My zeal for the “real”

A few years ago, I considered myself above reality TV.

I thought it was so incredibly stupid. The shenanigans that went on in “Big Brother” and “Survivor” weren’t reality. Those shows just had a bunch of self-serving, attention-seeking nincompoops who did things I’d never consider appropriate for television.

A few years later, I’m an addict.

It started slowly — I sometimes sat watching “America’s Got Talent” because the combination of Piers Morgan, Sharon Osbourne and The Hoff was really funny. Not regularly, mind you, just every once in a whileAnd sometimes I’d watch “Nanny 911.” You know, because I was a babysitter and I found enjoyment in shaking my head at the incompetence of some parents.

My big intro to reality TV didn’t come until freshman year. My roommate liked it a lot, and she spent a lot of hours watching it. As much as I tried to concentrate on Facebook, I was drawn to it.

Some of it was pretty stupid. Actually, all of it was pretty stupid. But that didn’t keep me from spending 90 minutes watching the “Real Chance of Love” season finale with her.

I slowly learned that some of my friends watched reality TV, too. I still thought it was silly — and was ashamed of the hours I’d spent watching it with my roommate — but I was willing to give it a try.I didn’t get into “For the Love of Ray J” or any of several other shows, but then I found it.

A cake show.

I don’t remember which one it was (there are several now, and we get them confused), but I loved it. I sat on my friend’s couch last summer, watching with anticipation as beautiful cakes were created from scratch. I love cakes, and these cakes were so ornate. I was hooked.

I stayed on my friend’s couch that day and watched “Bridezillas.” Later came “Toddlers & Tiaras” and “Wife Swap.” We had “Say Yes to the Dress” nights all school year. My current reality horror of choice is “The Real Housewives of New Jersey.”

Why am I drawn to this genre — if one can call it that — I used to despise? Why is anyone? What is it about seeing people shop for dresses, make food, lose weight, turn their little girls into Barbie dolls and whatever else that’s so amusing?

Part of it is the humor value. We talk through shows, commenting on people who are for some reason absolutely nuts.

Part of it is the visual buffet — because who doesn’t like looking at beautiful dresses and multi-layer cakes?

Part of it is definitely the similarity to seeing a train wreck. It’s just so hard to look away.

Reality TV has gone nuts. There are far more shows on almost any subject imaginable than one person can watch. People air their very personal business and generally make fools of themselves. It’s created some celebrities, improved personal situations and ruined marriages — sometimes all in one show. (Jon and Kate, anyone?)

And the part of me that thinks the whole business is utterly ridiculous — fake drama, ridiculous people and far too many channels — is slowly being subverted by the part of me that has jumped on the bandwagon and just can’t look away.


E-mail: hanns@indiana.edu