A&E

When The Real World: New York premiered in 1992, it ushered in, for better or (probably) worse, the current model of reality television. Back before anyone had ever bared their emaciated naked body for chocolate and peanut butter on Survivor, declared themselves the next American Idol while yodeling and wearing a tutu, or coined the term “guidette,” seven strangers living together in close quarters was actually kind of real. It was a riveting televised sociology experiment that tapped into 20-something angst and touched on issues of sexuality, substance abuse and prejudice. Now in its 25th season and returning to Las Vegas, The Real World is about as real as The Situation’s tan. In fact, MTV’s cash cow Jersey Shore seems to have rubbed off on the latest installment of the seminal series; TRW has regressed into a series of drunken club scenes followed by drunken hot-tub dalliances, occasionally interspersed with inane arguments or violent fights. The cast is comely, the hormones run high ... but when hot-tub hookups start to feel like old hat, it’s time to rethink the formula.

It wasn’t until I moved to Las Vegas with its bounty of dancers that I added “learn to burlesque dance” to my bucket list. The opportunity came to cross it off came when I heard about X Burlesque University. Its 75-minute class, from the producers of X Burlesque at the Flamingo, consisted of makeup application training, a take-home makeup kit, a professional photograph and a lesson in burlesque dance moves.

Just when you thought you’ve seen it all from multitalented hustler Nick Cannon, the Hollywood veteran has shifted his focus and is now set to take on Las Vegas with his unique comedy extravaganza.

Red was the dominant color at the 83rd Academy Awards, and by the end of three hours and 45 minutes (including the red carpet pre-show), I was seeing plenty of it. If this was the year when some brain-dead jerk who never heard of the term “moving pictures” decided to move into the age of cyberspace, all I can say is “Go back to where it all started and show us some pictures that move.” Youth and hipness were promised, but neither was anywhere in sight.