Utahns on "Real World: Brooklyn": Episode 6

Just when we think Chet Cannon might be able to go an entire episode without embarrassing himself, the 23-year-old Utahn reverts to form.

Midway through this week’s episode, the roommates attend a memorial ceremony and hold white flags that are dedications to people who have died of AIDS. And Chet starts poking J.D. in the ear with his flag during the ceremony.

“Katelyn starts freaking out,” Chet says, overstating his case considerably. (She actually says, “Chet, really? Now?”)

And, in this week’s stunningly self-absorbed and completely inappropriate moment, Chet says, “So I look over. I’m, like, ‘You know what? You need to grow up.’”

She needs to grow up? Astonishing.

Chet isn’t the only member of the cast to act childishly. And Katelyn carries things too far when she hits Scott for his bad behavior.

But Chet is the spokesman for the immature. He’s unable to comprehend that his behavior is inappropriate.

“People are trying to lighten the mood. They’re making jokes and they’re talking. Katelyn and Sara start to get really pissed off,” Chet says indignantly. “Why are they getting pissed off? Oh, because we’re making a joke. We’re just trying to have a good time with our friends.”

Again, they are at a ceremony for people who died of AIDS. It is, apparently, a rather light-hearted, informal ceremony, but Chet is playing with a flag imprinted with the name of an AIDS victim.

Chet is clearly right about Sarah and Katelyn having more than their share of faults. But his total inability to realize that his behavior is childish, inappropriate and disrespectful is, well, astonishing.

Frankly, I expected Chet to be made to look foolish on “Real World” because he’s Mormon. Not that that should happen, but, c’mon, would anybody have been surprised if it had?

That really hasn’t happened. But Chet has been made to look foolish because he plays the fool.

“Real World” has a long history of cast members who are oblivious to how immature they are. Chet ranks near the top of that list.

As for Baya Voce-Hoffman, I’m beginning to wonder if the Salt Lake woman has somehow ticked off the producers. Since Episode 2, on the rare occasions when we actually see her on camera she’s very much a supporting character — she’s mostly commenting on what her roommates are doing.

Stay tuned . . .

ON THE REAL WORLD AFTER SHOW, host Mark Long brought Chet’s religion into it.

“I’m not very versed in the Mormon religion, but what is their stance on gay issues, gay people in general and how do they feel that you’re actually living under the same roof with one of them?” Long asks.

“I think they’re fine with it,” Chet replies. “And, again, this may be personal, but I feel that if somebody is accepting of gay people or unaccepting of gay people, it’s relative to the person as opposed to the religion. And I don’t know if you dabble in the Holy Writ, but the Bible tells us — at least Jesus tells us — that, ‘As I have loved you, love one another.’ And that’s kind of the way I want to live my life. You know, somebody doesn’t accept them, shame on them. I accept people because they’re good.”

“He’s representing his religion well, I think,” Long says.

And then Chet dances on a stripper pole. Really.