A Reality Check With ... Joy McElveen (CBS's "Pirate Master")

Born and raised in West Columbia, S.C., Jocelyn "Joy" McElveen has always been a tomboy even though she has also competed in beauty pageants. Her mother raised her alone while also serving in the South Carolina Army National Guard during the Gulf War. At 19, she made history in South Carolina for being the first African-American to win the Miss Sun Fun USA crown. Her hobbies include basketball, singing, board games and motivational speaking at high schools and elementary schools. She describes herself as driven, vibrant and energetic. Despite her athletic background, her weakness in challenges got her cut adrift & she's here to talk to RealityCheckByGina about her time on "Pirate Master".

RC: What was it about “Pirate Master” that interested you?
Joy: I looked at is as an opportunity to live out your childhood fantasy. Growing up, I loved to be a pirate & when this show came about, and it was going to be created by Mark Burnett, I was like, “Wow, this is going to be an adventure!” When they first came to me, I was hesitant but then I though, “Why not?” You get to set sail, go on vacation, live like a pirate, and of course, the money – everybody wants that!

RC: Did you have a lot of experience on the water before coming on the show?
Joy: No, before coming onto the show, we knew there would be a lot of swimming. I swim in a pool but I knew I’d have to become more comfortable in the water. I tried to become one with the water. I was proud of myself for it, I did good!

RC: Did you train in other ways in preparation for “Pirate Master”?
Joy: Yes, I played basketball and that was 4 years ago. I kind of wish that I stayed with it because training with basketball helps build up endurance. I traded my basketball shoes in for high heels to model. I needed to get back on the treadmill & run. Looking back, I was training but now I wish I went running in the heels or climbed stadiums!

RC: The pirates have said many times that you are an athlete. What is your athletic background?
Joy: Besides basketball, my mom’s in the military. While in high school I did, junior ROTC. You go do basic training & I did what my mom got to do. I ran obstacle courses & did rope bridges, repelled, climbed towers. I’ve always had fight, determination, and a little daredevil in me. I can take everything I’ve done & apply it to the show. I wasn’t afraid to do anything. I might not have been the best but I wasn’t afraid of it.

RC: You said that the blue coat changes people, referring to the captain & his officers. How did you see greed take over?
Joy: There must be something in that blue coat, a curse or something, because when you put it on, you become something … I don’t want to say evil but … you become greedy and your whole mindset changes. You forget where you come from. I hate that! It would bother me because it was like, just a few minutes ago, you were one of us. Maybe you’re captain but you have to make sure your crew is happy too.

RC: You got some pretty harsh comments from your fellow male pirates regarding your weaknesses. How do you respond to that?
Joy: I prepared myself but when I heard the comments, they were harsh. What bothered me the most was that everything was centered around me asking for water. Never once did I stop. Even though I asked for water, I didn’t get it. I thought, “If it doesn’t kill me, it can only make me stronger.” I don’t hold grudges, I don’t lose sleep over it. I’m glad it’s over!

RC: You were very well-liked on the ship, which is more than we can say for some pirates. That had to make you feel good.
Joy: You know, it really did. Everyone came on for a different purpose and got different things out of it. I can walk away & say I don’t have any enemies. I am Joy, that’s what my mom named me. I’m glad America got to see that last night, what Jupiter said about me, that I have a personality and that I’m a good person. That’s my pirate family and they’re stuck with me for life now!

RC: Did you feel you could go all the way and win this thing?
Joy: My first mindset was like, “Yeah I can do this! I can be the Pirate Master!” and then when I got there, I really started to think deep in myself that I wasn’t sure about it. My whole objective was to stay true to myself & to be Pirate Master, you have to be someone you’re not. You have to lie, you have to manipulate, and that’s not me. I wasn’t gonna give up & fight to the very end. That’s what I did. I was proud of myself the way I left the ship.

RC: What are your goals now that you’re off the ship? Will you continue to pursue modeling?
Joy: It’s funny that you asked. I had a career before & I was doing well. This can only help me. I will be moving to L.A. this month with some doors opening up. As they say, when one doors closes, another one opens. I truly believe that

Pirate Master airs Thursdays on CBS!

