THE RECAPS
STORMSEEKER.COM RECAPS! Reality editor Gordon Pepper provide
recaps of each show.
March 4, 2004 March 11, 2004 March 18, 2004
So what happens when 5 people who barely live on the same planet with us are forced to room with 10 people who are looking for $100,000?
We get this.
Welcome to the Mad Mad House, and I who you may call Lurch, will be the journalistic butler. We see 5 'Alts', who are Alternative people who live very different lifestyles. They are a Don the Vampire, Fiona the Wiccan, Ta'Shia the Voodoo Priestess, Avocado the Naturist, and Art the Modern Primitive (which we will learn more about later).
Before we meet them, we meet the contestants, who are obviously clueless as to why they are there. Nichole (retail sales manager), who always wants to be the center of attention, wonders if there will be a family and hopes that they are nice - and while we are hearing that, we are seeing Art sticking body piercings in himself. Brent is a 5th year Christian student (yeah, I see him lasting - NOT), who apparently didn't pass enough classes to get out in four years. On second thought, he may have some potential - until he wishes that everyone was Christian. Bonnie, a 50 year old book editor, wants to do something once outrageous. Well, at least she came to the right place....
Eric (assistant sports agent) also wants to be the life of the party, and tries to hit on Bonnie (yikes), while Loana (media researcher) finds religion a very important part of her life and thinks that she's a good girl. Noel is a Janitor at a barber shop (read - ACTOR) and he wants to get out of where he is. 'That's not fun'. What is fun? Being an exotic dancer, which the bubbly Jamie is, as she's a people person.
Kelly, a political campaigner who looks like a bigger Monica Lewinsky, is expecting the unexpected. Hamin, who is a factory technician, also calls himself a ladies man, but his lines to get Jamie are so bad that even Eric the agent (and probably the person who could score the most chicks) is covering his face. Kelly lives in a convent, is a virgin and works for the Republican Party. Finally, TIm is a horse rancher, who says that he is smarter than he looks.
As they toast, the lights go out, and when thy come back on, the alts come out. Fiona is the spokes women and we get to their introductions. Ta'Shia is a voodoo priestess - and she says Alafia to them (which I guess means hello). Art, tattoo primitive, just bows, while Don the vampire growls at them (which gets a 'Keep on Sucking' response from Noel, which leads me to believe that he is not the sharpest tool in the shed). Avocado says hi as well.
Fiona says that the house will be a 24 hour competition. Each person will be voted off one by one, with the last person standing winning $100,000. The contestants have to figure out the best way to stay in the house. Fiona gives them a hint. 'We are the 5 alts. THis is our house, and we rule.' Ominous, eh?
Kelly thinks that she is back in college with the freaks, while Eric is wondering what he got himself into. The alts talk to the guests in a housewarming ceremony. Noel is redeeming himself by speaking to the vampire and calling him cool. Meanwhile, Fiona explains that a Wiccan isn't a witch - they are good people who cast spells and white magic.
While Noel is making amends, other people like Eric and Brent are getting themselves into trouble by thinking that Art's tattoo isn't real. Hamin also doesn't help his cause, by saying that he believes it - but doesn't believe in it. These seem to be the early nominations to go bye-bye.
Each alt picks someone that they want to room with. Avocado picks Kelly, Ta'Shia picks Brent, Don picks Eric, Fiona picks Hamin (who says that he can live with that and can't wait to score), and Art picks Nichole. Kelly is told to take off her shoes as she gets 'Saged' which is a ritual to have all of the evil spirits cleansed. He only eats raw food and only does things that are natural - and we'll find out more of that later...
Ta'Shia asks Brent to remove his shoes - and she tells him to do some prayers with him. Brent says that he doesn't think that he can do some of these rituals, and that spells trouble. Don gives Eric his new bed - a coffin - and asks him if he's claustrophobic. Don sticks Eric in there and tells him to open it - while Don is lying on top of it. Nice. Hamin gets the nicest room - but he's afraid that he may turn into a 'toad or something'.
