TV dinners (Come Dine With Me)

Member Name: jodiestokes

Product:	Come Dine With Me
Date:	21/08/09 (196 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Light, amusing entertainment.

Disadvantages: Can be some rather irritating contestants at times.

Come Dine with Me is a reality TV show cross cookery programme first aired on channel 4 back in 2005. The basic premise of the show is to take four contestants (originally five) and have them take it in turns to each host their own dinner party for their guests (the other contestants), the rivals are then asked to mark their host between one and ten for their efforts. The one with the most points wins. Simple!

After watching and having enjoyed the first Brother series the rest just became less and less entertaining as the boundaries were seemingly pushed more and more by a show chasing ratings and untalented contestants slugging it out in a bitch fest, rejection contest, the fact is you could never truly be yourself under the shows living conditions plus the contestants have become more and more freakish as the series has moved on, with huge egos, vile tempers and outlandish opinions. It is by far one of the most exploitative reality TV shows and possibly the most emotionally damaging slice of voyeurism ever broadcast.

What's nice about come dine with me is the show centres around each contestants home, so they are in familiar surroundings for at least one evening of the episodes four evenings in total. This gives the contestants as well as the viewer a more realistic view of each person's life and tastes in life. The show isn't as huge as some of the other reality based shows which is far less pressure for the contestants to undergo allowing them more or less to behave as they normally would. Having said that, most of us would change a little when a camera is shoved under our noses but at least this show is presented with damage limitation in that regard.

Like any show of its kind, the people brought together on the show are perhaps not in the company of whom one another may choose to associate with in the real world but is perhaps made more interesting to watch by being so in regards of how each contestant copes in such a situation.

The show starts with three of the contestants reading through the menu of the fourth and giving their opinions on what they think of it. They then all go to that person's home to be waited on for the evening. The first evening is probably the most entertaining to watch in the respect that we can all relate to the anxiety the contestants must be going through not only meeting three new people in one go without any friend to back them up but also having that camera on you. The contestants then eat the fourths food presentation (or not as the case maybe) and then in secret mark the host. The show continues in the same way for each contestant. The contestants are also given the opportunity to venture around each hosts home to investigate their belongings, I have to say this can be a bit close to the bone at times. I would do my nut if I found someone rummaging through my pant draw but this quite often says more about the snoopers than it does about the host.

I have to say for some bizarre reason I'm glued when ever this show comes on. From contestants having just that little bit too much to drink and making a total arse of themselves to watching them desperately trying to be polite as they slowly chew over the awful slop in front of them, you can almost feel the contestant fighting nature to hold back the gag reflex as they do so. Watching the different personalities come together either bouncing off of one another or clashing horns is incredibly gripping stuff and done over such a short period of time gives some reassurance that they won't experience too much stress.

The show offers some interesting recipes for its viewers via the contestants. You are given a brief talk through by the contestants about each dish that you can copy from the web page on the channel 4 site or just pop on to marvel at its awfulness.

The show tends to have some really interesting characters from all warps of life so you never know if you're off to a well polished mansion or to the house from hell. The presenter on this show is also another one of the shows strong points, with his never ending tidal wave of sarcasm he really does have you chuckling away and keep you engaged.

All in all this is a really entertaining show for unwinding and not taking too seriously, I don't think I've met anyone who particularly dislikes it. I'm not saying I would rush home to watch it like my life depended on it but it is never the less a really fun watch and not to be taken too seriously.

Summary: Great to veg out and watch