It’s funny how writing things down often put them in perspective. As I went back and read over the last post, I realized I had only written about reality shows. Maybe this says something about the state of television programming these days. It’s no secret that many of the major networks have gotten away from original, scripted programming for cheaper and often less creative shows.
Now don’t get me wrong. I am not bashing reality shows at all. A good 90% of my TV viewing is reality (although I’ve tried really hard to bring that number down). But every now and then I like to tap into the intellectual side of my brain. Surprisingly enough, there is much to be learned from watching certain shows. And no, they don’t always have to be documentaries.
Let’s take a look.
Intelligent Entertainment (have a dictionary and map handy)
- The Amazing Race – Yes, another reality show. The premise of this show is that the contestants travel all over the world, trying to be the first to complete certain tasks that are often physically and mentally tasking. The goal is to be the first (and definitely not the last) to get the finish line each leg. For those of us who are geographically challenged, this show offers a weekly lesson that would rival many college courses. The next time you’re at a cocktail party, you can impress the other guests by asking if they new the Seychelles is a chain of 115 islands in the Indian Ocean and one of the islands, La Digue is over 1,000 miles away from the nearest continent. This is sure to get some eye browsed raised.
- The Oprah Winfrey Show – I struggle with this one. It has been added and deleted from the season pass list on my DVR more times than I can count. Sometimes I just cannot deal. Too much Dr. Oz and Suze Orman can be a bit much, in my opinion. But I cannot discount all of the knowledge I’ve gained from watching this show over the years. Who knew the movie, Food Inc even existed? I’m about thisclose to being a vegetarian.
- Gossip Girl – I can hear it now. Yes, yes, I watch this show. I resisted it for the first couple of seasons, but I just happened to be flipping through one night last year and a particular scene caught my eye. I watched the rest of the episode and was instantly hooked. The vocabulary of these kids is way more advanced than mine or any of my friends at that age. I’m actually thinking about having a little dictionary beside me every time I watch. One other reason for my fascination with the show could be that I’m completely enamoured by all things to do with NY high society. It’s really inexplicable.
- Mad Men – The good old 60′s. Women were treated like crap and expected to stay at home doing house work and raising the kids while being dressed every day as if they were going to a Broadway play. Men were treated like kings and could get away with slapping their secretaries across the behind on the regular. Smoking in the workplace was not only accepted, it was probably expected. I probably would have been miserable had I been around during this decade but it sure is fun to watch it unfold on screen. The costumes and set decoration alone are enough to make me want to go all retro. I’ve talked about this show before and still think it’s one of the best on TV. It’s a weekly history lesson with a shot of good bourbon.
- Damages – Our legal system can be manipulated to make Satan look like a choir boy. A good, corrupt lawyer is apparently not that hard to come by. I’ve learned things from watching this show that give me nightmares about catching a case. What makes it so real is that thus far, all of the major story lines have been ripped right out of the major news stories of today. Stories that you’ve probably only watched or read about with passing interest unless you were directly involved (i.e. Bernie Madoff) are played out in a way that make you feel as though you were part of the scandal. It’s the type of show you consider watching each episode twice just because you know you missed something.
