Photo via Flickr
I watch terrible, terrible television shows.
I thought that getting rid of our TV a few years ago would alleviate my desire to watch endless hours of mindless crap. Sure, I’d still be watching TV on my computer, but if given the choice, surely I’ll choose something amazing and intelligent, right? No. Not right at all.
Here’s the thing: I watch TV to zone out. How can I zone out if I actually have to pay attention?
The absolute worst/best TV series I watch is the Real Housewives franchise.
One of the highlights of my year was the return of The Real Housewives of New York City last week. I didn’t even know how much I missed this show until I heard Jill Zarin, one minute into the show, talking about the fight she had with Alex at the end of last season. The tension! The epic bitchyness! You can keep your Miami and your New Jersey; New York immediately brings the goddamn NOISE.
I’m also sort of hooked on “Bethenny Ever After.” She used to be on Real Housewives of NYC but got her own series. This is probably my most cringe-worthy indulgence, because I KNOW I’m supposed to hate this show, but I look forward to the episodes more than Christmas. Bethenny is actually really funny; she owns and admits all of her crazy behaviors, but is actually an accomplished business woman and WHAT AM I SAYING THIS SHOW HAS CRAZY DRAMA THAT I LITERALLY CANNOT WALK AWAY FROM, I WILL NOT EVEN TRY TO JUSTIFY IT.
My boyfriend 100% cannot understand how I watch this stuff, knowing that I’m an outspoken feminist. I started to explain it to him from an academic standpoint, because sociologically it’s sort of interesting the way that pop culture thrives on pitting women against one another, but then Countess LuAnne said something CRAZY about how a woman’s power is in her ankles or something like that, and I lost my train of thought.
Television is entertainment. I know that our country suffers from short attention spans and overall apathy, but since I spend a minimum of 60 hours a week reading, I feel like I’m entitled to a few hours of catfights and general numbskullery.
What’s the verdict on watching crappy TV? How much is too much?
About DanielleH
I also adore trashy terrible TV.
However, unless I sit down to watch a marathon, reality TV has never been my thing.
No, I am an avid lover/watcher of stupid dramatic prime time soaps like Desperate, Grey’s, Pretty Little Liars, ANYTHING WITH SEX! DRAMA! LIES! ADULTERY! ETC! ETC!
It’s bad.
I’m also addicted TO EVERY CRIME SHOW OUT THERE.
It’s a sickness I swear.
Although, I’m the same way, I watch TV to unwind. If you are going as far as not moving one time during the weekend from your couch and all you’ve done is watch TV, theeenn I think it might be time to go outside for a bit :)
I used to be WAY into crime shows, but I’m far too paranoid to watch them regularly. Every episode of Law & Order convinces me that there’s someone hiding in my closet waiting to kill me.
My husband laughs when I watch these shows, but I tell him they make me feel like a MUCH better person. I wish I knew how much is too much, but I think I’ve crossed the line.
It’s hard to watch these shows and NOT feel a sense of, uh, pride? in your own ability to avoid drama. I’m with you on that one.
This post seals it, I must start watching this show. I know that I will love it as much as I loved the horrible Paridise Island reality show and all the Bachelors/Bachelorettes.
We recently got rid of our DVR service to save money, but all it does is force me to watch whatever crappy reality show is on tv the moment rather than selecting my shows in advance and alledgedly with thought.
TV is for zoning out. An hour or so a day? Seems good to me….and so much to talk about!
Twitter Name: themommytherapy
I don’t have a DVR, either. It would be like bringing a freeze ray into my house – I would not get anything done if hours upon hours of selected TV was available at any time.
As usual Danielle, I love you! I seriously NEED a mental escape from my 60-70 hour work weeks (with commute), so I obsessively watch House Hunters (and HH International) over and over (but wait, we have covered this on your blog already)…so let me admit to my other guilty and horrifying pleasures:
Almost all HGTV – the buyer shows, the seller shows, the renter shows, I love them all. And I will watch the same episode over and over and over again.
Any Food Network Battle shows.
American Idol (this is NEW as of this year. I have NEVER watched before but the talent this year has kept me sucked in).
WHEN I had Bravo (which I do not now) I watched all RHW obsessively. I particularly like the original cast & NY. They are all nuts and it brings me great joy to watch them. Like you, my boyfriend does not understand why.
My gf Meg watches all the RHW and Bethenny. Her husband calls them “her stories”. That’s what they are to me. As housewives of the 60′s and 70′s watched soaps to escape from the mind-numbing annoyance of their children and housework, I now watch late night reality TV to escape from the horrors of my worker bee existence. Same story, different format.
Twitter Name: Erin (Another one)
The Food Network Battle shows – WORD. How do they build so much tension, the kind of tension that keeps me LOCKED IN for an entire hour? I can’t turn those shows off, so I try not to turn them on at all.
Allright, this settles it. I really need to check the Housewives shows out. I had just found myself missing all the God-awful, super-trashy VH1 dating shows like “Flavor of Love,” “Rock of Love” and all the other “of Love’s.” They’re lowbrow, they’re revolting, but if they help me unwind and help me feel better about my own life, I figure where’s the harm?
Twitter Name: 18Years2Life
It is the most horrific train wreck of a series, but it will fill the hole of lowbrow trashiness.
My daughter loves these sorts of shows, I only watch quality television, when I deign to watch at all. Yes it’s The Food Network all the way for me.
Twitter Name: penbleth
I will drink to numbskullery.
Chug.
Friday Night Lights starts tonight, a show about football and the sexual exploitation of high school kids. I highly recommend it.
p.s. Riggins is so hot.
Um, FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS IS MY JAM, and not at all trashy. I’m devastated that this is the last season. Last season, the Tim Riggins storyline brought me to TEARS.
There is no shame in enjoying shit like this. When I watch reality TV, I go for real lowest common denominator crap like this. I don’t want to even pretend like I care about people achieving weight loss goals or winning jobs or getting eliminated; I want to see some monkeys dance for me.
This is so true. I get my fill of intellectual posturing during the day; I want TV to entertain me, dammit.
Real Housewives are like crack for me, but I haven’t seen it in ages. I too am a HUGE fan of NY, and Orange County…is that one even on any more?
I applaud crappy, mindless television. It’s a total escape for me as well. I know people judge us, but to them, I say ‘come sit by me and watch for a bit, so you too will understand.’
Viva la Mindless Trash!!!!
Twitter Name: lucynamackay
I feel like I could have written this. I LOVE Bethenny. LOVE HER. I am trying to wean myself off the Housewives, though, but so far, I’m unsuccessful. NY does bring the noise, and I figured out why (for me). Alex (despite being odd and pretentious and not someone I would chill with) is a “real” person. She often doesn’t let these crazy, entitled, rich ladies get away with their ubercrazy (see Sonja’s abhorrent behavior at the marriage equality march) and they hate that, creating drama. Rich, entitled people don’t like bottom feeders like Alex telling them they are wrong about anything, but I do.
I can’t get enough of Real Housewives. I was unreasonably happy when I learned that NY and OC were coming back and would have new episodes at the same time. And now NJ is about to come back?I’m peeing in my pants a little at the thought. And guess what? I’m a well-educated, well-adjusted woman. Let’s face it, RH is awesome!
Twitter Name: LisaACOTA