MONDO EXTRAS

Bryant "How Come?" Gumbel then wants to know what's up with Lex Loser's fascination with tattoos. Lex Loser responds that "much to the chagrin" of his parents, he started wanting body art at the age of five. He says he waited a while before getting his first tattoo, but it's since become an addiction.. A shot of the audience reveals that Lex Loser's wife's arm is covered with creepy happy-faced red and orange stars. Lex Loser says his children can get tattoos when they turn eighteen, and it looks like his child snaps to attention and says, "I can?!" to his mother. Bryant is surprised that Lex Loser has set an age limit, and Lex Loser says it's the law. Besides, if he had gotten tattoos before he was eighteen, he thinks he'd have an "Iron Maiden rocker" on his chest and "a bunch of stuff I probably don't want!" He then jokes that if he'd gotten a tattoo when he'd first developed an interest, he'd have a giant Captain Kangaroo in the middle of his chest. That alone, however, might have gotten him selected for the show.

Bryant says next we'll talk about "images and perceptions and how often both can be at odds with reality." Isn't that what the last section was about? But first, "Big Tom gets his big break!" Bryant announces "an encore performance" for those who missed Tom's clogging debut in Africa. The S16 try to moan and groan over it, but it's clear they love it when he starts up. He's dancing and singing another "Old Big Tom" song, and maybe this schtick will play itself out at some point, but I'm still amused. Plus, it reminds of me of O Brother, Where Art Thou?, and that reminds me of George Clooney.

The next segment opens with Clarence's audition-tape tighty whities, and Bryant "I'm Insolent" Gumbel wants Clarence to stand up because thinks Clarence has the best abs of any of the cast members to date. Clarence practically leaps from his seat at the chance to strip down for the cameras again. Lindsey, meanwhile, is anxiously pointing out Kimp, and Bryant says, "Oh yeah, Kim's got better abs?" Bryant wants her to "show 'em off, baby!" but she takes a pass. It's not like we haven't seen them before. Or won't see them again.