Being an avid (or addicted) television viewer, I have developed a certain snobbery when it comes to the shows I watched. These being primarily scripted shows. Reality shows have always been the death of television to me. A killer of writers. A plague to creativity. But of course, I am not impervious to the pull that a good girl fight or a heartbreaking moment brings. So I’ve decided to give in to reality TV. And last night it all started with a It’s a Brad, Brad World. Now, I have to admit I have watched a marathon of The Rachael Zoe Project, so I know who he is and have even fallen prey to Zoe’s many catchphrases (its bananas how I literally became obsessed with them). So coming into this episode I wondered: Will he come up with his own catchphrases? And will he be as interesting without Rachael Zoe?
The beginning opened with Brad in domestic bliss with his BF (boyfriend) Gary, a sitcom writer. They have two dogs, Jasper and Penelope; the latter seemed to have a flea problem. As they looked at their pet’s undercarriage (or pussy, as Gary so elegantly put it) I was confused at how normal their life really is. I was expecting glitz and glamour from Brad, but what I got was a normal relationship and a business he’s running out of his garage. I love this. Keeping it very un-Kardashian.
So life after Rachael isn’t all Brad thought it would be. With his employment at the hands of his agent’s ability to get him jobs, he keeps himself busy, going to the gym and keeping himself cute (making the Jersey Shore cast proud, I bet). Eventually he gets a phone call from said agent, who tells him both Keri Hilson and Jessica Alba want him to style them for the Met Ball, which is apparently the Oscars of the fashion world. The styling session with Keri Hilson was great. There were beautiful dresses and a shot of Brad up Keri’s dress, fixing something. Later he comments to his BF that’s what he does all day, “go close to vaginas.” Lovely.
What I really loved about this episode was Gary. He is the Roger to Brad’s Rachael. He keeps him down-to-earth, most notably at a US Weekly event that was honoring Brad as one of the “Hot in Hollywood.” Brad was so sure it was an actual award, but Gary was dubious and told him as much. I think if Gary weren’t there, the show would be less grounded.
Even with Gary and Brad’s home life, this wasn’t a home-run premiere. It had faults, namely being a little dull (and no catchphrases? Whatever). But, it told Brad’s story of struggling to make it on his own. Seeing the previews from next week, I think the series will pick up as we get into Brad’s world a bit more. Will I keep watching? Probably. I can’t resist a man with a bow-tie.