Kelly is awoken the next morning by Avocado - naked. While the guys talk to Art about his black obsidian ear piercing and try one of avocado's smoothies, Loana and Brent talk about their faith and how those things are going to affect their standings in the house. They both agree that it will be tough and they will rely on each other to stick around in the house.
Avocado decides to take the group out on a nature hike - but the hiking leads them to Don the vampire and a fountain and swimming pool of blood. This starts off their first challenge. Here is the challenge - contrary to popular belief, vampires are not scared away by garlic or crosses - nor do they sleep upside down like bats. The guests will be jumping into a pool of blood to retrieve 3 objects - a bat, a piece of garlic, and a cross. The people will be taking the items and placing them in front of the person who they do NOT want to see win the challenge. The person with the least amount of items wins the challenge. The winner gets 3 privileges. 1. They will be safe for the first elimination, 2. They will listen to the alt's deliberations, and 3. They will be the final vote in a tiebreaker.
Kelly goes after Nichole, who in turn goes right after Kelly. Don seems to be enjoying this a bit too much - but all good things come to an end, as does the stunt. Bonnie has 5 items, Kelly has 13 items. 'You guys all hate me.' she complains. Nichole has 9, Loana has 3, Jamie and Tim also have 3. Eric and Noel both have 9 while Hamin has 8, but Brent only has 1 item and he is safe from the elimination.
Not everyone is happy from the event, as a pissed off Kelly goes to the bedroom and cries. She talks to Avocado, who tells her that it's ok to not cry - as long as she doesn't do it in public. He says that she probably has a history of being picked on, and he tells her to come back stronger. Hamin starts to apologizes, but Tim has a different attitude - to not say they are sorry because they purposely did it to stop people from winning the competition. I like Tim already - he already is playing the game and I want him to go far...
...at least I did, until Tim comes out and sees Art out there butt naked. He then sits on the far side of the pool, where Art talks to him about hanging with a naked man,. Tim does admit that he's showered in 'community showers' with other guys, and he said to give him around 10 or so days and he'll be fine.
How fine will people be when they go to the first voodoo ceremony by Ta'Shia? Not very, as the only four people who participate are Noel, Eric, Jamie and Nichole. She was disappointed that more of them didn't participate and so much for Tim, who sat out this one too, for playing the game. Nichole was not afraid to do the stunt, but Hamin was because he thought that the drums represented a gathering of spirits - and he wanted nothing to do with that. She goes after the people who didn't participate - particularly Hamin, who talks to him through the spirits about his race (as he is African-American) and that he needs to learn his history. That spooked him out enough that he was ready to go.
Hamin speaks to Ta'Shia the next day - and Ta'Shia thinks that he is terrified about his own ancestry. Jamie thinks that everyone is on edge - but she feels confident. Feeling much less so is Brent, who is not confident about voting anyone off. Brent says that he won't vote off Eric or Loana, while Eric wants to see Nichole or Kelly go. Nichole, who has done everything wrong, is in no danger, but Kelly, who has already alienated herself, could very well be.
It's time for the deliberations. They go through each person individually, and keep in mind that Brent is privy - and can contribute - to the party. Loana - they find her sweet, but guarded. Kelly - They find her sensitive, and although strong-minded, she feels like she is improving very well. Sure enough, she says that she is the Catholic Girl/Outspoken Idiot.
Eric - They all think that he's here for one reason and one reason only - show me the money. Hamin - Ta'Shia was disappointed and they all feel like he is holding something back. 'You're going to grow or go.'. Noel - Fiona already dislikes him when he made the 'Keep on Sucking' remark while Don doesn't like him either.
That's all we get in terms of deliberations, so I assume that everyone else is safe - but once the stroke of midnight hits, all of the guests arrive to await the deliberation. Here;s how the elimination works - each alt gets a vote by placing a necklace over the person that they want to see gone. Whoever has the most necklaces is eliminated. IN case of a tie, Brent casts the tiebreaker.
