Hello Vols,

If I haven't made myself clear, I think that all aspects of this show stink (not just the stunts).

I also don't see the relevance of your "most of us" watch comment as well as the comments about 2, 3, 4 seasons.

Currently, I'm watching ANTM3, The Apprentice, (starting today) The Amazing Race, and Survivor (although I really wish I weren't).

Dramas are good but Thrillers are better. I can appreciate soap opera drama as long as it isn't "staged" and for that matter anything that appears to be staged gets a thumbs down for me.

The real downside of this show is that it is on FOX and it is produced by those fakers Bunim and Murray. That is two big strikes against this show, but I like Richard Branson. He seems way too cool of a guy for this reality genre, but as a marketing strategdy for the "Virgin" Brand it should prove to be a successful marketing gimmick.

I found it interesting that Branson eleminated people so soon. I din't mind seeing the smart ##### in the taxi leaving,but The lawyer guy seemed to be genuine and I thought he would make a good finalist. Branson is a entertaining bloke with huge ones to do his own stunts. I give that woman who sells tights a lot of credit for going to the top of the ballon when she's already scarred of heights.

I was reminded of The Benefactor when Richard immediately made eliminations based on his first impressions of the contestants. It was a cool show though. The Benefactor, The Apprentice, and Fear Factor rolled into one. Kudos to Sara for making it to the top of the balloon when she's terrified of heights. I would never be able to do that. I'd probably puke and then pass out.

Rebel Billionaire first episode was an eye-opener. I can't wait when they go to outer-space and experience zero-gravity. Honestly, I would get chills doing those challenges, but I wouldn't back out. If someone handed me an opportunity to do those stunts for free, I would gladly accept it. They travel world wide, they do far-out stunts, they get rewarded and in the very end, the winner becomes the President and wins a million and probably even more.

The show combine the task of Apprentice, adventure traveling of Amazing Race, extreme stunts of Fear Factor, and a bit of the alliance strategy and social dynamics of Survivor.

Rebel Billionaire Bronson needs to get a hair-cut. He also needs to edit his show better. I can barely hear some of the conversation. The show somehow doesn't have as much human interaction compared to other RS program. He also doesn't explain why he fired his first 3rd contestant. I think he kept the lady, because he got kiss by her.

For a few minutes there, I was upset that it was benefactoresque, then it got really interesting, and shocking.

I loved the balloon stunt, I don't know if I could have done that...but imagine having that as a story to tell your friends and family...."I drank tea with a billionaire at 5,000 feet in the air, on top of his hot air balloon".. WOW !!!

I just hope it's not going to be all air-related stunts, cause that would be lame.
That going over the waterfall...I think I would loose my cookies just at the thought of gettting inside that.
It's one thing to think about doing it, it's another to be standing near a waterfall being asked to be dropped a couple hundred feet into the water..
Branson is definitely unique.

Some quirky business projects would be good.

Okay I liked the show but felt it was more a Discovery Channel challenge show than a "reality" show. The production values are dicey but the concepts of challenging oneself and pushing limits is a great idea but its not the Apprentice and not a job interview. But then is the Apprentice really a "job interview"?

More and more businesses are seeking entrepenuers and often in line with that is the idea that risk takers - aka thrill seekers are ones who push limits further. Popular on the business speaking circuit are those who climb Everest and participate in extreme sports. There is something that appeals to the idea that those who take risks are out of the box thinkers and can be both individauls while still functioning in teams as needed.

I like the show, I like Branson preferably as a leader/manager and think that the idea of the show is good just placed into a genre that isn't applicable.

Olympic...

Don't get too excited to see the contestants in outer space any time soon. Yes Mr. Branson has invested in Spaceship One, and yes Virgin Atlantic will be offering trips to space for $100,000 to $200,000, but these people are not going to space for free. The scenes of "zero gravity” are filmed right here in the Earth's atmosphere. They take a stripped out airliner and do power dives with it. The people inside experience zero gravity for a while, then the plane pulls up and they do it all over again. (It’s like skydiving in a pressurized airplane)

Outer space no, still very fun, yes.

TenPin

"It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intellegent, but the most responsive to change."
Charles Darwin

Missed the first hour, and thought the second was terrible. Bad editing... we didn't get to see ANY of the initial Erika vs all the other girls fight... confessionals in front of a blue screen??!
Branson's hosting abilities are like a terrible combination of Amhad Rashad and William Shatner. No charisma. "A little twist, the men's leader, will have to, lead, the women's team, and the womem's, leader, will have to, lead, the, men's team." "Will have to?" Nobody HAS to do anything, you ass. And I'm pretty sure I heard him say "so if you could go into a huddle" TWO times. WTF!

Challenge(s)... I didn't see it how they did it with the balloons, but what was the point of that airplane thing? Fail and you both go home, succeed and I decide who goes? Why have a challenge at all? And the "what should I offer my airline passengers" one, that was just dumb. I wonder how much thought went into that one.

This show sucks.

I agree about the hokiness of the blue screen diary sessions.

Does anyone have any idea why all the contestants are American when he is in Britain? Or am I mistaken?

Well, I don't think the show sucks because the hot air balloon challenge was much better than the airplane challenge IMHO! I agree with you though about how the airplane challenge panned out...lose and you both go home but do it and I will determine who goes home.

Also, the Erika against everyone else thing came about during the traveling challenge. I think each team had one camera crew following them. The guy that was the manager of the women went with one of the girls while the others went their own way. The camera went with the manager and the other lady. I think that is why we didn't see the actual argument.

Branson's hosting abilities are far better than the Donald! At least Branson has an interesting personality that you want to get to know better and Branson is out there doing these things with the contestants!

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