Underground Dwellers

I decided to check out the new sadistic-filled reality show Unan1mous (yes, that's actually how the title is written with the #1 in the middle). Nine unsuspecting contestants are lured to an underground bunker with no windows, no sense of day or night and apparently no food. There may be a hidden refrigerator somewhere but I didn't see anyone eating anything (drinking something, yes) not that they would have an appetite with the situation they are in. They must come to a unanimous decision as to who will receive the 1.5 million dollar prize. It's not completely unanimous since people cannot vote for themselves. As a mysterious, robotic voice urges the players to go to the inner circle and vote, a container with 9 spheres comes up from under the table. Actually they look more like mini bowling balls that come apart and enable the players to turn a dial until they reach the name of the person they want to vote for. In the first episode the first vote is cast and, surprise surprise, it's not unanimous. The one who did get the most votes: The truck driver dad with a family to support. The contestants HAD to include a gay man and a black gospel minister who spews hate with eerie ease. "God made Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve," she preaches to the gay man. "Oh, that's a good one. Did you come up with that on your own?" Actually if the preacher spent more time reading the Bible and less time applying for reality game shows, she might realize that what she is claming the Bible says is inaccurate.

The vote is overseen by a geeky looking Seth Green wannabe on a video screen. He actually makes Seth Green look handsome. When he reads the votes and it's revealed that it's not unanimous, another container comes up from under the table. This time it's envelopes that reveal dirty "not so little" secrets about each player. 3 secrets are read aloud and the players must decide which secret is the worst. That player is then out of the competition BUT must still cast a vote as to who wins the money (harsh indeed). You are no longer able to win the money but you still have to have a hand in awarding it to someone else. As for the secrets; one player spent time in a mental hospital, one player has been detained by police for carrying live ammunition (no mention of a weapon, however) and one player filed bankruptcy even though they had a combined income of $100,000 (not a typo on the zeros). The player who filed bankruptcy is none other than the gospel preacher. God's gotta love that, sister!

There's another twist: If a player leaves the bunker, a chunk of cash is deducted from the till. Also every second that the players disagree during a vote the amount in the till goes down like the ticking seconds of a clock.

This show is creepy and is more volatile than Big Brother. One player, a professional poker player (that's the job I want) says he is "happy with who he is and doing what he does." Then why the hell is he in an underground bunker with a bunch of idiotic people? The only answer is that he wants a bigger gamble in life.

peace out,

paul