Avocado goes first, and votes for Hamin, saying that he didn't give all that he could give. Art votes for Kelly, for 'lack of patience'. Don votes for Loana, because she needs to share more with the rest of the people. Fiona doesn't feel that Loana is contributing, so she votes for her too. Ta'Shia tells Hamin that he needs to reclaim his past before reclaiming his future - and she votes for him.
This sets up a 2-2 tie between Hamin and Loana - so Brent has to be the tiebreaker. This should be a no-brainer, since he and Loana are sole alliances partners, then Brent will obviously eliminate Hamin - and he does. Hamin was shocked and he felt backstabbed - but Brent had a much closer bond with Loana. Hamin admits that all he could be was him, and that lack of being able to change, plus his tough luck of going against someone who had a better bond with the tiebreaker does him in. He gets the heave ho, and we're out of the first episode.
My take? I like this show. I was very concerned that it would get silly, and it seems like it is at times, but I think the underlying theme of everyone getting along is a strong and powerful message - and ironic as the counter theme is that this IS a competition, where people will be getting eliminated.
The show can go two ways - it can either be a very cool alternative learning experience, or it could turn into a silly superstitious mess. I really hope that it's the former, as these activities are all things that I would like to lear more about. The only way racism and ignorance can be fought is be knowledge, and this could be a good first start to that. We'll see on the next episode if they continue to step in the right direction.
We have survived the first week of the house - well, Hamin didn't, but that's Brent's fault. Brent thinks that it sucked because he had to choose, while Loana think it sucked that she had 2 necklaces because she thought that she was doing ok - but how can you think that when you sat out of 2 ceremonies? Kelly thinks that it sucks that Nichole is still in the house, because Kelly wants more attention. Huh?
Jamie notices that Nichole and Kelly, who has had more than enough to drink, get into it, and she thinks that this is going in a bad direction. Eric thinks that Kelly is nuts with a few drinks in her. 'If her boyfriend wants to deflower her, give her a few glasses of wine.' Right now, she thinks her boyfriend is the dog, as she gets on all fours and talks to fido, barking-style. Uhhhhh - ok.
It's time for the alts to pick new roommates. Don selects Noel, Avocado selects Jamie, Ta'Shia chooses Tim, Fiona chooses Loana and Art chooses Bonnie. Although the guests are whooping it up when Jamie is selected, nothing happens at night. It's during the next morning when Tim comes out that the fireworks starts. On the last episode when he came out, he saw Avocado naked. Today, he comes out and sees both Avocado ad Art naked. He asks about Don - and they said not unless there's a full moon - which there will be soon. Well, there are 2 full moons out there already - heh, heh, heh...
They ask him to join them - and he says sure - when Fiona and Ta'Shia get naked too. Unbeknownst to him, Fiona is right behind Tim and says 'what if I take my clothes off too?' Tim says that he would do it - but he won't lay naked right in between them. Avocado asks TIm if he would sit out nude and lay beside them for $100,000 - and the look on Tim's face says that he would as he grins when he leaves the poolside area.
While those shenanigans are occurring, Fiona tells everyone to write out something that upsets or scares them. That night, Fiona tells them that they will be performing a Wicca ceremony, Wicca meaning the path of the wise. She tells some of them that they will be entering the inner circle - and once they get in, they can't leave. Fiona asks for volunteers, and she invites Nichole, Noel, Tim, Bonnie, Kelly, Eric, and Jamie - leaving Loana and Brent outside again to watch. Loana
Fiona starts reading the scrolls - and the first one says that she is afraid of people making fun of her. That, of course, belongs to Kelly, who hates it when people make fun of her. FIona tells Kelly to scream it out which she does - but Eric, who isn't buying what Kelly is selling, is thinking that Kelly is trying to win an Academy Award. Eric himself has a scroll that says that he's afraid of standing on his own two feet, and the solution for him is to scream out for everyone to f#ck off.
