That's Amore!

This is it: I am officially old. You always kind of dread the moment that something happens in culture that you just simply do not get and you have to face the facts that you're old and out of touch. And what makes me feel old and out of touch is: I don't understand what I've been calling the aggressively-matte muddy fake tan that is the hallmark of the reality show "hot" girl lately.

Case in point: That's Amore!'s Kim. Our BuddyTV editor John Kubicek has pointed out how loathsome of a person Kim would appear to be, but honestly, I can't even listen to or pay attention to her actions or speech when she's on screen. All I can do is mindlessly flex my fist around an imaginary brillo pad that I want to use to SCRUB THAT FAKE TAN THAT LOOKS LIKE DIRT OFF HER FACE. Like I'm some kind of meddling grandma. Stand up straight! Get your hair out of your eyes, young ladies!

So wring your hands all you want, culture critics, about how awful reality shows are, but to me, they never crossed the line as much as they did the day That's Amore! made me feel old.

Other than that though, this show? Eh.

With Domenico Nesci as its hyperactive yet oddly lovable star, yet another house filled with women willing to do anything for him or at least some screen time, and the patented MTV/VH1 wink-wink-nudge-nudge slightly comedic approach to the dating show, you would think That's Amore! would be annoying at worse and silly fun at best, but the first episode instead struck kind of an odd note.

There was something mildly awkward and even a little sad about the first episode to me. And a different kind of awkward and sad than the usual awkward and sad of seeing a group of women willing to wander around a McMansion in two-piece swimsuits and get into catfights about bikini lines.

Domenico is just as weirdly charming as ever, but he seemed slightly uncomfortable at helming the entire show, and some of his "wackiness" felt a little forced. And after hearing his story about being engaged and being cheated on, I once again wondered how this show will work with a goofy, vulnerable lead. When Bob Guiney became The Bachelor, and eventually succumbed to the excitement of having so many women all up in his business, the backlash against "Bob the Slob" from the fans who grew to love him as the lovable underdog was intense. Will Domenico's appeal withstand the inevitable "player" role the lead on a dating show has to take?

As for the girls, Kim is the obvious villain, Megan and Kathleen the sweet ones. Rebecca and Love were a little oddly emotional for a first episode. Everyone else who wasn't eliminated seems under the radar thus far.

But there was, actually, one women I saw while watching That's Amore! who I was completely charmed by, although it was only during the commercial breaks. MTV is running a series of commercials in which Janet Jackson acts out various reality television scenes, and I must say they are unexpectedly hilarious and she does an excellent job. I don't know what it says about That's Amore! that the commercials left a better impression, but I still think that Domenico has the potential to make an entertaining season.  We'll see how things go next week.

- Leslie Seaton, BuddyTV Staff Columnist
(Image courtesy of MTV)