Anytime, anyone, anywhere talks about reality TV I wrinkle my nose in distaste. Gads! The Bachelor? Wife Swap? Nanny 911? Please, I’d rather be poked in the eye than forced to watch those shows. I am not a fan of American Idol, Survivor, Extreme Home Make Over (even though I think it is a wonderful premise and a very good thing), Dancing with the stars, or Big Brother. It just isn’t for me. I prefer good drama or comedy shows or movies.
So recently, my friend Lisa was visiting and I proudly stated my distaste for reality tv. “I hate reality tv.” Then my husband pipes in with “except for The Deadliest Catch.” I look around to see him sitting in the chair, looking smug. “What?” I say. Then it dawns on me, oh ya, it is reality TV and yep, I am addicted to that show. Have you watched it? It’s on The Discovery Channel.
When I was describing the show to Lisa, “It’s a show about the Alaska crab fishermen.” I was rewarded with a look that said to me “Uh, okay…freak.” At least that is how I interpreted it. She didn’t look interested. I went on to explain the horrid conditions they worked in, how freakin’ cold it seemed and how fascinated I was watching them work. She was polite, nodded and I am sure said something noncommittal about it. Until I found a marathon showing of it on TV. We watched hours of TDC and Lisa became a fan, taken with Captain Sig. Told you Lisa. 🙂
Okay, so since then I have realized I am more of a reality TV show junky than I thought. I am also addicted to Project Runway. This from the self proclaimed fashion victim. I missed that girly gene somewhere and couldn’t give a fig about fashion. So, I never watched PR. Why would I? It all started one night after watching Top Chef (yes another reality tv show, which I love), and reruns of Project Runway come on. I was torching at the time, so no opportunity to switch the channel.
So, I listened as I torched. I quickly became fascinated with the show, and when I started pausing mid bead to see what was happening, it dawned on me, I was another victim to the reality TV craze. Add PR to my list. Luckily Bravo was running a marathon showing and I got all caught up on the season. I stayed late in the studio just to finish watching, cause no matter what I say to Greg, I am pretty sure he isn’t going to watch.
So why do I like these shows? Well, Deadliest Catch has everything to do with how in awe I am, that someone would choose to go out on the Bering Sea and actually do that job. I have been to Alaska, in Sept, on a cruise. Let me tell you, it was cold then. I stayed indoors as much as possible. NO way in hell am I going to be fishing in sub zero weather with ice freezing to the boat, getting splashed with 30 foot waves. Crazy. As for Project Runway and Top Chef, I think it must be the creativity factor. When the focus is on the project, I am happy. When it is about behind the scene drama, I get irritated. Luckily both these shows tend to focus mostly on the projects and that is what is interesting.
EDIT: did you see the link automatically generated below about Sarah Jessica Parker and her reality TV show “American Artist“? Apparently Bravo has picked it up. Can’t wait to see what that is gonna be all about. Artist are interesting characters to say the least. 🙂
