Syfy’s Face Off returns to amaze and astound.
Almost everybody has a guilty pleasure reality show.
I have co-workers who, although they realize every single moment is fabricated faux romance, never miss an episode of The Bachelorette.
I know folks who actually get a kick out of the hicks, rubes and good ol’ boys who inhabit Swamp People, Gator Boys, Here Comes Honey Boo Boo and Hillbilly Handfishin’.
I won’t even mention the Natural State embarrassment that was Clash of the Ozarks.
I have a cousin who believes The Real Housewives of (fill in the city) are actually real people and is hoping 19 Kids & Counting will make it to 20.
I know readers who’ll watch anything that involves food, little people or a Kardashian, and some who think Who’s Your Daddy is performing a public service.
Me? I’m a sucker for Big Brother. I know the cast is hired as stereotypes (the gay guy, the redneck, the jock, the bikini babe, etc.) and it’s heavily edited to propel desired storylines and the producers probably heavily influence house guests’ strategy decisions during the diary sessions, but I don’t care.
Some viewers love reality shows where the contestants actually advance based on talent. For example, someone I’m very, very close to never misses an episode of Project Runway. The skill of the designers under pressure is always amazing.
I’m not that big a Project Runway fan, but I like to root each season for the cocky flamboyant designer with the purple mohawk, eyebrow piercings and spiderweb neck tattoos.
Yeah. There’s one every season.
I’ve also learned how to hold my arms just like Tim Gunn, touch my forefinger to my chin and quip, “Make it work.”
As equally amazing is the arcane skill it takes for special effects makeup artists to work their magic. And it’s all showcased on Face Off on Syfy.
Season 7 of the innovative competition debuts at 8 p.m. today with 16 artists hoping for a shot at stardom.
The twist: Although 16 show up in Los Angeles, only 14 will be on the show. The season opens with a “Sudden Death Challenge” where each contestant must create a character that represents life or death.
The judges will survey the results and two artists will be eliminated before ever moving into the Face Off house or stepping into the lab.
Oh, the drama.
In case you’re new to the series, Face Off is a fairly authentic, but accelerated, depiction of the creative standards necessary for a special effects make-up artist to succeed in showbiz these days. Some of the creations completed in record time are truly amazing and could be seen in the next horror or sci-fi movie on the big screen.
Others obviously fizzle and those folks are quickly culled.
The theme for Season 7 is “Life and Death” and the contestants will face challenges “designed to inspire them to explore life, death, rebirth and mortality.” Some of the creatures we’ll see include an angry, twisted tree character; a new animal species; and a reptilian super solider.
Added bonus: Actor Robert Englund, Nightmare on Elm Street’s Freddy Krueger, makes an appearance and offers advice on creating a convincing makeup.
“Pay attention to your model,” Englund tells the artists. “Look at his face and build on that. I think one of the successes of the Freddy makeup is that they kept some of my own facial structures which I was able to animate easier.”
Returning for the new season is host McKenzie Westmore, along with judges Glenn Hetrick ( CSI: New York, The Hunger Games, Heroes) and Neville Page ( Avatar, Prometheus).
Rounding out the panel is Lois Burwell, an Oscar-winning makeup artist known for her work on Lincoln, Braveheart, Saving Private Ryan, War Horse and War of the Worlds.
McKenzie’s father, renowned makeup artist Michael Westmore, is once again
official contestant mentor.
One by one, the contestants will fall by the wayside until only three remain for a final showdown. The winning artist will receive $100,000, a 2014 Fiat 500 and other goodies.
The View. Time to take stock of the continuing soap opera that is the ABC morning chat show. First, Barbara Walters retired from the show in May. Next, Sherri Shepherd and Jenny McCarthy were (essentially) fired. That left only Whoopi Goldberg still standing.
Next, ABC confirmed that outspoken former co-host Rosie O’Donnell would be returning with the start of the season Sept. 15. The panel traditionally has five co-hosts. If you’re keeping track, they have included those mentioned above plus Elisabeth Hasselbeck, Joy Behar, Meredith Vieira, Star Jones, Debbie Matenopoulos and Lisa Ling.
Who’ll round out the panel come September? Former Fox News talking head Sarah Palin has expressed interest. ABC is mum, but I’d be stunned if they added her.