The Joe Schmo Show

The Joe Schmo Show seems stupid at first. When picking up the cheesy-looking DVD box set for sale (at the low, low price of $9.99), the show looked like typical mindless entertainment. However, the Joe Schmo Show proves to be rather brilliant at points. Matthew Kennedy Gould is a reality show participant who believes he's in a real contest- but the entire show is staged and fixed to test his reactions and to put him through the wringer. Along the way, the writers provide a hilarious parody of our horrid American reality shows. The show's host is an absolute riot. Pick it up and laugh- it's a shame that the series only ran two seasons.

I saw the first Joe Schmo, and thought it was a great concept. Who among us isn't a bit sick of the plethora of reality. In practice, it was pretty damn decent.

My favorite part of the first one was Ralph, the Smarmy Host, so how pleased am I that he's back as Derek Newcastle? Very!

The new version is a parody of reality love shows, this one called, "Last Chance for Love." Two innocents (using that term loosely) are on the show with such stereotypes as the Heir, the Stalker, the Bitch, and the Drunk Girl.

I think that this season may be even stronger and funnier than the first, as they have already experimented with the formula and now can perfect it. And watch out for Ingrid-- she'll school you good...

<<They're going to study up some on reality shows before they go on one, they would hear of "Joe Schmo," and they'd wonder if something was up.>>

Jane Schmo (Ingrid) said in an interview that the only reality shows she has watched were "The Real World" and "The Bachelorette", and Joe Schmo (Tim) hasn't even mentioned any reality shows he has previously watched.

The first season of "Joe Schmo" peaked at 3 million viewers, which is only about 1/4 of the "Bachelorette" audience. You have to think that the "Joe Schmo 2" producers made absolutely sure that neither Joe nor Jane Schmo had heard of "Joe Schmo" or Spike TV, and because "JS" didn't get huge national ratings, that shouldn't be too hard.

<<I wonder if they also know that Spike TV is hosting it, or how Spike TV would hide that fact?>>

Most reality shows, just like sitcom pilot episodes, are not tied to their eventual network when they are produced. Potential reality shows are filmed and then production companies shop them around to various TV networks. There is no reason for Joe and Jane Schmo to even be told that this particular show will end up airing on Spike TV. The producers could simply say, "Once we're done filming 'Last Chance for Love', we will be meeting with TV executives to try to sell it for future airing."

On top of that, Jane Schmo (Ingrid) probably has never heard of Spike TV because a) she is not in their target demographic (young men) and b) she has spent the past few years traveling the world and reading books about Madeleine Albright in her spare time, not watching wrestling on Spike TV.

My husband and I thoroughly enjoy this show. We are hooked and are watching the second season as well. I do have to say, I find Matthew Kennedy Gould more entertaining and likable than the two Schmos they have on the show during the second season. Could Matthew Kennedy Gould be much nicer or more genuine. This is a man we would love to meet and become friends with! As a warning, if you are not a fan of reality TV, leave this show alone as well. The spoofs of the stereotyped characters are right on, but if you didn't like those people to begin with, you're not going to like these overblown versions either. I must admit, these people really do play their characters well. If you like reality TV you may find yourself trying to decide who will get "kicked off" the show tonight!

A average, everyday person finds themselves selected for a reality TV show with a large prize at stake. Little do they know they're the only contestant: all the other "competitors" are actors and the whole show is just a set up to test how they react to different scenarios and moral dilemmas.

A show that that uses reality TV as a basis for a competition but has the opposite effect, and degree of quality, as reality TV. While reality TV is cheap, dime-a-dozen broadcasting bringing out the worst in people, The Joe Schmo Show was a clever, quality production showing the best in people. Watching Season 1 gave me a new, positive view on mankind: whatever the producers/writers threw at our hero - all manner of moral tests - he passed with flying colours, always doing the honourable thing.

Wonderfully life-affirming and a great a parody of the blight that is reality TV.