The next one has 'child abuse' on it - and it belongs to Nichole. She says that her parents are divorced and that she said that the church abused her when they were trying to help their parents with their divorce. Fiona tells her that she needs to release and forgive the church. The next scroll has a 6 inch scar on his stomach as Noel shows everyone his 6 inch scar. He says that the doctors had to operate on him to save his life - but it's still annoying him and he feels self-centered by it. The group says that the scar is beautiful and he feels better. Feeling less better is Loana and Brent, who didn't participate while Ta'Shia says that she is going to target one of them to be eliminated next.
Kelly is worried that she thinks that people think that she is fake, but Art thinks that it was real. Loana and Brent apologizes to the Alts for not participating, but Eric isn't buying and he wants them to participating. Kelly asks Art about his piercings, and Art tells Kelly about the types of piercings. Tim isn't buying what Kelly is selling and she accuses Kelly of faking the conversation of being naive. An enraged Kelly goes after Tim and goes after her as well.
Avocado's reaction? Kelly isn't stable - but he thinks that Tim is instigating Kelly into acting unstable as well. Kelly says that she doesn't take sh$t from anyone. Avocado talks to Art, who says that anything that she has learned from the last ceremony just went right out the window. Everyone else's reaction? They think that Kelly is a nut job and they implore Tim to have sex with the self proclaimed virgin to 'take one for the team' Tim looks like he'd rather lay down next to Avocado naked and have art give him a hot oil massage than to do that.
Speaking of nudity, the guests come down to play the game of exemption with the almost naked Art. 'If G-d meant for us to be nude, we'd have been born this way.' ITs Avocado's game of concentration, where there are a picture of tasty raw food treats hidden under people's loincloths. By selecting people two at a time, they are getting matches - and whoever has the most amount of matches gets the exemption. Loana, who thinks that she is clearly on the chopping block, elects to play - as does Brent. Bonnie, however, sits out, because she thinks that she is safe.
Eric is having fun 'selecting parts of fruits'. Heh. Tim meanwhile, makes fun of the...shortcomings of one of the naked men and that seems to piss off the alts and houseguests alike. Tim does, however wind up with a tie - as does Nichole, so we have a tiebreaker. IN the tiebreaker, whoever picks out the loincloth with the avocado on it wins the exemption. NIchols selects first - and she gets it on the first try. She wins the exemption, and you have to wonder if TIm's making fun of someone will come back to haunt him.
Bonnie is asked on why she didn't participate - and she responds by saying that she didn't want to get caught in games that she doesn't allow her son to do. That seems lame and Fiona agrees, saying that she may want to eliminate her. Nichole gets to hear all of the alt's choices as they deliberate.
Here's what the alts think about...Loana - She needs to let it all hang out says Avocado. Bonnie - Fiona is still upset with her. Noel - Ta'Shia though that he showed great courage with him revealing the scar. Tim - Art doesn't like him and Avocado thinks that he is sliding into the danger zone. Kelly - Art says that she's a drama queen, but Fiona says that she is doing the best that she can. Brent - the alts don't know anything about him, and Ta'Shia says 'He has to grow or go.'
The contestants fear that Kelly is going to be a project and the alts might like her, and want her to stay. Brent also fears that him and Loana may be targeted - and that Nichole may have to make the tiebreaking choice.
We;ll see who is right as we start the elimination ceremony. Ta'shia votes for...Kelly. 'May these beads serve as a light as a path to light your soul.' Don casts his vote for Brent. Avocado stares at Bonnie - but votes for Loana. FIona votes for Tim, who says that he imposes over people too much and doesn't listen enough. Art has the last vote. Does he go after Kelly, who in his words, threw everything she learned away? Or does he go after Tim, who has still not represented himself? Art votes for....Kelly. The final tally is that Kelly has 2 votes and she is gone.
To say that Kelly doesn't take it well is the understatement of the year. 'These people are freaks. They have no right to tell me how to live my life.' She curses them all out in the overdub as she cries, hugs Bonnie, declines the chance for a closing ceremony and walks out of the door. She says that the rejected feeling is something that she has to work no and let go - and I admire that, because in all sincerity, the poor girl has issues.
Next week - more people have issues with others, and we get a taste of animal parts - well, some people get more of a taste than others...
