Reality; Life or TV?

I know the reality show contradiction has been discussed to death ("There's no 'reality' in those shows, it's all manufactured" "It's merely fun- a guilty pleasure," etc.), so I don't know why I'm continuing to drone on about the topic, but I can't help being fascinated by the phenomena and I'm still perplexed over why they're so damn popular- even after all the anthropological theories and hypotheses, such as: people release their pent-up anger and frustrations vicariously through watching people double deal, manipulate and back-stab each other- much like Roman citizens enjoyed watching the lions maul Christians or people feel better about themselves after seeing how low, petty and underhanded the contestants are to their peers; still I shake my head in disbelief. No doubt there are many who would shake their heads at me and wonder and pity at my need to continue to delve into the topic so deeply; why I need to dive head first into the shallow end of the pool.

I think it may be that I, too am a victim of these horrible, contrived and manipulative performances. I want to find out why I watch these shows and then maybe I could figure out how to extricate myself. Yes, I admit to watching "Project Runway" and "Top Chef" and I used to watch "American Idol." WHY? When I know that the best designer, chef or singer often doesn't win and that the producers control the votes so they can keep the most annoying idiot on in order to keep fans complaining and firing off angry e-mails and that the 'confessionals' are all filmed after the action and the voting is rigged, and maybe, just maybe, that's why I'm still consumed with trying to figure this out so I can stop being pulled in and stop being so angry at myself for succumbing to such transparent and I can stop listening to the same tired tactics, lines, dramas and judging over and over and over again. If I hear "I'm not here to make friends," "I came to win,"  "I'm better than everybody here," or "None of them want it as bad as me," one more time, I'm going to shoot somebody. There are TV channels who only broadcast a variety of these kinds of shows and I get marketing surveys in my e-mail asking if don't I think Bravo's or Showtime's or Oxygen's or whoever's reality programming is daring and innovative, not to mention unique and cutting edge and all I can think is: "Are you kidding me?"

I did manage to quit watching American Idol, partly because I'm too old to be partaking in such kiddy porn and partly because I truly love music. I got tired of the same tweeny, fresh-scrubbed American faces, the bubbly, pop singing Kellys,  Kellies or Carries and all the other nice, clean youths who always managed to beat out the fat, the old, and the plain with the knockout powerhouse voices like Tamyra Grey, Christina Christian, Kimberly Locke, Julie London, Jennifer Hudson and LaKeisha Jones (all women of colour by the way). The same with Top Chef. I guess I like that and Project Runway because at least they were creating something and I like seeing people create and how they manifest their creativity into a beautiful outfit or meal. But because I thought American Idol was not really about bel canto for its own sake I could more easily break the habit. Project Runway is about fashion and fashion  doesn't really have any profound implications, so the crass commercialism, the misplaced ambition and the nasty sniping and conniving does not offend me as it did on other shows- fashion is all about the bitch. But despite the fact that I have better things to do with my time than watching or even agonizing over why I watch, I tune into the new Top Chef or Project Runway every season- I wish I didn't. I did find though, that I really enjoyed Top Chef Masters despite the manipulative winner endings. Why? I think because the Master Chefs had accomplished their goals, were more comfortable and secure in their skills and except for a few braggarts, most of them seemed truly humble and gracious winners and losers,  and with very little sniping and trash talk, unlike the regular Top Chef (or Project Runway) shows and I could just enjoy the creative competition, rather than all the back stage drama that I find so annoying and puerile.

I guess that doesn't really answer the question, but I know someday, hopefully, people will tire of this thin and derivative format and move on to something better- however, TV has never been a bastion of quality entertainment or good taste, so I'm not holding my breath. It's not that I don't think TV shouldn't be entertaining, but in the words of sci-fi writer Harlan Ellison, does it have to be the lowest common denominator of entertainment?

Racism in America

Regarding the racial incident involving Henry Louis Gates in the US:
I saw many nasty comments like 'Ohio Granny' on Slate.com saying: "Professor Gates claims ‘they wouldn’t treat me like this if I were white’. See? How does he know that? It is the classic assumption that goes through their (italics mine) heads all the time.”

How does he know? He's a smart man; he can figure it out, but he most likely knows from experience; it's a pretty familiar scenario. My story is a little different. One night, I came home somewhat wasted, after partying to all hours and left my backpack in the cab. My keys were in there and I couldn't get in the house, so I jimmied the lock and then tried to climb through the window. Someone no doubt saw me and called the cops; they arrived pretty quickly. You can't get them to come when someone's lying on the street or getting beaten up, but property is always a serious issue in the US. They snuck up behind me and told me to stop what I was doing. I think they doubted my belligerent, slurred words, but they at least checked out my story with the neighbours; I don't know why they went to that much trouble for me; I was rude and loud and aggressive- could it be that I'm white?

I also love the fact that so many liberals are now saying racism no longer exists in the US because Obama is president. Tune into Fox News (don't you just love Ann Coulter?) some night- where Islam is called a “terrorist cult” and Obama is ‘revealed’ as a non-American and you’ll see racism is alive and well in America, unfortunately.