Kim’s Tour of No Regrets

It started with the snakes and rats, and I was hooked. If you watch Survivor, you know what/who I mean. It may be the single most conflicted thing about me….my love for reality TV.

I like to think that I am discriminating. Survivor, Amazing Race, Project Runway and Top Chef. Sure, I flirt with Dancing with the Stars and So You Think You Can Dance, but I am loyal to only the best. I admit to having spent time with The Apprentice (Donald and Martha), America’s Next Top Model (sorry Kate, I know I promised you I would NEVER tell another soul we watched it), even a dalliance with the Bachelor (arrgggghhhh, I know, I know…). But give me a great back story, a few challenges, scenery and/or creativity and there’s no turning back.

Some of our best family memories are made of this stuff….I know, it’s pathetic, but it’s our version of the campfire. Here’s why:

Survivor: For years we had Thursday night Survivor dinners, until the girls rebelled against grilled shrimp and rice…again. This show is the perfect platform to talk about family values. Is it ever ok to pretend to be someone’s friend?  Is it ok to lie? What does loyalty mean? What does a promise mean? Is it more honorable to work around camp, or be strong in challenges? Does endurance trump strength, or the ability to do a puzzle? Heart over head? Whining is never acceptable, or attractive.  Why don’t the women ever get armpit hair? Outwit, outplay, outlast…which do you admire the most? And then, there was the moment when Yau Man found the idol and made a fake one. I love Yau.

Amazing Race: Favorite team? The Hippies. Kate would have married either one of them. They traveled the world on humor and karma, and won. We had one season we referred to as the “been there, done that” season. I tried (and failed) to get the girls to add on the phrase, “because my parents are so awesome.” We each have our dream AR partners (Kate picks cousin Chris, Alex picks cousin Steven, Steve and I pick each other). I pretend I would be good at this game, until I come off an all night flight. I would be the first one Philiminated.

Project Runway: This is TV heaven. Especially the first season. Adored Jay McCarroll and Austin Scarlett. Remember Austin’s evening gown made of corn husks? Sigh.

Top Chef: Don’t have a magic moment, but I learned the term amuse bouche here (wikipedia: an amuse bouche, also called an amuse gueule, is a tiny bite-sized morsel served before or first course of a meal). It helps me to imagine the crumbs on my counter as an amuse bouche, waiting for plating….just kidding, of course.

There’s more. Benji on So You Think You Can Dance, Ali on The Biggest Loser, Mose on Amish in the City, and the reveals on Extreme Makeover (fast forward the TIVO just to get the weekly cry).

Yup, it’s embarrassing. But it’s my reality….and not a secret anymore!