In Which I Justifiably Berate Myself

All week long, I had planned on posting today about the last of the three reality shows I enjoy. Last night, however, I was returned, ironically, to reality whilst watching “American Masters” on PBS.

I was furious with myself. What was I doing watching silly junk food programming when I could instead learn in awe about Jose Orozco and Diego Rivera, pioneering, daring, and wondrously talented Mexican muralists whose work left me frozen with knitting needles in hand, wondering how I ever dared to think myself talented?

Maybe that’s the problem with television today. Just like the typical American diet has led to rampant obesity and illness, the average network programming has led to widespread stupidity and incuriousness.

Of course, if people didn’t want to watch stupidity in action, the ratings would be bad, the advertisers would leave, and the networks would pull the shows. So the show goes on and we all pay the price in brain cells. I’d rather lose mine over a cocktail, thank you very much.

Now don’t get me wrong. I’m not saying people don’t deserve a little junk food now and then; nothing tastes quite like a baggy of hot salty French fries. Yet, this is a guilty, and hopefully, rare pleasure. The same argument could be made for Reality Shows.

Am I going to give up watching “How Clean Is Your House?” No, probably not, but I am definitely going to watch more American Masters and History and Biography.

By the way, if you were wondering what the third show was that I was going to highlight, it was HGTV’s “Design Star,” because it involves home design, decorating, and art. Unfortunately, it also includes a few stupid and/or combative people selected to heighten the drama and, in turn, the viewership.

Me? I just like seeing what a true artist can make of a blank canvas (or wall).

Comments

[PixelPi]

I have recently discovered a channel called Ovation that has wonderful art and music shows such as the ones you describe. Ovation has saved me from many a reality show. But now I'm all in a tizzy waiting for the new Ken Burns epic on PBS Sunday night. I will watch every blasted minute. Just as I did The Civil War. There is life after reality shows. I'll call the Cleaning Ladies in about 2 weeks after my house has gone without cleaning because of Ken Burns.

[Margery]

Not to change the sugject, but how is Daisy? The last I read, she was losing weight and you were expecting the worst...

[Karalyn]

When I first lived in Mexico City in 1964, I fell in love with the 3 muralists: Orozco, Rivera and Siqueiros. I loved their work. You are not alone on the TV thing --- wish I had known they were doing that on PBS as I would have have been glued to the TV set. Hopefully they will repeat it. I did enjoy the bio on pianist Rosina Lhevinne. My mother was a piano teacher and I grew up with a great love for Madam Rosina and all those (like Van Cliburn) whom she nurtured. Thanks for the reminder that there is more to TV than reality shows --- although I also enjoy Design Star and Top Chef!