Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Reality Shows? No Thanks—Give Me Variety Shows!
Flipping channels the other day, one thing became abundantly clear—there are too many reality TV shows out there! People trying to survive living on island jungles; people vying to be the next big restaurant chef, runway model, clothing designer, home decorator, singer or entertainer; people trying to catch cheating spouses, kick drug addictions, lose weight, find their perfect mate, plan their perfect wedding…and the list goes on!
When I watch TV, I don’t want to be caught up in anyone else’s real-life drama; I don’t want to be sucked into anyone else’s real-life problems--I want escapism!
The variety shows I remember transported me right out of reality and directly into fantasy and fun. Didn’t you love Jack Benny’s exasperated “Well!” and Ed Sullivan’s fabulous Broadway guests? Red Skelton’s Clem Kadiddlehopper and Freddy the Freeloader? Martin & Lewis’ slapstick comedy, and the over-the-top antics of British scamp Benny Hill? Goldie Hawn’s painted sock-it-to-me girl and Cher’s leopard-clad laundro-mat diva Laverne? Every week, we tuned in to see our favorite hosts and the characters we loved, and we didn’t have to worry that they’d been voted off or eliminated!
You can keep those reality shows; I’ll take the good, old-fashioned entertainment of variety shows any day!
posted by Betty at
8:36 AM
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