August 8, 2012 was a sad day for pop-culture and society in general. On this day, TLC premiered its redneck-centered reality show “Here Comes Honey Boo Boo”, which showcases the lives of child pageant superstar Honey Boo Boo and her unusual family in Georgia.
On Friday though, TMZreported the show’s immediate cancellation, after TLC discovered that Honey Boo Boo’s mother Mama June had been dating a convicted child molester. While these circumstances are no doubt despicable, at least they prompted the network to get this show off the air.
Still, it amazes me that this is what it took. Instead of deplorable ratings, it took one of the leads to be involved with a sex offender for TLC to see that this show has no place on our TV screens. That means that before this incident occurred, there were enough people watching this series to keep it running.
And to think, TLC is an abbreviation for The Learning Channel.
If that’s the case, I wonder if anyone thought viewers could actually learn something by watching a reality show about a family of rednecks and their bizarre life. The show’s IMDb page actually has a list of writers on it. In case you were wondering whether or not most reality shows are scripted, there’s your answer.
A good friend from my home church once told me about how TLC used to be a genuinely educational network and would air a number of scientific programs. He remembers watching these growing up and how they influenced his love for science.
Now, however, it seems like the most you can learn from watching TLC is how crazy the women on Gypsy Sisters can be. Or if you’re really thirsty for knowledge, find out whether a bride-to-be will say “yes” to a particular dress.
And if the fact that “Here Comes Honey Boo Boo” lasted several years isn’t enough, think about how it’s actually a spinoff of the equally irritating reality show “Toddlers and Tiaras”.
I’ve often heard that people watch reality shows to feel better about themselves. By looking at how pathetic others are, people somehow see themselves as far more successful and better off than those people on TV. They think, “Hey, at least I’m not that bad.”
I am not content with this way of thinking. We shouldn’t have to compare ourselves to others in order to boost our self-esteem. This mentality implies that by looking at other people’s messes, we can assess ourselves. By having less junk than someone else, that somehow makes us better.
There are other reasons why viewers tune in to this area of entertainment. Regardless, no one can convince me that watching these shows isn’t a waste of time.
I believe that the things we use for entertainment are a reflection of our standards. The shows we choose to watch and the music we choose to listen to certainly say something about ourselves and what we’re content with consuming.
“Here Comes Honey Boo Boo” is just one of many shows that’s existence is beyond my comprehension. Despite holding a 2.8/10 rating on IMDb, the series still managed to run for more than two years. My favorite aspect of it is that it had subtitles even though the cast could speak English.
The only way for networks to quit airing this kind of trash TV is if people prove they don’t need it. As long as viewers continue getting sucked into cheap, gimmicky reality shows, television executives will continue to produce them.
