Tuesday, May 11, 2010

Reality TV = Desperate to Be Famous (Again). But At What Cost?


Anyone who knows me, knows that I can’t stand reality TV. No, I don’t watch Dancing with the Stars, I’ve never seen Survivor, could care less about Bridezillas (although I have seen that one), I just can’t stand reality TV. What kind of TV shows do I watch? Well I am glad you asked – I watch House, Grey’s Anatomy, Private Practice, Law and Order, Law and Order:SVU and NCIS. I used to watch Desperate Housewives, but I had to fall back because I am so far behind.  Yes, I like medical and crime dramas. I hear that Modern Family is pretty hilarious but I haven’t gotten up on in. I also like The Good Wife when I can catch it. Never been a fan of The Simpsons, but I hear Family Guy is quite hilarious! But those are the shows that I watch.  I know there are most people who are like, what the hell? You don’t watch reality TV? No! I live my own reality everyday, so why would I want to come home and watch it. And most of the time my reality is cool, it sucks a little, it blows a little, it’s a little awesome, whatever.

I was on a flight from DC this past Sunday and I couldn’t really sleep so I decided to watch TV (flying Jet Blue has it’s perks!) I sat and watched VH1’s Reality TV programming – Brandy and Ray J: Family Business, What Chili Wants and Basketball Wives. There is a common thread among all three of those shows, the main characters are black. But not only are they black, they are famous people, who have fallen off the mainstream media radar who are pressed to be famous again!

While watching these shows, I couldn’t help but be embarrassed for them.  These are people, who for the most part look like me and have nothing better to do than to look absolutely foolish on TV for the sake of fame. In the case of Brandy and Ray J, their show wasn’t terrible, I just don’t understand the point of it other than the fact that both of them are singers who (at least it appears on the surface) are looking to restart/revive their careers. I can’t be too mad at that. They are both too young to be so removed from the music game. But at the same time, I understand that life happens and plans change, cool I get that. But then I got to What Chili Wants. What the hell is Chili’s problem? There is nothing wrong with having some standards and kind of an ideal man that you’re looking for. But the shit she’s talkin’ about is unacceptable. First of all, her list seems like something that a 23 year old girl would be looking for. Chili will be 40 next year! C’mon son! You’re being ridiculous! A couple of things that really get me on Chili’s list is can’t eat pork, can’t smoke or drink. I can feel you on the smoking thing because I really can’t stand smoke at all. But what problem do you have with drinks and pork?  Your list, your business but because of your closemindedness, you are cutting yourself off from meeting your Mr. Right. Do what you do Chili, but I can’t support that.

Then we take a look at Basketball Wives. The premise of this show disgusts me. I guess the good thing about this show is that it isn’t only “black” folks. I put black in quotes because it seems like the other ex-wives are just trying to be down with the black culture – like most people. This is a show about a bunch of ex wives, dishin’ dirt on their famous ex husbands. Really? What happened to keeping things in house? I don’t care how famous you are, everyone doesn’t need to know the details of your marriage and subsequent divorce. Didn’t we learn anything from Tiger and Elin? What the hell happened to MYODB (mindin’ your own damn business!) Plus these chicks are just out being mean and cold hearted. There is nothing educational about what they are trying to do here. All they really are trying to do is get more famous off of putting themselves and their exes on blast. Don’t ever have to make yourself look better in the eyes of most by putting others down. You don’t elevate yourself, you reduce yourself. While you may be lonely because things with the “love of your life” didn’t work out, you are living in a house that is paid for, you have more than enough food in your house for you and your kids, you never have a material want in your life again. But you want sympathy from someone because you can’t get a man? Bitch get outta here. I can’t get a man either but you know what I did. I made a blog to laugh at the funny shit that I have to go through, putting myself on blast, not stepping on someone else to make myself look better. Plus all you’re doing is confirming the stereotype about women being two faced, backstabbers who can’t be trusted. That’s not my reality, so why would I support this?

For those of you who watch the shows, I’m not mad at you and I am not judging you. I’m just saying why I can’t get down with a lot of reality shows. That’s not my reality.

#thatisall

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