Reality Bites..

Today as I took my Times Fax to breakfast and was reading through the various abbreviated articles I noticed something disturbing about our entertainment industry. TV to be exact. All I can say is are the networks THAT desperate to grab people and make them "veg" on their couches to watch the pathetic reality programs? Are prosperous actors (on million dollar salaries) getting desperate enough to tap into network television and broadcast their lives and other people's lives? Don't they make enough on their own movies, or are they running out of original story lines? Come on folks. I can understand the whole Brittany Spears and Kevin Federline thing. They're just idiots (but not so much apparently since their show got broadcast and they made a buck off it). So I guess then the networks are idiots. The article was talking about reality shows coming out detailing the private lives of iconic figures. Folks. Why should we care? I know. I'm a hypocrite on this matter and it upsets me when I get involved. Humans are curious and we're ALWAYS in each other's business. Gossip is like getting secret information and it feeds that hunger we all have inside of us to know the latest dish. "Desperate Housewives" is the epitome of what happens in neighborhoods all across this country. If you live on a block (well mainly outside of NY City and parts of L.A.) your life is under the view finder. Jane two doors down knows exactly when you walk your dog and take your kids to ball practice. Herb across the street keeps his lawn pristine so that everyone can admire his work and makes sure that he watches how every other man, woman, and child tends to their lawns so he can always be the best. Gloria and Sylvia 2 houses over across the way will call you the moment you come home from work to fill you in on any drama throughout the day and whose kids did what. I grew up with this all my life, and I deal with this in show business as well. I liked TV when you felt like you were watching this story happen through a magic little window. Now, I'm watching home movies. It's reality, or semi-reality for that matter. Hey, I could produce a show now. I don't watch TV much anymore and maybe with all the horrible events happening in this country under our current tyrant leader (that's for another ranting day) people are watching less TV and actually going out and enjoying themselves, exercising, being active, and seeing live shows. Maybe that's why the networks are tapping into our hunger for gossip to get us back on our couches again. I must say, I do enjoy my "Desperate Housewives," but with technology today and the commercialism this country thrives on, I can watch this show any time I want while I'm stuck at home doing bills, laundry, or cooking thanks to DVD players and TIVO. It's also a great way to socialize and bring everyone together once a week for a dinner party as well. Multitasking.
These reality shows don't inspire me so much. I love good gossip as much as the next person, and once and I while I like to pick up a People magazine, Entertainment Weekly, or US to see what's happening in the social lives of our superstars. If they're in my living room every night being themselves, it's a bit much and they're not acting. With the other reality shows, any Joe Schmo can have a job while I'm auditioning my butt off to get an acting gig. Funniest Home Videos used to be funny when it was novel. American Idol used to be funny and inspiring in it's first couple years, but has become a little overproduced now which also goes for The Apprentice. I never really cared for the dating shows, the survivor type or fear factor type shows, or even shows that began this latest craze of icon viewing like The Osbournes and Brittany & Kevin. Instead of good story lines that keep me coming back like Showtime's "Dead Like Me," "Desperate Housewives," "Queer as Folk," or even "Lost." Now we're getting things like "Brittany & Kevin Chaotic" or even soon "Being Bobby Brown." Personally, I think it's a waste of air space and I dread the day that these type shows make their way to my home, the theatre.
Ahh. That was my rant for the day. I guess the whole point I'm trying to make is to get away from obsessive nosiness. It's okay to have a little gossip once and a while. It's inevitable. If we weren't curious, life would be boring. It's when you constantly take the focus off yourself to focus so much on others that it becomes a little crazy. That's why there's a Paparazzi. For those individuals who can't live a day without the latest dish on someone else. TV, Film, and Theatre used to be an "escape" from the reality that surrounds us. It's a chance for me, as an actor, to be someone else for a while or to express an emotion. What fun is it really to sit down and waste time watching someone's supposed real life for an hour or two? As far as the icon actors doing the shows, I think it's laziness and the simple fact this country is capitalistic. Why memorize lines and be someone else, when you can roam through your own house being yourself and still make millions? Personally, I think it's a sell out equivalent to marking the live show you're performing for the hundredth time.
I'm taking life on a new direction to challenge my mind. That's why I'm out here on the open seas. To focus. I got out of focus for a while worrying about the lives of others, I lost myself. It's a hard habit to break. Thankfully I have someone in my life now who keeps me in check once and a while when I start to lose focus. So what am I saying? Well, get out there. My good friend and former partner of many years opened my eyes to living life even when your chips are down. He's doing it right now. My new find keeping me on track and teaching me new things about life. Don't just sit at home and watch the "real" lives of others with their parties and scandals. Have your own parties and scandals. Make your own adventure. Do something in life you've never done. Try something new you've never had. Live life on the edge. After all, you only get one.