 | The Rachel Zoe Project Versus Flipping Outposted by RF Club, Group AdministratorThursday, August 26th 2010 @ 4:40 PM (not yet rated) |
Tuesday Night on Bravo is all about workaholics! We start the night out at 9:00 pm with Flipping Out and then we move onto The Rachel Zoe Project at 10:00pm Eastern Standard Time. Both shows center around one main character, the owner of the business and their personal lives.
Let us take a look at these two shows! I use to love BOTH shows. THE love is WANING for one. I am thinking that one show might be on it's last leg.
The Rachel Zoe Project has lost it's pizazz for me. It seems that year after year we see the same thing. Fashion week, Award show styling and some photo shoots. Yes, this is her job but it is growing stale because of the same setups. Rachel must have this dress or life will be over. NOT. Poor Rodger whines every year about their anniversary and every year we get a scene, "Will Rachel make it to a fashion show or not?" It is ALL Just Getting OLD!!!
Now, The two things this season that are suppose to be fresh and different AND the center are Taylor being fired and Rachel getting pregnant.
I know many seem to be complaining about the TAYLOR bashing. When I say many, I am referring to blogs I read, media attention and tweeting. My small little reality circle. I understand their side. But, if you have ever worked in an office and a small office I will tell you it takes time to get over a firing. Especially, a firing like Taylor's. Whether we believe Rachel Zoe's side of the story completely it is the only view we are going to get because it is HER SHOW. It is THE RACHEL ZOE PROJECT!!! Rachel felt betrayed by Taylor. Once again, I will state if you have ever worked in such an environment like THE RACHEL ZOE PROJECT then you should know when a firing goes down like Taylor's it shakes the office. It does take time to get over it. Bashing does take place. That person is put down. We are supposedly watching a REALITY television show and if Rachel, Rodger and Brad didn't say crap about Taylor I would feel ripped off. You know damn well in offices employees get ripped when they get fired.
Now, onto what I like! I do agree with Brad. Taylor always made him feel incompetent. I think she did that because Brad was more than competent and Taylor could see the closeness developing between Rachel and Brad and Taylor felt very threatened by it. I always liked Brad and still do but I did want him to stand up to Taylor more. I like that Rachel tenses up when Taylor's name comes up, that is REAL!
Onto to the getting pregnant issue. Oh, this is makes me sad. Rodger clearly is ready for a baby. Rachel is not. In addition we know it doesn't happen because this was filmed in the winter and early spring AND Rachel Zoe is not pregnant. Therefore, it is hard to watch when you know the ending to a certain degree. It was sweet when Rachel's sister was trying to give her some sisterly advice but wow, you could see Rachel wanted nothing to do with that conversation. I wonder how Rachel feels watching the show now. You know, seeing her husband wanting a baby, shopping with her sister and talking about the Rachel of old. Rodger misses 'fun' Rachel. How sad she wouldn't even consider wearing what he bought for her. Yet, she purchased ridiculous 'jewelry' handcuffs. Her husband just wants his wife to put on some sexy, trashy, lingerie and have fun.
Rachel Zoe is loosing her perspective on life and if she is not careful she might lose more.
So, Why do I still like Flipping Out?!?!
Jeff Lewis and gang keep it fresh! I will say it over and over again, I could never in a million years work for Jeff Lewis but watching him cracks me up!! Jeff just doesn't get old. We get to see him interact with his clients. From his top clients to his smaller clients. He admits that he takes on eccentric clients for fun. In addition,Jeff Lewis admits he charges a lot therefore he wants to service each and every one of his clients like they are his one and only client. There is something about Jeff that seems genuine. With all his oddities you still get a feeling he cares. Each season has been a little different with Jeff. We have seen him work with a partner and flip homes. We have seen him transition from his partner to a client based company. Jeff has taken us on his journey. Through this journey we get to see his ups and downs. Jeff's dilemmas feel real. A partnership dissolving was sad. Jeff struggling to switch gears from flipping homes to designing for others felt real.
Onto the fun!!! Jeff Lewis and his employees. Goodness, he does not hold back when ripping them on camera. Trace was the object of Jeff's 'teaching' this episode. I may not always agree with Jeff Lewis' methods but he clearly feels he is training his employee when he is ripping or punishing them. One thing I did notice, Trace does not have to wear the smock, ever, for any mistake. I wonder why? Do you think there is a level of respect for Trace that is unspoken and even though Jenni has been with him for 10 years he still respects Trace more? I think Jeff likes the fact that Trace is getting his degree and he really does plan on having him at his side. You don't have your co-pilot wear a smock! I hope Jeff never does that to Trace.
Okay, we have to talk about the URINE! Can you imagine your boss telling you to pee in a container? NEVER, EVER!!! I thought Trace was going to die. Jett didn't even seem phased by it. Jenni wasn't phased by it either but she is getting braver and standing her ground!!! Poor Zoila, she took the brunt of it all. Yuck, making her handle it and getting it on her, GROSS!! I loved the way Trace handled it. He researched it and just presented Jeff with facts to put an end to the Urine situation.
So, how long do you think Jeff Lewis is going to be able to handle Sarah? Sarah is too ditzy for Jeff, don't you think? I know Jeff is trying to be 'good' for the sake of the family but I have a feeling that if Sarah doesn't pull it together Jeff is going to lose it? What do you think? Sarah seems to be a little more interested in the perfect makeup and low cut tops while filming?? I hope she is doing better when not filming!
Bottom line with Flipping Out, I feel it is more GENUINE. The Rachel Zoe Project feels contrived and what isn't contrived is the stuff we have seen over and over and over again. Yes, I love seeing the fashion and the fashion shows but really you could do a few specials and be done! In addition,The Rachel Zoe Project picks a theme and runs with it. One year, it was poor Rachel she's being picked on about her weight. Oh and by the way, Rachel is too thin. She is not naturally thin! Rachel's old pictures prove it. Last episode some of her shots with her bony chest were gross. Another year it was her 'sickness' that turned out to be vertigo. We got to watch the threat by the doctor that she needed to rest and slow down. Has Rachel Zoe slowed down? What happened to the Vertigo??? This year it is going to be the pregnancy thing. Overall, It just seems The Rachel Zoe Project scripts itself.
Where as, Flipping Out seems to be more documentary style. A day in the life of Jeff Lewis. Now, they might be labeled like: Pick on Jenni Day! Pick on Sarah Day! Pick on Trace Day! Then you intermix his clients, his home staff and you have Jeff Lewis in a nutshell!! Flipping Out just doesn't feel as scripted as The Rachel Zoe Project. You can't script Barb and her 'dogs'! You can't script Chaz almost kicking Jenni off the roof! You can't script Sarah and Jeff leaving the door open and almost losing the cats they are trying to help! You can't script turbulence in an airplane and Trace NOT WANTING Sarah hanging onto him! You can't script Jeff tipping his URINE on Zoila's uniform, boy was she pissed! You can't script the BORING conversation at lunch with TRACE, JETT, and ZOILA where Zoila admits she misses Jeff AND then the cat, Monkey, comes through with licking it's ass on the table while they are eating. Trace and his facial expression was great!
You get none of these moments on THE RACHEL ZOE PROJECT. RACHEL ZOE will not allow for it. It is becoming painfully obvious her show is carefully scripted and I am not enjoying it!
What are your thoughts about these two shows? Loving them? Hating them? Or mixed feelings?
Lucy
RFclub
