Television Report

TOUGH ENOUGH REPORT (SECOND EPISODE)

This is going to be TOUGH ENOUGH for me to simply write this report!! Because the first show followed a structured format of narrowing a lot of the contestant's down to 13 finalists. It allowed for the reports to be structured as well. But this show was just all over the place!

I will do my best to attempt to capture every moment which was really important on this episode, but I suggest if you are a fan and missed this show, do either of the following things subsequent to reading a print report about the show: A. Read as many reports as possible, I will miss some details and others might not, B. Get off your asses go to MTV.COM and see when the show airs again during the week!, C. Wait for TOUGH ENOUGH to update their web page and check out the video the page has on about the episode you missed.

The show began showing some clips from the casting special, and then went right in to this week's episode with the contestant's having fun around the house. Including relaxing in the hot tub, and getting in close with some of the contestant's making statements. Darryl, one of my odds on favorites to win the damned thing, commented about how he had come down with a "cold" to some of the other cast members. He mentioned it was the first cold he had gotten in a long time and this one had to be caught from a little baby on the flight to CT. I will have more on this later because later in the show Darryl's actions do put his 'cold excuse' in to doubt.


THE TRAINING: THE NEXT MORNING

First the contestant's are greeted by "Big" John Gaburick and his big black hummer. They are taken to WWF TRAX (WWF Training Facility) and are put through some grueling training.

Al Snow, Jacquelyn, and Tori are all waiting in the ring when all of the contestant's enter the facility. Snow informs them all what they will be learning today might not make any sense, but it will make a lot of sense later. Tori adds what they'll be learning today is also how to respect their bodies but also how to respect the bodies of the people working with them in the ring as well. Jacquelyn added these contestant's had better call her "Miss Jackie" for their own good.

Snow started them off with a rigorous cardiovascular regimen and told them they would be doing this every day, and as soon as they get the first part of his training down he will move them on to new areas. It led in to Al Snow teaching them a wrestling basic, how to bump.

They were supposed to fall backwards flat on their backs onto the mat without their feet moving. Chris seemed to pick it up quickly, and it could be due to his former wrestling training. Others did not get it as quickly as Chris did, but continued to work to improve. Darryl seemed to have problems with the landing after he hit the mat. They all attempted to correct their mistakes however; Victoria was having major problems with this exercise as she kept hitting her head on the mat when she fell.

After this grueling exercise in the art of "bumping" was over, it was off to WWF TITAN TOWER.


TITAN TOWER OF POWER EXERCISES

The cast members were informed they are free to do their own work out regiment's (provided they have them) if they want, however; they do still have to do the work out regiment the WWFE has provided as well.

This was met by some "ooh's" and "ahh's" by some of the cast member's who probably did have work out regiment's they are accustomed too. It wasn't too long before we were back at the house viewing all the worn out contestant's relaxing.


THE NEXT MORNING

We hear complaints, bickering, and bitching. Most of which was the female contestant's complaining their arms and shoulders hurt. But Victoria's problem seemed to revolve around moving her head, she said it was like her brain was sloshing around in her head when she moved.

Darryl still claimed to have a cold and a 100 degree temperature.


MORE TRAINING WITH AL SNOW

Snow today begins to show them the collar and elbow tie up. Chris is one step ahead of Al Snow and tries to teach one of the cast member's the proper way to do it (how he was trained to do it previously), and Tori gets in his face about it. She tells Chris they are going to do this the WWF way and he is going to have to learn it a new way. Chris comments later how Tori was correct in doing what she did and he made a mistake.

After the collar and elbow tie up training, Snow gets down on the mat on all fours and the contestant's are supposed to fall backwards over him and take a bump on to the mat on to their backs. Snow warns them all not to fall on him or else. All of the contestant's do this well with the exception of Victoria who hits her head again. She staggers to her feet and is visibly dizzy. It ends with Al Snow in the corner holding her up for support. Victoria commented in a vignette taped after this training exercise that she doesn't like feeling the way it made her feel and she knows she can get really hurt doing this.


TITAN TOWER TRAINING PART II

Victoria is getting a drink at the water fountain and crying. Then Stephanie McMahon-Helmsley approaches Victoria and asks her about the problems she is having. Victoria must have thought Stephanie was set to blast her, because Victoria seemed defensive about it. But then Stephanie explained to Victoria not to be upset, and she too had the same problems when she was training and it got to her a lot. And, she will get it soon enough if she gives it time. Later, Victoria commented it helped knowing somebody else who made it had, in some fashion, gone through the same problems. IT was a very good real moving emotional moment for WWF TOUGH ENOUGH and is a testament of how nice-and-genuine of a person Stephanie really is. This is the "PRINCESS" to "KING VINCE's" Empire. She didn't have to do it and yet she did.


TRAX ATTACKS II

Up next by Al Snow is the forward flipping bump. The correct way the exercise is completed is to take a forward flipping bump, with your feet, butt, and lower back all hitting the mat at the same time. All of the contestants seemed to be able to get this one down quickly. Everyone applauded Victoria when she successfully landed the correct way, and not on her had as she had been doing previously.


