Madison Restaurant Review: Pizza Brutta

The Neapolitan pizza has finally found a home in Madison. I say finally because just a few months back the idea was meeting with quite the resistance in the area. Local food reviewers greeted the first of the new comers with negative rants about lack of cheese and pies that were too small. Yes it’s true; sometimes food reviewers can become reverse snobs. Happily the initial negative response has subsided and the newest and finest example of the classic pizza, Pizza Brutta is thriving on Monroe Street.

Cozyed up to a rug shop, Brutta’s outward appearance actually resembles the wood-burning oven that cooks its pizza. The dining area looks small but is actually quite spacious thanks to the small kitchen and limited menu. Like most Neapolitan joints you order at a counter and then the staff gives you a number you take to your seat. You don’t expect much from service within those boundaries but my companions and I were pleasantly surprised by the courteous staff picked up on the cues that we were sharing our dishes and offered extra plates and silverware. And share we did.

Make no mistake when you come to Pizza Brutta you better be in the mood for pizza as that’s essentially all they offer. There are a total of 16 specialty pies, 8 tomato based and 8 white or bianco pizzas. In addition to the main attraction there are 4 salads and 3 sandwiches that are only offered at lunch. Eager to sample all my companions and I decided to share a couple of pizzas and a salad. For a red pizza we tried the salami e funghi, a combo of tomato sauce, house made mozzarella, Genoa salami, mushrooms, and kalmata olives. Usually overcrowding a Neapolitan is a huge mistake but the flavors here meshed well. The mozz is a sure fire winner and wisely used sparingly. The olives and salami were of the finest quality. On the other hand, I could have lived without the mushrooms but no harm no foul. As good as the red pizza was the Salsiccia white pizza was the star of our visit and maybe the finest pie I’ve had in a while. Homemade sausage, mozz, roasted onions, and garlic sat on a crust that was then spritzed with truffle oil for a taste that lingers even as I write this. The sausage and onions danced with each other but never dominated the plate. Finally the Vesuvio salad certainly did not wilt under the pressure from the pizzas. The salad featured prosicutto crumbles that one companion described as the best bacon bites ever. Each crisp little nugget was packed with flavor and we’d all be lucky to find them at our local salad bar. The fresh gruyere that was shaved over the top played perfectly with the greens and the smoked tomato vinaigrette that had a sweet smoky texture that hit the back of your tongue.

Brutta is an unqualified success and while most of Madison, myself included, will usually opt for a traditional “American” pizza like a thin crust from Bucks or a stuffed from Pizza Extreme, the small subtle pies from this gem of a joint will no doubt have a place in my pizza rotation from here on out.

Pizza Brutta, 1805 Monroe Street, Madison, WI 608-257-2120

Looking Back at the New Shows of 2007: Part 2

Alright here's part two looking back at what an odd strange year it’s been. The strike all but halted any momentum new shows had a chance to build and as a result we’ve got a broken season that may end the lives of some shows prematurely and extend the lives of others unnecessarily. Taking a look back at my Fall TV Preview I discovered that I highlighted 8 new shows as possible must-sees, and now that we’re winding down the 07-08 season, I thought now’s as good a time as ever to take a look back on how they faired.

Dirty Sexy Money (ABC) - All hail the return of the nighttime soap (screw you Wisteria Lane)! DSM took what could have been an outdated soap convention and imbued it with smart, witty stories that have depth while still being superficial fun. An amazing cast highlighted by Donald Sutherland have elevated the show along with an ongoing mystery that while interesting doesn’t dominate the show. It will be a test for the shows creators to make sure we can all jump back into place when it picks up again.
Outlook- Will be back in the fall

Chuck (NBC) - I’ve thought a lot about Chuck ever since NBC aired the last couple of eps a few weeks back. The show had a charm about it, that’s for sure, but the truth is that even during those dark months of the strike I never found myself cursing the lack of new Chucks. Still the solid premise of a mild mannered geek being forced into an Alias type lifestyle kept me entertained and the promise of a deeper mythology in the last few eps certainly peaked my interest enough for a second season.
Outlook- Will be back in the fall

