Will say it again.
Not a big fan of reality shows.
In deference to those who do, in fact, enjoy the genre',though, I'll offer my three cents regarding my lack of like.
First, I grew up watching a television that was a veritable smorgasbord of entertainment from prize winning dramas to cutting edge comedies to Broadway caliber variety shows and, yes, there were a lot of clinkers in the cacophany but television was, for me, a place to go to get away from the cares of the day, from the everyday backbiting, backstabbing bullshit that life parcels out in an ever ebbing and flowing ratio to the blessings afforded.
Second, I'm as curious about people and their quirks as the next guy, but not to the point where my attention span could be stretched to accommodate thirty to sixty minute chunks of time spent in what is, essentially, sitting and staring in their windows to watch them experience the everyday backbiting, backstabbing bullshit that life parcels out in an every ebbing and flowing ratio to the blessings afforded.
Not to mention the manure that's manufactured to ramp up the ratings, often making the term "reality show" oxymoronic.
Third, and more primarily, different strokes for different folks.
My own "reality" reluctance notwithstanding, though, I've noticed in the past few months that those who do enjoy the genre' are, in large measure, missing out on some of the most entertaining and cutting edge reality shows there are to be showed.
They're being showed every day on MSNBC. And Fox. Even C-Span.
WEST DES MOINES, Iowa--Chris Christie came to Iowa on Friday, not as a 2012 presidential candidate, as many Republicans in the state had hoped, but as Mitt Romney's most high-profile surrogate in the final days before Tuesday's first-in-the-nation caucuses.
More than 100 people turned out before daylight in the parking lot of a Hy-Vee supermarket, standing for more than an hour in high winds and a steady drizzle to see Romney and Christie, the governor of New Jersey.
Dressed in a pinstripe navy blue suit, Christie was greeted like a celebrity by the bundled-up masses, some of whom rushed outside to see the governor after taking refuge inside their cars against the harsh winter morning.
Christie bluntly put forth what has become Romney's main talking point: That President Obama has failed to deliver on the hope and change he promised as a candidate four years ago.
"The president is going to try to convince you somehow that he deserves to be rehired," Christie said. "Well let's be real clear, real clear: President Barack Obama came out to Iowa three years ago, and he talked to you about hope and change. Well let me tell ya, after three years of Obama, we're hopeless and changeless, and we need Mitt Romney to bring us back, to bring America back."
Playing off his persona as a New Jersey tough guy, Christie issued a mock warning.
"New Jersey's watching you … We're watching you real closely," he said. "And I want to tell you something. I want to tell you something really clearly. I'm in a good mood this morning. I'm feeling happy and upbeat. I'm happy to be with Mitt and Ann. But let me tell ya, if you people disappoint me Tuesday, if you don't do what you're supposed to do on Tuesday for Mitt Romney. I will be back, Jersey-style."
Afterward, as Christie moved through the crowd toward Romney's bus, a man called out, "I wish it were you!" Christie smiled, but did not respond.
Christie, who was elected in 2009, long insisted he wouldn't seek the presidency but briefly entertained the idea in the fall after several Republicans—including a group of top party operatives in Iowa—urged him to reconsider. But in October he again ruled out a run and endorsed Romney.
Regardless of party persuasion, I think there's not, among us, a single person who could argue convincingly against my contention that for backbiting, backstabbing bullshit you simply can't find more or better than that found floating freely through that most dramatic and comedic of mediums, the American political process.
Admittedly, these middle aged and/or senior citizen fat cats don't have the "sexy/skanky/slutty/teasy/trashy" of your standard issue Snooki, Situation, Kim, Khloe, Kourtney or any one or all of a predatory pack of "Real" housewives.
But there's plenty of the aforementioned backbiting, backstabbing bullshit.
And, now, it seems, political television has gone reality television one better by taking the first, tentative, but titillating, steps toward hybridizing the current reality format with the more traditional fictional TV concept.
J Woww warns Snook to back off or else?
Yawn.
Kim and Kourtney spit and hiss over some petty diss?
Snore.
For drama on a scale we ain't seen since the days J.R. was making deals with the devil in Dallas, you can't beat the entire state of Iowa being extorted with threats of "Jersey style" retribution.
Reality show lovers, spread the word.
There's a delightfully delicious new boo hiss villain in town.
The governor of New Jersey.
Tony Soprano.
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