The Prestige TV Podcast - 'Too Hot to Handle' | TV Concierge

Episode Date: April 27, 2020

Why everyone is drawn into the latest frothy Netflix reality show and how it stacks up against 'Love Is Blind' and 'The Circle.' Hosts: Juliet Litman and Amelia Wedemeyer Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Oh, and welcome to TV concierge, a daily podcast where the ringer staffers help you navigate the crowded TV landscape. I'm Juliet Litman, and today I am joined by my colleague and compatriot and reality television, Miss Amelia Weddemeier, and we are talking too hot to handle the latest brothy viral hit from Netflix. Amelia, why are you watching this show? Because it is what I need in my life right now. It is a combination of Bachelor in Paradise, which I do not think we're getting this year. Love Island. We've got some Big Brother Aspects thrown in.

It's like a bunch of hot people are thrown into a resort. And they all have to compete for $100,000. But they have to do so while making connections. But the connections have to be like real and like about each other rather than just being hot. Does that make sense? It sure does. And the one thing you haven't mentioned yet is there is no sex making out or masturbation allowed. Is that correct?

That is so under my sight correct. I apologize. So here we have too hot to handle. It's very much in the same vein as the circle and love is blind where they take these people and throw them into these kind of absurd situations that are very heightened versions of like the state of socializing in America. It just so happens that are not just in America in the world. It just so happens that love is blind and the circle kind of anticipated this quarantine moment.

But I would say, I would say, too hot to handle is almost kind of similar as well, people having to control themselves and see what happens. I mean, it's kind of wild. Seriously, everyone everywhere is horny. And this show just plays into that. So why not? Let's watch it. So it's a little bit like Big Brother meets Bachelor in Paradise, meets sex, meets like, like, the show. The ocean. Like, I don't mean sexy TV show. I chose me like a sexy vibe.

Sure. And all these, all these people come into the house expecting. I don't really know they're expecting. But it turns out that their goal of this show is for them to form, it's for like these very hot people who've never had any trouble hooking up to form deeper relationships. And they're supposed to like basically withhold and hold out for as long as possible. It kind of reminded me of love movie 40 days and 40 nights. But like the Netflix crack edition, essentially. I love that. First of all, do you like this show? I mean, I binged all eight episodes of it, so sure. Yeah, I guess I did. Did you? Yeah. I did like it. I thought the first episode was bad. I was like, no, I don't want to watch this. Then I got further into it and I was like, oh, okay, actually, this show is kind of interesting. But I think like so many of the recent Netflix shows, the reason you watch it is like you just kind of cannot believe what you're seeing. Right. It's very much in the same. vein as love is blind and the circle and sort of like what's becoming the hallmark of reality TV on Netflix. Like what shows did you think of the most as you were watching it? Because we were talking before and there's sort of like there's a lot of tropes in it that

are very familiar. I totally agree with you with Bachelor in Paradise and Big Brother. I was talking to Moes Bergman about this and he watched a couple episodes and he said it reminded him of Love Island and I've never seen Love Island, but I heard it's a great show. Yes. it is similar to Love Island. It basically took every popular, like, dating reality show of the last five years and smushed it together. The other thing about it is it looks like very low end. Like, it looks like a YouTube show to me. Yes, very low budget. They're just like we are going to

round up some people fly them to the cheapest place in Mexico and let's go. Yeah, and let's go. And then it's a great mix of people from all over the English-speaking world. Yes. Yes. Yes. I love that aspect. Who do you think? So from Australia, the UK. in the U.S. Which country had the best performance? Oh my God. Well, and Francesco's from Canada. Oh, right.

She's part of the Commonwealth. Yeah, there you go. I really, I don't, this is weird, but I really enjoyed Chloe. I thought she was really funny. And she dipped her toes into several dudes. Yeah, so Chloe's from Essex in England. Essex. If I recall correctly.

The only way is Essex. I've never seen that show, but, you know. Exactly. I've had to say Essex is now kind of, famous in the reality TV landscape for being, I don't want to say trashy. That's a mean word. That's a mean phrase. It's not that it's trashy. It's just a very specific accent and like lifestyle. And it's sort of like big personality, small town. I would say that's sort of the vibe of many of the people on the only way is Essex, which is what you were just referencing. And Chloe is very much like that.

