Morgan 'Supersize Me' Spurlock debuts new series tomorrow

[KurtNYC]

30 Days, a six-part television sequel to Super Size Me, warps the line between documentary and reality TV even further as it weaves through American culture. Each episode stages an everydude's-eye view of topics ranging from tabloid fodder (binge drinking and anti-aging techniques) to the more provocative (Islam and homosexuality). In the riveting first episode, Spurlock and girlfriend Alex take a vacation in other people's misery, literally, by spending a month surviving on minimum wage. It feels like a retort to The Simple Life. Instead of forcing Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie to adjust to the limits and deprivations of working people, the producers of that show encouraged them to wreak havoc on their hosts' carefully budgeted lives and wrinkle their perky noses at the icky things folks do to get by. Whereas Morgan and Alex approach their task earnestly, only to be crushed by the enormity of it all. With no savings, they can't afford a deposit on a decent apartment and end up in an ant-infested place over a former crack den.

"Home sweet hovel," Alex mutters after a day busing tables at a coffee shop where nobody tips. Having walked home in order to save on bus fare, our frail vegan chef settles down to a nightly dinner of canned beans and crackers she's stolen from work. Morgan rises before dawn to get to construction jobs where the take-home pay is $44 for 11 hours of exertion. He can pass for a good old boy thanks to his trucker's mustache and down-home drawl, but really he's so unaccustomed to physical labor that he injures himself. And because the pair has no health insurance in this painfully realistic scenario, the medical bills threaten to capsize their fragile budget.
...
In the other five episodes, Spurlock restricts himself to voice-over commentary while we watch other wholesome American guys play lab rat on his behalf. There's the 37-year-old dad who whacks out his body with a 30-day regime of steroids and anti-aging serums (with effects similar to those Spurlock suffered after a month on his McDonald's diet) and the devout Christian insurance salesman who agrees to live as a Muslim in a Detroit suburb.

http://www.villagevoice.com/screens/0524,tv1,64886,28.html

Wednesday on FX at 10PM EST. The article says it started last week but I believe that is wrong. I looked for it last Wednesday but caught only an ad for it saying "Wednesdays at 10".

[MadAsHellNewYorker]

1. It did start last week, and the show was AMAZING

The first show was all about minimum wage. I wont ruin it if they reshow it, but its eyeopening to say the least.

[Barking Spider]

5. I saw it too.

It was on late but I couldn't turn it off. Good stuff - very thought provoking.

[MadAsHellNewYorker]

6. I thought it was like "Nickle and Dimed" the TV version

lol. I really do like Morgan a lot...his rant at the end was the best

[KurtNYC]

7. Welcome Home !

:toast:

Welcome to DU

[Barking Spider]

10. Thanks!

And Cheers!

[MadAsHellNewYorker]

8. oh crap! I didnt see that 1 post! Welcome to DU!!!!

:hi:

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

2. My friend casted much of this series

I am looking forward to watching it

[loudestchick]

3. I'm actually looking forward to this show. I don't think that the

audience that NEEDS to see it will, however.

[RubyDuby in GA]

4. I saw the first show last week

and it was great! I really liked SuperSize Me and I can already tell that I'm really going to like this show. I've penciled it in as one of my new must see tv shows.

[sybylla]

9. Now this is my idea of reality television

I saw the first episode and absolutely loved it. It reminded me of the very tight days hubby and I had while he was in college and how we scrimped and saved - even driving home to stay with parents for the weekend because the gas to get there cost less than the groceries we would have to buy to feed ourselves for the weekend.

It was seriously discomforting to be reminded but it was a very powerful episode with a big reality-based punch.

[Kathleen04]

11. Good program

Caught it on its debut :thumbsup:..I've seen the show playing in reruns too in case you missed it.