Amir Eftekharpour (1L)
TORONTO – U of T students expressed their surprise last week after a jaw-dropping episode of So You Think You Can Finish Construction on a Law Building By the Deadline, the reality TV show that streams continuously on the TV outside the Reading Room.
The show challenges groups of contractors and construction workers to overcome a number of obstacles on their way to the ultimate goal of finishing construction on the new building. “My favourite episode so far is the one where Greg had to get everyone coffee, and forgot that Jim wanted dark roast, creating all this drama with the Jim-Paul-Ashley alliance. That’s totally why they voted him off that week,” says Phil Williams, a 2L student who says he watches the show “whenever I’m trying to avoid eye contact with whoever has a booth set up outside the Reading Room.”
However, none of the challenges so far have created as much suspense as the one in last week’s shocking episode. “I wasn’t ready for that twist – how Dan, the site supervisor, was kicked off like that,” says Sue Imall, a 1L. The popular contestant lost the week’s big elimination challenge after he tripped over the red tape obstacle and failed to get the permits back to his team on time. “I was pretty much inconsolable when they took away his clipboard and hardhat during the elimination ceremony in the Chamber of Construct-ive Criticism” she said.
Dan’s elimination wasn’t a surprise to everyone. Dima, a controversial but cunning crane operator on the show, said she didn’t trust Dan from the beginning. Speaking in the Porta-Potty Confessional, she said that she always wondered whether Dan was on the show for the right reasons, or just to promote his new album Jackhammer my Heart and boost his waning career. “As for me, I’m not here to make friends – I’m here to compete asbestos I can!™” continued Dima, using her popular catch phrase to the delight of students sort of glancing at the TV on their way to Ned’s or that hotdog stand outside the ROM.
The contestants aren’t the only sources of drama and intrigue on the show. Many students say their favourite part is the judges. “I cant believe they got Boston Rob from Survivor,” said Kristy Warren, a 3L. “Though I love that mean Aussie judge the most,” she continued. “I know,” said a nearby friend, kind of glancing towards the screen. “Niblett’s the best.”
Regardless of year or interest, all students express that the definitely unscripted drama of the show is what keeps them watching, either when they’re on their way to print an assignment or just peeking at the screen over their friend’s shoulders while standing around after class. “It’s just so important, so immediate, so present. The screens and the show help you stay involved in the construction process,” said Graham Spencer, a 2L. “I don’t think it’s a dumb thing at all that it’s just playing like that all the time.”
