December and early January are dull not only outside with grey sky, streets, and snow but also with Television. The vanilla replayed network and cable shows are nothing but boring as we as viewers can't stand to wait any longer for new episodes of our favorite shows. As a television viewer in the 21st century we are shocked when a show takes a week off or there is a three week hiatus. "What am I supposed to do without Modern Family this week? How will I survive without a new Glee fix?" We as consumers in this fast age of production and consumption cannot fathom or take a week without our favorite guilty pleasures. We need the instantaneous satisfaction of a new show, a new shoe, a new boy. So what is a girl supposed to do when all that is on the E! network is Bridalplasty and Knocked Up and The Christmas Story is playing every day non stop?
My answer: DVR/ TiVo. As I relaxed on the couch and flipped through my DVR I found some old favorites that I was smart enough to record while I was away at school: The latest seasons of Entourage, Little People Big World, and Grey's Anatomy. All very diverse but at the same time of favorites. I do not have a TiVo or DVR at school well because I know I would spend too much time watching TV and catching up on long lost shows, plus there is something about coming home for break and finding a nice surprise waiting for you on a fresh full DVR.
As my family and I sit down to coffee and breakfast and eye and ohhh our presents I look back on this past year and have to say it has been a wonderful year as well as it is a wonderful life. I am thankful for my family which sounds so cliche but they are the best brothers and parents a 20 year old gal asks for. As well as my friends, old, new, young and old I look towards them for guidance and laughter. As you sit down or snuggle up on your couch and watch The Christmas Story remember and charish the real meaning of Christmas beyond Hallmark and Santa Clause.
The show, Bridalplasty, on the E! network showcases a dozen brides who are married or are soon to be married to their Prince Charming's. The catch is that the dozen contestants will win prizes throughout the show with different wedding related games, the prizes: plastic surgery. As a young woman who hopes to marry in the future... lets hope not too near.... I think it is quite odd that you would want to transform not just your waist size but also your nose, your mouth, your eyes, ect. The men of these lovely ladies either are in it for the money or the fame. Wouldn't it be weird proposing to one woman and pulling of the veil on your wedding day to reveil a contorted version of your fiance? E! network must be desperate in this low time between Kardashian seasons.
Young girls dream of the day they will walk down the isle... or at least I do... in a white or cream color princess gown. Never in a million years would I ever picture myself competing on a cable network game show to contort my body for that walk down the isle.
This show puts vanity and plastic surgery or tries to put them on a pedestal but as a viewer one feels disgust and anger towards these women who have found love but feel that they have to cut their bodies up to be the "perfect" bride.
The Oxygen T.V. Show Bad Girls Club showcases so called bad girls from around the country, put them in a house, and see how they get along. Hmmmm it sounds quite similar to the MTV long running reality show Real World. The first time I watched Bad Girls Club I had to ask myself, "is this show for real?"
The Oxygen Network which is owned by NBC Universal, broadcasts in my opinion some of the most trashy women in America doing nothing but partying, fighting, and hooking up with guys. What is so special and enticing for almost 600,000 viewers per week?
This show has zero substance. The American pop culture and the average reality T.V. viewer cherishes shows that have more style over substance. If you look at the Nielson weekly ratings for all ages the most popular T.V. Shows are all broadcasts that have less substance than style. The outlier, 60 minutes, with 7.8 million viewers is one of the only shows in the top 25 for the week that showcases and presents hard facts to the American Public. But if you look deeper even shows like 60 Minutes have a few in depth stories in their newscast, as well as a few light hearted stories. They have to keep those 7.8 million viewers engaged watching the broadcast as well as the advertisements that ultimately keep 60 Minutes alive.
So how does a show like Bad Girls Club which airs on a predominately Woman focused network keep viewers engaged as well as the advertising dollars and revenue flowing in? Viewers that watch shows like Bad Girls Club, Rock of Love, and Flavor of Love, which both air on the Viacom owned network VH1 feature vulnerable girls who have bad girls qualities. Viewers across the country and the World feel bad and are thankful that their lives are not as "messed up" and are less focused around hitting the bottle 24/7. As a viewer we feel better about ourselves, our lives, and our persona if we watch a 30 minute show on girls or boys humiliating themselves on television.
