7:28 pm - 01/25/2013
If you missed the first episode of the new TBS reality show King of the Nerds, you might want to go back and check it out.
This is a show aimed at nerd viewers — not at making fun of them.
Robert Carradine and Curtis Armstrong (of Revenge of the Nerds fame) are hosts of the show, which pits 11 contestants against each other in tests of skill in their areas of expertise — science, scifi, gaming, superheroes, technology, all the usual topics. If any of them had kids I’d say they’d fit in perfectly with the GeekDad/GeekMom mindset. However, they all seem to be in that just out of school/living in their mother’s basement age group.
Format-wise, King of the Nerds follows the standard reality game show template. The cast lives together in a mansion called “Nerdvana,” filled with game rooms and decorated with geeky artifacts. The winner gets to sit in the “Throne of Games” and win $100,000. One player is eliminated each week in a test of nerd-related skill.
That said, the cast of King of the Nerds is a great bunch to watch. These nerds exude more self-confidence than I have ever seen portrayed on TV before. From Brandon the Ph.D. student in neuroscience, to pink-haired gamer Danielle, to tattooed Alana the cosplay queen, they are weird and they’re proud. Personally, I’m rooting for Moogega, the planetary protection engineer at NASA.
One thing I’ve got to congratulate the show on is keeping the ratio of male to female nerds 50/50. Considering how women are still fighting for respect in many areas of the geek world, it’s simply nice to see them represented as a natural part of the nerd community.
On the first episode,
Now, I have a hard time watching reality game shows. It bothers me when people’s hopes are crushed, or when their anti-social side comes out. So it will be interesting to see how well the positive self-image of this cast of nerds holds out. And whether the show perhaps improves the image of nerd in the rest of the world, as well.
THE CONTESTANTS
Alana, 26 – Live-action role player and comic fan who often uses onomatopoeia instead of adjectives.
Brandon, 25 – PhD neuroscience student at Vanderbilt University who can also rap.
Celeste, 22, – Professional gamer who specializes in first-person shooters and speedcuber, and whose favorite animal is the cougar.
Danielle, 23 – Game reviewer who has more than 100,000 subscribers for her gaming vlog and considers her appearance to be top of the charts at a “nerd 10.”
Genevieve, 27 – Test-prep and young adult fantasy writer who thinks she hits all the right notes when expressing her feelings by singing original songs.
Hendrik, 26 – MIT grad student who is researching the mechanical properties of the Martian polar ice caps and enjoys foraging for wild edibles.
Ivan, 27 – Game developer and fire dancer who loves dragons and zombies.
Jon, 22 – Georgia Tech student who is obsessed with mathematics and theoretical physics, who also loves to rock out.
Joshua, 24 – Host and producer of geek-themed web show who was a former paranormal investigator.
Moogega, 26 – Planetary protection engineer at NASA who received her master’s degree and PhD by the time she was 24. She considers herself the life of any party.
Virgil, 28 – A master hacker studying brain science who loves colorful socks.
Sources: 1 2 3 4 5
The first and second episode have already aired (Thursdays @ 10 p.m. on TBS). This show is surprisingly good. This post is to see if any ONTD'ers watch it and/or to introduce the show to those who have not watched it
"King of the Nerds" — Reality TV for the Rest of Us
If you missed the first episode of the new TBS reality show King of the Nerds, you might want to go back and check it out.
This is a show aimed at nerd viewers — not at making fun of them.
Robert Carradine and Curtis Armstrong (of Revenge of the Nerds fame) are hosts of the show, which pits 11 contestants against each other in tests of skill in their areas of expertise — science, scifi, gaming, superheroes, technology, all the usual topics. If any of them had kids I’d say they’d fit in perfectly with the GeekDad/GeekMom mindset. However, they all seem to be in that just out of school/living in their mother’s basement age group.
Format-wise, King of the Nerds follows the standard reality game show template. The cast lives together in a mansion called “Nerdvana,” filled with game rooms and decorated with geeky artifacts. The winner gets to sit in the “Throne of Games” and win $100,000. One player is eliminated each week in a test of nerd-related skill.
That said, the cast of King of the Nerds is a great bunch to watch. These nerds exude more self-confidence than I have ever seen portrayed on TV before. From Brandon the Ph.D. student in neuroscience, to pink-haired gamer Danielle, to tattooed Alana the cosplay queen, they are weird and they’re proud. Personally, I’m rooting for Moogega, the planetary protection engineer at NASA.
One thing I’ve got to congratulate the show on is keeping the ratio of male to female nerds 50/50. Considering how women are still fighting for respect in many areas of the geek world, it’s simply nice to see them represented as a natural part of the nerd community.
On the first episode,
the group split itself into two teams. The twist was, each member had to choose the next one. And since there were 11 players, one was left out at the end. Poor Alana (who lamented having only a community college education) was sure she would be odd woman out, and she was.
But the best part, as PA’s Gabe notes, came when Carradine and Armstrong revealed that — nothing being nerdier than not being picked for a team — Alana was the winner of that contest. She also played an important role in the team competition that followed: a game of life-sized chess where captured pieces had their heads whacked off by a gladiator, spewing red tissue-paper “blood” with each blow.
But the best part, as PA’s Gabe notes, came when Carradine and Armstrong revealed that — nothing being nerdier than not being picked for a team — Alana was the winner of that contest. She also played an important role in the team competition that followed: a game of life-sized chess where captured pieces had their heads whacked off by a gladiator, spewing red tissue-paper “blood” with each blow.
Now, I have a hard time watching reality game shows. It bothers me when people’s hopes are crushed, or when their anti-social side comes out. So it will be interesting to see how well the positive self-image of this cast of nerds holds out. And whether the show perhaps improves the image of nerd in the rest of the world, as well.
THE CONTESTANTS
Alana, 26 – Live-action role player and comic fan who often uses onomatopoeia instead of adjectives.
Brandon, 25 – PhD neuroscience student at Vanderbilt University who can also rap.
Celeste, 22, – Professional gamer who specializes in first-person shooters and speedcuber, and whose favorite animal is the cougar.
Danielle, 23 – Game reviewer who has more than 100,000 subscribers for her gaming vlog and considers her appearance to be top of the charts at a “nerd 10.”
Genevieve, 27 – Test-prep and young adult fantasy writer who thinks she hits all the right notes when expressing her feelings by singing original songs.
Hendrik, 26 – MIT grad student who is researching the mechanical properties of the Martian polar ice caps and enjoys foraging for wild edibles.
Ivan, 27 – Game developer and fire dancer who loves dragons and zombies.
Jon, 22 – Georgia Tech student who is obsessed with mathematics and theoretical physics, who also loves to rock out.
Joshua, 24 – Host and producer of geek-themed web show who was a former paranormal investigator.
Moogega, 26 – Planetary protection engineer at NASA who received her master’s degree and PhD by the time she was 24. She considers herself the life of any party.
Virgil, 28 – A master hacker studying brain science who loves colorful socks.
Sources: 1 2 3 4 5
The first and second episode have already aired (Thursdays @ 10 p.m. on TBS). This show is surprisingly good. This post is to see if any ONTD'ers watch it and/or to introduce the show to those who have not watched it
But it's just funny to me that no one saw the twist coming that she wouldn't be kicked off and instead get all the power. It's like, you're on a reality show that is celebrating the nerd culture, do you really think they're going to playground rules your butts day one?
True. However, I feel bad for him. Clearly, he was too sweet for the game; and, he didn't realize how cut-throat these competitions are.
But it's just funny to me that no one saw the twist coming that she wouldn't be kicked off and instead get all the power.
Right? I knew there was going to be some type of twist.