Life without reality TV like life without…food?

My old roommate really liked a certain soap opera. Actually, to say she liked it would be an… My old roommate really liked a certain soap opera. Actually, to say she liked it would be an understatement. Since she was never really home during the time of the day that it aired, she would tape it every day without fail and watch Monday through Friday’s episodes over the weekend.

One time when she was watching it while I was in the room, I decided to give it a chance. Excited at my interest, she filled me in on what was going on. After only a couple of minutes, I had to leave the room, finding myself in complete disbelief that such a smart girl was so enraptured by such crap. It seemed completely mindless and superficial, and I couldn’t imagine what such programming could possibly offer her.

When I questioned her on it, she responded back by saying, “I don’t see how it’s any worse than all the reality TV you watch.”

She was completely right.

When it comes to watching reality television, almost nothing is too trashy, pointless or unsubstantial. I think this pastime began when my parents finally let me watch MTV and I watched my first season of “The Real World” (it was “Real World Seattle” for anyone who’s wondering). Ever since then, my pathetic reality television addiction has spiraled out of control.

I have no problem admitting my guilty pleasure, which is why I don’t understand why other people have a problem with it. I can definitely acknowledge that reality television can be a bit mindless – OK, it is pretty much always mindless – but I resent when people believe that whoever enjoys it is as empty as the programming.

I don’t think there’s anything wrong with watching reality television, as long as it’s not the only thing you watch. I consider myself a relatively informed person and like several non-reality shows, but that doesn’t stop me from enjoying the good ol’ fashion drunk scream fests on “The Real World.”

I think this is because sometimes, after a long day, all I want to do is lie in bed and completely zone out. For those periods, I don’t want to think about who’s going to win the 2008 presidential election. I don’t want to hear about the latest inappropriate comment made by some high-ranking person. And sometimes I can’t even handle contemplating the complicated plots in “Lost.” Sometimes I just don’t want to think; I want to be entertained.

We all have our guilty pleasures. For some it’s watching style shows on television. For others it’s following celebrity news. For some it’s sitting in front of the television and playing video games. Even Miranda from “Sex and the City” had an affinity for trashy celebrity gossip magazines, and she was a successful New York City lawyer! I understand the show is fiction, but I’m sure there’s at least one successful New York City lawyer out there who likes those magazines.

The fascination with reality television is weird, though, because I always find myself unbelievably annoyed with the “characters.” I mostly get frustrated because they’re rich spoiled brats, yet I give them what they want by watching them on television. I don’t want to be anything like these people, but for some reason, I like watching them. Maybe it’s because I like to see people other than myself make fools of themselves and since I don’t know them, I don’t feel bad about laughing at their humiliation.

I also get annoyed when reality show “characters” continue to make repeat appearances. Anyone who’s watched any of the MTV challenge shows knows what I’m talking about. I find it pathetic that these people, these adults, continue to come back on the shows. Don’t they have real jobs? Come on people, get a life. But then I must ask myself: Who’s more pathetic? Them because they’re making a living on reality television shows, or me because I continue to watch them?

Although I see nothing wrong with enjoying reality television now, I do plan on cutting it out of my life eventually. I don’t really think it would be appropriate for me to be watching “Laguna Beach” season 30 with my future daughter. But the way I see it, as long as I’m a student, any kind of a student, reality television is still excusable.

The process of eliminating reality television from life will need to be slow and gradual. I’ve already made some positive steps. For example, there are a few shows that I watched a couple of years ago that I can now simply no longer tolerate. Also, my goal of being on “The Real World” has been replaced by more ambitious and prosperous ambitions. Now I’m shooting for “Survivor.”

Do reality shows trump trashy soap operas? E-mail Anjali at amn17@pitt.edu.