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Sarah
is forbidden to ever again use the word "clown."
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Chair Shots
11-21-02
Because
Derek utterly messed up and forgot to arrange one, there is
no real substitute for Michael Goodson today. Luckily, however,
Sarah Stanek has had a busy week in e-mail exchanges over
some comments she made concerning Tough
Enough 3 last week. Therefore, we present reader mail
as a stand-in for Goodson, who promises to be back on Tuesday
with all his usual wit and vague resentment of Raw.
Here
we go...
Hi Sarah...
I typically
enjoy your reviews of the Tough Enough shows...
Just so
you know...lol... I'm the "clown" from the Secret
Circus. My business card reads "Directer of Aerial Arts"
not "clown" but maybe you have some hidden agenda
from a childhood trauma at the circus in the past... no idea.
I was
contacted by the producers about a month before that and worked
with them to set up the challange for that day.
I can
only tell you that this challange was designed to teach them
their air sense and crossover for aerial control in high spots.
Jumping from about 2 stories up got them to conquer some fear
as well as develop trust from those around them whose hands
controlled their life.
Most pros
that try flying trapeze are blown away at the physical demands
placed on the body during a work out. It teaches strength,
balance, agility, timing, coordination and as Big told them...
body awearness. That is why the chose it for training. It
will also be interesting to note that the ones that did well
(not just on camera but during the entire day) will be the
ones with the most advancement in the overall competition.
What you
didn't get to see is the hours of conditioning, warming up
on the low trapeze, tightwire (for balance)and other preparation
before actually going up to fly.
All in
all... a great day of fun and according to the cast... a killer
work out for them as well!
If you're
ever in the area... I would love to put you through the same
paces we did the cast.... if you're up for it.
Thanks
again for making me laugh...
take care
always,
Ray
Ray Pierce
Aerial Arts Director for The
Secret Circus
Sarah
replies:
I apologize
if I offended you by calling you a "clown"; my notes
aren’t always the best, and in a one-line summary of
the sequence I probably summarized a bit too much without
thinking. And no, I didn’t have any particular fear of
clowns before, but I sure have a fear of trapeze artists now.
(I may
have mentioned before that I’m nothing that remotely
resembles Tough Enough and I’m quite sure you would kick
my ass all over southern California and then I would throw
up. Seriously, I get motion-sick on swingsets and rocking
chairs. Vertigo.)
There’s
no question we didn’t see all of the training you provided,
but that part isn’t my fault. For that, talk with the
MTV editing staff. I didn’t in any way assume it was
some quick throwaway session, but it did not loom particularly
large in the context of the episode or the overall training.
My job is to sum up the episode as it’s presented to
the audience, not try to analyze the ways things really are.
Of course,
if this is going to be a recurring training exercise, then
I’d hope to see some more explanation from the trainers
(or you) about the real benefits and decisions that led to
the sessions. Not that I don’t think it would be beneficial
athletically and emotionally, but I’m not quite sure
I understand the reason it was included in the training program.
For that
reason (and because the episode spent too much time on Rey
Mysterio and Jamie’s drunken histrionics to devote meaningful
time to anything else) I didn’t say much else about the
segment. And I’m sorry if that offended as well.
Ray replies:
Hi Sarah!
I really
do enjoy your columns ... thanks again for all the work you
do.
The editing
of the show is no surprise to anyone ... it's a constant source
of amusement to anyone involved on reality programming. The
driver for most shows is "storyline" and the rest
is manipulated to achieve that goal.
I was
contacted by the producers about a month in advance and regardless
of the actual benefits from an athletic standpoint... I'm
sure the real reason they wanted to include it was because
it would shoot well and be different. They had no idea how
much they would get out of it until after the shoot.
The brevity
of the comment wasn't really a concern. I was amazed that
anyone even saw it! It was just that "clowns" rate
somewhere below mimes and jugglers on the entertainment food
chain and the term becomes synonymous with someone lacking
in any real skill or even passion. lol ... maybe if I wore
a mask or drank more...it would get more airtime!
...take
care!
Sarah
replies:
Can't
sleep. Clowns will eat me.
Derek
replies:
Wait
a minute... clowns are lower on the scale than MIMES?!? I
need to go lie down.
And
now I'm just waiting for some real clowns to write in all
ticked off at us. It's been an excellent week.
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