Critics have long complained that the people we see on TV aren't your, um, average Joes. That not only are the actors among the top 1 percent of beautiful people on Earth, but that most of the contestants on reality/dating shows are among the top, oh, 2 or 3 percent.
NBC has a new show that answers that criticism. Sort of.
The problem is that "Average Joe" takes guys off the street and puts them on TV and then proceeds to make fun of them because of their appearance. This is supposed to be lighthearted fun, but it comes off as more than a little bit cruel.
Not that anyone associated with the show would admit that.
"What we're really trying to show is that the ordinary guy can get ahead," said executive producer Stuart Krasnow. "I think you'll realize these are real heroes of the story."
That loud ringing you hear is the what-a-bunch-of-baloney meter going off.
Essentially, "Joe" is a rip-off of "The Bachelor," only the gorgeous gal has to choose from 16 less-than-gorgeous guys. And about the only thing this proves is that both gorgeous gals and less-than-gorgeous guys will do just about anything to be on TV.
Which is not to say that "Average Joe" isn't funny. Host Kathy Griffin is a hoot. Although it's sort of interesting that she's the host, given some of the downright nasty things she's said about reality TV.
"I do love reality television," Griffin said, "and I'm really tired of art."
But you know from the opening moments that "Average Joe" is going for laughs by going for humiliation. The horrified look on the face of the gorgeous gal, Melana Scantlin (who previously appeared on "Meet My Folks") when she first meets the average Joes, for example.
"When the guys first got off the bus, I was a little shocked," Scantlin admitted.
"Remember when you vomited that one time?" Griffin interjected.
Which is funny. Just like the show. But if you think about it for more than half a second, it's uncomfortably funny.
Scantlin herself insisted she "wasn't misled at all" and that it was "the best experience of my life."
(Wasn't misled? The producers admitted they had a "standby girl" just in case she turned and ran.)
I know, I know — the average Joes volunteered. They had to know that they were going to be the butts of the jokes.
And perhaps being an "Average Joe" (at best) myself, I'm a bit sensitive to all of this.
As for the average Joes, they're so proud of their participation that they're not revealing their last names. One of the Joes — whose name is actually Brad — said he called his mother and said,"I'm on 'The Revenge of the Nerds.' . . . I think I'm on the wrong show."
Nah. They just wanted to make fun of you.
E-MAIL: pierce@desnews.com