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Pirate Master: It's A Man's World (7/5/07)

Louie & Joy vow to win Nessa back the $9,000 she unnecessarily spent on the last episode, trying to get a royal pardon. What they don’t know is that a good chunk of that was loaned to her by Joe Don, so she is not as broke as she says. The women worry that then men have too much power and look to make a change in power. At least some things never change, and Captain Azmyth’s fake accent is one of them. Good to know we have some constants aboard the ship.

When it’s time for their next treasure hunt, the women are looking to take it all. Captain Azmyth, Jay, and Ben will be on the black crew along with Laurel, Christa, and Joy. Facing them, on the red crew, is Louie, Joe Don, Nessa, Kendra, and Jupiter. The pirates must swim to shore from their ship and locate a hidden letter which gives them their next set of clues. The crews are neck & neck but the black crew makes a slight advance.

The pirates must carry ladders up a steep path to their next clue. Joy slows her crew down by failing to stay at the front of the group to read the map and give direction. Despite Joy, the black crew maintains their lead as they press on. The crews will continue into the jungle until they find masts in a tree. They’ll use their ladders to climb the tree & retrieve a key which is tied up.

At the tree, the crews catch up but Louie’s inability to find the key costs the red crew precious time. The crews run to a footbridge containing clues leading them to the treasure and the black crew maintains the power and their fortune. The red crew is miserable while the red crew enjoys a $40,000 treasure. Azmyth’s crew is unhappy that he & his officers take a bigger cut of the treasure, leaving their fellow crewmates with less money.

When it’s time to hand out black spots, Joy, Kendra, and Joe Don are up for elimination. The men are gunning to get rid of Joy, and try to strong arm the women to vote their way. At pirates court, Azmyth lists the reasons why the three have been given black spots: Kendra & Joy are nominated for their weakness in physical challenges while Joe Don has been put up for being a dangerous & strong competitor.

It’s time to count the votes but before we find out the results, we get to see who won the royal pardon. Joe Don blows the other bids away by throwing down $12,000 to stay aboard the ship. However, he didn’t need it as he didn’t receive a single ballot & by a vote of 3-2, Joy is the one cut adrift.

Stay tuned as I'll be talking to Joy about her time on "Pirate Master"!

Pirate Master airs Thursdays on CBS

Get your Pirate Master links, matey, on sirlinksalot.net

Big Brother 8: New Season, New Twists (7/5/07)

It’s time for a new season of Big Brother and we’ve got a new crop of 14 houseguests. There’s a new twist and some houseguests will find themselves with unwelcome roommates – an estranged father & daughter, bitter ex-boyfriends, and former high school best friends. The drama meter just hit 10! First, let’s meet the new houseguests:

• Amber, 27, Cocktail Waitress
• Carol, 21, Student
• Daniele, 20, Waitress
• Dick, 44, Bar Manager
• Dustin, 22, Shoe Salesman
• Eric, 27, Talent Management Assistant
• Jameka, 28, School Counselor
• Jen, 23, Nanny
• Jessica, 21, College Student
• Joe, 23, Receptionist
• Kail, 37, Business Owner
• Mike, 26, Painting Contractor
• Nick, 25, Former Pro Football Player
• Zach, 30, Graphic Designer
  

The new houseguests settle in to get to know one another and just as they do, they learn that there are actually two separate groups (a group of 11 & a group of 3) in the house & they'll meet up soon. First, the group of 11 will compete in the first Head of Household competition. They head to the backyard, choose partners, and go stand in front of one of the giant mushrooms set up. Houseguests seated on the mushrooms will be asked true & false questions about their partner. Each false answer causes the mushroom to spin faster. Whoever can stay on their mushroom the longest, wins.

Amber cannot seem to get one answer right and her partner Carol goes down first. Zach & Jen are eliminated next followed by Daniele & Mike. Eric tries to throw the competition but he inevitably keeps getting answers correct, leaving him & Kail in the final two against Joe & Jameka. Despite Eric's efforts to sabotage his duo, he & Kail end up winning but only one can be Head of Household. The group of 3 who have been watching the group of 11's every move will decide who becomes HOH. They choose Kail, much to Eric's relief.