Pushing Daisies (ABC) - Every season one show is a big surprise. That surprise can be a show that has a great pedigree and fails on every level (Return of Jezebel James anyone?), a show that looks like it’s going to suck big time but turns out to be great (hello Heroes…well at least season 1), or a show that despite being of high quality somehow manages to be a ratings success and reach a mass audience…ladies and gentlemen I give you Pushing Daisies. The story of the pie maker and the dead girl captivated the TV community from the outset with its vibrant colors and characters that literally popped off the screen. Never has there been a show that’s so dark yet so funny and light all at the same time. The show left off with ominous fortellings of the future but then again what should we expect for these two characters.
Outlook- Will be back in the fall…and it can’t come soon enough.

Gossip Girl (CW)- I loved me some OC so when the same creative team decided to tackle the Upper East Side, I must admit to feeling a tingle in my TV sensor. Gossip Girl has not only satisfied that tingle but has given me a god damn rash. This show has escaped any shadow cast by The OC and can stand on its own. Is it the best show ever as New York magazine recently claimed? No, but it’s a very good teen sudser that really dazzled in its return this past Monday. Of course the problem with these types of shows is that there’s only so many teen stories to tell before you get into more ludicrous plots like stalkers, murders, long lost sisters, etc. Long term I’m sure GG will fall into this trap but let’s live in the moment and enjoy it while it’s so so good. (Plus next week Dawn from Buffy shows up so we get to yell “Shut up Dawn!” at our TVs once again.)
Outlook- Currently airing and returning this summer or Fall for season 2

Looking Back at the New Shows of 2007: Part 1

What an odd strange year it’s been. The strike all but halted any momentum new shows had a chance to build and as a result we’ve got a broken season that may end the lives of some shows prematurely and extend the lives of others unnecessarily. Taking a look back at my Fall TV Preview I discovered that I highlighted 8 new shows as possible must-sees, and now that we’re winding down the 07-08 season, I thought now’s as good a time as ever to take a look back on how they faired.

Viva Laughlin (CBS)- Aside from giving The Soup and Best Week Ever some of the best clips of the year, this short lived Hugh Jackman produced failed miserably. The negative buzz of having gone through a couple of show runners and ominously not showing the pilot for critics seemed to have doomed this show before it came to air. I caught five minutes and was struck at its awfulness. It was the first new show to get the ax of the 2007 season.
Outlook- Cancelled

Reaper (CW)- When word hit the street last spring of this pilot the blogosphere erupted in joy. A sci-fi, horror show written by Buffy/Angel alum with a pilot directed by Kevin Smith…it was like a fanboy’s wet dream. However unlike most dreams that fail to come to fruition in reality, Reaper debuted this Fall with a series of excellent shows. The unique story, quick pacing, and outstanding cast have served the show well as it’s been moved from time slot to time slot. The mythology of the show has been revealed slowly and the show has instead opted for a more self contained approach to each episode which really allowed the audience to access the show easily. Unfortunately the audience just hasn’t been coming. Now on timeslot number 3, Reaper enters its last few eps with its future in doubt. You’d think the struggling CW would keep a critical and potential cult like hit but then again I’m sure they’d be happy to run Farmer Needs A Wife 2.
Outlook- Currently airing, outlook muddy…at best

Bionic Woman (NBC)- This show set a record for going through show runners in its half season span. Despite the flood of talented behind the scenes folks from Battlestar, Kidnapped, 24, and Friday Night Lights this show was a series of false starts. Perhaps the biggest problem lied in the fact that its star played second fiddle to its villain who only appeared every other week. There was definite promise here but it’s hard to get upset about a show getting the ax when it never found its stride.
Outlook-Cancelled

