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Over the years, the reality competition genre has explored many skill sets.
One of those is about extreme miniature golf; the other is about glass blowing.
The glassblowing series is calledBlown Away, and its ten episodes dropped on Netflix earlier this month.
The mini-golf show isHoley Moley, and its ten-episode season started airing Thursday nights on ABC in June.
In different ways, watching each one is like taking a mini-vacation.
Yes, this is literally a mini-golf competition, Riggle announced at the beginning of the first episode.
And yes, its on prime time with an absurd budget.
Absurdity is at the center ofHoley Moleys code of conduct.
It turned out the American-flag-pants-wearers were brothers.
As an added bonus, the brothers also happened to be a pair of showboating tools.
Its hard to know which Glauser brother irritated me the least, Riggle remarked during that episode.
Same here, Rob Riggle.
Its all extremely silly, diverting fun.
My only complaint aboutHoley Moleyis that the formula starts to feel a little redundant.
I guess thats what happens when you get a taste ofHoley Moley: You immediately want more.
Extreme mini-golf, man.
Its a helluva drug.
OnBlown Away, however, literally everything seems new.
They certainly were to me.
)Puntyis another thing Id never said before.
(Its the metal rod used in glassblowing).
I was familiar with the termglory hole,but, um, not in a glassblowing context.
Amazingly, no one at any point inBlown Awayacknowledges thatglory holeis also a sexual slang term.
In other words, no one on this show shows up wearing American-flag pants.
(In the movie version ofBlown Away, Grey should absolutely be portrayed by Sigourney Weaver.
What, you dont think Hollywood will eventually resort to remaking reality shows as scripted motion pictures?
Which is kind of refreshing.
Polarizing, you say?
Deborah, you have come to the right genre.
The real star of the show is the glassblowing process, which is fascinating to watch.
Its, as the kids would say, very satisfying.
Honestly, I got more tired watching theBlown Awaycontestants than I did observing anyone onHoley Moley.
Theres something vaguely inspiring in both of these shows, though.
Like I said, these two programs are what summer TV is all about.
