Way back, I blogged about the silly shows on tv that I have caught one or more episodes of, and how much we as a society love to watch those train wrecks (reality celebrities in particular). Of course, not everyone loves these people, but the media sure does Love to give them unnecessary attention, therefore shoving them down our throats like bad Robitussen.
I already mentioned "Hoarders", a downright depressing show about people who stock up on rotten meat, flattened dead cats, dried up plants, and care bears. Similarly, "Sex Rehab" on VH1 is utterly exploitive, too personal, and never seems to have very happy conclusions. These poor folks, usually aging rock stars, porn stars or D-list American Idol contestants, seem to think that by letting VH1 pay them a little check and have Dr. Drew "diagnose" and fix them will mend all their broken dreams and bad habits, like sleeping around a little too much. I know that sex addiction is taken just as seriously by doctors as any other addiction, but this show is almost too unseemly, using the people as comedy fodder. It's a sad show, and I've only watched one episode, out of curiousity like most cable crap I watch. It's not worth seeing another one unless you just want to see people cry alot, ask for help and then not usually take it. Another very silly tv show that I actually find still interesting is the "Real Housewives" series on Bravo. Now it's grown to several series, taking place in different cities. It hit bottom two years ago (right when we actually got tv again) with the one in Atlanta. I have alot of friends in ATL, and none of them live in McMansions with rental furniture, leased Hummers, athlete husbands and a "gay husband". I would think that gays would find this term offensive after being used on so many Bravo shows as some kind of accessory for these semi- wealthy, about to be foreclosed on women with weaves, fake nails, fake tans and children that are left behind as mamma goes for a mani-pedi. The Atlanta one has pissed me off and i will no longer support the ridiculousness of it. It stereotypes the black women and their husbands to no end, and because it's "progressive" Bravo...gets away with it. So, it's ok to be racist if a liberal network does it? Or, do they get away with it because they assume we're in on the joke. I'm in on the joke, but still think it's really tacky. You'd have to see the show to understand.
I don't watch "The Bachelor", or "Survivor" andhave only seen a whole "American Idol" twice. It's ok, like a talent show with lots of neon, and bad hair. One guilty pleasure I enjoy is a show called "Bones" based on the Kathy Reichs novels, which i have a few of. It's on Fox, but we catch a rerun everynow and then on TNT. It's got a very dry sense of humour, deals with forensics, which I love, but without all the stripper club flashiness of the CSI shows. The characters are fuller, with some continuing back stories, and has satisfying writing. Of course, I could always wax poetic about "Mad Men" and other shows we have on DVD like "The Tudors" (from Showtime)but those aren't guilty pleasures, those are very well written, highly aclaimed series with very good acting and believable sets.
So...there's always "Shark Tank", a low ratings cult hit where three "judges" who are wealthy capitalist types, listen to common folk pitch their ideas for small business. The winner gets the financial backing of one of the panelists and the "losers' are still given some advice and all the ideas are fleshed out for their faults- I love this, and we have only caught it twice. You would think in a time when so many people are pissed at bailouts and looking for second income ideas, this show would be more popular, but maybe now the American dream isn't to do your own business, but to reveal your darkest secrets on "Sex Rehab" and make easy money while doing it. Hmm.
Well, I am sure i could think of more guilty pleasures of tv...but sometimes it's not very pleasurable:0 It's just time filler, like Facebook but without actual old friendships, memories, new contacts, sharing of real information and useful contact. Maybe that's why, on March 1, our tv will once again be disconnected from the tv world, and only used for movies and our Wii (another story altogether). Most shows are already rebroadcast on our internet anyway. And, as we discusssed this week, my husband and I spent more time together during the 3 years we disconnected from Cable than ever before. I'll definitely keep you posted on that adventure. Have a good night, people, and I'll be back to deal with the next tardy article - actors we need to see more of....
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