Journeyman (NBC)- From shows with big buzz to one without any. Journeyman was a lesson in patience that NBC failed…miserably. Even before the strike the show was going on two to three week absences. It’s a shame cause while Bionic never found its stride Journeyman was running at a fine gate. The story of Dan and his time jumping was just getting good and it felt like the writers had a ton of stories to tell both about in terms of mythology and stand alone eps. If Reaper stays this will be the saddest drop of the season.
Outlook- Cancelled

High Hills Heights

Oh my lord I'm so sorry if I talked bad about The Hills a few days ago. Guilty pleasure or not I just love this show. Tonight we saw the shape of things to come as:
* JustinBobby returned slightly cleaner and less mumbly.
* Lo continued to be featured prominently and it looks like there's much more to come as she's moving in with LC and Audrina. Praise be to Allah we finally have more Lo.
* Audrina continued to play both sides as she buddied up to Heidi and tried to play lap dog to LC.

And in the biggest news since Jason got out of rehab (pre-Celebrity Rap Superstar)...Stephen Coletti is coming to visit LC next week. All is right with the world. Could the couple that started it all on Laguna Beach (suck it Kristen Cavallari) finally find their one shining moment? Ahh its all too much must veg out to YouTube medley of favorite couple...

First Impressions: Real World- Hollywood

Just like the 10th anniversary season, the 20th season revisits a familiar territory as the show once again returns to LA or Hollywood to be exact. Seven strangers picked to live in a house might be the only thing the two houses have in common. Yes the 20th season of The Real World might be its last and that’s probably a good thing given the boring first hour that premiered last week. Instead of pretending that these young “adults” have any interest other then grabbing 15 minutes of fame, MTV has selected a group of models, singers, actors, and media whores to populate the house that once housed the first season of Big Brother. You’d think this approach would be refreshing but really you’ve still got an awesome amount of fakeness between the cast members which is strongest with audience pick Greg. You see, instead of the normal casting process, the network sought to spice things up by letting the audience pick a cast member via an online competition. The result is a smug fake jerk that has a serious case of bitch-assness. To his credit Greg is the only yahoo I can remember after the first ep. There’s the stripper, the dumb blonde southern girl, the women’s studies student who thinks Paris is a good role model, the angry white guy, the sensitive black guy, and the white jock. Wow I’ve never seen a cast like this! On the plus side MTV has packed the house with 3 minorities which is a rarity, however for the second year in a row there is no GLBT representation. Tsk, tsk MTV! The house of course is fabu and might be my favorite yet given my interest in all things TV and movies but a good house does not a good season make. Looks like some blow ups, blow jobs, and blow hards lie ahead but unless the show gets a jolt of reality or substance, it looks like this vaunted show will go out with a whimper not a bang.

No More Work Son?

How about we all pour a little liquor out for our boys Rob & Big. No, neither of them passed on but last night brought the series finale for MTV’s best show in recent years. While The Real World has become trite and predictable and The Hills a guilty pleasure to the nth degree, Rob & Big was not only entertaining but something you didn’t have to feel guilty about watching. Last night the show went out with back to back episodes that truly captured the real life friendship of the two and the sheer craziness normal people with sudden wealth can get up to. Not since Jackass has MTV had a show where its audience could truly identify with its cast and the absence Rob & Big will leave will be felt on the network.

Quick Review: The Paper

Every so often MTV and reality TV as a whole surprise me and The Paper (9pm CST on Mondays) is one of those pleasant surprises. Focusing on the staff of the nation’s most decorated student newspaper, the show comes off a bit like the anti Laguna Beach. Don’t get me wrong the kids still look pampered and well off but instead of aspiring trophy wives or fashionistas, these kids look to be the next Barbara Walters (seriously?) or Rupert Murdoch’s (that’s unfortunate) and they’ve got the awkward teen looks to match. I don’t expect The Paper to last long with that pedigree as MTV is a slave to the beautiful people or should I say an audience that wants to be the beautiful people but in the meantime I highly recommend a chance to gaze into the lives of real teens with real goals.

