Throwback Thursday-American Pickers (2010-Present)

History has a way to occurring in the most ordinary of places. The objects that mark as a reminder of these events sometimes have a way to making themselves known not in a museum, but in a private setting.

American Pickers (2010-Present), has been a staple of the History Channel schedule for nearly a decade. The show follows a team of antique collectors who travel across the country looking for hidden historical gems to fill either their personal collections or to sell to waiting customers.

Though American Pickers is labelled as a reality show, it’s not what one thinks of when one thinks of a typical reality show. That being said, I find this show rather boring. I understand the unique concept of the program, but it has never hooked me as other shows have.

Do I recommend it? Not really.

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Throwback Thursday-Giuliana and Bill (2009-2014)

Reality television, whether we like it or not, has become part and parcel of our television viewing schedule.

Giuliana and Bill was on the air from 2009-2014. The show followed the lives of two married TV personalities: E! News anchor Giuliana Rancic and season one The Apprentice winner Bill Rancic. As with every reality show in which the focus is a celebrity, this program told the story of the daily lives of their subjects.

If the point of this show and the sub-genre of celebrity based reality shows is to prove how normal they are, this show succeeds. However, it seems to be self-serving with a “look at me” attitude. I do recall watching this program, but looking back, I wish I had spent my precious TV time watching another program.

Do I recommend it? Not really.

Throwback Thursday-The Bachelor/The Bachelorette (2002/2003-Present)

Every television genre has their iconic programs. These shows symbolize the genre, regardless of whether or not the specific viewer is a fan of those shows.

Among reality shows, The Bachelor/The Bachelorette (2002/2003-present) is an iconic behemoth that has been on the air for nearly twenty years. The premise of the both shows is simple. At the center of the show is a single man or woman. During the first episode, the self titled bachelor or bachelorette is introduced to a group of singles. As the series moves on, the number of contestants vying for the heart and the hand of the man or woman is whittled down to two potential partners. He or she must then decide whom they want to spend their life with.

I usually have a high tolerance for reality television. I know it’s fake and as produced as any fictional television program. But there is still some enjoyment to be had as a viewer. However, when it comes The Bachelor/The Bachelorette, this is one show that I cannot stand and refuse to watch. As far as I am concerned, it is pretty people falling in love for the cameras and for the sake of ratings.

Do I recommend it? Not at all.

Throwback Thursday-A Shot at Love with Tila Tequila (2007)

Dating shows seems to be one of the most popular within the reality show genre. The question that I think a viewer has to ask is if the show is “real” or staged for the sake of good television?

A Shot at Love with Tila Tequila aired on MTV in 2007. The premise of the show was the same as an reality dating show, with one exception. The star of the show, Tila Tequila, was bisexual. 16 straight men and 16 gay women competed for her affection. At the end of the series, like all reality dating shows, the final competitor was chosen as the star’s significant other.

As much as I dislike reality dating shows, I really disliked this one. The creative team had an opportunity to give a voice to the LGBTQ community. While it appeared that this was another opportunity to open the doors of communication and acceptance, it was in reality just another dating show that took advantage of the “exoticism” of the LGBTQ community to increase ratings.

Do I recommend it? Absolutely not.

Throwback Thursday-Entertainment Tonight (1981-Present)

“The news” as we know it to be is a very vague term. Which is why there is room for news programs with different formats and subject matters.

Entertainment Tonight has been on the air since 1981. The basic concept of the program is similar to a traditional news program. However, instead of focusing on the days events, Entertainment Tonight, or ET, focuses on the goings on in Hollywood.

This show has been around for nearly 40 years. It obviously it had some legs and a good number of viewers. It wouldn’t be on the air for almost 40 years if it wasn’t getting the ratings that it is. I used to watch it during college, however, I prefer to watch other things these days. Granted, it is an entertainment news program. But, it feels a little mindless and honestly, I would rather watch something else if I could.

