GO SCHMO: I caught the first episode of the new "Joe Schmo Show" the other night, and found it to be a subversively brilliant send-up of the reality-TV genre. About five steps ahead of the dumb-male audience of its network, Spike TV, "Joe Schmo" moves past parody and straight into genre deconstruction.
A real-life version of "The Truman Show," 'Schmo' purports to be a reality show called "Lap of Luxury"- at least that's what one of the contestants thinks. In fact, the rest of the people on the show are actors, constantly trying to keep up the con. Each cast member represents a reality TV archetype- the slut, the crusty old guy, the flaming gay guy, etc., and the show parodies all the various absurdities of "reality" shows, from scheming "alliances" to elimination ceremonies (on 'Schmo,' a plate featuring a likeness of the eliminated contestant gets tossed in a fireplace.)
When I first heard about the concept of "Joe Millionaire," I thought that was genre deconstruction- but then, as has often happened with similar movies, the entire genre evolved into the deconstruction- namely, 'Millionaire'-style "twists" and "deceptions." "Joe Schmo" takes it a step further than that, in that the show itself is the joke- and what is parodying is itself self-parody. If "Survivor" was "Halloween" and "Joe Millionaire" was "Scream," then I guess "Joe Schmo" is the new "Scary Movie"- except, you know, it's funny.