Gleeful through the Tears

Last night was the most powerful episode of the TV show GLEE.
Hilariously called "Grilled Cheesus" it focused on religion, faith, beliefs, fear, and doubt. It really hit home for me, and despite feeling terribly sick, I cried my way through the episode.

After my father's death 5 years ago, and my mom's struggle with MS, I've found myself doubting my faith again & again. I get angry because my mom is probably the most devout person I've ever known, and yet she suffers in pain every day. Mom never missed a Holy Day or Sunday at Church. She prays daily. She is a kind, giving person. She is unable to walk at all. She had been a professional figure skater & dancer, and this is the punishment she has been given. Why?!?!

My father was raised by faithful parents, and converted to Catholicism as an adult. He would have loved to have been a priest, and vowed to if mom had passed away first. He adored my mom and took incredible care of her. He taught me to expect a lot from a husband...and life. Then, despite being incredibly healthy & strong, in a moment he died. Fast, unexpected, and long before his time. Why?!?!

So I'm grateful to the cast of GLEE for their bravery in presenting a topic, that could be so controversial, so eloquently.

The REAL World

What happens when 20 seasons go by and The Real World is still on MTV?

Yeah, can you believe this season is The Real World XX? Somehow I think its only appropriate that they are defining it by the roman numerals because it reflects exactly what the show has become...some double X soft core porn programming rather than the sociological experiment it began as.

I admit that on the rare occasion of channel flipping I will sometimes stop on the show for a few minutes (because I can't stomach an entire episode anymore) and lament the "days of yore" when it was actually an really fun & interesting show that really sparked the entire reality TV genre. Remember those first seasons in NY or London when the cast were actually intelligent (or at least fairly so) and had some talent and some goals? Now it seems the casts are nothing but oversexed bums who really have no real goals.

Well I was curious to find out if my impression was actually true, so I did a brief websearch of "where are they now?" Real World cast members. Guess what? It seems that those early cast members have, indeed, gone on to do some pretty impressive things with their lives. They are doctors, Disney executives, movie actors, even a D.A. here in Wisconsin. And the cast members from the more recent years? One was arrested for grand theft auto & prostitution, another several have been in Playboy, and more yet continue to make their "careers" by being on multiple seasons of MTV's Challenge shows, dating other cast members. Yeah, I get that those more recent cast members aren't as old as the beginning season members, but it was a matter of looking at what they did shortly after their stint on the reality show ended.

I think something has most definately changed in the mindset & intellect of young people in 20 years time. The sex, the fights, the illegal activity...its not only become a way of life but entertainment, as well! Or perhaps its because it has become entertainment that its become a way of life?

I wish that people would go back to being real. REAL responsible. REAL ambitious. REAL aware. That's The Real World kids.

I'm Addicted, I admit it...

Addicted to select reality shows. I can't help it. Now, I've never watched a single episode of "The Bachelor", and I haven't been able to care about "The Real World" since MTV started casting only drunken whores & homophobic frat boys on the show. Other than the train wreck that is the auditions, I couldn't care less about watching "American Idol". BUT, there are some shows, the BRAVO channels ones specifically, that are a weekly addiction to which I must have my fix. It started with "Queer Eye..." and from there has spawned into a need to get my fix with "Project Runway", closely followed by "Top Chef". (Sorry, "Top Designer" was a bit of a let down, though it didn't stop the hubby & I from watching each week.) Elsewhere you'll find my TV tuned to "Hell's Kitchen" and "So You Think You Can Dance"(where I feel they really do have talent, really do have to stretch outside of their comfort zones, and where the audience actually can learn something). I took dance for years, and so I know how hard it really is to learn these routines in only 3 days. I've wished I was good enough to be a chef, so I admire their palates & ingenuity. And, the thing is, these are the ONLY television my husband will actually sit down & watch. Who am I to deny an uninterrupted hour with him? So, there you have it, I'm finally admitting it out loud...I'm addicted.

Farewell my friends...talk hard, talk fast

Today is a sad day for me. My favourite TV show is ending & I just found out this morning thanks to Christine. For several years now my family knows that Tuesday nights are mine to share with Lorelai & Rory...the Gilmore Girls. These witty women with their endless pop culture references are like old friends I've witnessed change & grow. They could easily fit in with my real-life group of friends. I've wondered what it would be like to stay at the Dragonfly Inn in Stars Hallow. My daughter had watched the show and views Rory as a bit of a role model and has often said how glad she is that she & I have as close of a relationship as the characters do. And now there are only 2 episodes left before those "friends" are gone forever...with no advance warning of their departure. I'd have a farewell party if only I knew anyone else who watched the show as faithfully as I have. In true Gilmore style I'll wear a black veiled hat on May 15th.

Kindness

I've had some really crappy jobs. Ok, maybe the jobs weren't really crappy, but some of the people I've worked with...or for...have been. So now that I have a job I really enjoy and some amazing people to work for & with, I am grateful. Today they proved even more how sweet they are by giving me a "congratulations on the baby/we'll miss you while you're on maternity leave" luncheon. Yummy Mexican food, adorable presents for baby boy, and a $50 gift card to "use on baby if you must, but really you should use it for yourself". This from 2 great bosses & 1 co-worker whom I can't appreciate enough. Yeah...sometimes you have to see why the people & the job are worth more than the low salary.

Speaking of kindness, I was actually touched by last night's season finale of "Beauty & the Geek". Yes, I admit to being an addicted fan of the reality show, but it reminds me of oh-so-many people I've know...both the beauties AND the geeks. My favourite "geek" won, which made me happy, but it was the second place "geek" that was the real hero of the show. See, his teammate, this bimbo named CeCe, hadn't changed, hadn't been affected by the experiment of the show, hadn't grown as a person. She is the kind of person who believes she deserves to be pampered, taken care of, and have only wealthy men in her life...and will stomp on anyone who tries to prevent her from having it. Her bleached blonde, little girly voice image had to be preserved at any cost...and because of it, her partner Nate, was more than willing to give up the $250,000 prize money in the hopes that maybe, just maybe someday she would learn a lesson from the whole thing. It was about his growth, his self-sacrifice in this day & age when most people really seem out for the cash, the glory, the celebrity of reality TV. He proved that the point of the show really is about people and self-growth. Maybe its goofy to be moved by a TV show created by Ashton Kutcher of all people...but it seems like one of the few shows on primetime these days that really gets into the psyche and emotions and basics of people and stereotypes...and that kindness does win in the end.