'We all knew that Kelly was going to be gone...but the fact that she was disrespectfully at the end, that was crappy.' That comes from Jamie, and that describes Kelly, who left unceremoniously and who spewed out a ton of venom before she left. The continue to talk about Kelly until Eric says to forget harping about the past and to move on.
The ceremony was taken to heart by a bunch of people. Tim says that he will listen more and talk less, while Nichole, who is allowed to say what the alts are saying behind closed doors, tells everyone that they need to shed their inhibitions. Loana thinks that Nichole is talking about here - and Eric agrees, saying that Loana is on the block because she doesn't participate in things. A very uneasy Brent is looking on, realizing that he too doesn't participate in things and he could be in serious trouble. 'I don't see either of you being here in 2 weeks.' Brent says that he will try yoga, but not that and based on that statement, I don't see Brent lasting one week.
Loana says that she won't bend her beliefs, and I think she will be gone right after Brent - especially when Fiona feels that Loana isn't opening up. Loana says that she's learned a lot but FIona isn't buying what Loana is selling - and she tells Loana that she doesn't have to be here if she doesn't want to be here. The message - shape up or kiss $100,000 good-bye.
Don and Art are going out to get groceries. They draw straws, and Eric, Brent and Loana get to go shopping with the alts. They get in the car and Don the vampire reminds everyone to buckle up. 'Even the undead wear seat belts.'
WHile they are shopping, everyone stares at them, including an old woman, who calls Don and Angel and Art the devil because of his tattoos. Eric stands up for Art, by saying that he has more heart than everyone there. They get into it with the old women and they finally decide to leave before the women runs them over with her cart.
WHile the guys are out shopping, FIona wants to have a 'hot chick day' and cast a special spell for the ladies. Art tells Avocado about it - and Avocado is impressed. Eric spends some time with Ta'Shia, who tells him to quit drinking - and don't take the chance with drinking and driving. Eric will tone the booze. It sounds sincere - until he adds - 'It may be the best actor who wins this', and that really disappoints me in him. He is playing the game - but part of this - especially where his health is concerned - should be beyond the game.
Loana spends some time with Art, who tells her that she is there to grow. Loana wants to mediate and grow - but she changes her tune when FIona asks her to enjoy the Goddess Empowerment ceremony, noting that Loana may not enjoy it. They get into it and Loana, accusing Fiona of purposely using that language so that she wouldn't attend, indeed doesn't attend it. A frustrated Fiona leaves and Art immediately goes after Loana and tells her to do the ceremony - not just for the game's sake, but for herself. Sensing that she will be done if she doesn't go, Loana changes her mind and runs to where FIona is starting the ceremony. FIona first says that she doesn't want Loana there if she is going to bring the attitude, but Loana insists that she will change and Fiona welcomes her into the group and gives her a hug.
As for the ceremony itself? The women dress up in white togas and go into a circle of flowers. They anoint each other with oils and white paint, and hold hands. They bathe and drink wins, and it seems like a women's garden party. Loana is glad that she did it, and she thinks that her and FIona are on better terms.
The women wind up hugging each other and get into a group. Eric, Noel, Tim and Brent, who are looking for the women, find them all hugging each other. TIm says wow while Eric breaks into a big goofy grin. Buying groceries in a store? $50. Seeing women adorned in white robes rubbing their bodies around in front of you in a show? Priceless.
Fiona tells the men that if they want to stay, they have to worship them and bring them an assortment of fruit, vegetables, wine and other adornments. Noel - 'Let me get this straight - in order to enter your circle, we need to get drunk and give you massages. We'll be right back.' The men quickly get everything - and they get themselves in robes as well. Fiona gets a thigh massage from Eric and Noel gets grapes from Noel. Brent is as far outside the circle as ha can get - and Fiona notices this. Hmmmm...
TIm talks to Avocado - and talks, and talks, and talks. Avocado notices this, and tells him to stop talking and listen. Tim is not doing a good job at this, and Avocado is looking at Tim as a target to eliminate - as Avocado fears that Tim is afraid of silence. Tim keeps going and going and going...
