Edison Farrow editorial for SoBeSocialClub.com

Miami's reality TV overload

One afternoon while walking down Lincoln Road carrying my dog (Sambuca, a 12 year old shih-tzu), I spotted the Brooke Knows Best crew filming at Van Dyke Cafe. I watched for a moment and then I heard "what a beautiful dog!" As I turned around and smiled, I saw that the person admiring my pooch was Tabitha Coffey from Tabitha's Salon Takeover. It was a reality TV overload moment!

I knew that something was up. I figured that the Brit was coming from Browns and Co., so I walked into the store pretending to browse and I saw crew members with headsets on. Confirmed - Browns was being taken over!

Last week, SAVE Dade asked me to be a judge for the "Khloe Kardashian Drag Queen Look-a-Like Contest". It was an event for SAVE Dade to be filmed for E!'s Kourtney and Khloe Take Miami. The festivities included DJ Tracy Young, Elaine Lancaster as host, special guest Khloe Kardashian and a bevy of drag queens competing for the $1,000 prize. The judges were Khloe's sister and co-star, Kourtney Kardashian, CBS4 News' Chief Meteorologist David Bernard, Rachel Robinson from MTV's Road Rules and lil ole me. In attendance were Dan Renzi from The Real World: Miami and JD Ordonez from The Real World: Brooklyn.

During her hosting gig, Miss Elaine Lancaster announced that she would be a member of the cast of The Real Housewives of Miami. Fellow cast members are said to include (party promoter and Madonna BFF) Ingrid Casares, Lisa Pliner (wife of shoe designer Donald Pliner), Lea Black (philanthropist and wife of celebrity attorney Roy Black). Miami tends to break all of the rules. So, it seems fitting that for the Miami version of Real Housewives it is not necessary to be either "real" or a "housewife" to be a cast member.

I find a lack of reality in all of these reality shows. They all seem scripted and unrealistic. As a former actor, I can see how these shows have put so many actors, writers and directors out of work. They have also created so many "famous for nothing" celebrities. These people are just famous being on a reality TV show, but have no real talent.

As if Miami was not overexposed enough already, this slew of new reality TV shows is about to add to the overexposure. I guess that all of this national exposure will just bring us more press and tourism. The expression "any publicity is good publicity" had never seemed more true. Years ago, a celebrity's career would escalate from a hit song, a great film role, a Broadway performance. These days, a career boost comes from a divorce, a prison sentence or a mental breakdown.

Miami's reality TV started with the pioneer of reality shows when MTV's The Real World: Miami filmed its fifth season here in 1996. Since, we have had Top Chef: Miami, Hogan Knows Best, Miami Ink, Brooke Knows Best. But now, get ready for Brooke Knows Best which just entered into season 2, Miami Social, which premiers next month, the Kardashian's show and now our own, The Real Housewives of Miami. The cast of LOGO's Gimme Sugar recently made a road trip to Miami. The girls made the rounds and even threw an event at Hotel Victor during Gay Pride Miami Beach. That episode is scheduled to air this week. I heard an inside tip that one of my favorite South Florida drag queens will be on RuPaul's Drag Race season 2. Plus, Tabitha's shooting on Lincoln Road and there are rumors of a reality TV show following Tracy Young and her move to Los Angeles!

I once moved from Miami to Los Angeles (but without the cameras). Didn't the powers that be think that packing my books, socks and underwear into boxes would inspire tremendous ratings? Guess not.

I was called in to "audition" for Miami Social. I heard that they were in search of gay cast members. They put me on tape and asked me questions that were supposed to instigate drama. I guess that I was not the drama queen that they were looking for. Oh well, my mother will sleep better this way.