little quality television each week, but then I equalize the playing field with ABC Family's Make It or Break It.  Hey, I love gymnastics!  The extent of my bad television doesn't end there.  I love spoilers and the internet is ripe with them. Do you want to know who the final four are on The Bachelor Pad?  Oh yeah, I already know.  I knew who Ali picked on The Bachelorette before the finale.  Now, I don't sources at ABC, but my pal, Reality Steve does.  I honestly have no idea who this guy really is, but someone took a shine to him from the set of Mike Fleiss' shows and he gets the best scoop. ABC and Fleiss might not enjoy it, but I sure do.  I don't know why I like to find out what happens before the finale, but I also like to take a sneak peek at my Christmas gifts way before December 25th.  One of my dream interviews is Reality Steve.  He can spoil the next season of The Bachelor for me while I get another round of bad television scoop.  I wonder if he would be up for an interview?  Hey, a couch potato can dream!

 I can't be the only one out there that likes cheesy TV.  Anyone?  Anyone? Who's in this with me or am I all alone in admitting my TV tastes are often lowbrow.  Tell me your favorite bad shows in the comments section or make some suggestions in quality television to help raise my IQ points.  Happy viewing!