Pamela Anderson's Reality Show

Somehow, Pamela Anderson comes across as the down-to-earth girl next door, no matter how she handles her private or public life. Last night I tuned into Pam: Girl on the Loose, the new reality show that features Pam and everybody in her life except her kids.

Note: I don't know why Denise Richards received all the flack for featuring her daughters in her reality show when their air time is probably less than 30 seconds per episode. I guess I do know why. The media does not like Denise. But the media sure likes Pam, and I'm trying to figure out why. She could appear in a skin flick--whoops! She has--and still be treated like the consummate mom and animal lover.

Girl on the Loose is filmed with a grainy low-quality texture that is meant to look campy, but I find it hard on the eyes. Episode One was also difficult to watch because the show caters to a short attention span. The camera jumps around. The interviews and moving shots are constantly interspersed with naked shots of Pam, who gives some of her "confessional" talks from the bath tub.

Dancing with the Stars: Who Should Win?

Maks should win. Well, I mean....Mel B. (AKA Scary Spice) and her professional partner Maksim Chmerskovkiy should win. I had a crush on Maks until I realized he is younger than my own son. Still, he is fun to watch, whether he shaves his chest or not. And I'm happy to see that he got paired with a celebrity who can dance, and can dance very well.

I've had fun watching Mel B., who is spirited and confident. Yet, she is modest and grateful--or would seem so. And, wow, has she lost some weight or what? She had a baby not long ago.

I was a bit disappointed in Mel and Maks last night. I voted for them because they still dominate the competition. There is something about both of their routines that did not flow smoothly. Does anyone know who selects the music? One of the professional dancers implied that they do not get to choose, and sometimes I wonder how anybody would want to dance to some of these music selections. For instance, last week Mel and Maks did the Pasa Doble--a Latin dance--to the song "Satisfaction."

My Favorite Reality Shows

A reality show no longer needs to be a guilty pleasure. After all, there must be hundreds of them on the air by now. Each show is on a spectrum of "reality." The editing often determines the likability of each participant. And often, the situation is structured to create tension and even hostility between contestants. Some "reality" shows, like The Hills, for instance, are obviously scripted.

However, here are some shows that I highly recommend, beginning with my favorite: Dancing with the Stars (ABC) is beginning its fifth season on Monday, September 24, 2007. Past competitors have shown determination and great skill in learning difficult postures and moves. These moves require flexibility, especially on the part of the women, and the younger contestants have an obvious advantage here.

In this show, a professional ballroom dancer is paired with a famous person who may know how to dance, but is no expert in ballroom dancing. Past winners include actress Kelly Monaco from General Hospital, Drew Lachey from boy band 98 Degrees, football great Emmit Smith, and skater Apolo Anton Ono.