Reality television, why do I love you so?

I pains me to admit, but I am hopelessly and completely addicted to reality television. I can't get enough of it. Everything from The Dog Whisperer to Oprah to Dirty Jobs to the Food Network to Big Brother. If it's on, I watch it. The only sitcoms I watch are in reruns, and only if there isn't a reality show on that I want to see. The only non-reality television shows I watch are NCIS and House...and that doesn't always happen. I started watching NCIS when CSI became too gory, and because it's nice to have a show that both J and I are interested in. We also both enjoy House. Other than those two shows, I only watch reality t.v. I even love to watch infomercials. And, if I'm in the mood for an infomercial but can't find a good one, I will watch the home shopping channels. I don't buy anything, I just watch. (Okay, I do sometimes buy stuff, but it's RARE. In 10 years I've only made 4 purchases, and they've all been good ones!).

I do have standards when it comes to reality television, but what those are I probably couldn't tell you. Basically, I watch all reality t.v. EXCEPT the Bachelor or Bachelorette, Dancing with the Stars, and American Idol. Those shows I studiously avoid. I won't even watch them during commercials. On the other hand...

I've been addicted to Big Brother since the first season it aired. I have no idea why. The show has no redeeming qualities whatsoever as far as I can tell, yet three times a week I'm glued to the television for an hour. And, embarrassing as it is to admit, if I miss it, I get online and watch the complete episode on the computer. My ancient, slooooooow, computer. (Well, it's not really ancient, it's only 5 years old. But in computer years that's about 150, right?) We have DSL, but my poor computer just doesn't have enough memory to stream videos very well. Every 15 seconds or so, there's a 5-10 second pause while the computer rebuffers the video. But I sit and suffer through EVERY torturous second of rebuffering because I have to. I have a compulsion...an addiction.

I know it sounds like I watch a lot of television, but I don't really. I promise. Well, not during the school year, anyway. Last summer was a different story. J couldn't get much time off (read: NONE) because he's the nicest guy in his office, so I did a lot of sitting around by myself, whining. There's only so much cleaning one person can do, and I don't craft by myself very well. And, we bought a new truck, so I definitely had to curb the urge to shop. (I did very well, too, thank you very much! With the exception of books, and I don't think books count. C'mon, I'm an English teacher, it was inevitable!)

My other current favorite is Dirty Jobs with Mike Rowe on the Discovery Channel. (Sorry, Cesar Milan, wonderful as you are, you've been replaced!) If you haven't seen it, you have to. It's, in my opinion, PERFECT television. It's an educational show that is laugh-out-loud entertaining. The affable, easy-going, intelligent, hilarious, self-deprecating and delicious Mike Rowe goes around the country to visit people who have dirty jobs. Then, he learns how to do their jobs, often with mishaps.

That's what I tell people when I try to convince them to watch it. And it's mostly true. While I find the show interesting, my real reason for watching is that I have a not-so-secret, GIANT crush on Mike Rowe...much to my dear husband's amusement. There's just something about him. I can't quite put my finger on it, but I am mesmerized by Mike Rowe. But shh...don't tell anyone. That's just between you and me.