COLUMN: Confessions of a reality TV junkie, Part II
I’m back. Yes, I’m still addicted to reality TV. Yes, I understand that it’s a stupid thing to be addicted to. And yes, I caught the latest episode of "Dance Moms," don’t worry.
Today I’d like to discuss something I’m sure irks all avid reality TV watchers; spin-off shows.
We went from “Jersey Shore” (Seasons one through five were all fabulous) to the “Pauly D Project,” from “Dance Moms” to “Dance Moms: Miami,” from “Real Housewives of Orange County” to “Real Housewives of Beverly Hills,” “Real Housewives of Atlanta,” “Real Housewives of Miami” and “Real Housewives of everywhere else known to man,” and, here’s the kicker; from “America’s Next Top Model” to “Australia’s Next Top Model.”
Let’s take the time as a collective unit of reality TV watchers to say enough is enough.
Not only are most of the spin-off series not nearly as entertaining, but when they ARE good, it just adds another show to my already-hectic television schedule.
Most of the spin-off versions of shows end up being canceled after a few seasons, and people act like they’re surprised. I really don’t know why.
When you watch reality TV the way I do, it becomes an emotional investment. You begin to become attached to the characters. You feel for the girls on “Dance Moms” when Abby Lee Miller once again loses her mind and adds another routine to their set. You want to fight with Tyra when she eliminates your favorite model, and you are basically forced to choose sides when fights break out on “Real Housewives.”
When a spin-off show is introduced, I obviously tune in, but I go into the show with the mindset that I will hate it. After all, just watching it makes me feel like I’m cheating on the original show, and heaven forbid I actually enjoy the spin-off.
When I see characters I’m not accustomed to living the lives of the characters on my favorite originals, it’s annoying.
What’s even more annoying is when shows that clearly require an entire cast to be successful (like “Jersey Shore”) take one or two characters and try to make a series. Pauly is nothing without Vinny, Snooki and Deena can’t be meatballs without one another and Sammy would be forgotten without Ronnie. I wish Pauly luck with his show, I really do, but I don’t foresee it working out.
When a show is getting millions of views nightly, let it be. Don’t abandon our favorite characters, move to a strange location and try to recreate the series we’re obsessed with.
After all, if it’s not broken, don’t fix it.
