Mark Madness

Welcome back Mark and thanks for sitting down for another interview. Today's topic will be

Reality Shows

Why do you think reality shows are so popular?
I think people are fascinated with what "real" people are like in different situations. I also think people like to imagine themselves in these situations and think "if they can do it, then I can do it." It gives everyone the hopes of having their 15 minutes of fame. Although most of these people are not real anymore. I think back to the first Survivor when nobody was aware of what this type of medium was about. It was fresh and interesting. I still enjoy it but it was more interesting when people were fresh and didn't know what to expect or how to "act" and you got to see what really happened without alliances taking control over situations.

If you were a producer and were starting a reality show what would your show be?
I think I would do a reality show about real people in interesting occupations and each week I follow a different person in their workplace. Imagine following Tina at her day job with Tour and Travel and then theatre at night. Imagine a day at the Kennedy Center Instant Charge. Imagine following somebody who works production assistant work behind the scenes at a TV show. Imagine a day at the dog groomers. There are many opportunities for fun

Which one would you be good on?
I think I would do well on a show like Big Brother or Amazing Race. I would love to do Survivor but do not think I fit the mold for that show. They seem to have set types they pick and almost every guy under 40 is a muscle stud. I think the race would be great fun and you and I would be a great couple for the show - that would be great TV. I would also be good paired up with Joey or Carla. Think of the fights that would ensue. On Big Brother, I would do well because I usually do good in social situations except I don't get drunk so that might hold me back.

Do you think your life would make a good reality show?
No, I actually do not. People may think there is a lot of excitement in my personal life but they are wrong. I work and watch TV. It is when I am outside of my home and work that I have more fun. When I am in new environments and new situations

Do you get so into reality shows because you think you are better than the contestants?
No, I do not. I get into them because they are either fun or they are hot!! I enjoy a hot reality guy. Although, they need to get more good looking guys who aren't body builders. Handsome with normal bodies that aren't so ripped. Although, I do like looking at the muscley boys - scratch that. Keep it as is

Would a reality show about the Baltimore dinner theater scene be popular?
I am not sure. If done right with the right casting it could be fun to see. I think it would be funny to watch different personalities turn it on more for the camera while waiting tables and dealing with the backstage environments. Especially the smaller ones. We will see how the new "casting Grease' reality show goes to see if people are interested. The UK version of casting Sound of Music called " How do you solve a problem like Maria" did well over there.

I'm going to give you some names and I want you to tell me which reality show each would be good on.
Foofi- Playing it Straight or Boy Meets Boy
Toby - The Bachelorette
Darren- Trading Spaces or Queer Eye
Ryan- Project Greenlight
Carla- America's Next Top Model or The Simple Life
Sabra- Blind Date

I have a reality show idea. It would be you doing a travel show exploring the many restroom facilities around the world. What do you think?
I think it would be called "Your favorite dumping hole". I would go to different places and talk to locals about the best dumping spots and then I would eat local cuisine and see how long it took for me to have to use the best hole in their town or country.

Thanks again for taking time out of you everso busy schedule to be interviewed by Welcome to Tina's, the true big blogger. Until next time.

Mark Madness

That Mark seems to be slacking off on "Tuesdays With Tina". So I thought I would turn the tables on him and introduce you to a "Welcome To Tina's" feature called:

Mark Madness!

Mark Madness will feature questions from me, but here's the good part. Unlike the long endless interviews on "The Follow Spot", my interviews will be no more than ten questions, because as it says at the top of my blog, I write from an A D D prospective

Today's topic: Blogs and Friends!
Mark, Give me your impression of each of the blogs on your list of links.
each of the blogs - shit.
actormann - new and exciting , I see much potential for some very interesting and different reading material from a very creative mind
StephenGregorySmith - gave me inspiration to do my blog and I am glad his is still operating, how else would I know what was going on at Signature
Filmdom - I enjoy a good review written in a very human way.
Janoose Productions - it was good for the week it operated
BruDogHaven - great at first but really...it went as far as it could go and now I am tired of it
Get Your Own - another very different blog with interesting points of view and different topics not in the theatrical world , yet artistic in it's own way.
Adventures of Jill and Clan - her children are very attractive but I need a little more than just her family life - this blog needs and edgy entry to intrigue its readers more. Perhaps one of the kids acts up and Jill hits them and then we read about what happened after that. Punishment, more beatings, locked in their room with no dinner...the possibilities are endless.
Laugh, Laff, Laf - more laughs in the title than on the blog - needs a few entries
Triple Time Step - has it disappeared??
MacWick Designs - I think people should revisit this page and plan their holiday gifts early. they really are very well received by everyone who gets them - good gift!!!
DERMAtology - could this be the next big blog? I see a sitcom in this one - look out!
Welcome to Tinas - need we really hear anymore from this bitch than we already do?
Phoenix Entertainment - Oh, my works site - check out our newly created Grease promo on the shows page - just finished working on that and it came out really great.
All the rest are fun theatre sites or gay blogs - who cares really.

Which one of your friends without a blog would you like to see with one?
I think that David James would have a very interesting and witty blog but I would also like to read a blog from Carla Della Torre Dakin because she does make up on many famous people and newsmakers and she would have neat stories but would probably get fired for talking about them.

Do you find that it's easier to keep in touch with friends through blogging?
No - I still call people all the time. For the first month or so, I stopped talking and said - "Read my blog" but I got yelled at all the time. I will say that the blog has put people back in touch - in a way - with people we havent seen in years like Keara, Jill Reumke, Jennifer Dickison, Kim Berly etc...

I've had strangers comment on my blog. Are you worried that strangers might get the wrong impression of you from your blog?
Don't give a fuck what they think and I welcome them to read and enjoy. Our group of friends and aquaintances are so unique and special that I think it would interest almost anyone who doesn't take themselves too seriously

Is blogging a dream come true for you since nobody ever listened to you before?
Umm...people always listened to me. They may have walked away and said "fuck off" or "whatever" or "given me the finger behind my back - Tamarin - but I always feel I have been listened to.
follow up: Do you really think people care?
again - don't care if they do - but I think they do - otherwise why would The Follow Spot have passed 20,000 hits last night - YAY

Other than Jeffrey, has anybody in a restaurant commented or given you dirty looks for taking pictures of your food?
No - people are into their own food. we are in Woodbridge, those toothless freaks out dining are too worried about shoveling in their food that they don't pay attention. The only attention we get is when Jeffrey makes too big a scene about it.
follow up: Do you think that is why Stephen Smith declined your dinner invitation?
I think Steve turned down my invitation because.... (Mark never answered this question. Perhaps I struck a nerve)

Why are you neglecting your Tuesday with Tina duties?
Sometimes it is hard to have a topic to discuss with you and if I don't have a topic and I am not "feeling it" that day, I think it is better to not do an interview than to do a shitty one. Some work and some don't but I don't want to try and force one if the time isnt right.

Mark, thank you very much for this informative interview. I hope "Mark Madness" becomes a huge hit among our friends. And America take note that, here at "Welcome to Tina's" you'll always find great entertainment, great recipes, great rants, and plenty of ME! (hint hint to the voters out there) Until next time America!