TIME TO EAT, MEDS ANYBODY?

It was time to rest and relax and have a nice meal, and time to pass out the IB PROFIN (Let me clarify for a second. I cringed as it happened. When one of the contestants's, I think Bobby Jo, handed out meds like they were chicklets. All I kept thinking about was how some idiot was going to report of "Drug Use" on TOUGH ENOUGH. But, it must be pointed out these are available over the counter and are just ASPIRIN-like meds. They are not bonified PAIN KILLERS. There was no DRUG USE.)


DAY FOUR, READY FOR. "BEAT ME IF YOU CAN! SURVIVE IF I LET YOU!!"

This is the easiest day on the schedule for the cast members. There is no formal training scheduled for today. As the contestant's sleep the most miserable man on the face of the planet has arrived! IT IS TIME TO GET UP!

"When I saw Tazz when I woke up, I nearly wet my bed.." said one of the cast members.

Tazz tells them to get dressed and hurry up about it. Tazz is upset as some of the cast members attempt to make their beds. First, he told them he didn't tell them to make their beds. Tazz jumps down all the cast members throats telling them to hurry it up. Tazz goes back in the room rips the sheets off of a freshly made bed yelling, "I didn't say nothing about making your beds."

Tazz noticed a "GOLDBERG" poster is up on the wall and tears it down!! "Wrong Company", yells Tazz has he crumples the poster up and tosses it to the floor, with several other posters.

Tazz tells them he will give them as much respect as they give to him and he warns them all he is a "hard edged bastard" and the worst they can do is talk back to him. "If you don't believe in God, you had better start!", was the last advice Tazz gave them before they left.


STAMFORD ZOO TOUR CONDUCTED BY TAZZ

This isn't a petting zoo folks! It was time for some training of the Tazz kind. They would wrestle in the mud on their knee's. The object of this exercise was to protect or capture an orange traffic cone. It went relatively well with one contestant (Bobby Jo) getting destroyed all the time. Tazz gave her some advice because she was getting her butt kicked. He told her to go in low and do a leg take down, and it worked.

Tazz warned them all wrestler's get hurt in the wrestling business on every single night they perform.

It was time to JOG. JOG in muddy clothes and boots! Tazz was in the back of a pick up truck drilling them on during this jog. Darryl made a piss-poor, half-ass attempt at this exercise falling way back. He kept half-assing it and began walking most of the time. Tazz noticed this and got right on his ass about it. Tazz told Darryl he would never be a WWF superstar when he can't even take this. Tazz warned him to stop giving him 'those hard looks' or else "I will get off this truck and give you a beating you won't forget!"

Darryl seemed frustrated and annoyed by this suggestion and while the voice over's explained to us at home Darryl was the oldest, he acted the youngest. Many cast members commented how Darryl was 'immature'. And we then saw Darryl half-assing it and kicking rocks on the ground and acting like a four year old would. It is apparent that Darryl is not going to last very long. And, whereas, in the last report I decided he was going to be one of the male contestant's that won out, now I am predicting he will be gone next show.

His behavior to me inserts his "cold" defense is a work. I think the guy knew he was going to be in for a lot of exercise and he is not in the greatest of shape, so he had an excuse to fall back on. This is so he can claim when he goes home as a failure that "Only if I didn't have that daggum cold, damn that baby!". It shows his mentality and lack of structure. Because, even if he did get a "cold", if he wanted it bad enough, he would not allow it to stand in his way.


THE MORNING AFTER TAZZ

Everybody is in pain. Tazz must be enjoying this! Pauline (6'3) has a knee injury and is afraid they'll make her leave because of it. It was sustained by coming down on a rock under the mud. Other member's have assorted injuries to their knee's and shoulder's. The show is over with this last scene.


AFTER THOUGHT'S ON THIS SHOW COMPARED TO THE LAST SHOW

The first casting episode was more structured and allowed for more of an in depth quote report. This was one really all over the place and it was very hard to get quotes. There was a ton of material and that was the problem. It wasn't really focused on one area, but was put together really well as a whole.

Snow, Tazz, and Jacquelyn all came off very good on TV. Tori came on a bit too strong and snobby for my tastes. But, I think overall those things will change over time. You can not judge one of them on doing one show. Tazz and Snow are going to be the stars of this show, as the trainee's already cringe at the sight of Tazz showing up. Al Snow seems to be more of a 'hands on type' trainer that is helping in a lot of valuable area's for these contestant's to make it.

The good thing about this second show was that it wasn't the typical usual reality-based "REAL WORLD" atmosphere where the contestant's start to "HOOK UP" and play "sex-capades". But, I am sure as things progress it is bound to happen, that one or two of the cast member's hook up and something like that happens. I could be wrong, but we will see.


THE CONTESTANT'S

Female: Bobby Jo, Nidia, Paulina, Taylor and Victoria.

Males: Chris Ni., Chris No., Darryl, Greg, Jason, Josh, Maven, and Shadrick.