Reality Rants’ 25 Most Fascinating, Flabbergasting, and Frightening People of 2005 – #1 - #5

Here we are folks. The top of the list. There are five people left for us to countdown as Reality Rants’ 25 Most Fascinating, Flabbergasting, and Frightening People of 2005. Let’s take a look at the list as it stands now:

#6 – Elsie, Hell’s Kitchen
#7 – Jim, The Apprentice: Martha Stewart
#8 – John O’Hurley, Dancing with the Stars
#9 – Bo Bice, American Idol 4
#10 – Janice Dickinson, The Surreal Life
#11 – J.D. Fortune, Rock Star: INXS

Let the final five commence now!

#5 – Latricia – I Want to Be a Hilton (Phil Kural)

Where do I even begin? Our queen. Our beloved, sarcastic, eye-rolling queen. Latricia was a piece of work. A piece of work that I wanted to take a picture of, frame, and have stare down on me as I take a bubble bath each night. Well, not exactly to that extent, but C. Brian and I made it quite clear that we worshipped the ground that she walked on. Latricia was from the wrong side of the tracks and wanted nothing more than to bask in Kathy Hilton’s glow with her son and have a better life. Alas, she didn’t win I Want to Be a Hilton, but she did last for a pretty long time, and even got to see the ouster of her arch-nemesis, Yvette. Ugh, just the though of Yvette brings vomit to my mouth.

It’s a no-brainer that Latricia made I Want to Be a Hilton. I had no other reason to watch. She made me laugh just by raising an eyebrow or rolling her eyes. The best thing about Latricia was that she was there to compete. She truly wasn’t there to make friends, and she made that well known. Of course, she was as sweet as apple pie, but Latricia never wavered when it came to challenges, to which she always gave everything she had. Latricia was not the type of girl who was just going to give up. That was clear because she was almost eliminated five times and not once did she ever just throw in the towel and say, “Miss Kathy, send me home.” Nope – not our Latricia. She fought tooth and nail to stay in the competition and never once complained that she was being targeted.

I’ll never forget in the second episode, when Kathy took the gang up to the Hamptons and Latricia wondered if the Hamptons were really friends with the Hiltons. Classic Latricia, ladies and gentlemen. Then there was the time that Latricia had to work with Teeka, or as she referred to her, “the damn retarded dog,” and took it personally when she wouldn’t eat the treats that Latricia offered her, saying, “Why she so scared? I’m not going to eat you!” That would only come out of the wonder mouth of our Latricia. Where is she now? Oh, I have no clue, however, I’m sure she’s back at the DMV, making people wait longer than they should in line, all while doing it with a silly grin on her face that only myself or C. Brian could appreciate. Here’s to Latricia, number five on our hot list.

#4 – Kaysar, Big Brother 6 (Sandy McFarland)

Who received millions of vote to get him returned to the Big Brother house? It wasn’t the NYC firefighter that I expect CBS would have preferred us to love. It was Iraqi-born, Islam-practicing, King of the Sovereigns, enemy of the “Friendship,” Kaysar Ridha. Out of the fourteen houseguests, Kaysar almost immediately captured the hearts of the live feeders. Many of us were seeing one thing while CBS shared a different story. In my livefeeder’s eye, Kaysar was the good guy, while firefighter Eric, a two-faced, egotistical bully and buffoon, received the admiration. Slowly CBS turned things around and realized the error of their ways. The Friendship and their hero-worshipping of Eric were bad, and Kaysar and his Sovereign pals were good.

In the end, Kaysar may have not won the money, but he certainly won respect, love, and acceptance, along with a spot in America’s heart. In the beginning, Kaysar, Michael, and Eric set up a deal to stick together. Eric broke the deal first. Repeatedly we heard how Kaysar hadn’t kept his word. No one seemed to get that Kaysar’s first alliance was with his friend and partner in this game, Michael. When Michael left the Big Brother house, Kaysar remained firm in his resolve to avenge his friend’s demise. Kaysar decided to shake up the house.

The viewers weren’t shown and never heard some of the Friendship’s racist, filthy remarks directed at this humble, peaceful man. Kaysar was accused of being the hypocrite among some of this same group for even being on the show. Amidst even this, Kaysar remained respectful and polite consistently throughout his stay in the Big Brother house. His friendship with Janelle, Howie, and Rachel was always honest, and always warm. This was the true friendship that was void of the inside backbiting and nastiness of the group who boasted that name.

Once Kaysar received Head of Household, he truly started becoming the mastermind leading the Sovereigns. He brilliantly keeps his cards close to his chest and worked the “Friendship” to his advantage. He kept his word to Eric by putting Maggie up for eviction. Kaysar received his revenge when Eric was backdoored. Yes, Kaysar left soon after, but he wasn’t gone for long. America got to choose a person to return to the house and we wanted Kaysar back! Between Eric, Michael, and he, Kaysar received 82% of the vote. He once again joined the houseguests to finish out the game.

Unfortunately his return didn’t last long. I wish he had listened to me as I shouted to my television, “Do NOT take your finger off of the button!” Alas, he didn’t hear me and for the second time, Kaysar walked out of the Big Brother house. He left the house this final time with the same dignity and pride as before. This time I expect it was harder, maybe he felt he had let us down. He knew that millions of people had voted for him and was overcome with emotion when he learned of this. He knew we had his back! Kaysar was and is a gentleman, a good person, and an outstanding game player. I only wish he had kept his finger on the button.