Who wants to sit down and watch a day in a life of a successful lawyer eating lunch, talking on the phone, meeting with clients? Yes it would be interesting for the first few episodes but after about episode 3 the fact that the show has more substance than style would cause loss in viewership and soon people would be turning back to Oxygen or VH1 for their trashy style over substance reality T.V. Show.
It is dead week on campus.... I have just arrived to our four floor main library and every cubicle, table, computer, and comfy chair is in use. Students write, read, and study away anticipating finals, working on final projects and finishing final touches on term papers. I have taken a few minutes out of this well now 12 hour day of class and school work to watch this uplifting and timely duet. Enjoy.
The other night I rediscovered Grey's Anatomy... a show that premiered my Freshmen year of High School and has been a fan hit ever since America got a glimpse of McDreamy. This is a show that I go in and out of watching and find it not too time consuming to get caught up of what is happening at Seattle Grace Mercy West Hospital.
Friday night I got snuggled in on my couch with a hot cup of tea and found five episodes available for free on hulu for the current season. Yes I was slightly confused because I have not watched it since last years season finale but Meredith, Derek, and Christina had not changed too much.
Grey's Anatomy follows a very basic plot line with on a few twists and turns through out different episodes. There is the saga between Christina and Owen, lust and now love of Derek and Meredith, Dr. Sloan and various women and other characters. From an outsiders perspective the doctors on Grey's are quite slutty... I mean half of the cast has slept with each other or other doctors and nurses at Grace/Mercy West Hospital. My favorite part of the show is the stories of the patients and their triumphs or falls. The fact that most story lines of the different medical cases are real is fascinating. The viewer is killing two birds with one stone, watching t.v. as well as educating themselves of different serious medical conditions.
Now I will probably be obsessed with Grey's for a couple more weeks than move on to a different show I have forgot about but until then I will keep my eyes on the eye candy that is Seattle Grace Mercy West Hospital. I personally think they should have called the show "Hot Anatomy".
Violence in the United States is prevalent more than we think or would like to acknowledge. It surrounds us on a daily basis in our homes, community, schools, and especially media. Even though certain channels of media are rated so certain violence may not be seen by younger audiences it is readily accessible. Violent movies and television are some of the most hyped as well as successful forms of media in the United States. Even big blockbusters like Pirates of the Caribbean, Spider Man, and Harry Potter have some sort of violence. Media violence continues to rise and in the outcome more violent crimes among teens and young adults are happening on a daily basis.
In the early Fall a wave of teen suicides began when a homosexual student at Rutgers University committed the crime upon finding out that his room mate and his friend were video taping the homosexual student and a confidant. This started a wave of suicide and hate crimes across the nation, which sparked attention especially from gay celebrities who wanted to spread there word that being gay is ok, and that it is the hardest as a teen.
Why was this violent crime happening so often and at such a consistent basis? These teens were taking their lives affecting themselves the loved ones around them as well as the country as a whole. These teens see violence on a daily basis on the internet such as cyber bullying. As cyber bullying and such violent crimes rise how can we as individuals as well a united country stop such crimes and the spread of violence. Who knows the next victim of violence could be you.
What show(s) must I be talking about... Bravo's franchise of Real Houswives. Real Housewives of Orange County premiered on the up and coming network in 2006 Bravo, owned by NBC Universal, and has taken off ever since.
Director of Programming Andy Cohen has made Bravo and the Real Housewives a hit across the world. Women and Men alike turn to Bravo on a nightly basis for new and old episodes as well as check Bravo's website for blogs, photos, and video bonus clips of the various casts. (guilty as charged)
From Top Chef to Millionaire Matchmaker to the Housewives Bravo is TV as people of the 21st century want.
