Opened up Google News on my phone Wednesday morning, and this story topped the entertainment news:
How did we get here?
How did someone’s marriage problems and FREAKIN’ SUBSTANCE ABUSE PROBLEM get categorized as our entertainment?
We’re better than this.
And please, don’t give me the fact that the Kardashian family asks begs for this spotlight. Yes, they’re famous for being famous, but YOU get to choose whether or not you ingest the TMZ-peddled schadenfreude.
Don’t. Be better than this.
I’m not saying entertainment is bad. I’m not even saying we’re not entitled to a guilty pleasure now and then… as long as we remember a little junk food won’t hurt.
I’m saying voyeuristically watching someone self-destruct or hurt someone else is not entertainment. It’s sociopathy.
Coming up next on E! – Seven things to entertain you besides the Kardashians
1. Read a book. Escape in a mystery. Transport yourself back in time through an historical novel. Buy the greatest comic book ever. Or do what I did and follow Heidi’s suggestion and start with the awesomely-named author Jen Hatmaker and her book, Interrupted, which I’ve just started, but which contains both an inspiring message and rich writing like this:
My dad is no longer remembered as the good-natured pastor who shoveled snow for neighbors and put on Fourth of July fireworks shows for everyone. He is now known as the slumlord who invited strippers and fugitives to cohabitate with the good people of Haysville, Kansas.
She had me at “cohabitate.”
2. Watch Olbermann. Yes, that Olbermann, but it’s not that Olbermann; it’s KO back doing sports commentary on ESPN2 at 11 PM EDT. I’m old and go to bed early, so I DVR it and watch it the next day. ESPN has also made it a podcast. He’s articulate. He’s relevant. He’s wickedly funny. It’s like the great stuff Aaron Sorkin writes, only it’s not fiction. Finally – The Daily Show for sports. Tuesday night featured Olbermann and Kornheiser. I thought my head might explode with joy.
3. Play a game with your kids. I recommend this one. If you don’t have kids, call some friends and play this one.
4. Speaking of friends, call an old one. Swallow the anxiety. It won’t be awkward for more than a few seconds.
5. Write a letter. Make this even more fun and go buy a great pen and some awesome stationery and some envelopes and some stamps. Make a calendar and do what our grandmother did and write a letter a day.
6. Exercise. Whether it’s a run or walk or 7-minute-workout or playing golf with your son, unplug and get after it.
7. Watch paint dry. Remember, we are simply looking for more valuable alternatives to call entertainment than to keep keeping up with those Kardashians. That bar’s pretty low.
I think it’s time we raise it. How about you?
Amen! Nice Blur Today Timothy!!
Good post, Tim. Don’t have time to talk. There’s paint drying in the next room, and I’m not there.
That ship has sailed, too late, the culture is in shambles. This is just a symptom of the larger problem. This is how Obama got elected, Etc. The people who watch this garbage are not reading books, excising, or spending time with their children, nor do they want to. Unfortunately there seems to be an ever increasing amount of these people.