Reality TV Trash

Let's be frank. There is a lot of crap on television. Most of it falls under the umbrella of reality tv. I think I've just witnessed the most ridiculously grotesque thing ever on VH1. I happened to catch the show "Couples Therapy." The premise of the show is cool. Couples in turmoil live in a house together and go through therapy. And, it's all filmed. The couples are all famous or infamous. They range from singers to actors to reality tv stars. Some are more known than others. Some are more interesting than others. This is not a show I've watched before. I had to Google past seasons to find out who was on this show before.

This season there is a couple that is bordering on illegal. His name is Doug & he's currently 52 years old. His wife is 17 year old Courtney. (these were their ages during filming.) He married her with her parents consent when she was 16. This is just gross. In the show, he says that "she is my child. I'm raising my wife." No sir. That statement alone sounds like a pedophile. She dresses like a stripper right down to the 6 inch lucite heels. From the long hair, breast implants to the caked on makeup and barely there attire, Courtney is a walking, talking blow up doll. Her persona is sex kitten on x. She is hyper-sexualized and extremely immature. Due to child labor laws, she can only film 6 hours a day & couldn't stay overnight in the house.

I believe that this couple was only invited on the show for controversy. Googling their names turns up nothing but negative articles. No one believes this marriage. Everyone thinks its immoral and should be illegal. Other couples in the house do not want to be in the same room with them. On the first night, Doug is called a child molester because of the huge age gap. Courtney also tells the group that her Mom & her husband are the same age while her husband is older than her Dad. That speaks volumes. I cannot even wrap my mind around this situation. I cannot watch the show because I don't agree with this nonsense. So, I will not be tuning in again. I can't. What about you guys?

#30in30: Rant: Reality TV Just Got Real

I could have titled this post "When Keep It Real Goes Wrong." It would be totally appropriate. Over the weekend, Chad Ochocinco Johnson was arrested for domestic violence against his wife of 39 days Evelyn Johnson. As a result, Chad was cut from the Miami Dolphins and VH1 has dropped their new reality show. I am not here to write about what did or did not happen between the two. My biggest issue is the way VH1 has responded to the news. A channel that promotes any and all violence on all of their reality shows. What made this particular incident so bad that they had to pull a show? I wonder who made the call. Reality tv has become a huge business. It's come a long way since the first season of MTV's "The Real World." And, sadly, most of the changes in reality tv hasn't been too good.

Granted, I totally get the seriousness of the Evelyn and Chad drama. But, VH1 is the same company that allows "Basketball Wives" to air? Evelyn is the same woman we've seen season after season promote violence on this show. Just last season, she threw 2 wine bottles at her co-star. Also, we saw her run across a table to attempt to attack someone. The woman is a hot head with a violent temper. But, VH1 and Viacom felt no need to pull this show. They promoted it. Praised it to a fault. This company stood idly behind Evelyn and her violent acts for ratings. Why is this violence ok? I do not know what happened between the Johnsons. What I do know is what VH1 has shown us. I stopped watching BBW a while back because the drama wasn't entertaining anymore. It stopped being entertaining when I realized that these were grown women acting like immature school girls on my tv. 

I cannot be ok with VH1 standing behind Evelyn when she was violent for ratings but dropping her show now. Why wasn't she dismissed from BBW? It was all good and fun when she was attacking other women. We've watched her go from throwing drinks in another woman's face (which by the way, I've never seen this happen in real life) to throwing bottles at another woman. Evelyn is more bark than bite. A woman with a big mouth and propensity to throw everything but hands. I blame VH1, Viacom, Shaunie O'Neal and even myself to a extent. I watched this trashy reality tv show before. I helped with ratings. I did that. But, when you know better, you should do better. I tuned out. While I am glad that there seems to finally be consequences for her actions, I am disappointed that it took something this severe for people to see. VH1 should be ashamed of themselves. They have promoted violence on all of their reality shows. It's glorified all in the commercials because that's what pulls people in. I would hope that this makes VH1 take a deeper look at their shows. Changes need to be made. The people on reality tv shows need to be held accountable for their actions. That is the reality I am talking about.

Stunts & Shows: Basketball Wives Edition

I can admit that I was a fan of VH1's "Basketball Wives" at first. The first season was a mix of silliness, fuckery and drink throwing. I watched it for the ridiculousness. I tuned out when it became embarrassing to watch 40 year old women behaving in such a gross manner. I was over it. I have seen all of the talk on Twitter about the stunts of this season. This season was so over the top that a petition to get Evelyn kicked off the show was born. The petition has garnered over 31,000 signatures. The petition's author is bothered by the violence Evelyn has displayed over the seasons of BBW. After the reunion, Shaunie O'Neal, creator/executive producer/co-star of BBW, said that she wanted to change the scope of the shown get away from the violence and shake up the cast. In a turn of events that can only be called ridiculous, the powers that be decided to get rid of Jennifer, Royce, and Kesha. What? Are you serious?

