Extreme Couponing

Extreme Couponing on TLC is a new reality show that started mid April. This reality TV show is about people in the United States who go to shopping, usually to the grocery store, with binders full of coupons ready to hit the shelves. These people come prepared to spend hundreds to thousands of dollars on groceries, however after the use of all their coupons (which they organized weeks in advanced for one shopping trip) plus store credit, plus manufacturers coupons, these people end up leaving the store spending only a few dollars.

This show was an instant hit when it first came onto TLC. It pulls in those of us wanting to save a few bucks when going to the store. However by watching this show you may think that these people do not have a lot of money and are simply cheap, especially when they explain in interviews that “Full price is the Eff word in this household”, however these people are far from uneducated and most do have more than enough money to spend. Most of them have at least a bachelors’ degree in a field such as data management or business, which is what allows them to micromanage their coupons. With these skills these folks cannot fail.

They work very diligently to make sure they don’t spend more than their target which is usually over 80% savings for each shopping trip. They work for weeks leading up to one trip. Most of the time these people spend up to 6 hours a day collecting coupons from neighbors, newspapers or even dumpsters, as well as additional time organizing all the coupons into groups so they can double up the savings when they finally go for their shopping trip.

Sometimes having up to 6 carts full of groceries at the end of a shopping trip you would be happy to not be the cashier for these people. However as one woman explained it’s always a strategy when going in for a shopping trip. These people have everything planned out to a T. From picking which cashier they’re going to what time of day their shopping trip is at to ordering a large quantity of food if they’re going to be buying to store out. Nothing is left to chance.

If your interested in becoming an extreme couponer in Canada it is not impossible! The rules for couponing are much different in the United States than here. In the U.S. you can double up coupons and use as many as you want plus their store discount cards are worth more money than they are here. However, being an extreme couponer in Canada is still possible! Just last week my mom saw an extreme couponer in the grocery store ready with her binder and calculator. If you want to get tips on saving money, tune into TLC Wednesday nights at 9 to watch these extreme couponers save more than you can imagine!

Yours in Reality, Sam

Cake Boss

Life is good it's almost summer time and Buddy is back!

For those of you living under a reality TV rock… I'm talking about Cake Boss on TLC. Buddy Valastro and his whole famigila that own Carlos bakery in Hoboken, New Jersey.

Buddy's the head of the family who employs his cousins and sisters to run the bakery where all the baked goods look awesome as well as cakes for custom orders that are over the top! The bakery is open daily to the public for cakes, cookies and a variety of pastries made by Buddy and his team but the excitement each week on the show is the cake they produce for special customers. Buddy used to make cakes for normal people but now that the show is in its forth season the customers have become more celebrity and the functions they take the cakes to are often star studded special events (even Snooki from the jersey shore ordered a cake for her mothers birthday last season).

Every week there's some kind of drama-will the cake break? Will it topple over while they're transporting it to the party or is there some sort of crisis in the family.

Buddy sounds like he's a few cupcakes short of a dozen but he's really a smart guy. He knows his case and can ice cake faster than I've ever seen(he can seen make those icing roses in record time!)

Buddy's gone a little Hollywood over the last few seasons because his show has done well with lots of views and he's well recognized now all over the U.S. and Canada. Buddy carries on a baking tradition as he learned from his father and will most likely pass it on to his children. I'm sure the bakery is more successful than ever, the family is busy and its worth the watch every week to see what the drama is, what the big cake will be and who it will be for. I intend to tune in every Monday night at 9 to watch and hope you do to!

Have a Great Summer!

Yours in Reality, Sam

Finally! A finale for Celebrity Apprentice!

Donald Trump FINALLY put his own ego aside and crowned Country Singer-John Rich-the new Celebrity Apprentice last Sunday night. Some would call a painstaking process-Donald dragged out several of his seasons shows to an outrageous two hours!! We watched many Board Room scenes go on for sometimes 45 minutes of arguing, defending and accusing. The craziest competition to date, it came down to two very committed, hard working and successful fundraising contenders-Oscar Winning Actress Marley Matlin and country singer John Rich.