It's time to meet the group of 3 who have been waiting to join the remaining housemates. The first to join the group is Carol's high school rival, Jessica. The next is Daniele's estranged father, Dick. Finally, Joe's ex-boyfriend Dustin joins the housemates. There's one more twist before tonight's episode comes to an end. For the first time, one of the housemates is "America's Player" and throughout the game, play the way the viewers want him to. Eric has been chosen as that player and the houseguests have no idea! Viewers can give directions to Eric at cbs.com so start dictating.

The next episode of Big Brother airs Sunday night at 8pm EST

Get your Big Brother links at sirlinksalot.net

A Reality Check With ... Lynn Borges (NBC's "Age of Love")

Lynn Borges grew up in Hawaii, but has yet to catch a wave into the right man's heart. When it comes to dating, Lynn takes things much slower the older she gets. She often dates men who are ten years younger than her, though her last relationship only lasted for three months. Pickup lines are a major turnoff, which is no surprise coming from a gal who is a bit of a homemaker who loves to cook and bake. Lynn was surprisingly eliminated on Monday night's episode of "Age of Love". She's here to talk to RealityCheckByGina & dishes on why she's glad she got out when she did!

RC: Can you reminder the readers how old you are?

Lynn: I’m 40.

RC: What made you want to participate in “Age of Love”?

Lynn: It came at the right time. I happened to be on Craig’s List & came across an ad that said, “Are you in your 40s & haven’t found Mr. Right yet?” I thought, “Yeah, that’s me.” I did the audition tape & I never thought I would get as far as I did!

RC: What was your first impression of Mark when you first met him?
Lynn: He’s very quiet! I think everyone would agree with that. I’m quiet too so it was really hard trying to get to know him. He’s very attractive though, very sweet, polite.

RC: How did you adjust to the twists in the game such as you’d be competing against a group of 20-year-olds?

Lynn: That one was a little tough because, actually, before I even left for Nashville, I asked if there were going to be 20 year olds because I said I didn’t want to do it if that was the case. When they were thrown in, I was definitely shocked. Then I thought, “It is what it is. I’ll keep going being myself.” If Mark is going to be attracted to a 20-year-old, there’s nothing I could have done.

RC: Are you glad you got out before both groups of women moved in together?
Lynn: Yes, I felt like I had some guardian angels on that one. I was definitely relieved that I got eliminated when I did. It was a situation I never wanted to be in. I wanted to make sure I stayed true to myself, staying mature.

RC: What has the reaction been by your friends & family since being on the show?
Lynn: My mom loved it & had all her friends watch. She said, “You look so good, I’m so proud of you,” so that was a really good feeling. I was really cautious about how some of the things I might’ve said. I always wanted to make sure that my family & friends would be proud of.

RC: Were you bothered that Maria said she was going to walk and then decided to stay once she got to the elimination?
Lynn: Well, I was shocked because Maria & I were in separate bedrooms so I had no idea she was even planning that. I didn’t even know ‘til I watched the show last night. I was like, “What?! I had no idea she was planning on walking.” I couldn’t even hear at the elimination when they were talking by the pool. I was wondering why she was down there so long. I had no idea.

RC: Did you understand why you were eliminated?

Lynn: As far as understanding, it’s because we probably didn’t have a connection. We never had time to talk to each other. I think he was finding that the other girls were more fun & upbeat, crazy & wild.

RC: Do the 40s offer something the 20s can’t?

Lynn: Absolutely! From watching the episodes too, Mark has more interaction with the 40-year-olds. They can keep his attention a little more. I hope Mark does choose one of the 40 year olds.

RC: Have you ever dated a younger man? What worked about it & what didn’t?
Lynn: My last boyfriend was 29. Well, what didn’t work was the timing. He was going through a divorce & he needed space. What worked was that we met through my best friend who is his sister. We had this common bond, already knew each other, and it was very comfortable.

RC: Do you have a favorite memory or friendship from your time on “Age of Love”?
Lynn: All the girls in the 40s group really did bond & we had a great time. My favorite experience was repelling down the side of the building. That’s something I never would’ve dreamed of doing! Out of all the girls, I probably got closest to Angela so when she left, I was feeling sad. I was worried about being the outsider.

