Lap Of Luxury is a "reality" show much like any other, the illegitimate love child of The Real World and Survivor. Nine contestants are thrown into a house together and compete for reward and "immunity," then one is voted off each night until the last person remaining wins $100,000. There is one Lap Of Luxury twist: It's all fake. That twist makes it quite possibly the best television show ever.
There are cameras everywhere, and there are daily games, but eight of the nine contestants - and the host - are actors, playing parts according to a script. The winners and losers of each contest are predetermined and each contest is rigged. The nightly votes don't really matter, as the characters leave according to the script. The characters are all artificial creations: Gina ("The Schemer Who Schemes Too Much"), Kip ("The Flamboyant Gay Guy"), Earl ("The Veteran Who Learns To Show Emotions"), Dr. Pat ("The Quack Marriage Counselor Whose Third Marriage Just Failed"), The Hutch ("The Real World's Puck"), Ashleigh ("The Moon-Eyed Snob"), Brian ("The Buddy"), Molly ("The Christian Virgin"), and Ralph "The Smarmy Host" Garman.
Only one man, Matt Gould, isn't in on the joke that is The Joe Schmo Show.
Matt delivers pizzas since he dropped out of law school. He is - according to my wife - the nicest guy in America. (She says she prefers the "bad boy" type, like me.) He happens to be a really nice guy who quickly recognizes a woman described as a "hooker" as an actual porn star, but apparently nice guys watch porn, too.
You might be asking, "With everything scripted, what's the point?" But remember, only nine of the ten people on screen are in on the gag, and when Matt starts doing some unexpected things, the action gets a little crazy. When he does better-than-expected at an early contest, the producers have to change some answers on the fly to make him lose. One of the actors who memorized the answers and didn't notice the change then flubs things horribly. The whole show could have ended two hours after it began, but fortunately, Matt is the sort of guy who doesn't let the inconsistencies in life nag at his brain. When Matt chooses to lose a contest he was supposed to win, we see the producers via split screen as they gasp out loud and scramble to think of a way to recover. Some parts of the plot have been accelerated, like a love triangle that hit extra-high gear last night. Matt also sent one player to the hospital. When that happens we saw a split screen in which one of the other actors explains that he was just sure the actress demanding to be released from the sumo fat-suit would shout "I'm an actress, get me out of here!" She didn't, either because she had the presence of mind to stay in her role, or more likely because she was more concerned about her own health than going out of her way to ruin the show.
Article comments
1 - Phillip Winn
Sorry if the last Amazon item offends. From the description it appears to be as scripted as Joe Schmo, so it fits.
I mentioned only briefly and in passing that this show is on SpikeTV, formerly TNN. That's channel 168 on Dish Network.
You know, it's funny. Every time I watch SpikeTV, I can't stop thinking of that guy who makes movies. Short, great hair. Darn it! What was his name? Do The Right Thing, Get On The Bus, great movies. Why can't I remember his name?
Ah well, it'll come to me... ;-)
2 - Tom Johnson
I've watched this a couple times, but it got harder and harder as the episode wore on. Each confused and pained expression on Matt's face (and he does this a LOT) brought sympathy embarassment on my part. I don't think he's just a nice guy, he's also one of those doofy nice guys who always gets stepped on in the most embarassing of ways.
This is just another episode of embarassment in the life of Matt, I figure. I really hope Spike rewards this guy with something really special at the end. This show truly puts him in an awfully unflattering spotlight. I'd like to watch that final episode, but I'm worried he'll just wind up crying again.
3 - Phillip Winn
At least in my house, the response depends a lot on the watcher. When I laugh, I'm laughing at him. I think he's somewhat of an idiot. When my wife laughs, she's laughing with him. She thinks he's sweet.
Go figure.
4 - nell johnson
My husband and I loved the show. We watched every week. Joe is a great guy, I hope they give him the money, and I will be very upset if they don't.
5 - Sam
This show was awesome. I loved every minute of it.
6 - hmm
Well Philip, there's a reason why you laugh at him while your wife laughs with him :
She sees how he's being humiliated and sympathizes with him and his situation of BEING LIED TO AND TRICKED while you just laugh at him...'cause you can. I bet if you were being fooled like he was, you wouldn't be laughing, now would you?
7 - Phillip Winn
Hmm, yes, he was lied to and tricked -- and at the end of it was a big pot of money.
He signed up for a reality show, and everybody who does so signs up to be jerked around for a chance at fame and money. In Joe's case, it just happened to be guaranteed money, though he didn't know it.
In any case, most of my laughter was due to how he kept surprising the producers, and how silly the show could be while he kept accepting it. Then again, reality shows have come a long way in the SIX YEARS since this review was written, and some of the things that seemed ludicrous at the time are now standard fare.