the other press Culture Kerry Evans Culture Editor So I watched Are You Hot last week and | must say that I am thoroughly disturbed. Everyone said “you have to watch it, it’s hilarious” and I disagree. I honestly can't believe that America is supporting the show. To me it seems like the promotion of eating disorders and plastic surgery. The so-called experts are not really my idea of eye candy and it is preposterous that they make or break these peoples, visions of themselves. I am an avid reality TV show watcher, but this is where I draw the line. The crazy part is that the contestants willingly par- ticipate in being publicly judged on their face, body and overall sex appeal. The show begins with each person coming out and standing under a big, neon hot/not sign. The judges have already had a look at these people and have predetermined if they are hot or not. The big neon sign http://otherpress.douglas.bc.ca fire You Kidding Me? lights up with the judges’ response. Those who are hot, exit stage right with smiles on their faces. Those who are deemed not, exit stage left in shock. Once all have received their initial rating it is time for a commercial break, but not before they give us a look at the “nots” reactions. They call this segment the hot/not casualties. It shows each one in a framed box and they are all crying and speaking of their embar- rassment. In my opinion, this only adds insult to injury. Back from commercial and it is time to really pick on the hot people. Out come the contestants prancing around in their bathing suits. Each judge gives a rating out of ten on the person’s face, body and sex appeal. The judges are Rachel Hunter (model), Randolph Duke (fashion direc- tor to the stars), and Lorenzo Lamas (actor). These are not people I would choose, but hey, I’m not the brilliant per- son who came up with the concept, so what do I know. They say things like, “Your breasts are lopsided,” “You have some stretch marks on your ass,” or “You could really work on your sex appeal.” At the end of the show viewers can log on to the ABC website and cast their votes on who they would like to see move on in the competition. Eventually they will crown one man and one woman as “The Sexiest People in America.” I would love to follow the show and give you weekly updates, but I just couldn’t stomach it. It started me thinking of all the things that the judges would say about me and I will have to call it quits. If you choose to watch, and I really wish you wouldn't, you can find it on ABC Thursdays at 9:00p. Mach 5, 2003 Chantille—Zone 2 finalist Other Press/DSU Pub Night fimanda Aikman fissistant Culture Editor Is there anything finer than a Thursday evening in New West? If your answer to this question is yes, then obvi- ously you were not in attendance at last week’s Other Press/DSU pub night. Those fortunate party people who did make it out were swept up by a once-in-a-lifetime whirlwind of music, merriment, and...cake. And the giveaways, don't get me started on the giveaways, we're talking quality merchandise here kids. In fact, it was such an enchanted evening that I couldn't in all good con- science deny you the pleasure of a thorough recapping. So grab a drink, gather your friends, and come along with me on a Magical Mystery Tour of the Other Press/DSU’s 2003 Fun Fest Extravaganza. First Stop: the Drycleaners For those of you not yet familiar with the musical stylings of the Drycleaners—consider yourselves lucky. Now, before I am pelted with a combination of vegetable mat- ter and hate mail by legions of feverish Drycleaner’s fans, please allow me to explain. You see, legend has it that many of those who have heard the mighty, mighty Drycleaners have become so overpowered by their raw brilliance that they lapse into a permanent state of rock- induced shock. It’s sad really, so many lives destroyed. For those Pub Night attendees who managed to bask in the Drycleaners’ presence on Thursday evening and live to tell about it, they are unlikely to ever look at a Shriner in the same way again. Donning red fezzes, the headwear choice of discerning Shriners everywhere, the Drycleaners erupted into a lively stage show complete with inspired dance moves, a disturbing song dedication to the wife of an audience member, and, God bless them, a Hardship Post cover. To their credit they even managed to secure highly sought-after guest vocalist Pierre Florendo to accompany them on stage. Oh, and the drummer wore sunglasses. Next Stop: the Polys The supremely talented and gracious Polys made the trek out to New West in order to entertain the hordes of enthusiastic Douglas College students at the DSU build- ing. Unfortunately the hordes of enthusiastic Douglas College students must have had the wrong address, and the Polys ended up playing to a handful of apathetic drunks instead. Troopers that they are, they still put on a kick-ass show, and the eight of us that were actually pay- ing attention were grateful they did. The rest of you will forever have to live with the shame of not only missing an opportunity to experience the Polys live, but also missing an opportunity to pick up their brilliant CD, in it. In a month filled with great new releases from bands like the Dirty Three, Calexico, and the Postal Service, the Polys’ in it has completely usurped my attention. Guaranteed, it is so much better than whatever you are listening to. Last Stop: DJ Gonzo Oh look! The hordes of enthusiastic Douglas College stu- dents have finally arrived, and they're getting “Dirty” with Christina Aguillera. Good stuff. The dance floor quickly became hot property late Thursday evening as the beer-soaked, spaghetti-filled students let loose with a little help from DJ Gonzo. Apparently, much like the kids from the town in Footloose, all that the crowd really wanted was to dance. That concludes the musical portion of our tour, and oh, what a long strange trip it’s been. But before you start claiming your luggage and fighting for cabs, why don't we take a moment to reflect on one of the evening’s other highlights? The prizes. Emcee Drycleaner, OP’er, and all- round good guy Trevor Hargreaves, dispensed countless goodies ranging from T-shirts, toques, and jackets, to pens, earrings, and the OP’s office manager. And even though some of us were not lucky enough to receive a prize, after witnessing Drycleaner Geoff Gautier model- ing an OP baby-T, weren't we all winners? So there you have it, for those of you who came out and shared in our mirth—thank you. For those of you who didn’t, what the hell is wrong with you? What, do you think youre better than us or something? God, that is so like you. Arthur Crowson OP Contributor Speak of the Devil. We're finally starting to get some good movies that are based on comic books. My inner-geek is just ecstatic over this. The major differ- ence between Daredevil and films like X-Men and Spider-Man is that it does not have a hyphen in its title... Ha, just kidding, there actually is a more noticeable difference in that Daredevil is a much darker film, with serious overtones. Hell, Daredevil even dabbles in symbolism, and while it most cer- tainly is not going to win any Oscars, is fairly well acted. But then again you're not going to it to see any Oscar-calibre acting, you're going to see it for one thing: “fun.” Daredevil is a fun movie with violence, romance, comedy, and some drama thrown in for good meas- ure. I am thrilled that the creators of the movie took their subject seriously and didn’t just throw out a piece of crap movie to cash in on the sudden interest in superhero movies. Daredevil is my favourite of the new movies based on comic books. It made me not feel completely stupid for watching it, while at the same time not taking itself too seriously. Go watch it. page 11 © ay te ae ‘ht ‘