Getting to Know the Dystopia of Fox's 'Utopia'

On paper, Fox's new reality show "Utopia" sounds lame: 15 people from around the country are placed in a blank-canvas-plot-of-land where they have to coexist and form their ideal utopia. The show is supposed to last for 365 days and there are no winners. There are no tasks, ways to win money and there's really no objective except to live. Unlike contestants on "Survivor," this group, who are referred by the host (more on him later) as "pioneers," has it pretty good.

Producers set the pioneers up with a tranquil lake and waterfall, some livestock, a spacious barn, tools, a large box for the pioneer's personal items and $5,000 to spend any way they want. There are also 129 hidden and unhidden cameras all over the California compound, which reportedly cost $50 million, making "Utopia" one of the most expensive reality shows.

"Utopia" ends up being a bizarre, yet compelling, reality show, and somewhat of a game changer. It's unlike any other reality show all the while borrowing elements from some of the biggest programs of all time: there's the survival aspect like "Survivor," the day-to-day interactions similar to "The Real World" and the fact you can watch the pioneers on live feeds like "Big Brother." The pioneers also nominate three to leave the compound and out of those three, someone is voted out each month to be replaced by a new member. (It's still unclear how this will actually go down, but time will tell.)

But what really makes "Utopia" something special is the casting - someone over at Fox deserves a medal for assembling the original group of pioneers. We haven't seen a group this fascinating since the first season of "The Real World."

We're probably in the fourth wave of reality television; there have been countless series over the years for people to now know what's up. They know how to make good TV, know that when they're applying to shows they're playing a character and playing into stereotypes and certain tropes. Some have called the pioneers "stunt casting," but it doesn't really matter because it's 100 percent entertaining.

Here's a quick rundown of some of the walking clich�s you'll meet on "Utopia."

[The rest of this story contains spoilers]

First up we have 5th Ave. Dave from Queens, New York. Of all the "Utopia" family, I think Dave's got it the worst. He's been in-and-out of jail since he was a kid, and is used to living on the streets and in prison. When the group wants to buy food he throws a tantrum because he doesn't want fresh vegetables; he want's instant noodles and hot dogs, saying prison food is the best food in the world.

Dave's tantrums happen often but are usually followed by a huge hug and an "I'm sorry." Clearly, Dave's issues are deeply ingrained into his psyche and him being on a Fox reality show feels exploitative.

Dave ends up leaving the show, only coming back to be baptized by Pastor John, which sounds ridiculous but actually becomes a touching moment.

Pastor John, who recently left the show due to a thumb injury that required surgery, is another multifaceted character. He came on "Utopia" to spread the word of God. But the mild mannered religious man isn't like the Bible pushers standing on the street corner, urging you to repent your homosexuality or face an eternity in Hell. He's calm, accepting, understanding and most importantly, is willing to listen to the different lifestyles the pioneers live.

Many of the women love to be naked on "Utopia," and enjoy skinny-dipping in the lake and waterfall. This makes John uncomfortable and when tells Huntress Hex (aka Katniss Everdeen), she says this is just anatomy, the way she was born and she can't help it if he's turned on. While John still wishes she'd throw on a bikini, he listens, and hears her and understands her point, dropping the subject going forward.

He's also open about his problem with alcohol and how religion saved him from a life addiction. While he loves to talk about his faith, he never forces it on anyone there. He was a father figure to many of the pioneers, keeping them in line and his new friends will feel his departure.

Another notable pioneer is Red, a self-described hillbilly who is used to living off the grid. He's a moonshiner a handyman, and like his BFF 5th Ave. Dave, a hothead. While Dave was on the show, the duo got so upset the way things were being run, they decided to secede from the group forming the "Utopia State of Freedom."

It's not uncommon to find Red throwing people's stuff across the room, smashing jars of food and screaming. But he's endearing to watch and is knowledgeable.

Then there is Bella. On Wikipedia, she's listed as a "real estate entrepreneur," but she's called herself a survivalist in case the world goes to shit (her job on the "Utopia" website is "doomsday prepper").

She hates microwaves, enslaves chicken to till the land, has a crush on a pioneer whom she wanted to kick out of "Utopia," and often is yelled at. She's kind of a mess and the punch line of the show, but her intentions are good even if no one ever agrees with her.

Finally, we've come to the host, Dan Piraro, an illustrator and cartoonist best known for his cartoon panel "Bizzaro," but could easily be mistaken as a lite steampunk hipster. With his curly mustache, fedora and pieced ears, Piraro has the perfect voice to narrate this show, even though the dialogue is insane (at one point, Piraro says "Utopia" has condensed the first half of American history in a few episodes).

"Utopia" isn't a perfect show, and its low ratings are foreshowing its early cancellation - I really can't see it lasting its 365-day schedule. It's also a big commitment; it's on twice a week and there are the live feeds. But for the time "Utopia" stays with us, I'll be tuning in, watching the self-described "social experiment" succeed or go down in flames.