tv rots your brain

I never watched much television until I was in college, when I suddenly had much more free time than I did in high school. I also didn't have to tussle with my younger brother over the remote anymore. It all began innocently enough. I invited a couple friends over on a Wednesday evening and we'd order pizza and watch Dawson's Creek (give me a break, I was 18, hello target audience!) A couple semesters later, my roommate was a complete tv addict. Seriously, she would even leave it on in the background to HELP her get to sleep (how fun for me, right?) This led to me getting irritated with the roommate and fleeing to whatever friend would let me escape to his or her house. If it was too early to go out and/or we had nothing better to do, we would watch tv. You're probably wondering "well, why didn't you just stay in your room if you're going to do the exact same thing" - unless you lived in the dorms, in which case you immediately understand. That scene can get tense. A change of company and scenery goes a looong way toward preventing additional ugliness between anybody forced to share confined living quarters.

Anyhoo, one friend whose house I sought frequent refuge at introduced me to MTV Real World marathons! You sit in front of the tv for hours! That was probably the gateway "drug" By my last semester of college, I was living alone and watching a lot of FX Network because they played back-to-back episodes of Ally McBeal and *cringe* Beverly Hills 90210 (to be fair, I never watched 90210 when it actually aired because I actually had a life at that point in time). My boyfriend also contributed to my couch potato ways. One weekend we didn't make any plans, and I turned to him and said "I've never watched tv on a Friday night before, because I'm usually out, not home, what is on?" and he chuckled the way a crack dealer chuckles when the person he gave a free "taste" to approaches him later. We used to religiously tune into Iron Chef on the Food Network, just to laugh at it. We would turn on the tv while we cooked dinner together, then watch a show while we ate, and continue to lay there in a food coma afterwards.

We go through phases of watching shows. I like re-runs because as I mentioned, I didn't view most or any of the episodes the first time around so it seems new to me. I caught up with Friends, Sex and the City, Will & Grace, Felicity, Surreal Life, Seinfeld, Boy Meets Boy, Single and the City, Sopranos, and Melrose Place. This summer I began watching the re-runs of the first "cycle" of America's Next Top Model and became addicted. Despite all the hours I log in front of my set, usually I can take or leave tv. I'll put Style Network or VH1 on and then get sidetracked by a phone call or start reading something, and not really care if I can't pay attention to whatever program. But now I eagerly await Wednesday nights and give ANTM my full focus. This show is terrible but it is genius. Watch it, you'll see. I also like The Apprentice and Scrubs. I hate to admit it, but I've also seen a couple episodes of Laguna Beach on MTV. I couldn't get into the OC but this is ok. Though the 2 brunette friends remind me of Rich Girls Ali Hilfiger and Jamie Gleischer. I'd probably enjoy Extreme Makeover, the Swan, and Niptuck if they didn't have the graphic surgical footage. I'm upset Queer Eye seems to be taking a hiatus, I miss drooling over Kyan and snickering at Carson's commentary. I also got a kick out of the Things I Hate About You show that ran after QE - a couple presents video evidence of their mate's most annoying habits. Made my relationship seem totally normal in comparison! I'm grateful my boyfriend wouldn't sell me out on national tv and film me at my worst. Why should he when I can sufficiently embarrass myself by confessing what a boob tube lover I've become?