Frak me, this is good TV!

Now two episodes into its final season, Battlestar Galactiaca is well on its way towards cementing its place as one of the finest shows in television history. At just 3 seasons and two episodes old, it looks like Battlestar will join Buffy, Angel, Twin Peaks, and perhaps Lost (still validating its own place in the history books) as one of my top 5 shows.

Recently I’ve been able to relive what’s brought us to this final season. You see, the great thing about living with a TV neophyte is that they’re willing to be exposed to all that’s out there (and then reject 90%) of it. Last summer I introduced my partner to Heroes and Lost and I must say the experience of watching those shows over again with someone with fresh eyes was truly wonderful. Now I’ve hooked her on Battlestar and the experience is even better thanks to the continued high quality the show operates at. Every season the show finds new ways to make the show darker both in tone and storylines while balancing the hope and humanity that function as the core of the show. Season 1 looks like Charles in Charge with its upbeat sometimes cheesy, happy endings when compared with season 3’s occupation opener. That’s saying something when your show starts out with the near genocide of the human race.

Enough about the past though, let’s take a closer look at season 4 so far. In the opening episode the writers somehow managed to juggle the multiple balls last season’s spectacular finale threw in the air. The four newly revealed Cylons were catapulted back into action and while they took part in the larger fabric of the battle their newfound heritage never took a back seat. The revelation of the final Cylon model is something that we might have to wait until the end to see, but in the meantime the writers have managed to make it less of a guessing game and more of an intricate plot device to further the show. Starbuck’s reemergence this year was yet another example of Battlestar’s greatness as they took the overdone resurrection storyline and gave it a new twist…no one is happy to see her. Perhaps the best example of why Battlestar is on top of its game came in this week’s episode where Apollo exited the show. Now I’m sure we’ll see more of Lee Adama but his days as an officer on Galactica are over. The character that dominated many of the great battles and operations on the show is dead for all practical purposes, and the send off he received was a beautiful one. In a show where only minutes earlier we saw a number of beloved characters (both to us and each other) fight and flee, this scene of humanity honoring one of its most flawed yet most heroic was moving and gut wrenching. Sure Battlestar is an allegory for the flaws and glory of religion, democracy, and specifically our current national status but at its heart the show is about the good and the bad we do to each other and how we can reconcile that and move forward to make a world for our future and ourselves.

Madison Restaurant Review: Smoky Jon’s #1 BBQ

So a few weeks ago I got a lot of hits and feedback for my review of Tom’s Red Pepper here in Madison. Some argued that I was a Minneapolis snob and that I looked down on Madison cuisine. Others thought I was being negative for the sake of being negative. Well I guess I can see how new readers stumbling across my reviews for the first time might come to that conclusion, but long time readers will know that I heap on the praise whenever the opportunity arises. Thankfully my stomach and my mind were recently treated to such an opportunity when I rediscovered Smoky Jon’s #1 BBQ last week.

Literally located in a BBQ shack on the Northeast side of Madison, Smoky Jon’s has been dishing out award winning BBQ since 1974. Now Madison doesn’t have plethora of BBQ choices but who needs choice when Jon’s does it all so, so well. The restaurant itself is a fine place to eat BBQ, filled with red and white checkered tables, but the standard mode at this place is take-out and last week my partner and I did just that. Since she works on the Northeast side of town I gave my partner my order and asked her to pick it up on her way home. While I had been to Jon’s a couple of times over the years, this was her first visit so she was a bit unsure of what to get. Thankfully Jon’s has always had a reputation for staff that wants to help you eat best. Upon arriving, my partner placed my order and told the counter staff what she was in the mood for. The worker knew exactly the dishes that fit the bill and was so spot on, that my partner later wished she had tipped her even more then she did. You expect this kind of service from a true BBQ stand and Jon’s doesn’t disappoint.

