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Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Keeping Up With The Kardashians, Big Brother And Other Rubbish

Being on vacation for the last three weeks meant that I finally got to spend some time watching TV, daytime TV to be more precise. And so as I surfed the channels one lazy afternoon I came across a show called “Keeping Up With The Kardashians”, or something to that effect on the E Channel. I have heard the Kardashian name floated about though to be honest I did not know whether it is a name of a rock band or sibling actresses. And out of curiosity I decided to watch. I sat throughout the show for a full 30 minutes and at the end of it I still could not fathom what it was all about. I tweeted something to that effect hoping someone out there would enlighten me, hoping that the problem was with me, that I was getting too old and could not understand such shows. All I heard back was that one of the Kardashians (or was it all of them combined?) reportedly made $65m last year. Was this from the people watching that show? Then there is Snoop Dogg's Fatherhood, Girls of the Playboy Mansion and its offshoots etc.


The Kardashians image from the internet

Later that night I tuned in to Big Brother Africa, and it is supposedly the amplified edition, whatever that means. Since this edition began, I had never watched any episode and thought “let me see what the fuss is about”. All I saw is some guys and ladies just talk, talk about nothing. I tried to find out if I could get a sense of purpose to their conversation, some storyline, drama, plot…nothing. So why do people watch BBA? I tried to single out the Kenyan representative, more to find out if there was anything of substance she was contributing to the show. Was there anything new I could learn by listening to these participants/contestants? Nothing. Again, maybe my expectations were too high? I recalled hearing some radio presenter on Capital FM urging Kenyans to get behind their representatives and admonishing those who might want to make fun or mock their representatives. She just stopped a sentence short of calling such people traitors. I can understand supporting the country’s football, cricket or athletic teams at international tournaments, but this? I will not mind being called a traitor.


Image from the internet

It looks to me like nowadays we are content to sit back and watch people just go about doing nondescript stuff like waking up, taking a shower, gossiping and having sex. I don’t mind seeing someone taking a shower if I am expecting something dramatic to happen, you know, a killer appearing in the bathroom with a knife and setting the stage for an intriguing whodunit drama to follow. I like my entertainment the old fashioned way. I like some drama, a suspense filled plot, witty lines from standup comedians that provoke laughter, logic defying action stunts. Stuff that make you know that someone somewhere put in some effort to create a show. But this? Is this not voyeurism? There used to be a time when a sex tape involved porn actors, but nowadays it is celebrities that you find in them. Might be isolated now but is not where these type of shows are leading us to?

9 comments:

  1. we have lost the qualtiy in every aspect of our lives...thanks to the so called aggressive marketing. we are contend with it
    i renenber watching a run up to miss india competition...its said to be beauty+brains even. i was stupified by the stupidity bluttered

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  2. I'm still stuck processing the fact that you sat and watched these realities! I have tried, over and over again and my brain refuses to process. Yes, well, I know I'm not the mark of modernisation, being nearly fossilized and all but still!

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  3. Carolkmail, I was trying to find out whether anything is the problem with my intelligence as how come millions of people are getting it but I don't get it?

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  4. Jon, I have always marveled at the questions and answered given out during these beauty pageants, 21yr olds being given questions for 8yr olds!

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  5. I marvel at your courage to come out and speak your mind like his against the unthinking tide!

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  6. Anthony, I figured that since it is my blog I can say anything I feel like :) Thanks for stopping by. Will check out your blog

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  7. The term "controversy sells" has been pushed to the limits, creativity seems to be dying...

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  8. i also think Kim was Pregnant thats y i clicked on the picture. kim i would do anything 2 meet y0u i am a bg fan i know you wil be saying everybody says that but i will evern commit suicide.

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