I'm not really much of a tv person. But that statement needs a bit of clarification because, technically, I do watch the television quite a bit. My viewing consists mostly of movies (Netflix ROCKS), documentaries, and Fuel TV. I like some sitcoms, but most are quite nauseating. And I can almost safely say that I hate reality tv. It displays all the worst qualities of human nature expressed by the worst human beings on the planet. But, as with everything in life, there are exceptions. "Never say never" are words that I live by.That being said, as a huge X-Files fan, I just can't turn down anything related to the paranormal. As a kid, I loved horror flicks and slasher movies, but the only ones that really frightened me were the ghostly-natured classics like The Entity, The Amityville Horror, The House on Haunted Hill and The Evil Dead. The Exorcist particularly scared the bejesus out me, but I would watch it over and over and over again.
So anyway, reality tv SUCKS...with three exceptions:
1) Ghost Hunters. As two Roto-Rooter plumbers by day, they trade in their pipe wrenches for EMF detectors to become paranormal investigators by night. The show really possesses more documentary qualities than reality tv bullshit, but only because their main goal is to debunk ghost stories instead of validate them. Most of the time, they find nothing, filling the down-time with low-key drama created by the crew. But occasionally they come across some pretty freaky shit. And when that happens, it's an all-out geekfest.
2) Most Haunted. This crew of Brits travels the European country-side holding 'vigils' at it's most notoriously haunted locales. Medium Derek Acorah and his spiritual guide, Sam (yes, he's a ghost so you can't see him), converse with the dead while Yvette Fielding and her bangs taunt spirits and...well...just scream a lot. The show does make an attempt at being pragmatic, offering a couple skeptic's opinions, but with Derek getting possessed practically every episode, the show's debunkers are really only lame disclaimers. Dust particles in the camera are donned 'orbs'. Creeky noises in 700 year old houses become ghostly communication from spirits in another dimension. Crew members trip and fall in the dark, but we later discover that they were attacked by poltergeists. Needless to say, this show is incredibly entertaining and full of DRAMA. All caps.
I may sound like a bit of a skeptic myself, but I'm not. My soon-to-be-budding psychic abilities tell that everything on this show is real. And even though I've only seen it once, my soon-to-be spiritual guide(s) are telling me that Derek's new show is going to be a smash hit. It has everything Most Haunted has but more - much more - including Doorstep Divinations.
** Oddly enough, both of these shows shot two-hour specials here in Long Beach at the world famous - and extremely haunted - Queen Mary. While the Most Haunted crew got some pretty incredible footage, I was much more entertained by the screams, crying, possessions and drama. The Ghost Hunters, on the other hand, caught some footage which initially seemed amazing, but was soon discovered to be fraudulent, having been tampered with by someone on the boat. It is also very interesting to note that the Queen Mary has been going through quite a bit of financial trouble. It's a bit cloudy to me, but I think my soon-to-be-budding psychic abilities are telling me that crooked things are amiss. **
I do love paranormal phenomena, but my passion doesn't restrict me to only one kind of television program. On the contrary, my most favorite television show also happens to be the most fabulous reality show EVER made...
3) Project Runway. I've a huge fan since the first season, and last night was the premier of the third. To prevent this post from getting any longer - and to save some material for what promises to multiple, large posts - I'm going to hold off on any sort of synopsis or summary. But, I will divulge that my soon-to-be-budding psychic abilities have already clued me in to this season's winner... which I reveal very soon.
So anyway, as I was saying, I don't really like to watch tv very much...