Posts Tagged ‘Reality TV’

Jason Killian Meath

Lost in Celebrity: Jon and Kate Detonate

by Jason Killian Meath

It’s clear: Jon and Kate shouldn’t procreate. The “grocery-aisle-reading” public know Jon and Kate Gosselin from the tabloid tsunami over the reality TV couple’s impending divorce and apparent infidelity. For the rest of the fortuitous one percent who don’t know who I’m talking about — “Jon and Kate Plus 8” is a program in its fifth season on cable channel TLC.  he show was originally intended to chronicle two stressed-out, but steadfast, parents who attempt to raise a pair adorable twins and a set of sextuplets in the ‘burbs. ”It might be a crazy life,” mommy Kate says in the opening credits, “but it’s our life” adds daddy Jon. But lately, ‘crazy’ means Kate discovering Jon sleeping with babysitters, tabloid reporters and a bevy of bar room broads. Meantime, Jon calls the cops on Kate to throw her off the property during daddy’s visiting hours. Yep — it’s just good ol’ American family fun on TLC — “The Learning Channel.”

Thankfully, these gory details aren’t directly addressed on the program – at least, not yet. Instead, the show attempts to behave as if viewers are still interested in mommy’s camping trip, or her recipe for Moose Munch, or dad’s go-kart race. Hard to believe just a year ago, Jon and Kate were featured giving marital tips, writing a book about touching family moments — even renewing wedding vows in Hawaii. This was actually when everyone might have become suspicious — since when did renewing vows half way around the world become so important to a family of eight kids? Since Mom caught Dad bedding the chick from the biker bar down the street.  (more…)

John Nolte

Kourtney Kardashian: Reality Star Chooses Life

by John Nolte

This is an amazing story. Not because Kourtney Kardashian, a reality television star, chose not to abort her child, but rather her willingness to candidly discuss the evolution of her thinking as she mulled her “choice.” I’ve emphasized the most powerful parts of her statement; the parts that must sound like nails on a chalkboard to an abortion industry not used to this kind of thing from young, female celebrities:

“I definitely thought about it long and hard, about if I wanted to keep the baby or not, and I wasn’t thinking about adoption,” … “I do think every woman should have the right to do what they want, but I don’t think it’s talked through enough. I can’t even tell you how many people just say, ‘Oh, get an abortion.’ Like it’s not a big deal.”

I looked online, and I was sitting on bed hysterically crying, reading these stories of people who felt so guilty from having an abortion,” she recalls. “I was reading these things of how many people are traumatized by it afterwards.”

(more…)

Morgan Warstler

Public Healthcare = Reality Televison

by Morgan Warstler

The ugly truth about the health care debate can be summed up by the nightmare created by reality television: non-union actors (who we call “scabs” during strikes) are threatening the long standing system by jumping into the pool without regard for those who have worked hard to achieve their status and benefits.

Listening to Obama talk about covering the 47 million uninsured sounds great.  It’s the equivalent of saying EVERYONE should be able to participate, to try out for parts, and get treated as well as the top 1% of actors.

Except therein lies the difference.  If the non-union or “uninsured” jump into the pool, everyone on the union job is going to receive less pay, or the insured will receive less health care. (more…)

Guy Benson

The Soup: Mmm-Mmm Good

by Guy Benson

Is your TiVo programmed to record such timeless TV classics as: The Hills, America’s Next Top Model, For the Love of Ray-J, Keeping Up With The Kardashians, Denise Richards: It’s Complicated, Rock of Love, Charm School, Daisy of Love, Bad Girls Club, The Tyra Banks Show, I Love Money 2,  The Real World, Dancing With the Stars, The Celebrity Apprentice, From G’s to Gents, The Girls of Hedsor Hall, Judge Judy, or the fourth hour of the Today Show

Neither is mine.

Fortunately Joel McHale & Co. monitor all of these fine programs-and countless others-on my behalf, identify their most absurd moments, then mock them mercilessly in an easy-to-swallow half hour of weekly television fun.  Welcome to The Soup, which airs Friday nights at 10pm ET on E! 

The show, which has existed in various iterations for years, has reached new comedic heights on McHale’s watch.  In a nutshell, it features 22 minutes of distilled television trash; the very worst of what American culture has to offer.  Degenerate attention-seekers looking for “true love?”  Check.  Startlingly self-absorbed celebrities padding their inflated egos?  Indeed.  Washed-up/cashed-strapped stars demeaning themselves for a paycheck?  Oh yes.  The Soup peddles in the lowest- common-denominator programming that’s beamed to cable boxes and satellite dishes from coast to coast every day.  (more…)

Rodney Lee Conover

The Obama Hollywood Fallout

by Rodney Lee Conover

Good news for anyone connected to President Obama: Hollywood may soon be calling.

That’s right, not just the rich, famous or politically connected; but your average, everyday working person with some sort of connection to the newly installed First Family could very well be on their way to big-time celebrity.

Because according to The Hollywood Reporter, a company called, ‘44 Blue Productions’ is pitching a reality show to cable networks, starring one Johnny Wright — who has been Michelle Obama’s hairstylist for the past year. I figure this is good news for lots of folks. (more…)