Reality Bytes- Part 2

With a set of fraternal twin girls (Mady & Kara, age 8 ) and a set of sextuplets, (Collin, Leah, Joel, Hannah, Aaden & Alexis, age 4) the Gosselins a.k.a. Jon & Kate Plus 8 are hardly your typical American family.  The show follows the family through their daily lives, focusing on the challenges of raising multiple children. While part of me feels this show has run it’s course, another part of me would really miss seeing this family each week. All of the kids have their own unique personalities and you can’t help but to fall in love with each and every one of them. Jon, 31 is very laid back….Kate, 33 not so laid back. The show has documented, and given us a chance to see these kids go from babies to preschoolers. The love and interaction between them is heart-warming and I believe, genuine. One of my all time favorite scenes is, while being potty trained, Leah, with a scrunched up nose informs a camera man, “Hannah pooped. Hannah pooped in Hannah’s underwears.” Priceless!! You truly get a sense from this show of what it would it would be like to raise multiple multiples. We, at least have the option of turning the T.V. off if Mady is throwing a tantrum, the six younger ones have the flu and are vomiting one after another or Kate is having a mini-breakdown. But this is the ‘reality’ of their life! Kate is often criticized for her obsession with cleaning and organization as well as “verbal attacks” on her husband. In her defense, one would have to be organized in a household with 8 children, 8 and under. As far as verbal attacks, she does have a tendency to lash out at Jon out of frustration but I have not witnessed anything I would really consider a “verbal attack.” More recently, concerned viewers have expressed they believe the show ($$) has changed the Mr. & Mrs. They are afraid their motives have changed and they are now at the point of exploiting the kids. One quote reads, “What started as a documentary has turned into dangerous distortion of childhood, parenting, and what passes for acceptable risk in the age of the Internet.” Like I said, while part of me feels this show has run it’s course, and maybe it’s time to turn out the lights….another part of me would really miss seeing this family each week. Perhaps I’m being selfish, perhaps they are.

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Premiering in 1996, Judge Judy is an American reality-based court show, featuring a former family court judge. Judge Judy Sheindlin is known for tackling real-life small claims in her courtroom. With her no nonsense attitude, you may often hear her saying; ay! QUIET!”, “Do I have stupid written over my forehead?”, “I think you ought to be quiet. You know, they don’t need anybody stirring up the pot. You’re a pot-stirrer.” As much as I love this show, I am deathly afraid of this woman. A sweet looking elderly woman dressed in a black robe, her bench side manner is not for the weak. With an 8 second opportunity, this woman would have me on the ground begging for forgiveness…..guilty or not. Generally dealing with conflicts that irritate people and give them stress,  JJ deliberately avoids serious cases like child abuse saying, “I’m an entertainer, and I’m paid as an entertainer.” She adds that court T.V. shows are not the place to hash over cases that could lead to “life-altering decisions.” Ummm….good call. Although entertaining, the reality of it is, neither Judge Judy nor her bailiff are acting as actual court officers on the show.  JJ is acting as an arbiter, her “bailiff” a private security guard. I guess that means when she awards money in one of her rulings, it’s the producers who pay up. I’m sorry but no amount of money is worth 15 minutes of fame, losing every ounce of dignity all the while laying on the ground begging for forgiveness…..guilty or not. (I would have given this three stars, I went with four out of fear!)

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Based on the previews, I knew I would never be able to sit and watch this show in it’s entirety. Much to my surprise, after just one episode I was hooked. I can’t quite put a finger on what it is I find so intriguing, but after talking with others I’ve learned I am not the only one with this guilty pleasure. Million Dollar Listing takes an inside look at the top agents in Los Angeles’ tough real estate market, who stop at nothing to close the deal. The show follows three of the area’s top agents – Josh Flagg, Madison Hildebrand and Chad Rogers as their paths cross and they compete and expose the intense work that it takes to move the hottest listings in the City of Angels. Josh, 22 is just plain old creepy. Probably last season’s top seller, most of his listings are estates of his wealthy grandmother’s (who discovered polyester) deceased friends. My creepiness instincts weren’t far off as reports later surfaced that Josh was arrested for allegedly stealing ridiculously expensive art that was part of an estate he was handling. Madison, 27 who was recently featured in playgirl, is the pretty boy of the three. He is openly gay or bisexual, although he prefers the term “polyamorous.”  As he struggles with his sexuality, he often turns to his ex-girlfriend, Lauren for advice and support.  Chad, 30…who appears to be 16 is annoying, yet intriguing. He is constantly checking his bowl-cut hair in the mirror and although he mentions he is employed by Hilton and Hyland Real Estate (thee Paris Hilton’s dad) 146 times an episode, I can’t recall him ever closing a deal. He has an organizational  obsession with plastic bags that an be carried out to the detriment of the anal-retentive. My biggest gripe is this guy always has spit in the corner of his mouth! Creepy + Pretty + Annoying = Conflict. While Chad and Josh have an ongoing rivalry, Madison as usual, remains friendly with both sides. (No pun intended!) This somehow makes for good T.V. So, as I hide behind my computer screen in my virtual world, I confess….I’m hooked. 

…stay tuned for more Reality Bytes!