Since 2006 with the original OC Houswives, Bravo has ventured to Atlanta, New York, New Jersey, Washington DC, and the newest and my favorite, Beverly Hills. Each and every franchise is different and has its own set of characters that arises such drama that you may remember from your High School lunch table. Every franchise provides more style over substance. Every Monday, Thursday, or during reruns Bravo provides you with an inside look at some of the more wealthier lives of people across the country. We see what they are buying, where they are traveling, and who they are talking about. Sometimes when I watch I feel like I am watching a conversation between my friends and I chatting about boys, clothes, drama, and the weekends events,but at a much grander and more fabulous scale.
For some reason with every franchise I get connected with one or two characters in particular. I feel like i "know" them and that I connect with their ethos and pathos. Orange County- Tamra, New York- Bethany, New Jersey- Teresa and Caroline, Atlanta- Sheree, and Beverly Hills- Lisa and Kyle.
Do I connect with these ladies or emulate them and wish I had their fabulous lives or could just hop on my personal Gulfstream 5 and go to a Jay Z concert in Las Vegas at a hotel that I conveniently own. As I think about this more I think it is interesting that the Housewives franchise has survived as well as grown as the American and World economy has been in a recession. We view the lavish lifestyles of many of the women but at the same time Cohen and his team are smart and add bits and pieces of some of the ladies struggling making mortgage payments or paying for their newest Gucci Spring Bag.
Whether you love them or hate them, Bravo and The Real Housewives of various cities and the Bravo Network are defining pop culture of the 21st century. We gab, read, blog, text, tweet, and watch their every move.
Thanksgiving was a holiday to express thankfulness, gratitude, and appreciation to God, family and friends for which all have been blessed of material possessions and relationships.
As a college Junior this is my third Thanksgiving break.... well it starts in about 7 hours and twenty minutes. I have learned from experience that teachers most likely will cancel class on Tuesday as well as our University cancels classes Wednesday, thus some students use the days off and extend there break leaving the previous Thursday or Friday before Thanksgiving. One of my friends is traveling to Hawaii and getting out of the cold snowy Spokane for a holiday in the sun... I am more than jealous as others are venturing home by bus, plane, and automobile to spend time with the people they are most thankful for.
This year more than ever I am most thankful for my family. My parents, married 28 years, and my older brothers are the people I turn to through thick or thin. I know that they will always be there no matter what.
As a pop culture enthusiast I began to wonder what different celebrities may be thankful for this week of thanks and love. What is someone like Eva Longoria who recently filed from divorce from her husband of three years, Tony Parker, thankful for this Thanksgiving when the wounds of her divorce are still fresh? Celebrities lives are so public that we assume things like oh well she is going through a hard time in her life what could she possibly be thankful for? We assume, we think we know, but in actuality we don't. Eva as well as other celebrities have private lives and private thoughts just like you and me which they try and keep as much out of the public eye as they can. They are human beings trying to enjoy the company of family and friends on the most joyous day when millions across the nation sit down and ask each other.. What are you thankful for?
Lip synching is something that many pop stars do on and off stage, but now for a 15 year old from Chicago lip synching to top 40 songs has become a hobby as well as made him famous.
Keenan Cahill has become a youtube phenomenon overnight. I saw him after my friend posted his "Teenage Dream" lip synch on her Facebook page... now he does a great job... but part of me can't listen to the Katy Perry song anymore because I just see Keenan.
Celebrities alike have become great fans of Keenan's work and through Twitter Keenan was able to land guest appearance on the comedian Chelsea Handler's late night talk show, Chelsea Lately.
As Keenan becomes more than an internet sensation I have to wonder does it just take lip synching to popular songs to get one famous? What is the definition of famous in this world of hyper reality where everyone broadcasts their every move on the internet? Just because I have 125 followers on Twitter... does that make me famous?
Here is one of my favorite videos of Keenan.... one celebrity even stops by.
I have only lived in three towns my whole life: LaCrosse, Wisconsin; Portland, and Spokane. Portland is where I am from when people ask me that question, and in college that question is asked quite often. Living in Portland from age 6 until I left for Gonzaga August of 2008 I never truly appreciated my city until I left.