So what about the food already? First let’s talk BBQ and simply put, this is some of the best I’ve ever sampled. I went with a combination of a 1/3 rack of ribs and a chopped pork sandwich. The ribs are not the best in terms of meat quality as the pork wasn’t always bone tender however the smoky flavor of the meat was second to none. In fact, while I’m neither a dry or wet man specifically, I found myself wanting these ribs dry as the sauce, while quite good, was too distracting from the hickory smoke. If the ribs were slightly flawed, the chopped pork was perfection. The meat was truly chopped and not shredded like some BBQ joints try to pass off as chopped. The meat had been treated with the appropriate vinegar which perfectly complimented the sauce served on the side. The bitter and sweet combination was spot on. The soft bun the sandwich was served on was fresh and soft and completely innocuous which was as it should be. My partner had the Saucy-Q which featured melt in your mouth beef brisket smothered in the sauce. The beef held the smoky flavor against the sauce better then the ribs which made it the best of the 3 meats we sampled. A warning to those ordering by phone, the Saucy-Q is not on the web or take-out menus so make sure to ask.

Unlike a lot of BBQ joints, Smoky Jon’s prowess extends out of the pit and into the side dishes as well. The skin-on fries are some of the best in town and travel surprisingly well. The coleslaw is creamy beyond belief but could have used some more seasoning on our last visit. Spicy buttered corn is spicy…buttered…and corn, and a combination I’ve found unique to Jon’s. Mashed potatoes were surprisingly lacking as they simply did not have enough moisture to travel well and when that travel is less then 30 minutes, that’s disappointing. Last week the star of the sides were the sugar fried biscuits. Beignet like in their shape and texture, these nuggets of fried dough looked more like dessert then side dish thanks to their powdered sugar covering but in fact they were the perfect sweet to the savory of the smoky meat. Now I’m not suggesting you eat them together but the biscuits acted as an excellent pallet cleanser as I moved from ribs to chopped pork. Another excellent recommendation from the staff that we won’t soon forget.

Jon’s never feels that busy partly due to the fact that take-out makes up most of the business. They also have a boffo catering business and then there’s the traveling road show as they compete in BBQ contests from Minneapolis to Austin and all steps in between. Personally I’d be happy if they just stay put right here in Madison.

Smokey Jon’s #1 BBQ, 2310 Packers Avenue, Madison, WI 53704, 608-249-RIBS

Bravo is out and Lifetime is in?

Big news this afternoon as Lifetime (aka the channel for Traci Gold and Meredith Baxter Birney) has stolen Project Runway out from Bravo!. Now Bravo! is suing the Weinstein Company who produces the show but word is they've got little legal ground to stand on. Lifetime might be a winner in all this but both Bravo and Runway look to be losers to me. Bravo loses its biggest hit and a show that established its identity. It also looks like this could have further implications since the same production company makes Top Chef, Tim Gunn's Guide to Style and that crappy new dance show they have. Could Bravo! lose everything and just have Workout and The Real Wives of Orange County? Sure sounds like a possibility. Meanwhile Heidi and co. are moving to a channel whose audience is 50 to 100 year old women who's idea of good TV is Golden Girls reruns and epically bad made for TV films with Tina Yothers and Tori Spelling. I'd be shocked if half the Runway audience knows what channel Lifetime is in their cable lineup. I expect eventually the show will reclaim its audience but I expect the initial ratings to bottom out. About the only good news is that we get 3, count them 3 seasons of Runway this year. A new one on Bravo! in July and then the premiere on Lifetime in November. Now that's fashion forward.

And Down the Stretch they Come

The Winter season of reality is coming down to its final month so I thought it would be a good time to look at the potential winners and losers in this year’s crop.

America’s Next Top Model
Gone Too Soon: Claire
I thought Claire was a lock to win from the outset but after faltering two weeks in a row Tyra gave her the heave and leave ho. Too bad as I thought Claire did remarkably well every week especially when compared to Franken-Lauren.