This was one of the wackiest of times for long time Apprentice watchers. These celebrities were pitted against each other very week in a variety of tasks to raise money for charity (all good!). Aside from the confrontational personalities, there was always enough go to go around the room twice. Tempers flared ad there was never a dull moment!

The “fun” started right at the beginning with Star Jones who can come off as elitist, controlling and a manipulator of other participants, particularly Lisa Reena who possesses such a threat that Star was out to get her right away. And she did! Star seemed to have Donald’s’ support right from the start, until it came to Ne Ne Leakes…the “housewife from Atlanta.”

Fun for us watchers as sparks flew between Ne Ne and Star, as well as the others who were around including LaToya (I’m famous because I’m a Jackson) Jackson who Ne Ne called “Casper the Ghost” !!

The other wacky one who created lots of drama and chaos was Gary Busey. We’re talking…WAY out there! He seems to have lots of issues when interacting with others due to a brain injury, his communication problems kept the men’s team on edge. Singer Mark McGrath, Survivor show winner, Richard Hatch and rapper Lil Jon as well as asing singer Meat Loaf provided lots o conflicts and hard work for their charities.

Overall this edition of Celebrity Apprentice should have been called “Celebrities Behaving Badly and Raising Money for Charity!”

Donald Trump and his over privileged offspring overshadowed the temperamental, overindulged wacky contestants this time. It was like a train wreck every week…one we knew was going to happen that we just couldn’t take our eyes off of!

I’m happy for John Rich, sad for the second runner up Marley Matlin, thrilled for the charities that will benefit from all the money raised and waiting on the edge of my seat to see what Donald trump and Mark Burnett (producer) will b able to come up with for next season! It will be hard to top this one…Sunday nights will be awfully quiet without the Celebrity Apprentice this summer!

Yours in Reality, Sam.

American Idol Season 10

After 122 million record breaking votes…the 10th season winner of American Idol is………………….Scotty McCreary! The seventeen year old deep voiced country singer beat out sixteen year old Lauren Alaina. Okay! Lets talk about the obvious..these two are like the same age as us! It’s unbelievable that just a short time ago Scotty was working as a bag boy at the local grocery store and going to high school. Like the rest of us, his biggest worry was getting his assignments in on time! The clean cut, religious crooner looks so, “boy next door” it’s almost scary! Now he’s on his way to stardom, or he hopes! We know that American Idol has done a great job of making stars our of many of the contestants over the last 10 seasons, but there have also been the “lost ones” as well… like remember Taylor what’s his name? and Lee DeWyse from last season… haven’t head much from him! I wish Scotty well! Although I am not a country music fan, the fact that he’s the same as us makes me feel like I want him to have a long and successful career! He can sing, though I preferred Lauren’s voice range and vocal ability a little better!

The final show was a shopping two hours of awesome musical talent! It was a good thing there was lots of variety there because two hours of Idol can be a lot to take, but thankfully I really enjoyed it! Beyonce, Lady GaGa, Carrie Underwood, Tim McGraw, Judas Priest pulled out all the stops! It was obviously the Top 11 Idol cast offs have been working hard to be able to participate in the show professionally but at times they looked a bit overdone and hokey! They all seemed to be fighting for the camera time-it was a bit much! They better be ready-their American idol tour starts Friday-today in Las Vegas

So…American Idol is over for another reason! Loved the new judges…JLo ad Steven Tyler though I wasn’t sure at first…

I miss is when it’s not on and cant wait for it come on again next fall! I don’t think ill be buying Scotties latest single but I will be waiting for the drop of Laurens first album…a little Kelly Clarkson, a little Carrie Underwood would be good-what do you think?

Yours in Reality, Sam.

