<p>I actually can give you a rough estimate: $500 per show. The “real” money is made by appearance money. (You know, show up at a party and get paid.) That money can be serious amounts…at least for a kid.</p>
<p>I got hooked on Black Gold, a reality show about oil rig workers on three different rigs. Humor, drama, excitement…and beep-beepin’ language.</p>
<p>lspf72 - do you mean Ace of Cakes? That is about a local company - Charm City Cakes. They made the cake for my D’s 16th birthday party - before they were on television. That is one of my favorite shows. I’m a big “Dog Whisperer” fan too. My guilty pleasure was the “Real Housewives of New York City.”</p>
<p>Might be it -
looks like we have similar tastes :)</p>
<p>There is another cake one where it involves chef people from the various shows creating amazing thematic cakes, not ace of cakes, but another one</p>
<p>somemom, those are probably the Food Network Challenges, where chefs go up against each other for (usually) a $10,000 prize. I always hold my breath when they have to move those humongous cakes to the table!</p>
<p>cartera45, how cool to have a Charm City cake! But I do have to ask you about the one thing they never talk about on the show - how does the cake taste? They’re amazing, but are they any good?? And what theme was your d’s cake?</p>
<p>I wondered the same thing, Chedva, with all that fondant in place of frosting, how does it taste?</p>
<p>Chedva - the cake was very good. We didn’t eat the fondant. D chose vanilla and raspberry cake so there were layers of both with icing in between so you could just discard the fondant. Everyone thought it was delicious. I had seen their cakes on The Today Show wedding show so I just called them up and Duff himself answered the phone in an airport in Miami. The business phone was his cell phone. He told me to email Mary Alice. I did that and just told her generally that my D was very preppy and liked pink and green. Other than that, I told them to just do what they wanted. They were located in a little hole in the wall row home in a part of Baltimore that I wouldn’t have ventured into otherwise. Mary Alice was at the desk in what looked like someone’s living room. Geoff brought out the cake that he had made - he is very quiet. They let me borrow a lovely silver cake stand. The cake was shaped like two stacked gifts wrapped in pink, green and white wrapping paper with a fondant gift tag and ribbon. It was lovely but simple compared to stuff you see on the show. It was a surprise to D and she loved it. I have heard some complaints lately that the cake is not as good because they have to make more things ahead of time.</p>
<p>Gotta love that kid, Cody. And Warren Sapp. Pure joy on the dance floor.</p>
<p>Made my day :D.</p>
<p>^^ I totally agree. That show is a joy to watch. Love Warren Sapp!</p>
<p>(Doesn’t Cody look exactly like a young blond Tom Cruise?)</p>
<p>I cannot watch TV without doing something at the same time - it is boring and puts me to sleep. Nothing is interesting enough for tivo. When I have it on it is one of these:</p>
<p>America’s Next Top Model
What not to wear
Say Yes to a Dress
Charm City Cake - these kids are very talented bunch
Discovery Health
Fox News (it is not “reality” but it is more entertaining than any above)</p>
<p>Seem to watch reality TV and the news.</p>
<p>What Not to Wear
17 Kids and Counting (mesmerized by the Duggars)
Cash in the Attic (BBC)
Top Chef
Dinner Impossible
Throwdown with Bobby Flay</p>
<p>How It’s Made. Well, I’m the kind of weirdo who actually likes factory tours also…I learn about scientific principles (levers, heat processes) and how to apply them. I am a “science dummy”- never took physics or chem, but I’m very curious about how science is found in the real world. Also, I have a lot
of respect for people who work in these factories. Yesterday they had a seamstress making a hockey glove (it’s a Canadian show!) who was very talented.</p>
<p>Ditto - another vote for How It’s Made.
Maybe someone got smart and took the idea from that ancient episode of Sesame Street (I think) where they showed the crayon’s being made. Always liked that one…!</p>
<p>And until I started posting here I never thought I watched very much television. Evidently I was mistaken.</p>
<p>We admit it: We watch a lot of TV, and go to a lot of movies. And…watching a lot of TV doesn’t rot one’s brain: You just go into the business. :)</p>
<p>Daughters’ favs: (plus others previously listed)</p>
<p>The Hills</p>