Day 42 - The Reality of Reality T.V.

O.k. I know I'm going into dangerous territory here, but I'm just going to go ahead and say it...

I LIKE reality T.V. That's right.

That. just. happened.

I'm sick of it. Sick of apologizing. Sick of calling it a "guilty pleasure." There's no guilt involved. And THAT's the reality.

Phew...I feel so much better now. Confessions make me feel good. Now we can move on...

So, today, I'm kinda tired from my bi-monthly graveyard shift at the art & frame store last night. On days like today, reality T.V. is like a cup of tea.

When I first moved here, three short months ago, those first few weeks, I literally fell apart. I was utterly exhausted from the whirlwind of the last two months--we married, both turned 30, then moved across state lines. I was numb. It all happened so fast, the actual processing occurred as I stared up blankly at my empty beige walls, long after the moving truck staggered away from our new California apartment.

Dave dove headfirst into work. And I immediately got sick. Or as my body calls it: "self-preservation." During stressful times, I can go go go. But when it's all over, my body completely shuts down. Sit down you, it commands. And I obey.

During this time, I had a freshly unpackaged DVR and some chicken noodle soup Dave brought me. I sought out reality t.v. marathons, long enough to entertain me like a long movie for the better part of a day. It was "Keeping Up with the Kardashians," "The Real Housewives of New Jersey," "What Not to Wear," and more. As three days turned into five, my thick hibernation started to lose some of its lustre as I regained health and ambition.

I eventually peeled myself from the flat screen and even deleted upcoming recordings from my cluttered DVR list, but I have to say, that mindless watching was needed for renewal. And today, as my tired self summoned a three-episode run of Tori and Dean: Home Sweet Hollywood, I relished my away-from-my-life time.

People bag on reality t.v. And I get it. There's a lot of really really shitty T.V. out there. And many many people reading this would probably relish the chance to speak face-to-face with me, deconstructing the negative effects these trashy shows have on the ultimate downfall of society and our vulnerable children.

And there's truth to that. Surely when one views "Fear Factor" or "Bridezillas," you must question the ultimate destination of the human race. But these shows are meant to shock, awe, and exploit. Examples of reality t.v. at it's worst and most dehumanizing.

But, on the flip side, reality t.v. also has the power to inspire, interest, and illuminate common experience, which to me, is alluring. (Think of it as the difference between Jerry Springer and Oprah).

Most of the ones I dig are really about love and relationships. Take for example, Tori and Dean. Today, they struggled with time management--juggling their careers and two kids while still trying to find time for each other. I relate to this. Dave and I are both super busy right now, and we are constantly in search of time together. It made me appreciate this common experience. How another couple, albeit much richer and more stylish, approaches their normal couple issues in loving and mutually supportive ways. And find compromise and joy. How is that bad for you?

Or even the Kardashians. The show is about a very loving and tight-knit family, albeit much richer and more stylish, relate to one another and support each other. It reminds me of my own family.

Now of course, copious amount of reality t.v. replacing your actual participation in actual relationships poses a large problem. But as a means of entertainment and mild escapism (and fashion aspirations), I defend it wholeheartedly. So there.