I have a huge weakness for trash TV. Or, more specifically, reality trash TV. For me, there's something incredibly compelling about watching people humiliate themselves before a national audience.
I'm not talking about Fear Factor eat-a-pig-testicle stuff here, though I won't argue that those kinds of things can be a bit degrading. What I'm thinking about are the contests and documentary-style things where people's own personalities or ambitions are the source of the squirming--though occasionally there's a judge to help out. Things like Bridezillas. It boggles the mind that with a television camera right there in the room, women are still willing to be be nasty, vidictive, petty tyrants. (It also makes me wonder where they find these guys who are willing to put up with them. I've never met a man who would willingly swallow the abuse that some of these brides dish out. Did I miss a meeting or something where women were supposed to learn about how to get away with being an immense b*tch?)
But the worst of all has got to be that Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader show. (I think it's called Making the Team.) Not so much for the contestants themselves, who mostly jump around being peppy and stressing about the next round of cuts. What really takes this show over the edge is the team of women who make the cuts and run the team, and who make Hillary Clinton seem warm and cuddly by comparison. These constestants are all attractive, fit young women (you know, cheerleader types), but I've seen them told to lose weight, fix their looks, get in better shape, not be so dumb, etc., etc. It's almost painful to watch.
And yet I do watch. It's like I can't look away. (And yes, I love seeing Simon Cowell rip people up on American Idol too. It's possible that I'm just not very nice sometimes.)
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