Is it like New Jersey? Like, kind of, but not as like, because like I know there's Jordy Shore, which is like Jersey Shore, but it's like the British version, which is amazing. But, okay, so Essex is a little more refined, but they're still like big personality. Yeah, you sound like bear from the challenge right now, which Chloe also, which Chloe also reminded me of. But Chloe was great because it's like at the crux of this show and why I think people are so like blown away by it. And it's funny. Like this is now the third reality show of 2020 this has happened with on Netflix where you're just like, who are these people and what am I watching? When it comes to love is blind, what you're watching is.

what you're watching is objectively hot people have to evaluate, like, how they make relationships and connections because they've never been asked as far as they make it seem to hold back before, essentially. Right. And so someone like Chloe, she's got a huge personality and being forced to really think about, like, which guy to go with seems to, like, throw her into chaos, but she's very charming, right? Yes, that is her to a T. She's always confused. She's not the smartest, but she's so delightful. And she used, I love the British slang that they use. They're like, it's proper.

I'm like, I'm absolutely gutted. It's like, he's so fit. I'm like, yes, more, more. Yes, she had a lot of the best quotes. Sharon is an American man who seemed like he was going to. He seemed like he was going to have the best quotes. I mean, in the first episode, he said his favorite thing is his penis. And he compares it to the size.

He does, doesn't he? Yeah, he's like, I have a, what do you say? Like a Lysol can? A photo of a Lysol can next to his dick for measurement. Yes, he holds a Lysol, aerosol can next to his penis and says it's that size. This man is really proud of his penis, like really proud. He also calls himself a sex icon at the beginning of episode three, just so everyone knows. Yeah.

And the funny thing is, he doesn't have sex. But the most important character on this show is Lana and Amelia. Who slash what is Lana? Lana is, she's essentially the circle. She is the all-knowing, all-speaking little AI Siri Alexa Amazon robot. She's cone-shaped. And she's also like purple slash blue when she talks. So she, Lana, it's weird calling this like homeless.

device, a she or whatever. But it's basically like, to me, it was an Amazon Alexa cross with a lava lamp, essentially. With the role of being Chris Harrison. Yes, exactly. And so Lana is like this basically like a Google Home, Amazon Alexa, that kind of thing that talks to the contestants and tells them about the rules. Like each episode, like a new rule comes out where they're like, okay, today, when you're wearing this watch that changes into a certain color, you're, allowed to touch or you're allowed to make out and you won't be penalized because as you alluded to earlier, every time these people break the rule of no hooking up and also no quote self gratification, they all lose money from the pot. So like two women, we won't say who, made out. And so then the group

just to piss off people. Yeah. Yes, just to piss off people. And the group lost $3,000. They wouldn't cop to it. And so then like one night, Sharon and Ronda, they get to go to essentially the, smush room. And it's sort of like a test, like, will they have sex? They're allowed to be like to them, but they can't have sex. And so Lana is sort of like this all-knowing force that hopefully isn't actually like spying on them. I don't know.

It seems kind of like it because there were two people who ended up having oral sex. I think like the fourth or fifth episode or something. And she doesn't mention it because they come around in a circle every day. And she's like, you just lost. three grand for making out, blah, blah, blah. And she doesn't mention it at all until the very end. And then she's like, oh, and so-and-so went down on so-and-so. And you're like, oh, shit, she knows.

Lana is a really invention. So one of the reasons I think that the show is the way it is and the circle is similar is. So there's also a narrator who I think is Nicole Byers, who also does a circle in the U.S., right? Okay. Yes, that sounded like her. I was like, this sounds very familiar. Yeah, and so they have Lana, which is like, they just put a camera on this Google Home La LaLamp and you hear her voice. And then I'm pretty sure that the narrators did all of her work in one day.

It's really easily translatable to other countries, right? Like, you just change the track of Lana and of the narrator. And you're like, and then you put subtitles on for the rest. And you're like, you're good to go in France. You're good to go in Brazil. You're good to go in Japan. Like, you're all set. Exactly.

