In the "old days" most of these routine specials were just that- routine. Full of fresh faced, eager kids (ranging in ages 18-24) we saw them laugh, pour their hearts out and most of all cry. These vulnerable, but not too vulnerable, ladies and gents had to have that special something that set them apart from the thousands upon thousands of applicants that try out each year. Most of the time, accompanying the rainbowed array of the best and the brightest are a few rejects, thrown in for a good laugh or two.

This year however, something changed. For starters, they did all the narrowing down off camera. The casting directors then took the final twenty-seven applicants and isolated them (at some posh digs I might add) for a week in order to get to know them better. At the end of the week the thirteen finalists were made and the casts were chosen.

As soon as I saw that potential cast members were meeting prior to their respective seasons I had an instant distaste for this year's casting special. Anyone who in the past has watched the show would surely agree that one of the juiciest parts of any new season is watching the groups react to one another. This year that reaction is gone. Sure, there is the added catch that the thirteen chosen ones don't know which show they are chosen for, but big deal. They still know everyone involved.

As if that wasn't bad enough it gets worse. To "spice" things up a bit the casting directors have thrown a monkey wrench into each show's concept. For both shows if someone doesn't pull their weight they are thrown off (Umm - Survivor anyone?). So, in the case of Road Rules someone can be thrown off if they aren't helpful in missions while in Real World they can be shown the door if they get fired from their job. Obviously the creators haven't heard the old adage if it ain't broke, don't fix it.

All twenty-seven people are about as "real" as any other perspective cast members to grace the finals. For starters, there isn't an unattractive or overweight one among them. And as usual, most who make the cut seem eerily enough like they were born to be famous in some way. Think about it. About seventy-five percent of the finalists, much less the final participants have Made-for-TV names. We've had an Elka, a Genesis, Flora, Puck, Ruthie. I could go on forever.

Appearances wise, the majority of them fall into one of two categories, or even a little of both. All finalists are either beautiful or unique or simply-beautifully unique. Whether it is being the product of interracial parents or just of a different ethnic descent, the representation of cultures is usually about as broad as if you were walking thru Greenwich Village. The unique factor also carries over into the personality quotient. All those who make the cut, and that is ALL, have something different about them that got them there. Whether it is struggling with alcoholism, being homosexual or recovering from a major illness- these handicaps so to speak are the underlying trump card to the big time.

This particular casting special seemed to highlight the folks who were going to make it pretty much from the get go. In fact, there are some people out of the potentials who I don't even recall seeing. There is of course, every year during final casting when there are one or two names where I'm thinking, "Who the hell is (insert name here)?!" I don't ever remember even seeing them! (This year that honor belonged to Adam) I have since decided that this too is a unique torture device the casting directors have cooked up to make you think you missed out on that person, when in actuality they were really cast as that boring quotient filler to begin with.

Just like with the program itself you don't really get to know the people well enough to really know what they are about. Instead, Bunim and Murray Productions provide sound bites of individuals that instantaneously feed into the usual stereotypes. The jock, the bitch, the virgin - they're all there. It's just like The Breakfast Club.

I'm proud to say I successfully singled out eleven of the final thirteen chosen without any help. I won't tell you who got chosen for which shows though because I don't want to ruin the surprise for those who are playing along at home.

So, while the casting special might have been a little out of the norm, it looks like the seasons that lie ahead are likely to be more of the same.

Janet Branagan is a freelance writer and pop culture addict from New Jersey.

Got a problem? Email Michael at onthebox@go.com