Who Needs To Go: Dominique
While I wasn’t crazy about last cycle’s winner Jaslene, I will say her masculine features made her unique and fresh. Unfortunately for Dominique she had the bad luck to closely follow Jaslene which makes her repetitive and boring. Plus she’s been a plague on the house with her attitude.

Who Should Win: Whitney
Every year Tyra brings on 1 or 2 plus size models and every year she cuts them down with innuendo and unwinnable challenges. Too her credit Whitney has not only survived but thrived. Her photos are excellent and her personality has really shined. I doubt Tyra’s sincerity at every turn so Whitney winning is a long shot but one can have hope.

Who Will Win: Fatima
The moment she walked into the audition room you knew Tyra loved this woman. She’s been fated to make it to the end ever since. Her Iman-like looks usually dazzle the judges and my cynical side says Tyra decided months ago that she’s her woman.

Big Brother 9
Gone Too Soon: Josh
While he made it pretty far without being nominated Joshua exited the door last week and I’m disappointed. He survived a surprise twist when his soul mate had to leave the house and then survived being paired with the vapid idiot Sharon. Plus Josh had the best pseudo alliances in the house. I think he played an excellent game and it’s a shame he’s out when lazy folks who haven’t done anything (Sheila, Sharon, I’m looking at you) stay in the house.

Who Needs To Go: Natalie
Once again televised proof that Christianity in modern America makes for inbred, illiterate, hypocritical, fake, jerks. Natalie needs to get off her high horse pick up a book and spend some of that money she’s spent on her making her boobs bigger to fix her face instead. I’m so tired of these “good Christians” and their praying and preaching when they’re truly the ones needing to be saved…from themselves.

Who Should Win: James
While his game has been far from perfect, the man deserves a lot of credit for coming back into the house and wining veto after veto. He seems to practice what he preaches far more then any other housemate and as a bonus it sounds like he’d use the money to do some good in the world and not buy bigger fake boobs for his loved ones.

Who Will Win: Ryan
I think James will see his luck run out this week or next which means Ryan will become top dog. He’s overcome having a significant other in the house, being paired with arguably the craziest person in the house, and allying himself with Natalie. His secret alliance with Josh was well played and honestly his game play both physically and mentally will be appreciated by the jury.

Survivor: Fans vs. Favorites
Gone Too Soon: Jonathon
Never thought I’d be writing this but damn I miss Jonathon and boy did he get the short stick. Injuries suck in the wild and it’s always sad to see someone go but when that person had so much game left to play its even worse. Hopefully they’ll be another All Star show in 2012 and we’ll see Jonathon back and healthy.

Who Needs to Go: Ciree
The Natalie of Survivor. She’s backstabbed, lied, and cheated yet if you ask her she’ll say she’s plaid the game honestly and with integrity. Puhhhhleeeze! Take off the busted ass t-shirt with your family and go lie down and be quiet. To her credit she has snowed Ozzie for an inexplicable amount of time so far.

Who Should Win: Ozzie
He’s got the idol. He’s got the work ethic. He’s got the alliances and he’s the Fan’s favorite Favorite. Everything is going Ozzie’s way and he should cruise to victory…except for the fact that I think Ozzie is beginning to believe that too. Take care friend.

Who Will Win: Ozzie
I know we’re just at the merge and a lot can change but a long as Ozzie become a little more aware of his surroundings, I have a hard time seeing him losing.

My Real World Awards

Wednesday night at 9pm CST, MTV is airing an “awards show” honoring the greatest cast members and moments of the previous 19 seasons worth of The Real World. In truth this sounds like little more then a chance for the network to plug the new season starting on 4/16 originating from Hollywood. The idea has merit though so here are my version of the Real World Awards.

