Videos, Radio Stars, and Addictions

Did the Video really kill the Radio star???

Everyone has an addiction. It does not matter who you are, you are addicted to something. Some people are addicted to smoking. Others are addicted to shopping. Some are addicted to alcohol. Some are even addicted to sex (now that is an addiction to claim ...)
But not me. I don't have a good addiction like smoking or shopping or the internet. I'm not a work-aholic and I'm not even a sex-aholic (if I was, I would be going through major withdraws ... shed a tear). No, my addiction is to ...

TV shows.

Yes, all sorts of TV shows. I am addicted to dramas like Everwood, Gilmore Girls, and ER. I'm addicted to comedies like Will & Grace, Friends, and Reba. I'm addicted to cartoons like the Simpsons, the Weekenders, and now Futurama and the Family Guy (thanks to an anonymous recorder). I'm even addicted to sappy night time soaps like The OC (don't knock it. Seth had SEX!!!! Now, all I need is to become rich and I have a chance too!!!). Heck, I'm even addicted to daytime soaps like General Hospital (although I don't get to watch them ...).

My biggest one is a relatively new genre. but the oldest show doing it: reality TV, but only the Real World.

Yes, its true. I'm addicted to the Real World. I'm addicted to a show that is anything but real. I, every Tuesday, sit down at 9pm to live vicariously through 7 strangers (picked to live in a house and have their lives taped, to find out what happens when people stop being polite and start getting real ... The Real World ... *enter city name here*).

I had to stop and think if this was something I was willing to admit to. It's a horrible addiction. It affects my day. It affects my life. I have been known to skip classes and meetings to catch an episode. I have been known to waste a Saturday for a Real World marathon (and, no, it does not matter that I have seen the entire Hawaii season at least 4 times ... I think in one episode Ruthie wasn't drunk and Amaya didn't cry ... it was a very moving time in my life ... all 4 times). Friends and family know that I will not take calls on Tuesday nights after 8:45 (I have to prepare and I don't want a conversation to drag into episode time). Friends have discussed with me the finer points of various season and compared them to the current season (this conversation will happen at least 2 times with each friend-fellow-fan each season ... and I enjoy it every time). I have had conversations about how I would apply to be on the Real World. Friends have suggested ideas for an audition tape.

So, as you can tell, this is a full blown addiction. Now, if someone can find a Real World-Anonymous meeting, please direct me to it. But I must remind you that getting 10 to 15 fans of the show together is only going to cause discussion about one of the following things: 1) which season was the best, 2) which lesbian was really a lesbian, 3) the role of virgins in the house, 4) favorite fights, or 5) sex between housemates. And these are not the only things I can find to talk about ... there is much much more.

So, I must say that MTV has changed my life, even without the music.

Now it is not true that the Video Killed the Radio Star, but it can be said that the reality TV show killed any music that could be found on MTV.

And so goes the life ...