Going through your teens in Portland and young adult stage at times I thought there was NOTHING to do or nothing cool for a 16 year old.... no I do not want to see a movie again no I do not want to do this no no no no no no. Going through my normal routine and going to my normal places of activities I did not see the city as anything else then where I was from or where my whole family is from.
Moving to Spokane was quite a change I didn't realize how much I appreciated the metropolitan feel and atmosphere of Portland. How much I had taken advantage of the Pearl District, the culture, the arts, the up and coming food scene. I missed driving from my house down burnside and seeing Mt. Hood in all of its glory beaming over the city. Now I know I am getting a little nostalgic, probably because it is very near Thanksgiving and I am getting a little homesick and ready to go back to my great city.
Now going to school at Gonzaga has allowed me to become great friends with kids who are from Western Washington and many who are from Seattle. I love all of these friends dearly as well as I love Seattle, but I keep quite when they talk about how great Seattle is because I know that they are missing the hidden gem, Portland.
If you are a gleek and have not seen this clip please watch now!
Last nights show was.... fantastic! Glee always has clever ways to deal with as well as overcome physical, emotional, and personal issues. After watching this week's episode I thought about a lot of things in my life and the friends and family that surround me and am glad that they let me be, well me.
Scott Mescudi, or as many of us know him as Kid Cudi, a 26 year old born and raised in Brooklyn, released his second album, Man on the Moon II: The Legend of Mr. Rager this week. As an avid Cudi fan in the past two years I was excited for the release of this anticipated album. After much hype for Young Money and Lil Wayne's release from jail last week I was in dire need of something new in the music industry. Kid Cudi's newest album has done just the trick.
He is off the usual path and marking of a Rap or Hip Hop artist, Cudi is a new fresh take on Rap in the 21st century. When listening to some of his music certain emotions and feelings come up either happy or sad. Cudi dives deeper than some of his counter parts and allows the listener to truly hear as well as actively listen to his lyrics and music.
I went home about a month ago for my Mom’s birthday and big birthday bash and could not count how many times I was asked if I have a boyfriend by different friends and family members. Why is this a big deal to them, I mean I am 20 years old and have the whole dating pool in front of me.
Dating in college….. this is something that some of my girlfriends and I talk about quite frequently. Dating in college is very different than High School or after college. “Dating” could mean solely hanging out on the weekends after 2 am and going on a “date” to the cafeteria in the morning for greasy eggs to cure your hangover or it could mean an actual serious and committed relationship, which in my opinion is harder to find in these four years of crazy schedules and sole searching.
Being single throughout college at times I have yearned for a boyfriend or significant other especially when some other friends are always with their boyfriend and cant stop talking about them. But then it dawns on me, you wouldn’t be able to have as much free time as you desire, you wouldn’t be able to do whatever you would like at all times. By Junior year I have gotten into my own schedule, made my own friends, and found my likes/dislikes on campus and in classes. This is the year to really key in and focus on my major and minors and gain internships and pursue what I would like to do in the future. Is this possible with a boyfriend? Yes I believe so but at the same time I believe that college is a time for soul searching and really finding you are. I know some couples that have been dating since the first week of Freshmen year and have isolated themselves and have not grown as individuals and found their niche on campus or in their specific fields.
I thank god sometimes that I am not that couple I see and sometimes gag that are making out in the Starbucks line or always holding hands. Even though at times I even yearn for a significant other I have learned that college is a time to grow, mature, develop as an individual not a couple. I am happy as a single young woman who is surrounded by quality friends and family members.
As a college Junior I have learned over the past three years that Hallloween, which was just one night a year as a child trick or treating up and down the neighborhood, has turned into a weekend full of costumes, parties, and alcohol. Forgo the candy and one night a year outlook, in college Halloween is Halloweekend.
For a smaller school like mine Halloween seems to be a "big deal." Without date dashes or other Greek Life events weekends like Halloween or St. Patrick's Day are highlights of a semester.
