Reality Shows that Got Me Hooked (and why I think they are a refreshing diversion)

by Yoly Tumangan Tubalinal.
January 16, 2012
The news and politics that dominate the airwaves today can be very stressful and frustrating. As I try to keep myself abreast of world events, national and local issues that “occupy” major networks, the mindless chatters, utterly disgusting hypocrisy and in your face lying of people involved in this daily political discourse make me feel sick.
I agree that I can’t completely turn my mind away from the political conversation as there are questions that beg for answers and concerns that must be addressed. And having thrown myself into the ring by maintaining a column in MegaScene, I know that I must not only make my opinion known, I must also make it count.
So, surely I will go back to writing about current and hot issues. As a person with a very strong point of view, I don’t think I can remain detached and quiet for long. Right now, however, I’ve chosen to take a break from politics and talk instead about something else, something light so to speak. I’ll let you in on the TV programs I watch when I’m not tuned in on CNN and MSNBC, or sometimes, when I want to briefly get annoyed, on FOX News.
Over the past several months, I’ve been hooked into some reality shows that made me change my initial prejudice against them. While I never really watched such shows as The Bachelor, Jersey Shore, Real Housewives of Beverly Hills and the like, or developed a liking for Jon and Kate Plus 8, The Apprentice, and Dancing with the Stars despite having watched them a few times, I found myself drawn to such shows as Project Runway, HGTV’s Divine Design, Design on a Dime, Curb Appeal, etc. , Food Network’s Chopped and America’s Iron Chef and lately, Super Nanny and America’s Super Nanny. Here’s what I’ve found interesting and relevant about each of these shows.
PROJECT RUNWAY is a show that highlights the creative vision, technical skills, competitive spirit, attitude and sportsmanship of the participants. I enjoy watching each of those aspiring designers tackle the challenge with their distinctive and peculiar tastes and style and marvel at the clothes they have created at the end of each challenge. I am intrigued by the aspiring designers’ unexpected points of view and like the contestants themselves, I hold my breath each time two pairs are left on stage. From one of these pairs, a designer would be relishing that moment with his or her winning creation and from the other pair, one devastated soul would be packing and cleaning up his or her space. The designer turns the light in his or her work space off and walks away. End of that episode.
The fashion show at the Bryant Park runway where three or four finalists unveil their personal line of 12 cohesive designs has always been a fascinating farewell to a colorful season of Project Runway. I have genuinely enjoyed each show and honestly think it’s one of the best and most entertaining reality TV shows I’ve seen.
CHOPPED , another reality show I have enjoyed immensely is also about competitive skills, talent, creative vision, passion and attitude. This contest pits 4 professional chefs against one another in the toughest and most demanding and time-pressured conditions to come up with the best tasting, best looking, most original dish from the surprise ingredients and within the timeframe given them. It was so much fun just watching what the chefs go through to come up with gorgeous looking, unique and great tasting dishes judged and rated by only the best and most respected master chefs in the food network.
The only downside of watching CHOPPED or IRON CHEF is the urge I get to check out our ref for some gustatory relief. Those dishes also make you really want to go out for a gourmet meal.
The before and after revelations of homes and living spaces in HGTV programs like Design on a Dime, Divine Design, Curb Appeal, List It or Love It, Color Splash and other similar programs fascinate me the most. I am amazed at how an uninviting and dull room, façade, outdoor space and yard can magically transform into a charming space that addresses all of the dwellers’ needs and wishes with a very tight budget to work with. For example, in the case of “Design on a Dime,” the design team has to make do with $1,000 budget. The dramatic makeover is always inspired by the homeowners’ individual preferences and personalities which find expression in the designers’ blueprint. The plan unfolds itself in stages as the awesome teamwork of the HGTV design team puts the pieces together and the vision is completed and revealed at the conclusion of the program, always to the great delight of every homeowner.
SUPER NANNY and its copycat, AMERICA’S SUPER NANNY are programs I used to pass when flipping from channel to channel in search of something that would catch my fancy. Not anymore. When I have time, and as long as there isn’t a more interesting special or program to watch, I sit tight and relax for an hour of amusing but valuable SUPER NANNY experience. I wish we had this help two decades ago when I still had a need for it. Though my kids came out okay (actually, I should probably say better than okay just in case they accidentally read this), I could have gained more insights into better parenting techniques that Super Nanny teaches the families who have reached out for her help.
The parenting problem situations featured in each episode were familiar and real challenges facing parents as they juggle their responsibilities and roles as working parents. Funny how we often ignore seemingly insignificant observations at home only to find out that they would have been the key to discovering some untold stories and suppressed feelings that could have saved our kids from running into trouble later.
I guess I should say there’s no telling what reality TV show you’d like, or how one show could impact your life. It really depends on your preference – your interests and your needs. As for me, I just know that if it were my daughter, she’d simply label the shows I watch as “cheesy,” whatever it means…