RC: What’s the secret to looking so good at 40?
Lynn: I think a positive attitude. That came through all my experiences in my 20s & 30s. You go through a bad experience or traumatic experience, you grow from it & it makes you stronger. You put things in perspective & you let little things go. I used to stress over everything in my 20s. Everything was huge & dramatic! Now, in my 40s, I say, “Is it really worth it?” You choose your battles. As far as maintaining looks, it’s just health. Exercise, eating right – taking care of yourself, stuff that everyone knows about. I’m really trying to take care of myself.

RC: Did the show change your perspective on dating?
Lynn: The show was a really positive thing for me. I came back thinking, “Wow, there is so much to do.” I’m a lot more active. I spend more time with my friends, taking ballroom dancing lessons, going to church more regularly, a lot of great things. I haven’t dated since I got back from the show. I don’t need to be dating. I’m really happy with how things are & if it’s gonna happen, it’s gonna happen.

Age of Love airs Mondays on NBC at 9pm EST

Get your Age of Love links at sirlinksalot.net

Age Of Love: The Surprises Keep On Comin'! (7/2/07)

On the 40th floor, the women still can't believe they're competing against women half their age for Mark’s heart. Meanwhile, the 20-year-olds try to figure out what Mark would want with women older than their mothers. Speaking of Mark, he needs to decide who he’s going to spend more time with and he chooses Kelli & Amanda. He’ll be having lunch with both. What Kelli & Amanda don’t know is that they’ll both be joining him on the date and what Mark doesn’t know is that they’ll be sitting at two different tables across the restaurant. Nothing like awkward surprises to set the mood…

Mark has an hour with each of the women & he can choose to spend that time as he wants. When the hour is up, he must have dessert with the woman whose table he is sitting at. Kelli takes control, making sure that Mark ends the date at her table. Mark, however, was trying to get back with Amanda. When he walks her out of the restaurant, he shares a first kiss with her and it seems that, perhaps, the Kittens will prevail.

Back at the hotel, the remaining women receive a text message to meet host Mark Consuelos at the pool. They learn that they’ll get the opportunity to create the perfect date … for each other. The 20-year-olds will decide where the 40-year-olds will go with Mark & vice versa. Both groups take the opportunity to have a little fun with the other. The Cougars first send the Kittens to play with 20 children at a birthday party. Standing out in the crowd is Adelaide, who seems generally comfortable & happy around the children. At the other end of the spectrum is Mary, who makes such a little impression that he walks away in mid-conversation. Oof. Mark takes Adelaide home in the limo & she also gets a kiss with him.

The Kittens get their revenge sending the Cougars to a water aerobics class … for the elderly. They take the whole thing in stride & have fun with it. Mark focuses more on their bodies than on the aerobics class. On the way home, he chooses Maria to come in the limo & up to his room to get to know her a little better. The connection wasn’t there, and Maria started to worry she was wasting her time. Before the elimination, she told the other women she was thinking of walking.

The women arrive at the elimination, all nervous about what Mark is looking for & who he will send home. Of the 20-year-olds, Tessa, Amanda, Mary, and Megan are asked to stay. Surprisingly, Mark sends Adelaide home, saying he didn’t feel anything when he kissed her. When it’s time to eliminate one of the women in their 40s, Maria goes back on her word & decides to stay after Mark puts himself out there for her. This doesn’t sit well with other women, as it means now one of them has to go. Jen, Jayanna, and Kelli are asked to stay and Mark pulls another surprise, asking Lynn to leave.

Before the women can head up to their rooms, Mark Consuelos has just one more twist: the women will now all be living together. This show just keeps getting better! I’ll be talking to Lynn & Adelaide tomorrow, so check back to hear what they have to say.

Age of Love airs Mondays at NBC at 9pm EST
Get your Age of Love links at sirlinksalot.net

A Reality Check With ... Sean Twomey (CBS's "Pirate Master")

Sean Twomey is originally from Pensacola, FL, but moved around a lot because his father was a captain in the United States Navy. In high school, he participated in varsity football, wrestling, backyard boxing, and theater. His mother died suddenly when he was 20 years old, which still impacts him today. He once lived in New York, pursuing acting, and appeared in many off- Broadway shows. He is currently a bartender. On last week's Pirate Master, Sean was voted out for going back on his word to the pirates. He sits down with RealityCheckByGina to give the REAL reason he thinks he was cut adrift.

