Keeping up with the Narcissists

Don't call Child Services on me until I can explain, but yes...the TV is often on in our household.

 During the day while I'm working at my desk in the bedroom, Daphne is on the bed, boxed in safely with pillows, playing with toys and/or napping. While she's doing the latter, I put the TV on for background noise. And what is on during the day, you ask? Reality. TV. And more....Reality. TV.

It got me thinking this morning, as I flipped past yet another repeat of Kardashians, more Housewives of Some Random City, that current "reality TV" is a far cry from whence it first began. I remember watching Eric and Julie and the  other cast members on MTV's The Real World in 1992, my little 8th grade self peeking into the lives of  strangers thrown together in a New York City apartment.

Few of us could have predicted that in 15 years, reality TV would make up the majority of the airwaves (40% overall, and a whopping 90% of all cable channels' programming). It has become, as one journalist put it, a generation's "most influential, most prolific, most dynamic cultural product."  How depressing is that?

But we're not watching the real lives of real people anymore. We're watching the lives of people whose job it is to be on TV. There's product placement, directors, and hours of hair and makeup. Do you really think Kim Kardashian wakes up looking like that? Okay, maybe she does, but those Real Housewives sure look like they have benefited from some time in the chair.

There is very little that is "real" about most of these shows...except maybe Hillbilly Handfishin'. Those dudes seem pretty passionate about them there catfish. And there's a new show set to debut on the History Channel called Hairy Bikers. I AM NOT MAKING THIS UP.

It's sending all sorts of bad messages (insert obvious reference to KK's 72-day marriage), and unrealistic standards of living, but hot diggity damn if it isn't addictive! I need an intervention. Or maybe a boxed set of vintage Sesame Street. I think Daphne and I would both get a kick out of that...until she's ready for Buffy and Angel. ;)

Comments

[Amanda]

You haven't updated in over a month and you finally posted...about Hairy Bikers! You must do better. ;-)