Jersey Shore

It’s a shore thing!
I wouldn’t be a reality TV blogger without representation of the jersey shore-season 3.
Well another of the jersey shore has come to an end!
Hope all you guidos and guidettes enjoyed the 3rd season!
Well, Snooki, Pauly d, J-Woww, mike the situation, Vinny, Sammy, Ronnie and Deena finished another summer season at the shore. A very uneventful season, if I do say so myself!

Other than the nightly clubbing escapades, the toilette habits of the gang and gym, tanning and gym antics-it was not a very exciting season!
You know the producers are desperate when the big excitement of the day is mike the situation feeding the dog’s peanut butter and marshmallow fluff and then waiting for them to do their business all over the house when no one else is home. The other housemates come home to a "stinking" house. Not that hilarious.

J-Woww starts off the season with a bad break up with her boyfriend back at home- he leaves her house with her computer, hard drive, bed and best watch. Her and Snooki pack up her purse puppies and head back to the shore. Anyone who’s been burned in a breakup would feel bad for J-Woww who seemed like a real victim in the first episode.

The rest of the housemates are up to their old tricks, looking to hook up with whomever...in a drunken stooper each night at the karma club.

Deena's the new girl this season, a friend of Snookis’ from back home. She’s a lot like Snooki with a lot less drama!

Okay, the elephant in the room...Sammy, formally known as Sammy sweetheart, and Ronnies’ ongoing relationship drama gets very intense and very tiring. Aside from the fact that Ronnies’ behavior boarders on verbally and physically abusive (too many steroids perhaps?) it just gets to be too much too often and too predictable to enjoy watching! These blow outs are part of the show or should i say, most of the show!

So, at the end of the season, J-Woww meets roger-who really seems like a decent buy by j-shore standards, Snooki seems to be dating a guido who seems tolerant of her antics and the boys remain single even after dodging grenades all summer.

Mike the situation seems to be getting a little old for the shore...he seems isolated from the group a lot, offering his lame big brother advice and stirring the pot between Sammi and Ronnie whenever he could. i think he sees himself as a brand now, the situation may need to move on! Sorry but he makes a lot of money for a guy who seems so dumb! Amazing what a good set of abs can do.

Speaking of money, its been reported that most of the j-shore cast are now making $100 000.00 per episode-each!! Not bad for a day of G-T-L!! (Gym tan laundry) hung over house loungers are overpaid! The next season is taking them to Italy! Season four may or may not prove to be quiet an adventure! Ciao Bella!

“The Amazing Race: Unfinished Business 18”

Welcome to Sam’s Reality TV Check


A Fun Reality TV Show for all Ages!

The Amazing Race 2011 Reality TV show is bringing back teams from previous seasons, giving returning teams a second chance to win the Amazing Race One Million dollar grand prize. Contestants are specially selected favorite teams returning from Seasons 12 to 17. The Amazing Race 18 will be a 23-city race that will cover 5 continents and 40,000 mile. The new season of the amazing race is one to watch! This season the show is bringing back those teams who have competed before, but not won.

The competition is fierce!

The first “leg” of the race started in California but quickly moved to Australia where teams were this past week. Each episode includes 2-3 tasks per “leg”, where the teams compete against each other to get to the “rest stop” first. Each team, while competing against each other, complete tasks including; solving puzzles, locating local monuments and partaking in local rituals and customs. Those who get to the rest stop first, are given the privilege of leaving first for the next leg of the race. The team arriving first is rewarded with a vacation or a cash prize. Most of the time, those who complete the “leg” of the race last will be eliminated. Once in awhile there will be a non elimination round where no one gets sent home. However, if you are the last team to arrive in this particular week, and you have been spared elimination, you will have to complete an additional task during the next “leg” of the race.

Each “leg” of the race brings its challenges – “roadblocks”, “fast forwards”, “yields” and “u-turns” making the game more exciting and stressful for all those involved and those of us watching at home!

Watch your favorite team and find out who is getting closer to winning the million dollar cash prize from other competitors on “The Amazing Race: Unfinished Business Season 18” on CTV Sunday night at 8 sharp.

Your Reality TV Blogger – Keeping it Real!
Samantha Stewart