The Reality Nightmare

Can't you see

Lawd can't you see
What these TV shows
Been doin' to me

It's been a while since I have been here and it kind of feels good to be back. Lately I have been saying my peace on SoundCloud but I thought I would take it back to the blog for a minute.

Reality TV got me and everybody fucked up. I avoid it at all costs although I must admit the TV networks do a great job of advertising and promoting these shows. They have the right hook to suck you in, sit you on the couch and hold your eyelids open to the unholy shit that is occuring on your screen. On occasion, my wife will fill me in on a commercial or two about a show, on a rare occasion I may watch. Let me tell you, most days I can't last 10 minutes, as was the case with "Big Ang." All of the talk about her says she was the nicest on the cast of the show she was on before VH-1 gave her a spinoff. When I saw her on the screen, I was in shock. Put it to you this way, if I saw her on the street I would be wondering if she would beat my ass or if she gave me a hug would she squeeze the life out of me. I tapped out, I couldn't take it.

Forward to last night with the premier of "Here comes Honey Boo Boo" on TLC. I'll admit the name got me but I couldn't figure out what the hell the show was about. My wife fills me in to tell me this is a spinoff of a girl from "Toddlers and Tiaras." The family is from Georgia and let me tell you, they are EXTRA as hell! Thank God the show was only 30 minutes, time that will never be recovered no matter how hard I work to do so. After that was over, I turned on a jazz station for some culture because I felt slightly dumb after watching! None of what I saw or expected to see was a surprise. What was a surprise was the upcoming  reality shows that network which includes a show about conjoined twins. I teach anatomy, I have watched specials about the operations that conjoined twins undergo but where is the boundary? There seems to be no life or lifestyle that is unknown to us now because of reality television. After watching "God Bless America" directed by Bobcat Goldwaith, it is true that we are truly a civilization going to hell in a handbasket. We don't talk about ideas, we have ideas driven into our heads by people we have made celebrities instead of the other way around or through hard work and TALENT! I'm going to keep it tuned to ESPN for sports, Netflix for all the TV and movies i've missed and i'm going to pick up a book a bit more often because TV as it is has nothing to offer me anymore!

Reality TV: Not my reality!

I was engaged in deep thought at the gym about reality TV and the current wave which we as a society have been sucked whole into. I admit, when this current wave started I watched one or two shows religiously and then the dam broke and soon I couldn't keep track nor watch the ever growing line up of shows from successful people trying to become ultra successful (The Apprentice) to has been celebrities getting another shot in the spotlight while making complete asses of themselves. (The Surreal Life) Now the latter category that I just mentioned has become the norm and the formula for the most current crop of shows and I must say that although it may be entertaining (albeit disturbing) to watch famous folks (or formerly famous folks) to hash out their problems, complain about how hard their life is having so many choices, so much money and not having the time to vacation, I really don't give a shit nor subscribe to this current reality.

Some of the best examples of this are Keeping up with the Kardashians. When the show premiered, I sat down and watched a few episodes and found myself a bit intrigued and even laughed at some of the silly moments. But I couldn't relate (as is the case with most viewers) to rich, spoiled, complainers who bitch about what they can't do and what they won't do. Well hey, it's nice to have a choice! If you got money and decide to open a store because you ain't got shit better to do, where do I sign up for that!!! Sounds like a nice life to me but what do I know? I have to pack a lunch, punch a clock and take someone else's crap 8 hrs a day. Would be nice to not have to do that. In saying all of that, why are we so drawn to celebrity and their lives knowing that their reality does not in any way, shape or form matches ours?

Reality TV in it's most pure form should make legitimate celebrities. Those who can offer us some positivity, give us a model or an example to follow. My favorite show on the air now is Top Chef. Now you more than likely won't see the winners of this show on a lot of TV shows nor on Food Network (God forbid!), these chefs will leave and open restaurants and other culinary business which reflect the true meaning of success this country was founded on. I am always saying or asking who someone is and why are they relevant. Now that Jersey Shore has ended, Snooki is getting a show, "The Situation" is now a household name and a whole new cycle of false celebrity is born. If all it takes is getting punched in the mouth and inventing an idiotic dance is how one becomes famous these days, I guess I need to get in a bar fight or bring back the running man for 2010.