Off Topic: Guilty TV Pleasures

There comes a time when the TV isn’t for playing games, but instead sitting (or slumping) in front of while your brain slowly and enjoyably curdles. There are plenty of shows that are critical and cultural successes… and then there’s the less glorious stuff, which can be enjoyable, if a little shameful.

[credit provider=”flickr” url=”http://www.flickr.com/photos/9350569@N08/5949563868/” creator=”Roxanne Ready”]

I’ve got two primary guilty TV pleasures that aren’t quite raising my intelligence any. Firstly, The Amazing Race. Generally, I’ve no time for the contrived and calculated nature of reality TV, and there’s no doubting that Race is as guilty of that as most. But the daft nature of the challenges, the reaction of people to different cultures (sometimes enlightening, sadly all too often insular) and the ongoing battles with fatigue make it comfortable and gripping TV.

Then there’s professional wrestling. Yes, (sigh), I know it’s fake. That’s probably why I like it, actually. I don’t have much time for MMA, because that’s an incapacitation sport that makes me wince at least a little. But the choreographed nature of ‘wrasslin, combined with the over the top theatrics makes it gripping stuff for me to unwind in front of. A good, well paced match is, if properly done, a thing of beauty, albeit slightly steroid enhanced and ridiculous beauty.

What’s your guilty TV secret?


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