Reality TV scales new heights
 

Apparently this just started tonight in the UK. Could this be the silliest reality TV show idea yet? I can't help but wonder what kind of pond-life is going to fall for this... and how are they going to simulate zero-gravity or explain the fact that they're walking around normally?

And in spite of my reservations, most of all, I wonder if they're actually going to pull it off?

I hope I can find this to downlaod, sounds like it'll be good for a chuckle. Kind of like the Joe Schmo Show was, I miss that show.

gee sounds like you have a bit of a chip about reality TV shows -_-

If done well enough, you could be the 'pond-life' that falls for it you know?

From what I've read, the focus of this show is mostly about the training camp that the cast will be sequestered at. They are being told that the camp is on a base in Russia when it is in fact somewhere in rural England.

So it's still mostly about a bunch of chumps fighting over who did the dishes, and who has an alliance with whom.

Having a faked blast off at the end is a bonus though. Shades of <i>Capricorn One</I>; one of my favourite movies.

Edit: Here's the official show link:

http://www.channel4.com/entertainmen...S/spacecadets/

eerrrr.....I smell lawsuits coming on, these TV people must be pretty thick! What a stupid idea for a show.

God, i hope we can get this in canada, it would be freaking hillarious if they can pull it off

I read about this show a while back in one the trade magazines. It looks like it should be a lot of fun.

Apparently they get bonus money for every day the keep believing they are in space.



There is a similar show to this in the works by some friends of mine. The difference being that contestants will know they are in simulators.

The producers are going to build two state of the art simulators in Montreal and have two teams go head to head in a race through "space". Each episode will have contestants arrive at space station or planet where they will compete directly with the other team.

Some of the obstacles they will encounter will be things like an oxygen leak. There are five people in your ship and you only have enough oxygen for four. In order to make it to your next destination alive you will have to jettison one of your people into space. Who will it be?

The show has the potential to be pretty cool.

I had all of the questions you can think of (and more) about how they coiuld pull this off.

Fortunately, the first episode was all about answering these questions.

I'm just going from memory, so I might not have the details exactly.

12 months ago an advert was placed in a newspaper looking for people who wanted to do something extraordinary.

Out of hundreds of applicants they removed anyone who:

Had an above average IQ.

Could name 4 characters from Star Trek.

...and some other stuff which I didn't see because Manchester United were losing on the other side.

THey did some aptitude tests to find people who could be easily lead and would be easily influenced by 'group thinking'

Then some abseiling followed by jumping off a bridge.



I'd say it was a good show... but not as entertaining as watching Manchester United lose.

The part I find sketchy and slimy is that they purposely chose "easily-led" people. Seriously, that's just fucked up.

So, I will not give them my ratings should it air in the US.

If you get the chance, I'd recommend watching the first episode just to see how they chose the people.

The whole thing is 100% sketchy, but I wouldn't call it slimy.


http://www.channel4.com/entertainmen...S/spacecadets/

I saw the first episode last night, made me laugh, and wince. The people on it are seriously gullible.

However, i do think someone will get sued at the end of it...

On the contrary, exploiting the gullible is A-OK in my book. While I try to be fair, I depise stupidity. Sure, evenyone is ignorant of many things... but HOW many things is what makes the difference. *shrug* I'd watch at least the first episode.

Tricking gullible people for our entertainment, what a great idea. Could be the start of something big. Maybe show up at people's house with a news crew and tell them they won millions in a lottery then watch their reaction when they are told it is a joke. Or maybe dress up like a police officer and tell them their family just died in a car crash and watch them squirm until they are told the truth. Whatever gets the ratings. :)

Don't forget that this was already done, sorta, with the American show about dating a 'millionare'. Can't remember the title, something like Joe Ordinary, or something.


I kind of liked the idea of Space Cadets. Thought it was at least an original idea for a show. Watched the first episode and gave up. It plays just like the usual generic reality tv shit; i.e. three minutes worth of material stretched to a half hour show.

Although I did like how they danced around the fact that they wanted to select gullible morons - as far as we are told, they were looking for 'suggestible' people, or 'easily influenced' people, etc. :lol:

I read that they're getting around this little problem by telling the contestants that they're going to be travelling to 'Near Space', where they'll still feel full gravity, as opposed to 'Deep Space' where the zero-g effect would kick in. If they were going to cotton onto this, I think that would be a big clue...

I wonder as well, if someone tumbles to it, and mentions it to the others, whether they'll think he's space-crazy? That would be kind of funny...

Sounds like the Jim Carey movie from a while back... Somehow, I think we'll all be better off sticking to the movie. Reality TV works best when the viewer can relate ("I could do that" or "I'd like to do that"). Not much to relate to in this show, unless you think of yourself as highly gullible.

All that time and money to trick gullible people. When more fun can be had by tricking a cat into chasing a flashlight beam around the floor?

We have now seen the debut of a show that directly, unquestionably, literally, rewards people for their stupidity.

I was watching this again last night. For those who don't know, three unsuspecting wannabes and one actor were chosen to 'go into space' with two astronauts/actors.

The three wannabes definitely believe they are in space. It's interesting to hear them and see their faces as they look down at (a projection of) planet Earth.

I now gather that they told them their ship has artificial fucking gravity. How do these people remember to breathe?

http://www.spiketv.com/shows/series/joeschmo/meet.jhtml

Joe Schmo - how funny. My buddy Tim from DC was actually on the show. It was actually a pretty good time because all of us would actually meet at the bar he bartends at and watch the show with him every week. Nothing like getting the inside scoop.

If any of you are in the DC area go visit Tim at Town Hall on Wisconsin in upper Georgetown.