Three or four weeks before Halloween peers of mine started to ask me what I was going to be for Halloween, I responded puzzled thinking that hey its only October 1st.... I have a lot of time. Some girlfriends and I decided on "The Seven Deadly Sins" for one night of the weekend. Greed, Sloth, Envy, Gluttony, Lust, Pride, and Wrath were our costumes for Saturday night. I was assigned "Greed," which would not have been my first choice but I am easy going and did not put up a fight. I decided to take the costume into my own hands and make it my own. With a trip to Claire's to find cheap, sparkly, diamond like jewelry and a faux fur vest I was starting to feel and look more like a Real Housewife of Spokane than my assigned "Greed" character. With a few more touches including some Monopoly money as well as my Junior Year Prom Shoes my outfit was complete and I was ready to go on the town, or in my case... The Logan Neighborhood.
Halloween is one night, or in college a weekend where you can dress up like something out of the norm. Now some kids I know chose to wear little or nothing and may I add froze to death in what was a 30 degree night, but I was one that dressed up, had fun and laughed with friends... and hope I don't have to dress up like a Real Housewife ever again... or until next HALLOWEEKEND.
For the past few days I have been watching, learning, and observing students on campus. Yes, this may sounds a little creepy, but I was observing how "connected" my small campus is. While adventuring out on the 10 minute walk to my first class, my first instinct was to plug in my headphones and listen to "Whip My Hair" by Willow Smith, but then I hesitated and decided to unplug from the music and listen to the car horns, and engage in early morning pre caffeine conversations with my classmates.
During this quick walk I observed many people listening to their various MP3 players, texting, talking, and playing games on their cell phones. With a quick "hello" to people they know and the occasional stop and chat I observed that most people did one thing: stay plugged in.
As a College student I myself am plugged in almost all the time. Emails, texts, Facebook, Twitter all on one device I sometimes catch myself needing a break. We are constantly refreshing our Mozilla Firefox to see if someone has "posted" or "tweeted" on ones profile.
Last night I had the chance to unplug myself from technology and read a book for an hour or so, yes read a non school related book. At first my thoughts were, well what if someone important tries to get ahold of me.... it is sad that I myself can't keep my thoughts off of technology for more than a few minutes, I either can change my habits or limit the amount of time I am "plugged in" or continue to be engulfed in technology
This morning I woke up to freezing temperatures in my apartment as I had failed to close a window and the temperature was at a blustery 35 degrees.... this called for one thing as I slowly got dressed and prepared for this cold drizzly day... UGG's
As an avid UGG wearer ... I believe I am on my fourth or fifth pair... including an ugly magenta pair that I wore freshmen year in high school. UGG Boot's were never meant for women, men, and children to sport in the cold weather or around town in the winter. UGG's became popular in the 1960's for competitive surfers who used the footwear to keep their feet warm after their competition. After UGG Holdings, Inc. was sold in 1995 to Deckers corporation, UGG's emerged as a fashion statement and trend. Celebrities were seen wearing them first on the coast of California. Soon after teens, soccer moms, and Wall Street executives were all seen sporting this cozy boots on the weekends or lounging around in.
For me UGG's are go to footwear when the temperature is below 50 degrees, which in Spokane is quite often. But for other's they see UGG's as a ridiculous and "UGGly" piece of footwear. I hear this mostly from boys, especially in my demographic of 18-24. They view the boots as unattractive and do not understand why they are so popular with their female peers. This does not mean that UGG's are not popular with certain men, UGG's has expanded exponentially since 2006 when they started to be all the buzz in the US shoe market. From the point of a consumer I have seen UGG's grow before my eyes.
On a recent trip to Nordstrom's I counted five UGG displays in just the women's shoe department. The boots ranged from more fashionable styles that were upwards of $200 to slippers, mocassins, and the classic short boot.
Opinions are quite different when it comes to this brand of footwear. Some may say they are ugly, gross, and unattractive, but others including myself have to say that they are cozy, cute, and comfortable.
My heart broke a little bit yesterday when I found out that Courtney Cox and David Arquette were separated. I have always been a fan of both of their work and have become invested in their relationship. But why? This is a personal matter for the two of them and their daughter Coco? Why was I so heartbroken when I have never met either of them in person?
