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Name of Series: MAD MAD HOUSE

Our Rating:
Date of Show: 2004
Network: SciFiChannel
Awards: None

Reality show, 54 min, TV Rating: PG-13, Color, Series available on DVD

SCIFI TV’S MAD MAD HOUSE: MORE PHONY THAN LOONY

Combine Survivor with Big Brother and throw in some contrived lifestyle differences, and you have a fair idea of what this television series was all about. The television show aired weekly on Thursday nights on the SciFi channel from February through April of 2004.

The promo says “People who barely live in the same world live in the same house!” These five stereotypes include Tashia (a Voodoo Priestess, complete with head gear), Tom (a Vampire complete with cape and fangs), Fiona (a Wicca “Witch”), Art (a “Modern Primitive” with tattoos adorning his entire body) and Avocado (a Naturist who only undresses around the pool). These five seem to get along quite nicely, despite the marketing promo.

These “Alts” (for alternate lifestyle) have invited 10 “normals” to be houseguests, who are subjected each week to a “lifestyle” challenge (Wicca ceremony, voodoo ceremony, etc.) and at the end of each show the “Alts” vote off one of the “normals” who fit in the least. In week 10, the last “normal” win $100,000 and gets to stay in the house. Why anyone would stay is beyond my grasp.

On the web site, it describes Naturists as believing “the human body is inherently dignified and worthy of respect. Many naturists live their lives in a clothing-optional state.” So if Mr. Avocado is representing all of us, why is he dressed so much? Are the producers afraid of the Janet Jackson aftermath? Not that it matters, because those few times he is nude, he is heavily pixilated (even his breasts at times!)

The one “nudist challenge” held so far had very sexual undertones, with about 20 naturists wearing loincloths that concealed a photo of a fruit. Contestants has to select a nudist who revealed their fruit by raising the flap; match 2 fruits to win a point. I think the producers wanted to see if the “normals” could concentrate enough with the photo so close to the privates.

I was not amused at the sexual implication. Second, why did the Naturist allow himself to be named “Avocado,” a name likely designed to raise eyebrows and to confirm, “nudists are weird.” When polls say over 80% have no objection to nudity and nearly half have skinny-dipped at least once, why is our lifestyle not being considered “normal” too?

The show gets one "star" for having some casual conversation explaining the positive aspects of the nudist lifestyle. The pixilation cost it a second star.

WE GET EMAIL...

Dear Movie Buff:

I can’t keep silent after reading your review of Mad Mad House. As it happens, one of the alts, Art, is a member of Black’s Beach Bares. I have been taping the show and we get together with Art and watch. We often mute the commercials and pause the program to ask Art questions or to make our own comments.

Art tells us that he was nude more often than Avocado, but he also points out that the show was taped in Hollywood in November. It’s not exactly warm in November, and Art was expected to show off his tattoos. We often see Art in a blanket, rather than clothes. No doubt Avocado was cold much of the time. Clothing is still an option when we are cold.

Regarding the matching game that Avocado led, there are some among us that agree with Movie Buff, but I see it another way. We live in a world where many men have trouble looking at a woman’s face while talking to her. They look at her chest instead. There are homophobic men who are afraid to look at a penis. I think Avocado’s challenge forced the guests to deal with these issues, which is important to us.

Regarding his name Avocado, and his label, Naturist… The nudist/naturist debate will likely continue for some time. There are advantages to using each label. Calling myself a nudist tells people immediately what I am, and it says I am not ashamed. Calling myself a naturist gives me an opportunity to explain what a naturist is and to have a dialog with people. Unfortunately, the definition of nudist has been distorted, especially on the Internet. When I tell people I’m a naturist, they think I photograph frogs. I liked it that Avocado described his second challenge by saying, “You get to take off another item of clothing.”

Avocado calls himself a naturist, not only because he considers clothing to be optional, but because of the food he eats too. Perhaps calling himself a raw food specialist would have been better. Furthermore, Avocado calls himself Avocado. The producers tried to press a few things on Art but he was able to refuse. They tried to give him an S&M necklace, for example, and they wanted to call his challenge, The Cage.

Regarding the blurring of genitals, we can all fantasize about a world where the censors don’t use their power to imply that some body parts are naughty, but this show was not broadcast in Fantasy Land. I fully expected censoring of genitals. There has been a great deal more censoring on the program. In the first episode, Art wore a shirt with a picture of Che Guevarra that was censored. Other logos have been censored from shirts and hats (apparently the producers won’t allow any advertisement on clothing unless it’s a sponsor.) They do show Art’s shorts with his business name on it. I’m sure there was an agreement on that.

Regarding the comment that they all get along, talking to Art I know they didn’t all get along. Watching the show, I could see that they didn’t all get along. Fiona (the “Wicca Witch”) tried to take over the show and the others wouldn’t let her. Don (Vampire) tried to pick a fight with Art. The show is engineered to make sure they don’t get along. They deprived them of sleep. Their votes are not secret ballots, so your vote says “I don’t like you.” Without conflict the show is boring and ratings are low.

Lloyd Johnson,
Black’s Beach Bares.

NOTE: The show was not renewed for a second season due to low ratings - Ed.

Review by Gary Mussell, SCNA Film Critic
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