My Reality TV Favorites

“Different strokes for different folks” is how the saying goes. This is especially true for reality TV. Everyone has watched reality television in some way shape or form at least once. All reality television, however, is not the same. What you watch and why probably reveals more about someone’s personality than they might think. These are my favorites and my warped reasons for watching. I don’t watch any of the “Housewives” franchise or variation on the “Wives” theme because I don’t understand how being someone’s employed ex-wife or unemployed girlfriend/ baby mama constitutes a housewife. I also don’t like whiny chick drama or “look-at-me” diva drama.

Don’t get me wrong. My choices prove that I like ridiculous and over the top nonsense. I just need it served to me a different way. I like people who have no idea that what they are doing is ridiculous or over the top. For example, it was easy to believe that you were actually hearing Jessica Simpson’s internal dialogue. “Why would they call it chicken if it is not chicken?” I don’t know, but it was fun watching her try to figure it out.

I will try to justify my choices, knowing that at least one is terrible. What can I say? “The heart wants what the heart wants”, “To each his own” or any other cliché will do.

Temptation Island – This is by far my favorite reality show ever. Everything about this show was ridiculous. Everything about this show was terrible. So terrible, in fact, that I could not stop staring in disbelief. I used to watch it with my college boyfriend, who was also a huge fan of the show. It is probably not surprising that he is not the husband to whom I often refer. Husband would rather stick needles in his eyes then watch this show, but not me. I love it.

Premise- 4 couples agree to take “a 2 week break” and test their love by visiting a tropical locale where they are tempted by hot singles. At the end couples decide if they want to stay together or upgrade with one of the singles from the island.

What always amazed me was how quickly they went from so in love with their significant other to so in lust with Bambii the astrophysicist stripper with a Harvard Law degree or Rex the poetry reciting race car driver/CEO and amateur body builder. The casting alone was hilarious. The network could not even keep to the rule of not having parents. The only black couple from the first season, Ytossie and Taheed, had a child together. My favorite episode is hands down the one where the horrible shrew girlfriend that suggested she and her really nice, but to accommodating live-in boyfriend go on the show so that she could be sure about their future finds out that the girl she put the block bracelet on actually liked her man (Each member of the couple could block their significant other from one tempter that they felt really threatened by). What does she do? She proposes the next morning and gets the heck off the island before he has a chance to order that breakfast margarita.

Real World 1 – 10- “This is the true story of seven strangers picked to live in a house and have their lives taped. Find out what happens when people stop being polite and start getting real. The Real World..." This show used to be SO good. I remember people from each of the first 10 season. My favorites from each season are:

Season 1 NY- Eric (Yeah, the dude from The Grind. He was so cool back then.) Heather B. (we watched her grow and make music), Kevin (I love an articulate black man with strong opinions and that argument with Becky was AWESOME.)

Season 2 LA- Tami (before Basketball Wives) Remember when she wired her jaw shut? Crazy) David (1^st person ever to be voted out of the house) Jon (when was the last time MTV had a virgin country singer on screen) and Dominic (the old looking Irish dude)

Season 3 San Fran – Puck and Pedro (you had to be there. He stuck his finger the peanut butter. AIDS awareness hit home in a completely new way.) Judd and Pam (everyone knew they should be married)

Season 4 London- Lets be honest, the dog was the most interesting character in these season. I would not remember it at all if Neil hadn’t gotten his tongue bitten in half.

Season 5 Miami- Housemates get a job. What? Melissa and the 3 way. Flora and her antics. Dan the man. They were just a mess and it was awesome.

Season 6 Boston – Everyone in this house was dysfunctional or in a dysfunctional relationship, but Syrus was hot.

Season 7 Seattle – The slap heard round the world. Irene and Stephen It might not be nice/appropriate to out people on national TV before they are ready, but it makes for great “Did you see that?” conversation.

Season 8 Hawaii- Ruthie (She actually came to my undergrad to speak. I was late and missed her.) Tech. That really uptight guy and the WAY to skinny girl. Colin and Amaya and that drama. ALL ridiculous. Mostly awesome. Except for the drunk driving- NOT COOL.

Season 9 New Orleans- Mormon Julie learning about life outside the bubble, David’s terrible song, Manic Melissa, cute Danny and Kelly, who was never there.

Season 10 Return to NY – Cora, the Miz and 2 biracial people trying to find themselves. I loved this one in spite of the worn out formula. They made it fun.

Every season since then has just gotten to be like soft-core nonsense. Everyone is drunk and in the hot tub. There are no deep discussions on race, politics or life. Just sex, clubbing and drinking. Nobody is being real because their too drunk or horny or both.

House Hunters- The tag line is right. I know I want to look. I also want to critique other peoples taste and laugh while their unrealistic expectations come crashing down. Of course you can get a four bedroom 3.5 bath house with a pool and yard space with completed in-law suite for $120,000 in the middle of downtown. HA!

Teen Mom (Original 16 and Pregnant cast) -These girls are the epitome of what I mean by unintentional entertainment. I respect them for trying to show that being a teenage parent is hard. Watching them would certainly make me think twice. Watching them try to make grown-up choices with teenage logic is priceless.

Ice Loves Coco- This is the best show I never thought I would like. “No flats in my house”, the egg sandwiches, the flatulent dog. It is hilarious. The best part is that you can tell that they love each other. I could quote Coco all day. “Be the worlds best elbow licker.”

*Special Mention:

Cheaters – They once found a man with a goat in the bed, not to mention the sex club, truck stop rendezvous, and the uncovering a few down low dudes. At 2 AM this show is always the best thing on.

Intervention – I love to hear the back story and I am a sucker for a happy ending. I always want them to get help and get better. I can’t help it.

Hoarders- It makes me feel better about my mess.