Two of the cast members of the new “Surreal Life” cast could have also been big players on ABC’s “Claim to Fame” reality game show.  No one knew who Chet Hanks (son of Tom Hanks), or Josie Canseco (daughter of Jose Canseco) were.  The biggest stars proved to be Macy Gray, Kim Zolciak, and Johnny Weir.

Rap artist O.T. Genasis, and former girl group member of Fifth Harmony, Ally Brooke, and Tyler Posey from “Teen Wolf” are also on board for some rambunctious nonsense content in the “Surreal Life” household.

An immediate bond was formed between Tyler Posey and Macy Gray who got sick in the first episode.  Posey made the kind gesture of bringing her soup, though mind you, as Gray pointed out later, “fake soup” and not homemade. 

Pictured: Macy Gray

The reality show gang is welcomed into a very pink mansion in Medellin, Colombia by a Siri type of robot, named “S.L.O.A.N” via a TV monitor.  This faceless character commands the group on activities throughout the day, and even texts them requests such as prompting them to  talk about their childhood during a game of Uno.

This was enough to set Macy Gray off, who takes her Uno game very seriously!  The drama was top notch and enough to bring viewers back to a slightly disappointing lukewarm second episode that ended with a lackluster “therapy session.”

Another quick bonding of personalities is between Olympic ice skater Johnny Weir and Kim Zolciak from ‘Housewives’ fame.  It didn’t take long for Kim, who was going through a public divorce with Kroy Biermann, to make romantic moves on Chet Hanks.

The cool thing about the show is that these celebrities got to keep and use their cell phones.  So, there’s a scene where Kim is on the phone with Kroy explaining the gossip surrounding a possible fling between her and Chet. 

Chet, during this episode, deals with past hostility he’s had to overcome from being the son of two very famous and successful actors.  This hit a nerve with Macy Gray who is dealing with her son expressing similar feelings with her.

Much of the celeb cast outs themselves of very revealing tea that consists of doing “blow” alcohol, bi-sexuality, taking Ozempic before the show in an effort to lose weight quickly, and “eating a–s” in a very casual way.

Amidst her flirting with the much younger Chet Hanks, Kim, who was 45-years-old at the time of filming, doesn’t think there’s much of a difference between herself and the much younger Joise Canseco. 

Pictured: KIM ZOLCIAK, CHET HANKS (Photos: Copyright: 2019 Bravo Media LLC; Michael Buckner Copyright 2024 Penske Media)

The group also has access to the Confessional rooms where they can let loose their reactions to the events of the day.  After being harassed to give up the bigger room and bathroom by Kim who arrived later, Chet gives in, stating that it was out of respect for his elders (talking about Kim)! Lol!

“The Surreal Life ” season 8 airs on MTV, and streams on Paramount +.