Props to Glark, for finding me some Roaring '20s slang on the web.
Previously, on The Real World: The Belfort Seven met with Elton, the biggest bad-ass boss The Real World has ever seen, and Elton told them they would be producing a live weekly television show. Kelley was psyched. Matt told us that Kelley had stepped up as the leader. David felt that Kelley was not a natural-born leader, largely because she insisted on knowing what he was working on. The horror!
The show opens, as usual, with some pointless establishing clips of New Orleans scenery. But are they really pointless? On closer inspection, it seems that there is a clip of some guys working construction, and then some clips of some guys on a garbage truck. I think this is the editors' subtle way of saying, "These are people who work for a living. They do an honest day's work for an honest day's pay. Compare and contrast with the horrors that follow." Just keep that in mind throughout the episode, okay? up, we see Julie and Jamie walking down the street, carrying tiny Sony digital cameras. Okay, what public-access network can afford digital cameras? Do you think maybe, just maybe, those are a product placement donated by the kind folks at Sony, who also donated the (recently stolen by Road Rules) robotic dog? Just wondering. Julie and Jamie are both filming Melissa, and I'm wondering why they both need to be there. I guess they want to make sure they don't miss one word of what Melissa is saying. Currently, Melissa is asking various residents of New Orleans what their concerns are. Some guy who looks vaguely like Dominic from RW Los Angeles says that if he's going to be filmed, he wants a copy of the tape. But apparently, he's okay with being filmed by the B/M cameras, just not the NOA-TV cameras. Melissa says that they don't want to talk to him, then, and walks away. The three continue to walk down the street, and Melissa tries to get them to stop and go into a shoe store, but Julie is having none of it, and pulls her away. Then Julie wonders what she's being such a hard-ass for, and relents. Jamie's like, "Whatever, dude." In an interview, Melissa says that they are seven twentysomethings who "only care about [themselves]" and that she doesn't think that "any of [them] have a real interest in what the major issues of New Orleans are." Wow, that was possibly the most honest thing I've ever heard on this show, ever. Melissa just earned a lot of respect from me for recognizing and pointing out the inherent silliness of this whole "working at a television station" thing, when clearly, none of them really care at all, and just want to hang out.
The roommates are gathered in the NOA-TV conference room. Matt tells everyone that he didn't think about conferring with Elton over the set issue, because he was working with the set designer, but that Elton things the set isn't mobile enough. Then he says he doesn't want the others to worry about it because it's his problem. While I admire his taking responsibility, why did he bring it up in the first place if he doesn't want them to worry about it? Since we didn't see what prompted the discussion, I guess we'll never know. Melissa says that she's sad because he put so much time and work into it, and now he has to tear it down when he had no idea it was wrong. I can't believe Melissa actually thought about someone other than herself for once.
Kelley, Danny and Melissa are reviewing everyone's five questions footage in the control room. Kelley and Danny are drinking sodas, but they have napkins wrapped around them. At first, I think it's to prevent condensation from dripping onto the controls, but upon further reflection, it's probably because they are the wrong brand, and that particular beverage manufacturer didn't pay the big bucks for product placement. The taped footage reveals that Kelley thinks Oprah is her role model, and that Melissa wants to be like Imelda Marcos (because of the shoes). Matt says he admires his father, because he is selfless. David's tape comes up, and the scatting begins. Danny says, "What the hell is he singing?" and I giggle. Five points for Danny. Kelley asks if they can use this footage for the opening, but then realizes that it will sound "ree-diculous." In an interview, Kelley says it doesn't look right if everyone else is answering questions and then someone is singing. Danny totally rips on David's scatting, by saying, "Scooby doo, wa, ba, cha cha!" Who knew Danny was funny? Danny says the tape is "so stupid" and that he doesn't want it on the show. Kelley asks if David can do another tape and Melissa says with finality that he won't. Kelley says she's sick of it, and that she doesn't want to "blow up or get pissed off" (why not?) but that it doesn't work and they have to make it work. In an interview, Kelley says that she knows David is going to fight with her, and that "there is no middle road when it comes to David's music" because he won't compromise at all. So don't use his footage at all! Isn't that an easy enough solution? Just tell him that he either does the five questions thing, or he doesn't get to be in the segment.