I have followed them on Twitter, seen pictures of them in US Weekly and watched countless of episodes as Cox portrays obsessive and OCD Monica Geller in Friends. I have never met the Cox-Arquette family in person but have always admired them so why is it affecting me so much?
As a culture we put our energy in to someones life. We connect with maybe one or two characteristics that the specific celebrity possesses and thus become enthralled. We watch their every move, every bite of pizza and ask "Why can't that be me?"
This past August my family traveled to the Aloha state for some R&R. My Dad sat by Eddie Murphy's brother on a flight and rumored that Eddie along with a motley crew would be arriving at the same resort we were staying at the next day. Eddie arrived along with numerous children...... and the aura and vibe that was around him was hypnotic. People could not believe that they were surfing or eating sushi next to Murphy. Those people, myself include, who now can say "Oh yeah Murphy was staying at the same resort as me on Maui and we totally made eye contact" are invested in his life. They want to keep updated on his life.
As I write this I have began to wonder, "Why am I interested in Cox and Arquette's separation?" It does not affect be directly or indirectly for that matter. As a human being we try to relate to these celebrities and their marital troubles and are glad that hey, at least that isnt me.
Never do nothing to hurt 'em
Now you're in each other's face
Spewing venom
And these words
When you spit 'em
You push
Pull each other's hair
Scratch, claw, bit 'em
Throw 'em down
This past Summer Eminem released his latest hit "Love the Way you Lie" featuring Rihanna. The two's collaboration was an instant hit around the United States and beyond. Young girls and college bros alike belt the song on the top of their lungs, but do they know what they are actually singing? Is Eminem supporting physical and verbal domestic violence?
Eminem as well as Rihanna have both been involved in acts of domestic violence. Rihanna's case was in the public eye for all to see when she and then long time boyfriend, Chris Brown, got in a physical and verbal altercation causing Rihanna to bruise as well as the couple to split up and Brown sentenced to jail.
Rihanna has blossomed and poured her emotions from the domestic violence experience into her music including Eminem's song "Love the Way you Lie" In the video the very sexy and popular actress, Megan Fox, and the actor Dominic Monaghan from the show Lost portray the couple that is in the abusive relationship.
They fight, scream, and throw objects at each other then have a very passionate love scene. They are in a relationship of pain but also one of sexual attraction and lust which is keeping them together. The women in the video as well as other women are too afraid of what may happen to them if they leave. Two bruises on the arm and a black eye are better than what they see happening if they leave the situation.
Eminem broadcasted this cycle of violence for the whole world to see and sing to. Recently I even overheard some young children singing along. Do they really know what it is truly saying? Eminem and Rihanna have experienced this horrible violence and in my opinion are not promoting it they are putting it out there for those who have experienced the same thing to know that you are not alone, that there is hope for the situation. It is an evil cycle but it needs to be broken.
Spotted: Chuck and an unknown leggy blond canoodling in Central Park? Could this be a summer romance gone to long, or a stab in the heart to his lost love Blair?
When I was a middle school student in the early 2000's I spent every night reading and pouring my life whole heartily into the series of Young Adults books, Gossip Girl. I believed I was Serena, Blair, dating Nate and going to upper crust, elite society events.
Prior to my Senior year of High School I heard rumors of a series to be produced of my favorite (and still is) series of books. I couldn't believe it. How would they create the characters I envied into characters on T.V. With the success of the teen drama The O.C. the CW pegged Josh Schwartz as the perfect person to produce Gossip Girl.
Gossip Girl premiered September 2007 and American viewers were awed and surprised at how these teens were living such scandalous lives. Viewers wondered if this is what actually went on in everyday life in such elite private high school on the Upper East Side of New York. Did girls really dress like Serena or have a "man whore" persona such as Chuck Bass?
As the first season evolved I kept thinking back to my days as a young teen laying on my couch on a lazy day reading and involving myself personally into the books. I was upset that the storyline did not follow exactly with the books, but was intrigued where Schwartz was taking each and every of my favorite characters.
