What? As the band ‘Bowling for Soup’ said in the song ‘1985’, “when did reality become TV?” Seriously!

I don’t have television, is that a collective gasp I just heard? Summer of 2009, I decided to cancel my cable to save money, it wasn’t so bad, when they canceled the cable, I still had about 80 channels, and then a few months later, I started traveling and I decided that I wanted to cancel my internet connection and just get an air-card, so I did. When they cut the line for the internet, they literally cut the cable, no stations, no fuzz, no nothing! Ok, still not a bad thing, I have a 400-disc dvd player/carousel that will play movies and music. It already had close to 300 movies and I’ve since added to the collection, so when I want to watch something, I just press play on the dvd player and away we go.

It truly hasn’t been a bad thing at all, I don’t really miss it, I don’t even watch tv shows on my laptop. Occasionally when I travel I might watch a show or two, but I don’t think I’ve really missed that much. I might decide to rent a few complete series sometime down the line, but right now, I’m ok.

Back to the reason for this posting… I go to the gym about 5 mornings a week, sometimes in the evening. I usually have my headphones on when I am running or reading a book while I am walking. Ok, I admit, there have been a few times that I have watched old episodes of Star Trek, the original series, on my phone, while walking. But what they have on at the gym for the most part is crap. Don’t get me wrong, there is at least one tv tuned to sports and another, maybe even two or three to news, but what gets me is the reality tv shows!

Who decides we need or want to watch this drivel??? The worst? How to decide? The Real Housewives of whatever! Don’t forget The Girls Next Door, The Hogans [whatever they were], The Kardashians, the list goes on and on.

These people have more money than they know what to do with and someone is giving them more and the public is eating it up! I will admit, I was a wee bit addicted to The Ozzbournes in the beginning, but it does wear off eventually. They didn’t irritate me as much as these other shows, with the Ozzbournes and Gene Simmons, Family Jewels, it’s the every day life of a family that we get to look in on, yes some of the family does stupid things, but [and I am probably contradicting myself here] they were a family and Ozzy is someone that has always fascinated me, as well as Gene Simmons and Shannon Tweed. You are watching a family unit, somewhat unusual, but a family unit. These others, I just don’t get it. They get more and more over the top, starting fights in the street, talking about each other behind their backs, what is the point?

The problem is, America is watching and just making them more and more money and fueling the fire bigger and bigger. Jersey Shore? Didn’t New Jersey have a bad enough reputation before this piece of drivel came along. I have to say, it’s nice to say, when someone asks, did you see…. happen on…., i can say, nope sorry, don’t have tv, don’t watch it. I won’t feign complete ignorance as to what the names of the shows are or who some of the big names are, I have the internet and thanks to the gym, I can see them on the small screen, but I am happy to say, I have no idea what Snookie did last week, with whom or where.  What I hear on the radio when they do their entertainment news segments is more than enough!

And, since these people have put their lives on display, they and the public find it fascinating or surprising when something goes wrong, ie, Hulk Hogan getting divorced! The show puts their entire lives out there for people to see and their actions and indiscretions…it’s not surprising that families are breaking up, the pressure to be on all the time and airing your dirty laundry? Yes, people want to know because we are inherently nosy, but come on, like we tell someone exposing themselves on the street, PUT IT AWAY!

Does this really mean that there are no new ideas, no good programming for us to watch? I guess so… I think I will stick to my movies. I am thinking about getting streaming internet again, but that’s just so I can sign up for Netflicks to get instant downloads on my Wii!