Tragic TV Week
30 April 2005, 10:00
My infernal couch-potato ways have well and truly smacked me on the butt this week – spent most of it in a cloud of celluloid disbelief – Kaya got eliminated from X-Factor (don’t ask me why I still watch this crap), Constantine got booted from American Idol, Angie exited with her tail between her legs on The Apprentice and Jon and Kris came second (second!) in the Amazing Race 6. What next? Jenn wins Survivor Palau?
I have often pondered why I’m drawn to so much reality TV – I studied Film, Drama & Lit (and a minor in Modern Religion but we don’t talk about that) at Uni and spent 4 years analysing both “decent” and “crap” film and TV (ah, back in the days when I couldn’t get enough of David Lynch – natsubloodykashi!). At the end of my degree, I was so frikkin’ sick of analysing. analysing. analysing everything, I started watching as much escapist junk as I possibly could. Uni had snatched a lot of the enjoyment I got from watching film and TV. Yes, even the quality stuff.
Japan didn’t help – there are so many weird “tarento” chat shows and hilarious “re-enactumentaries”, often featuring a nefarious gaijin-of-the-day story, that I got hooked. It was fascinating and really quite different to anything you get in Australia.
Back in Australia, I went into binge mode after the famine of english-speaking shows in Japan and it really hasn’t waned. My job is stressful enough that at the end of the day, I come home and just plonk in front of the TV (but not too stressful as to make me run to the Pharmaceuticals cabinet / head doctor). I. can’t. stop. Can I get me some help? ls there any such thing as T.V.W.A?
This entry has just turned into a massive justification tirade. Gomen.
Permanent Link | - Well if it is any consolation you are not alone. My justification for my Reality TV habit is – if it okay to watch people pretending to behave badly or badly pretending to behave (insert any TV drama or soapie here), then watching real people do the same must actually be far more intellectual as it is in fact an anthropological/sociological observational exercise.
To wit – roll on BB05!
— Sharon Apr 30, 06:43 PM #
