Featuring completely naked participants, Bravo's revealing new reality show Stripped is unlike anything we've ever seen before.
If we don't count Discovery's Naked and Afraid.
Or VH1's Dating Naked.
And TLC's Buying Naked. (The cheeky one with nudist couples shopping for houses in clothing-optional communities with requirements like -- ouch -- no sharp corners.)
Clearly there have already been plenty of unclothed shows on cable in recent years. As for what separates hour-long Stripped (9 p.m. Tuesdays with full episodes at bravotv.com) from the others: Instead of jungles, it takes place in private homes. Instead of strangers, it involves people who already live together. Instead of buying something, all possessions are removed.
"Americans ARE ADDICTED to their things. THESE PEOPLE have agreed to give up on everything they own FOR 21 DAYS ... EVERYTHING," reads the intro to the show. Everything, including clothing. They are provided military-grade, nonperishable food rations, water and toilet paper.
Without any worldly goods and with cameras following, the pixelation-protected participants must carry on their daily lives. Every day, each person can take back one possession from storage -- only the shed is an embarrassing half-mile away. They have to get there with no clothes, no shoes and, now, no dignity.
And, because this is as low-budget as TV gets, there are no prizes.
Says 33-year-old accountant Justin in last week's debut episode, "I want to do this because I want my wife to realize she doesn't need material things."
His wife of 4.5 years, 31-year-old fashion stylist Ali says ... well, she's too busy nagging the movers about properly packing her couture and wine glasses. She insists if the house was burning, "I'd grab my husband" and her pets -- all named after designers.
"And then she'd come back for her shoes," Justin says. We already kind of feel bad for Justin.
"Right," she says with her grating laugh. We already kind of hate Ali.
After a miserable, uncomfortable first night, the couple takes a Day Two trek to the storage shed while wearing coverings that Justin makes from backyard leaves ("Modern day Adam and Eve vogue!" Ali declares). Ali reclaims a tight blue dress. For their comfort, Justin chooses the sectional sofa ... that comes in 27 pieces, requiring dozens of trips back to the shed until a neighbor helps. (Wouldn't moving a bed have been easier?)
On Day Three, Justin rewards himself -- and us who have to see his bare butt -- with pants. Ali grabs her most sensible pair of shoes: $1,500 high-heel Givenchy booties (which don't really work with the tight blue dress. Justin's tree branches were a better look; perhaps he should be the stylist).
They're bored, and so is the viewer. There's nothing happening to hold their interest or ours. But if they can last 19 more days, we can endure that many more minutes.
By Day Three, Ali (who now has her phone -- oh no! She'll be talking more!) is exhausted, even though Justin (who now has a jacket) has done all the work. So she leaves him to stare at the walls, while a friend takes her for mimosas, a spray tan and tacos. (Says the screen: "Prior to losing their electronics, participants are allowed to pre-arrange visits. Participants have no money, but friends and family are allowed to buy them food and services.") So much for her living a simpler life.
On Day Four, a selfless, shoeless Justin selects his truck, so he can go to work barefooted, which he'll do until Day 6. Around this point in the journey, they'll acquire basics necessities like toothpaste, soap, a towel, a razor and shampoo ... and another tight blue dress for Ali.
With nothing else to do, they have plenty of time to talk. Justin shares his desire to have children while Ali avoids it. He tells the camera that on the subject of kids, "I'd like to think that she hasn't been stringing me along the past six years," with a nervous laugh.
Ali has a meltdown on Day 8 when she has to attend a red-carpet event not looking her best. (We're calling show shenanigans on this: Why didn't she arrange for someone take her for a blowout and makeup before it?). Long-suffering Justin sits at home, reading his vehicle manual for amusement. We'll try that the next time we think of watching Stripped.
By Day 12, Ali says the experiment has empowered her, and she thinks she can do everything, including being a mom. We think it's just a high from wearing yet another tight blue dress -- yes, her third -- from storage.
By the time Day 21 comes and the stuff is being moved back into their house, Ali is like a totally different creature, suggesting maybe Stripped is worthwhile! She says, "Seeing the sacrifices and compromises that Justin made for me during this whole experience has really reassured me ... he's going to be a great dad and great partner." And then she goes back to doing her makeup while everyone else works.
The show checks on the couple six months later.
Surprise, Ali is quite pregnant in an even tighter dress and seemingly happy.
It seems the couple found something entertaining to do while Stripped after all.
Reveal an email:
jchristman@arkansasonline.com
What's in a Dame is a weekly report from the woman ' hood.
Style on 12/12/2017