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THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
NEWS
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 30, 2004
New show mocks 'expert' commentators
The Associated Press
NEW YORK - Pity Corey Williams. The actor is on a contentious talk show, sparring with a guy who practices for reality TV by eating cow patties, another who's begging to get on air — and a professor who thinks The Next Big Show is a "real-life Hogan's Heroes" set in a concentration camp run by neo-Nazis.
But while Williams believes he's debating real people, he's ostensibly been ensnared in an elaborate web of deceit and in-your-face rhetoric — as if Bill O'Reilly had done "Candid Camera."
In the genre-bending and often hilarious "Crossballs," which premieres July 6 for an eight-week run on Comedy Central,
the real is the fake, the fake is the real — and nobody knows which end is up.
Its talk-show format pits real guests recruited to debate real issues against improv actors portraying other "real" guests with audacious, often obnoxious opinions. The shows end without the con being revealed to the dupes, and a little nagging doubt remains — even for viewers.
Consider the episode on whether reality TV is a pursuit worthy of humanity. On one side you have Williams, the actor, brought on to defend his craft, and Stacy Vatanapan, who has worked on the production end of reality television.
"How much talent does it take to hang upside-down with a cow patty in your mouth?" Williams snaps.
On the other side is hard-core reality-TV vet Matthew Henson (played by Matt Besser), sporting a sleeveless, skull-festooned shirt and insisting that all professional actors are liars. "I'm not going to put words in your mouth," he tells Williams. "You let scripts do that for you."
Besser, the executive producer and one of those who dreamed up the idea, steals the show. His entirely un-PC characters (including the owner of the "Ozark Mountain Driving School") exhibit a simplicity and regular-guy tendentiousness that is exactly the Red America stereotype so feared by those on the coasts.
liars," Besser says to Williams. Under him appears the classic one-line TV identifier: "MATTHEW HENSON _ REALITY TV BUGEATER."
"Ever since 9/11, America's kind of changed. People, they're sick of the phonies in the world. They're sick of
The superimposed text is one of the show's funniest characteristics, riffing off the weird things people say. Among them: "Wizard of Oz' midget orgies?" "Knowing in advance: Ruins surprise?" And the classic "Bilingual drivers: Dangerous or peligroso?"
The social pressures of respect are fascinating to watch. The dupes are hesitant to be dismissive even as the remarks they field become more and more unbelievable.
"Is this guy for real?" Williams, the actor, says at one point.
Kansan Classifieds
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300
Employment
105 Personals
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115 On Campus
112 Announcements
114 PowerPoint
108 Entertainment
140 Lost and Found
205 Help Wanted
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305 For Sale
310 Computers
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320 Sporting Goods
325 Stereo Equipment
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370 Wanted to Buy
380 Health & Fitness
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405 Apartments for Rent
410 Town Homes for Rent
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425 Rooms Wanted
430 Rooms for Rent
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The Kanzaan will not knowingly accept any advertisement for housing or employment that discriminates against any person or group of persons based on race, sex, age, color, creed, religion, sexual orientation, nationality or dis-
To place an ad call the
Classified Policy
classified office at:
864-4358
or email at:
classifieds@kansan.com
ability. Further, the Karman, who not knowingly advertised that is in violation of University of Missouri regulation or be subject to the Federal Fair Sale Act, should not be subject to the Federal Fair Sale Act.
tation or discrimination.
Our readers are hereby informed that all jobs and housing issued in this newspaper are available on equal opportunity basis.
Housing Act of 1968 which makes it illegal to advertise "any preference, limitation or discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status or national origin, or an intention, to make any such preference, limit-
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Announcements
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Announcements
Come to a free skin care clinic and learn the benefits of Arbonne Skin Care. Clinics held every Tue, 5:30-7:30 PM. Reserve your seat today. Contact Crystal 841-8522.
More than half of KU students rent or share a house/apartment. Check out the Real Estate
Help Wanted
205
section in The University Daily Kansan Classifieds.
Housemate: 20 hrs/wk assisting person in wheelchair in return for private bedroom w/cable, Internet access, meals, laundry. Drug & alcohol free home, 785-843-8538
Employment
200
City of Lawrence
An internship opportunity is avail, to assist with Historic Preservation planning process in the Lawrence Douglas County Planning dept. Seeking current Masters student in Historic Preservation, Design, Architecture, Urban Planning, Public History or Public Admin programs. Must be MS Office proficient; GIS helpful. 20-30 hrs wkly. Requires appl, resume & cvr ltr by 07/09/04 to:
Looking for an exciting home-based business? Part-time career with unlimited potential. Call Crystal at 841-8522 to discover Arborine Skin Care.
City Hall, Personnel
6 E 6th, Lawrence KS 66044
www.LawrenceCity.Jobs.org
EOE M/F/D
205
Help Wanted
SEEKING MYSTERY SHOPPERS! Perfect for Students! Flexible work from home or school. FT/PT Make your own hours. (800) 830-8066
$800/wkly guaranteed. Stuttgart envelopes. Send a self-addressed stamped envelope to Scarab Marketing, 28 East Jackson Street 10th Floor Suite 938 Chicago IL 60604.
Sell beer at Nascar July 3rd & 4th. Make $75 to $150 plus a day.
www.knaskas.com 330-351-0765.
Leasing Agents
If you are friendly and outgoing, you might be the person we are looking for. Part-time positions available. Positions start at $8.00/hr. Apply in person:
Canyon Court
700 Comet Lane
or fax resume to 832-1746
Kansan Classifieds:
June 30 July 7.14.21.
205
Help Wanted
Student Assistant: $7.15/hr, 20 hours/week. Deadline: 5 p.m. 07/09/04.
Duties: Work in Customer Services area, which would include the following; answering customer service related phone calls, data entry, entering trouble calls to a web based trouble ticket system, provide limited technical support to University Customers, variety of clerical support.
Required Qualifications: Valid KU enrollment for fall 2004; Good oral, written and interpersonal communication skills; Ability to complete assigned work accurately and in a timely manner; Ability to fluently speak and fully understand the English language; PC experience with spreadsheet, word processing, and database experience; Ability to work as a team player;
Valid drivers license; Data entry and/or Personal Computer experience; Available to work semester breaks and summer.
Preferred Qualifications: Previous KU experience; Clerical experience; One year of experience in office environment, typing and filling; Six months experience dealing with the public. Obtain and complete and application from the Networking and Telecommunications Services reception desk. Address: NTS, University of Kansas, Rm. 101 McCollum Hall, 1736 Engel Road, Lawrence, KS 66045;
Phone: 785-864-9331; Contact: Ann Riat. EO/AE.
300
Merchandise
Bed-Desks-Bookcases Everything for the apartment. Everything But ice
For Sale
305
Real Estate
400
405
Apartments for Rent
1 bedroom basement apt. No pets.
$295/mo. Only 1 mo. lease ending July
30, 2004. 841-1074.
1 bk from KU. 4 BR, 2 BA $900/month
2 BR, 2 BA $625/month. Pets OK.
www.Gagemenmt.com 842-7644.