Of the cast members, the ones who should have gotten the ax over their actions are Evelyn and Tami. These two women have been nothing but drink throwing, hair pulling bullies. Every season, these two women have been involved in altercations with each other as well as other cast members. If Shaunie and VH1 really wanted to change the view of the show, getting rid of the problem would have been a solution. This turn of events just solidifies the fact that tptb (the powers that be) do not care about changing the drama. They are only concerned with the ratings. This should be reason enough for more people to simply change the channel. If the ratings drop way off, the show will cancel itself. I do not adhere to the believe that these women represent all Black women. I do not associate with any women who act like these 40 year old high schoolers. I just don't.

Jennifer was smacked on national tv. She was attacked on multiple occasions. By someone who was her friend for 14 years. I will say that verbally, she gave as much as she got. But, she never got physical with anyone. Evelyn was always the aggressor in every instance. But, she has retained her spot on the show. Kesha was only on the show one season. Tami reduced this woman to tears and fears. She berated her constantly. She called her out of name on more than one occasion. Granted, Kesha should have stood off for herself more. But, none of Kesha's actions warranted any of Tami's. I am ashamed of the actions of these bullies. Evelyn threw 2 bottles of wine at Kenya. In a wine bar. In real life. And, then said "Why are y'all always stopping me?" That signifies no remorse. Evelyn and Tami both gave these apologies that I do not believe.

Whatever "Basketball Wives" was supposed to be at the beginning, it never was. I'm sure that it could never be it either. This show from its name alone was a joke. It was more a mixture of baby mommas, ex-fiancee's, ex-girlfriends, ex-wives of basketball players. Jennifer was the only wive on her show. I used to be a huge reality tv fan. I'm starting to get annoyed with it. The faux celebrity and relevance it brings to people we shouldn't even know. It's disgusting and I'm over it. I will not be watching the next season of BBW just like I didn't watch this season. Seems like VH1 and Shaunie pulled a quick one on their viewers. The real question is are you as a viewer willing to be taken for a ride?

"Love & Hip Hop's" Proposal

On this week's "Love & Hip Hop," there was the epitome of a hood proposal. This reality show is funny to me. My favorite people on it are Chrissy and Jim Jones. Since day one of the first season, Chrissy has been all about taking their 8 year relationship to the next level. Jimmy doesn't seem to keen on the idea. Chrissy decides to take a vacation because she's stressed about the relationship. What ensues is some straight hood classic moments. I cannot even wrap my mind around this. But, I feel the need to share.



This was classic Jim Jones. This proposal was all him. It played out exactly the way you would imagine a hood dude like Jimmy to do. There was no down on one knee or no formal "Will you marry me?" It came a full season and a half after Chrissy threw a huge party and proposed to him. He never actually said yes. He did take the ring. But by the time season two premiered, he conveniently "lost" his ring. Chrissy promptly replaced it. They've been a couple for 8 years now. I'm not doubting that he loves her. It's clear from the show that he does. He adores her. It just doesn't seem like marriage is on his mind. From episode one, Chrissy has been hounding him for a ring. And, on Monday nights show, she got exactly what she wanted. The scene reminded me of Martin and Gina's failed proposal attempt, which you can view below.




It is not my idea of an ideal proposal. It was lackluster and not my speed. But, I think it works for them. It made Chrissy happy. It doesn't seem like Jimmy is in any rush to take that walk down any aisle. Hell, it took him this long to propose. I wouldn't be surprised if it took that same amount of time for them to get married. The consensus on Twitter falls into two categories. Either people were extremely happy for the couple or they weren't impressed by the delivery. Either way, I like them as a couple.

I don't think that pressuring a man into proposing is a good thing. I don't want it that way. I think that marriage would be doomed from the start. No woman can make a man do anything and vice versa. A proposal should come from a man's heart. It should be because he knows he was found the woman that he wants to spend the rest of his life with. And, a proposal should be a surprise. I don't want it to seem like it's expected. Of course, I want to be married. But, I will not hound a man to wife me. That's unladylike to me. Love is always love. That we cannot deny. Below, is one of my favorite tv proposals. Martin got it just right...the second time around. I propose that men take note of this one.



Oh and fyi, Chrissy's ring is sick!! Jimmy did great in that department. She's rocking a nice rock on her left hand these days.