So it very much feels like the Netflix reality factory. but my biggest surprise was I came to like all these people. I was like, this is too trashy for me, but then I came to like all of them. There are definitely more of them that I liked than who I usually enjoy. Like, I pretty much liked all of the girls and I liked a lot of the guys, too. I was like, these people are nice. They all seemed like nice people who actually did want to be challenged. Yes.

Which gives me to wonder if they knew beforehand that's what was going to happen. but they all, they like kept congratulating themselves for like making these deeper corrections. Charon in particular was like so proud of himself for seeing value in someone beyond just sex. And it was really weird. But I liked it. And you know, in this moment where we aren't going to get a new Bachelor or Bachelor in Paradise for a long time, it certainly scratches the edge, don't you think? Oh, I'm 100%. I'm already like, are we going to get a second season?

or what's going on? I think so. It's just trending. What level of pressure do you feel to watch these Netflix reality shows right when they come out now? Because they just become these hits, like right away. Honestly, I do feel pressure to watch them. I feel pressure because, one, I might get to talk about them on a podcast. So I feel like, okay, got to do that.

But then also it's like, I don't want to be left out of the loop, especially when I need the internet more than ever during this quarantine because we're all stuck inside. I want to be inside the loop. I want to know what people are talking about. I know. And that's the thing of these Netflix reality shows. Like, you have to get in early so that you're part of it. And I just want to note, the show's been out about 10 days.

Oh, wow. These people have over 2 million followers on Instagram already. Are you serious? Yes, I was looking up Harry and Francesca. And at my last check, they were at like 1.9 million. So they're definitely over 2 at this point. And they are way more famous than the people on listen to your heart. I was just going to say.

I was just going to mention the listen to your heart people, yes. Because listen to your heart people are stuck in like the low 12 to 15,000 followers. No one cares about them. No. But I think that's part of this deal with these shows is like they just become international hits because people in several countries, well, it's not just here in the U.S. We're like going to follow all of these crazy cats and kittens, you know? Oh my God.

I know I'm already thinking of how we can like put them into. to like a challenge-esque show or something, you know, like a Netflix games. Chloe is going straight to the challenge. If she's on the challenge in 2021, I'm going to be pissed. When like CT comes back, like in shape and everything, like, can you imagine? There's a couple of people who I hope to not see on the challenge, like Bryce, who was from L.A. He's one of the most embarrassing. He makes California seem bad. Well, and he's like, I live on my boat in Marina del Rey.

like, okay, this isn't, you're like 30, dude. What was amazing about that was one of the women was like, I don't really know if it means he's rich or he's poor. Should I be impressed? They're just like, that means nothing to me, man. That's so true. But it was so good. So, Amelia, are you recommending too hot to handle two hour listeners?

Yes. I say why not? It's a good, mindless show. There are hot people on it. It's like, whatever, you know? How about you? Oh, absolutely. I was resistant, but I'm like, no.

I'm in. I understand when this is number one on Netflix. Join the conversation people. You won't regret it. It's a lot of really likable people not having sex, you know? Exactly. You can mention Chloe with us on Twitter. Cal's.

Francesca. Harry. I know. They're all like, oh my God. They're just like, I don't know. I think they're so funny. Okay. They all made a big deal out of like Francesca being the hottest, but I did not find her

the hottest because she's so fake looking. No offense. I thought Chloe before she spoke. was the hottest. Poor Chloe. Poor Chloe. And it's not because of her accent at all. It's just because of her personality.

I really like her, but she doesn't have hot girl personality at all. She really doesn't. Which I like. I enjoy because it's like, oh my God, this is like a two-for-one deal. You're getting a hot girl,

plus she has something to say. Like, yeah, I'm into it. Totally agree. If this isn't enough of a cell for you, I don't know what to tell you. You've got the time. You're probably not watching The Bachelor Presents to listen to your heart because you're not following them on Instagram.

Just give too hot to handle a shot. Thank you so much for listening. Check out TV Concierge again tomorrow. Crack a Cayman Jack Margarita with real lime, blue agave nectar, and real margarita taste. Taste your escape. Kamen Jack, America's number one margarita.

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