Do I recommend it? Not really.

Throwback Thursday-Chopped Junior (2016-Present)

When it comes to certain professions, it takes years of hard work, grit and mistakes before one can call themselves a master of their craft.

The adults who compete on Chopped have years of experience in the kitchen. The children who compete on Chopped Junior may not have same amount of years in the kitchen. But they have the same drive, passion and want to succeed.

The premise of Chopped Junior is the same as it’s adult predecessor. Also hosted by Ted Allen, four young chefs must make three distinct meals within a short amount of time. One by one, the contestants are eliminated until one is named the winner and earns $10,000.

What I like about Chopped Junior is that even though the pressure is the same as it is for the adults, the kids are willing to help their fellow contestant. It shows, at least from my opinion, not only how talented and driven these kids are, but how open helping one another succeed.

I recommend it.

Throwback Thursday-The Pioneer Woman (2011-Present)

Cooking shows have been around for decades. But it takes a special TV chef to inspire his or her viewers.

The Pioneer Woman has aired on The Food Network since 2011. Hosted by Ree Drummond, the show is set in her kitchen and family ranch in Oklahoma. Drummond takes the viewer through the process of making various meals and introduces them to the ranching life that her family lives.

I’m not usually one who watches cooking shows. I usually watch them when I am home sick or spending a lazy weekend doing nothing but watching television. But, I do like The Pioneer Woman. She is warm, she is open and her recipes look tasty.

I recommend it.

Throwback Thursday-Airline (2004-2005)

When we fly, we hope that the flight will be smooth and without complications. But hope often springs eternal, especially when it comes to the potentially long list of factors that can delay a flight.

Airline aired on A&E from 2004-2005. It told the story of Southwest Airlines passengers and staff at four different airports across the country. As is expected, there is drama, problems, frustrated passengers and employees just trying to do their jobs.

Among reality shows, Airline was unique. Instead of focusing on the personal life of celebrities or watching singles date and fight for their potential spouse, this program told the real story of real people. It was also raw and closer to the reality without the slickness and over-production that is the hallmark of this genre.

I recommend it.

Throwback Thursday-Jeopardy (1964-Present)

Most television shows, if they are lucky, will have at least one or two seasons on the air. A small minority of shows are on the air for multiple years. An even smaller minority of shows are on the air for decades.

Jeopardy is one of these shows that has been on the air for decades. Currently hosted by Alex Trebek, this quiz show tests the knowledge of three contestants. The show game is broken down into three rounds: Jeopardy!, Double Jeopardy!, and Final Jeopardy!. The questions vary from topics such as entertainment, history, politics, current events etc. By the end of the game, the contestant who has answered the most questions correctly wins the game and walks away with a nice financial reward.

For those of us under a certain age, Jeopardy is just part of the television schedule. It is almost fun to watch, try to guess the right answers with the contestants and predict who will in.

I recommend it.

P.S. Does anyone else love Saturday Night Live‘s Celebrity Jeopardy as much as I do?

Flashback Friday- The Waterboy (1998)

A good parents wants what is best for their child. But sometimes, even a good parent forgets that their children must grow up eventually.

In the 1998 movie, The Waterboy, Bobby Boucher (Adam Sandler) is the waterboy for the local college team. Living under the thumb of Mama Boucher (Kathy Bates), his overbearing mother, Bobby does not have much of a life. Then Coach Klein (Henry Winkler), the football team’s coach notices that Bobby has a natural gift for the game.

But Bobby knows this his mother won’t approve. She will also not approve of his new girlfriend, Vicki Vallencourt (Fairuza Balk). Will Bobby be able to live as he wants to live or will his mother continue to control his life?

This movie is an interesting film. It represents a subtle, but important change in Sandler’s career. Bobby has shades of the man-boys that Sandler played in previous films in the 90’s, but he also has a maturity and a perspective that is more man than man-boy.

I recommend it.