I have watched my last episode of Yard Crashers. We were watching a re-run of Double-Grill Island, because it actually shows a Chicago project. I was increasingly offended by the homeowner's comments to his girlfriend, telling her that her "ring" depended on her ability to learn construction skills. But I figured that was her problem.

But then, the Yard Crashers crew told Ahmed Hassan, the host, to "put down his purse and hit it."

Yeah. That's really funny. It would also be really funny if they had told the African-American, Muslim host to put down his (insert offensive comment here) and hit it.

So just to clarify, it is okay to insult women viewers on HGTV, because we are weak and stupid, and apparently we don't make any buying decisions.

Thank goodness HGTV has manly men who can teach me my proper role as a female homeowner.

Maybe that's why they fired Ahmed.

uh, let's count the disasters here.

(1) the homeowner and the girlfriend can't work together. this one's for sale real soon, watch the newspaper.

(2) the crew sasses the host. more of the same.

(3) the editors left the above in. more of the same.

(4) this episode was approved by the network upon presentation and screening. somebody else needs the choice between going out the door or going out the window.

there's a real fine line between an up-front program tilt, street cred and all, and a free-for-all. generally the Yard Crashers episodes I've seen have been intense labor, but the kidding was respectful. this crosses the line for a semi-scripted (hey, they had an idea what they were doing) series IMPHO.

before anybody jumps in... renovation realities is basically a documentary in a half-hour, and frankly, the subjects generally have little idea what they're in for. I wince a bit sometimes watching some of those friends/couples snarl at each other. but I've been there with the wife, and we talk the issue through shortly afterwards and reach our understandings.

it's a different show. I have different expectations. if editing and time pressure allowed, we would probably see the make-ups there.

so now we have Matt Blalock, and in a way, the bar is a little higher, with the challenge that takes one of the contractors away from the losing contestant. he's not bombastic, which has its good and bad sides, but as TV, it's still working as I watch.

quote:

Originally posted by Jaybee:
Maybe that's why they fired Ahmed.

I always though Ahmad was a tad pompous.

hot lights and "hey! -- it's That Guy!" wherever you go do one of two things.

one, you say, thanks, it's a different kind of job, I just take the credit for 20 people you didn't see.

the other is, "Why, yas, yas, excuse me please, I must get to my yacht, I am overdue in the Caymans. I am much bigger than you."

as Lincoln said, you can't fool all of the people all of the time.