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I think the world is divided into those who love to work out, and those who hate it. This episode has both. Oh, and a third category: those who hate it but do it because they’re vain. I’m kind of in the latter category, but I guess that I’m not vain enough, because I haven’t gotten off my butt in a while. I completely related to David and Andrew. And watching Peyton and Deborah didn’t inspire me to get back in shape, it left me exhausted. All that jumping and running and downward dogging? I can’t.

So here were these two pretty shlubby guys, willing to go through physical torture for their women. Believe me, they were hurting after the first hour. I didn’t sense that either of them was arrogant, but if there was the slightest hint, they were humbled very, very quickly.

The fact that they were both doctors, and are used...]]> http://www.bravotv.com/blog/susieessman/2007/10/making_their_men_sweat.php http://www.bravotv.com/blog/susieessman/2007/10/making_their_men_sweat.php Wed, 24 Oct 2007 21:00:01 -0500

Technically, this was our most difficult competition. F-stops, depth of field, octagon boxes (or whatever they were called), light meters... it's enough to make your head spin and I think Heather and Maria would agree. There was a lot to learn in two days. A whole lot different than taking out your camera phone, pointing and shooting.

The technical stuff alone made this an interesting episode. But the really interesting part to me were these two couples. Now, I try my hardest to remain as neutral as I can about all four contestants. But it's not always easy. When I first met these four, they all seemed lovely, but by the end of the first day, Heather's snobbish claws were out for blood. Saying Daniel and Maria "looked like a catalogue" and that they were "predictable" and "pretty boring" was just a warm-up for Heather. She went even further when she and Alex...]]> http://www.bravotv.com/blog/susieessman/2007/10/point_and_shoot.php http://www.bravotv.com/blog/susieessman/2007/10/point_and_shoot.php Wed, 17 Oct 2007 20:00:02 -0500 I think the producers thought that this challenge would be easier than the others because it’s my profession. It wasn’t. So many of the other professions were task-oriented, where the contestants were learning a specific skill. Comedy writing is all in your head, and that proved challenging. Watching the episode, I found it all very fascinating, but this one definitely feels different from the other episodes. Maybe a little darker. Comedy frequently comes from a dark place.

First of all, I have a great deal of respect for both Stephanie and Ciara. They put themselves in the most vulnerable of positions. With so many of our other professions -- Chefs, for example -- if you don’t do well, you’re not totally humiliated and mortified. With comedy, you are putting your inner-most self out there for all the world to see. Believe me, it’s hard. I’m in awe of how well they both did. They worked hard, and...]]> http://www.bravotv.com/blog/susieessman/2007/10/comedy_tonight.php http://www.bravotv.com/blog/susieessman/2007/10/comedy_tonight.php Wed, 10 Oct 2007 21:00:05 -0500

Finally on the air! I haven’t seen the episodes until now, and there is always trepidation. Relief! I like them. A lot, actually. Although I hate watching myself on TV, and I dread HD more than anything. THE PORES!!!!!! I pick apart every little thing, and I didn’t like my hair straightened at all. Who was she? Was I fatter then? Definitely, yes. Oh, the battle. How appropriate, then, to start the show with an episode about food.

I don’t cook, so I related to Ellen and Sarah. Although, they REALLY don’t cook. I at least know how to make about five or six things. The problem has always been that for years, I was single in the city living equidistant from Fairway, Citarella and Zabar’s. That’s some of the best prepared food in the world. Why would I spend time marinating and chopping and sautéing when I can take a number and have...]]> http://www.bravotv.com/blog/susieessman/2007/10/now_were_cooking.php http://www.bravotv.com/blog/susieessman/2007/10/now_were_cooking.php Wed, 03 Oct 2007 20:00:05 -0500 This blog is coming soon! Watch the new show "Better Half" Wednesday nights on Bravo!