Best Crib: We’ve come a long way from the loft in New York’s season 1. Today’s house is pimped out to ridiculous extremes. Hot tubs and pool tables have become the norm while the houses have begun to adapt more to their location. Following that logic I’m giving the Best Crib award to the house that resided in the most beautiful location…Key West. Obviously the weather (hurricanes excluded) and water helped boost this location but the inside was super sweet too. The kitchen and living room had the best examples of “Real World” seating I’ve even seen. The trademarked bench look was both functional and visually appealing. Hot tub, pool, and seclusion put this house over the top.

Worst Crib: While New York was a favorite in my mind going in thanks to its rather normal appearance, Miami came on heavy in the end and walks away with this one. Considering the location and the architecture of the area, this house was a big letdown. I believe it did introduce the show to the exciting world of hot tubs but other then that it was drab, poorly laid out, and had too many hiding places where the cameras couldn’t go.

Best Job: The folks from Austin take this one by a hair over the Mystic Tan cast in Key West. While the tanning business was a true job for each of the cast members the task of creating a documentary in the heart of independent film country was challenging and creative. Sure some of the cast wussed out but what else is new. The end product wasn’t great but I love the creativity that went into it. The Seattle radio job was another great example.

Worst Job: Putting these cast members around the public just screams danger. Take the results we’ve seen at the hands of Boston, San Diego, and Denver. However the easy winner here is once again Miami. While the producers must share some of the blame for not giving the cast any direction, it was absolutely painful to see 7 strangers squander the chance to start a new business from scratch. Some cared, others didn’t and there just weren’t any repercussions, a lesson MTV quickly learned.

Biggest Train Wreck Cast: Vegas may have started the modern era of Real World casts but even they have to admit they had nothing on the oversexed, overmedicated, clinically insane bunch from Denver. All the women were absolutely nuts and another similar sounding word. The guys were filled with too much testosterone. They whined, fought, and messed around all season and still found time to belittle the Outward Bound program. Through it all I couldn’t look away.

Most Boring Cast: London takes the cake here edging out Boston. Sure Jacinda has gone on to be a big success and Neil got his tongue bit off but for the most part this was as drab as the London weather.

Best Cast: Gotta go old school and give this to San Francisco, Pedro Zamora brought AIDS to the world of MTV and educated a whole generation. Of course there was plenty of drama too with Puck pissing off…well…everyone. Judd and Pam’s post show romance was the cherry on top to the best and most adult cast (yes, even Puck) in the history of the show.

Craziest Cast Member: You’d think that Collie and Brooke would kind of cancel each other out since they’re both from Denver, but Brooke was just that ape shit crazy that she gets the prize. From her screaming tirades to her weeping over bowling alley dates, Brooke was a couch therapists dream. Paula from Key West is a close second but since she actually got help on the show, she’s automatically disqualified.

Most Entertaining Cast Member: Got to go with a newbie and pick Isaac from Sydney. His “tell it straight” mantra was so damn refreshing in a house of whiners and fakes. Even when Isaac was fake he did with a nod and smile to the audience as he pulled one over on his horrible housemates.

Most Boring Cast Member: There’s so many to choose from, Corey, Lacey, Beth A. but in the end it goes to Janet from Seattle. She seemed to have a good head on her shoulders and she was uber hot but my god woman you just faded into the coffee and fish scene in your house. Sure Irene and Stephen stole a lot of the attention but Janet seemed like she was on another planet.

Worst Season: Miami and Paris (tie). Boring casts (who knew CT could become so entertaining in the subsequent challenges), ugly houses, horrible jobs, and worst of all wastes of wonderful locations.

Best Season: Ah here’s the rub. Do you watch the Real World for insight on a generation as they grow and interact with each other or do you watch it for the balls out hook ups, break ups, throw downs, and black outs? Me I think I started in the first category loving New York, LA and San Fran but now I’m squarely behind watching these idiots tear themselves and each other apart on national television in stupendous fashion. With that said I’m going to split the difference and go Vegas baby Vegas. While it lacks the sheer craziness of Denver or even Sydney it was the first to venture into that territory while still maintaining some level of social experiment.