Every Monday I found myself along with my Mother, who I still laugh at receiving a text my Freshmen year of college "Sarah do you think Chucks eyebrows are a little different this season" watching, oowing and awwing and the marvelous fashion choices, and wondering if that could be me? The thing that stuck with me was that Gossip Girl, the person man or woman we still do not know, who is behind the website and deception has still remained anonymous.
The characters on Gossip Girl, Blair, Chuck, Serena, Dan, Nate, Vanessa, and many more characters whose stories have intertwined through the series, which fourth season premiere was last Monday, are people we may be jealous of, see characteristics of ourselves, and jump into their storyline. I mean wouldn't anyone kill for an expense account like Chuck or a closet like Blair? Until next time ..... You know you love me Gossip Girl
"This is the true story... of eight strangers... picked to live in a house...work together and have their lives taped... to find out what happens... when people stop being polite... and start getting real...The Real World." (MTV.com)
Since 1992 televisions around the world have been tuning in every week to see eight strangers live, learn, fight, drink, hook-up, with each other. These young adults are practically strangers who are thrown together in an elaborate house provided by MTC for three months and are told to entertain.
When the first Real World (New York) premiered on MTV in 1992 viewers had seen nothing like it. Why would anyone want to live with random people for an extended period of time and basically get paid to party? The first few seasons of The Real World were much more raw and even had some substance. In season three, San Francisco, Pedro Zamora, a cast-mate who was not open gay came out and told the other castmates that he was suffering from HIV. Since that season it has focused more on hookups, fighting, work, and drinking.
In the most recent season, Season 24 in New Orleans, the cast all had hopes and dreams to go beyond The Real World, some of which were in the entertainment industry. The casts 24 seasons ago were on the program for the experience, not to seek fame, what little of it they may have.
How is this program and experience any different than the ever so popular Jersey Shore? They are strangers put in a house to live together for two months, but they barely work, if you call working at a shore clothing store and gelato shop hard work. They are there to party. Yet the Jersey Shore cast has seen so many more opportunities and fame and fortune. They are the new generation of The Real World.
With the Real World season 25 in Las Vegas premiering later this year the viewer has to wonder if it is really worth your while to tune the t.v. to MTV at that set time. You know what is going to happen, the cute girl will hook up with multiple boys in the house, there will be one ethnic female or male and at least one GLBT cast mate. Why do we keep watching if we already know all of this?
As Social media expands and progresses at a rapid pace more and more people are engulfing themselves into this social phenomena that is spreading across the world. Different age groups, cultural groups, and people from all backgrounds are jumping on the train and one has to wonder why are we broadcasting our lives for public display? Why do we want people to know what we are doing at every minute of every hour?
As a college student I myself participate in many facets of social media. It is the communication airways of my generation. I am broadcasting my life on the web for others to see as well as voice their opinions on what I do and say and even how I look on a particular day. My life as well as my peers are not kept a secret one bit.
One area of social media that I participate in on a daily basis and am constantly checking is Twitter. I joined Twitter the Summer of 2009 when it was just catching on but did not actively start "tweeting" until last Fall when other peers starting being active on the Twitter scene. I felt odd tweeting when I would ask well if my friends are not reading who is? Who are all these followers I have?
I sent myself a picture of my twitter profile from my iPhone. Who says you need anything other than a smart phone to survive these days. Right now I have 125 followers but follow 433 which seems a little obsessive. I follow not only celebrities which many Tweeters do but also my friends, news organizations, local restaurants, shops, workout tips as well as celebrity personal trainers and discount websites that give you the first look at upcoming deals. Twitter is a great way to self promote, advertise, and put yourself out there for free.
Such celebrities as Kim Kardashian is paid in upwards of $20,000 for tweeting about a specific product or a promotion that is going on. With over 5 million followers her tweets are read all over the world by her followers then by word of mouth from her followers. It is an advertising gold mind.
Twitter has been call a "fad" or a way for our culture to disconnect personal communication even more. Twitter in my opinion has advanced communication and can get you in contact with people, places, and networking like no one else. I mean who doesn't want to know what President Obama ate for lunch?