RC: What drew you to the show Pirate Master?

Sean: It’s a good question but a long story I’ll try to make short. I applied for it on a whim. My father gave me an old edition of “Treasure Island” & I try to read it once a year. It’s one of my favorite books. I came home one night after drinking too much rum & saw the application online & between my hiccups, decided I’d give it a shot. It was very whimsical, I had no idea it would go as far as it did.

RC: Did you prepare for the physical aspect of the show (the work, the challenges, etc)?
Sean: I did nothing BUT prepare. I’m naturally athletic in my everyday life. I’m a jogger, surfer, swimmer, and a few other things. I put myself through a really grueling exercise routine. I didn’t have a 9-5 job so I had the luxury of training, studying maps & pirate lore, etc.

RC: Which captain did you think did the best job while you were aboard the ship?

Sean: Well, you know, I think Joe Don gets a lot of flack that’s undeserved. In his defense, he was the first captain. None of us knew the rules or what you could or couldn’t do. It was explained to us as we went along. He was a little arrogant and drunk a lot of times. I wouldn’t say he’s my favorite captain … I’d say Louie was. He’s just one of my favorite pirates – an amazing man, hard worker, always jovial. Azmyth was just a flake!

RC: I notice Azmyth didn’t use the accent so much the 2nd time around as captain.
Sean: I, myself, being trained as an actor being trained in dialects … look, if you’re going to do an accent, do it right! It was a terrible accent. I didn’t know why he was doing it.

RC: Of all the pirates, who did you really connect & form friendships with?

Sean: While on the ship, obviously, people are going to feign relationships. I had no plan to make real friends because this was a game. Ironically, after I got off the ship, that’s when some friendships did blossom. That’s when you can look at people and say, “We had this experience & now we’re not competing … who are you?” That has spawned a few good relationships. Probably my favorite friend has been Ben. He’s just a great guy. Honestly, I’m friends with all of them … except Jay. He’s just a dirtbag in real life. I have no interest in seeing that guy again. Everyone else – they’re really good people.

RC: Is Jay running the show?

Sean: As much as I hate to admit it, I think you’re right on the dot with that one. Jay’s a total pr---, pardon my French. He’s playing 10 different sides, 10 different ways. Nothing that comes out of his mouth is true. I came there to compete & I guess my main downfall was honesty. Jay’s got a lot of dirty little fingers in a lot of dirty little pots.

RC: What was your issue with Nessa? What didn’t her flirtations work on you?
Sean: I told myself, “You’re going in, it’s a competition. Don’t get sidetracked by immense lies or by a female’s ability to flirt.” I knew there would be the staple flirt. It is a great attribute to have because a lot of men fall subject to that. To be honest, I didn’t find any of the women attractive. Not to toot my own horn, but I can get women off the boat. I do okay in my every day life so I wasn’t gonna fall victim.

RC: Were you surprised Nessa wasn’t given a black spot?

Sean: Actually, I was. I remember, that day, she paid out of her ass to get that pardon because she thought she was going. I think it boiled down to Jay who had a bad taste in his mouth with me. Also, Jay was trying to get rid of the strongest players – Christian, I mean, the guy was an NFL running back.

RC: Do you think Azmyth, Jay, & Ben used the fact that you switched votes as an excuse to get rid of a really strong player & competitor?

Sean: Oh completely! Honestly, I didn’t catch this episode yet but I remember it. I know why I left. These challenges require physical traits you need to succeed. You kind of want the strongest people to be on your team but if you get there first, you have more time to think. To get there first, you need to be the strongest & fastest. I didn’t see any reason to get rid of Cheryl & I burned some bridges with Nessa & Jay. They used that against me. The stronger people go first, that’s just how it is.

RC: What are your future plans?

Sean: I’m more of a theater actor which is my one true love. I did a lot of theater in New York. I know reality people think it’s a jump off point as an acting career when, in reality, it kills your acting career. A lot of my friends are successful actors & I was at one point in New York. I knew doing a reality show could only hurt my career. I’ll always be known as that pirate guy. I’m going back to school for my business degree & getting into a different line of work & grow up a bit.

Pirate Master airs Thursday nights on CBS at 8pm EST

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