The Not So Real Reality Show – Joe Schmo Is Coming
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Although the show has seemingly been wiped off the pop culture map (there are very few clips on YouTube and episodes aren’t available on any of the streaming services to my knowledge), the two seasons of the Joe Schmo show were among my favorite television experiences. I’m entirely sure that’s a great thing to admit, considering the show was essentially an exercise in torturing an unsuspecting regular person (hence the title) by placing them inside a fake reality show where everything is scripted and the rest of the cast are actors (Kristen Wiig was one of the cast members during the first season). Still, I watched every episode, laughing uncontrollably at the reactions of someone trapped inside a televised world where everything has seemingly gone mad.
After nine years, the show is coming back, this time as a fake game show to find America’s next bounty hunter (sure) and Lorenzo Lamas is among the contestants (OK, why not?). I generally assume that the cable network Spike’s programming schedule consists of one constant marathon of Deadliest Warrior, so now I’ll have a reason to figure out what channel it occupies on my cable lineup by January 8th.
This article appears in Dec 20-26, 2012.
Oh, so true. I can’t remember the last time I watched Spike TV, though I think it was when they were still airing repeats of “Star Trek: Voyager.” I watched the ten minute preview of this online and I am greatly looking forward to it– loved “Joe Schmo” back in the early 2000s when it was on. Wish they’d air a marathon of the first two seasons– I’ll keep an eye on listings.
This is great news! According to the Spike announcement it’s not the original show runners, but the new premise sounds absolutely hilarious. I was a huge fan of the original two seasons and own both on DVD, so to say I’m excited for season three would be an understatement.