I’ll tell you what. Reality television, no matter how unrealistic, serves in some purpose to make people (me) feel better. About many things. I wish watching Sex and the City or Grey’s Anatomy would make me feel good all the time, but it doesn’t.
Why? Because for one thing, on Sex and the City, there’s ALWAYS a happy ending. Every woman gets what she wants in the end. I mean, I guess if you watch every episode except the final one, then maybe they don’t always-always get what they want and it is a process, but still, these ladies aren’t worrying about money or terrorism or losing their jobs or illness or families. I mean I guess for about five minutes in a few episodes, they worried about those things. But still, do you see what I mean?
And then let’s point to Grey’s Anatomy, simply because that’s what I’m watching right now. Everything in this show is so damn depressing! Fell in love? Too bad, he’s gonna die now. Got pregnant? Too bad, you’re not gonna have it and your husband’s gonna leave you. Can’t have children? Too bad— the adoption agency doesn’t like you and your husband’s also gonna leave you. (These aren’t accurate plot descriptions for Grey’s, but you get the jist.)
And on top of everything else, you know all these Hollywood and NYC actors in these programs are nothing like these characters and are actually leading very lovely lives with expensive organic foods, delicious glasses of expensive wine, sex with very attractive partners, and sleep in very well-furnished apartments. And that leads you where? Wanting to land a role on Grey’s Anatomy? Yeah right.
Which is why I like reality television. Yeah, pretty much all the people I watch on these shows are probably richer than the actors on these scripted shows BUT look, the Kardashians? They make me feel okay, because 1) they’re sexy and I like looking at them (let’s be real) 2) they are curvy women so I don’t feel bad eating fro-yo while I watch them 3) they fight with each other but they make up 4) they prove that making really big mistakes in your life can lead to really big dollars in your life 5) aren’t all those reasons inspiration enough?
Next, Bethenny Frankel of Bethenny Ever After. Okay, so she’s rich as hell, and has a cute baby, cute dog, and hot husband, but she also has a lot of issues. But even so, she displays all her relationship, work, and family problems for the world (people who watch Bravo!) to see. I mean just watch this promo:
Sheeeit, you guys. See what I mean?
And don’t even let me get started on the Bachelor/Bachelorette series! I definitely think relationships are fun and I want love in my life, but at the same time, I’m not going to cry my eyes out and fight to the death for a winemaker with bad hair and bad manners. Yup.
So there you have it— reality television: Putting actors out of work and making me feel a little better about my own life, one loud mouth at a time.
Byeeee.