I come home last night after 14 hours in heels and a dress and am totally fried. I just want some quiet time and a pair of sweats. As I walk by the TV, I notice the screen is showing a living room filled with stuff. I get changed and come back to take a closer look. When I ask, my daughter tells me it’s “Hoarders.” Huh? I soon realize that it is an entire show on people whose home has mice, rats, garbage and the like – from floor to ceiling! Who watches this stuff (clearly, people my household)?
As I start to explore this issue of shows that my kids have recently watched, I find the following:
1. My Strange Obsession: This is a TV show? It’s disgusting! These “addictions” include eating toilet paper, sleeping with a silicone person (might be better than sleeping with my computer!), eating detergent and eating glass. I’m not sure which is worse: the fact that these people are doing these things or that we are watching it!
2. Grey’s Anatomy: This is dumb, couched in drama (or visa versa). Here’s a show that where people cheat on their spouses, where casual affairs with people you work with are common place and where highly educated physicians can’t even figure out how to put on a lab coat. What are we enjoying here? The sex, the stupidity or both?
3. The Real Housewives of _____: Seriously? I have nothing to say. There are absolutely no REAL body parts here. And, none of them are Housewives.
4. Jersey Shore: Here’s what my daughter says about this show,”It’s about people who live together, get drunk together, have sex with each other and then do it all again the next day.” Hey, that sounds educational (not).
5. Sponge Bob: SB is dumbing down America. This is about a sponge, living under the sea, who is square with square pants and is clearly socially inept. This show is wildly popular with our children. One time, I had (one) blind date with a guy who could sing the opening song of the show. Hmm.
What’s happening to us? We’ve become a society where people enjoy voting for an American Idol singer more than they do for the President of the United States! Where we like watching people who can’t stop sucking their thumb at 24. But, who am I to judge? I like “Say Yes to the Dress,” “Restaurant Makeover” and The Weather Channel. What’s that say about me … don’t answer that one!
p.s. My daughter’s response after reading this draft:
Her: What! You put Grey’s Anatomy on here? That’s my favorite show!
Me: Those people are so dumb, I wouldn’t want them to be my doctors. Plus, they sleep with their colleagues when they should be taking care of patients.
Her: So! That’s what doctor’s do! (thankfully she’s smiling now)
Me: I’m not paying for medical school.
I rest my case. Have a great day!
theyearof50 