10 Things I Like About You
Now I have about a million channels, so daytime television is so much more. I started out my day with TLC's "A Baby Story." Ew. Ew, ew, ew, ew, ew! I mean, yes, I watched four episodes, but...ew. Here is a slimy, grey looking little thing, it grows inside you (inside you!) for nine months, and then...well, I'll stop right there. Thanks to "A Baby Story" I don't ever want to have children. Way to go, TLC. Ew.
Then, of course, there are the marathons on the two MTV channels I get for some reason (and I don't mean MTV and MTV2...these are two channels that are just called MTV). Sweet, sweet reality marathons! I really love "Made" and "True Life," although, I have to say, "True Life" has really lost its edge. This reality series used to document the lives of people who were addicted to hard tranquilizers or were anorexic strippers looking for their read dads, while this season tackles such topics as "True Life: I'm from New Jersey." What? That's not a problem! Psh, I said as I flipped channels...
There are also the day time films, and reruns of my favorite shows like "7th Heaven" and "Gilmore Girls" (I had forgotten what a really great show that was in its prime! Too bad it got so soap-opera-y in the later seasons...). But best of all, during the day, with nothing better to do, I got to watch the non-stop coverage of the biggest news in Hollywood: the death of Heath Ledger.
It makes me really sad that his family had to beg cameras to let them mourn in private. It also makes me really sad that I'm not more affected...am I just another completely jaded, desensitized TV-raised children turned adult for whom the death of a fellow human being is just another tabloid headline?
Maybe it comes from watching all the reality television, but when an actual person (albeit celebrity) dies I have to force myself to realize the "reality" of the situation. Yes, people die every day, and yes, most of those deaths are equally unmoving to me--however, here's someone who, in whatever way we choose to look at it, came into our lives, someone who is not nameless or faceless, and whose death SHOULD upset me. Right? In one sense, I am upset--he was so young, he had a great career behind and ahead of him, he had a daughter, a family, people who loved him, etc. Still, something about the way death is handled by the media, our culture, and myself just leaves me feeling...unsettled. I'm going to have to give this my lowest rating: Sad Duck.
Also unsettling: only one more episode of "Crowned" after this week's somewhat m'eh episode. What was with all the other contestants being in the episode for about five minutes when the contestants who had not yet been eliminated had to learn some dance? What was that about? Are the old, eliminated contestants going to be in the final pageant? And how about our eliminated team from last week also being there, after having literally run off the set? AWKWARD! I wonder if they knew they'd be coming back...
All in all, it's been a not entirely disappointing couple of days. I'm ready to get back to my couple hours of daily tv watching, though...my two entirely TV-filled days have left me feeling a bit detached from reality.
This entry was posted by Brigitte, on
Wednesday, January 23, 2008.
You can leave your response.
It makes me mad because it released the horrible paparazzi culture on the life of an actor who always hated and avoided them, unlike the obnoxious celebrities they usually hunt, like LL and Britney. And now they're chasing down Michelle Williams and his little daughter! Mean.
And, from the last comments, I thought Atonement was a beautiful movie, but basically a sad "Pride and Prejudice," or a UK-set "The English Patient," or a less self-righteous "Howard's End." Those British directors are so smart (but not original).
Also, Brad Renfro died and no one cared. THE CLIENT! APT PUPIL!
Death is a popularity contest, just like everything else.
Uh, hello, sad sacks? The cruz of this post is about daytime television! I agree, Brigitte, babies are gross! And True Life: I'm From Staten Island? What a joke! I miss my True Life: I'm In An Open Relationship.
death is a popularity contest...and that makes me sad. but instead of thinking about it i watch tv. and participate in all the things i hate...maybe this is something to bring up with my analyst.
The cruz? As in Penelope? I like it! Cruz is the new crux.
I don't know how you handle that much Daytime TV - it's partially impressive. I would just watch movies or TV on DVD if I was sick. I can't think of staying home sick without once again bringing up the fact that when I had my wisdom teeth taken out, I was in a dreamy state and watched Enemy of the State FOUR times in a row, thinking it was getting awesomer every time.
Though I do also remember watching Murder at 1600 and The Ghost and the Darkness both taped from a free HBO preview as a double feature during a sick day in middle school. That was fun.
i also watched 90210 on dvd, but i didn't include that in my blog...obviously, some dvds had to be included in my sick day. but mostly i felt to gross to get up from the couch and change the dvd, so i just watched television...also, i felt sort of obligated to watch tv, since we pay for so many ridiculous channels...
The only popular culture that was included in my horrible day:
*Numerous references to WWF, especially the coolness of John Cena (who I know so much about now).
*The plot of "Family Guy" explained to me in Spanish (Stuey turns into an octopus? Is that my mistranslation?)
I don't think I watch TV when I'm home sick, mostly because I will never call in sick unless I'm almost dead, since it takes about 5 hours to explain to a sub what to do. The last time I was sick, right before Christmas, I forced myself to get errands done and just threw up wherever I happened to be. I kind of wish I was sick now. Grr. Stupid substitute plans!
I once went to a job interview with pneumonia. when answering questions about personal integrity and your aversion to thievery, it's a good idea not to be sweating profusely and trembling under four layers of clothes.
Did I say job interview? I meant parole board hearing. And did I say pneumonia? I meant withdrawal symptoms from opiate abuse.
Woops!
you know who never got to call in sick? farmers. my immigrant farmer ancestors. and they had it really rough all the time, too. like, i go to work in my office and stop to chat with coworkers or whatever, while they would work in the fields for 12 hours a day, and not even know if they would be getting paid or not. sorta makes ya appreciate how good we have it.
Ew, Nicole, you just throw up everywhere in public when you're sick? Remind me not to be near you when you're sick, ever!
You know who else never gets to call in sick, Brigitte? Unemployed people.
oh amy...every day is like a calling in sick day for the unemployed!
I'd just like to point out how loud I laughed to myself when reading Sean's eloquent confession about actually being in prison.
When in fact, I should be researching how I can visit him and smuggle in a Rita Hayworth poster and a rock carving knife.
I saw John Cena on Conan this week. He is cool!
I can't think of what Rita Hayworth looks like, so I'm imagining Chris smuggling in a low-res screenshot of Rita from Dexter, printed out on his old black-and-white inkjet. Oh, and the screenshot is from the CBS-edited version. Cool!
I didn't just get sick in the aisle at Lunds...I excused myself to visit the restroom. Although I didn't make it once and had to use a trash can. The flu couldn't break my Christmas spirit (I prepared food the next day for my whole family and passed it on to most of them!)
But honestly, I have the attention span of a 3rd grader (which is why we get along so well), so watching TV all day is not possible, even when sick. I have started watching a little WWF, though, to look for "teachable moments" (i.e. "Did you see Ray Mysterio have teamwork with the Undertaker last night, while they body slammed John Cena? I think he would definitely help his classmates with their worksheets!")
leave a response