...and going to tell the group that after the ceremony, he won't talk for 24 hours. Nichole says 'Just 24 hours? Why not really test yourself and go for two weeks?' Heh. Don is looking at it from a different angle says that by not talking, Tim can use that for his advantage. Hmmmmmm....
Ta'Shia has them stop the talking and gives them all a sheet and a bandana for this week's trial. In the tradition of voodoo ceremonies, everyone will be connected into the earth and will have various items dumped on them that are related to voodoo ceremonies. The ingredients include Earth (used in rituals for healing), fruit (as an offering to the Gods), honey (an offering to the Goddesses) and feathers (to cleanse negative energy). Meanwhile, the alts are having a field day with this, as they are laughing at the contestants - which is a nice change from people laughing at them, I guess.
But wait - there's more! We also have fish and seaweed (for the Goddess of fertility) and finally - Animal Organs! Take that, Joe Rogan! The next challenge - is to find 5 items in a voodoo ceremony - a voodoo doll, a necklace, an idol, a rattle and a key - which are at the bottom of the hole, and are now buried by all of the stuff that they just poured into the hole. Whoever gets all 5 items and puts them on Ta'Shia's altar wins the trial.
Jamie considers herself safe and dogs herself in the challenge - but Avocado notices this and says that Jamie, if she doesn't anchor herself, could blow away. Brent, who knows that he could be in trouble, is in the lead with 4 items found. Bonnie, who has also sat out, feels that she could be in trouble and is close behind with 4 items. Brent has 5 items - but he lost one of the items and is scrambling to find it. That gives Bonnie the time to find the fifth and last item. She gets out of the hole, screaming I am a Goddess, damnit!' and she places her items on the altar, securing immunity for her. Brent thinks that he's in trouble, and I think that the next person gone will either be him or Loana.
The next morning at breakfast we see FIona carrying a little snake with her as she reminds Tim that he can't talk for the day. Brent says that Tim is annoying him anyway, while Art wonders if it's just a ploy by TIm to get into his good graces.
For dinner, the guests pair up as couples. Avocado asks them who they would pair off with, if they had a choice. The results are Brent/Loana, Nichole would take Bonnie and Eric would take Jamie. Noel says that Nichole is acting fake - or maybe he's pissed that no one picked him, as he says that he would go out with himself go to the movies - and then call himself afterwards, which gets everyone laughing. Tim, who still can't talk, kisses NIchole, picking her that way, which disgusts Eric, as he calls Tim's silence 'gross'. You just can't please everybody...
It's deliberation time, and Bonnie gets to sit in. Avocado says that if they eliminated the prize, Jamie would be there - but she lacks the spiritual depth that Bonnie has. They are convinced that Brent wouldn't be there if the money wasn't there - but Art thinks that there is transformation potential - the same potential that Loana had that surprised everyone. Fiona is impressed with what she did - but Loana is talking and she says that she is sick about discussing religion. Ta'Shia isn't ready to necklace him, but his necklace is getting warm. Avocado thinks that Tim saved his butt with the 24 hour silence - but he still is in the danger zone.
It's time to get someone out of the danger zone - the hard way. Art welcomes everyone, and he casts the first vote - for Brent. He doesn't say anything to him, which could mean that Brent is in trouble. He is indeed in trouble, as he votes for Brent as well. Loana is looking on, concerned. Ta'Shia votes for Eric. 'May this necklace serve as a wake-up call to redefine yourself.' Fiona is next, and she votes for Brent. 'What goes on in here is not just a game - it's life.' It's all irrelevant now, as Brent is eliminated, but Avocado votes for Brent anyways, telling him that the universe rewards novelty. Brent says that he doesn't know what he could have done differently, but I do - and trying to participate in the activities would have been a good start.
So Brent is gone, and it looks like in next week's previews that Tim pisses enough people that he will join them. Will he go - or will Eric? Or will someone else out of the blue leave instead? We'll see in 7 days...
