Tag television

My TV Is More Like A Radio

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Though I usually have the living room television turned on while I am at home, I rarely glance at the screen, so it functions more like a radio, providing background noise while I work. One of my roommates likes to turn the channel to the Cartoon Network, so the audio is usually quite lively when he is home. He has the same habit I do, in which he turns on the TV for background noise but doesn’t actively watch it. Before you assume that it is a crappy old TV, let me clarify that it is a 47 inch LED TV, the screen size of which I lamented for no good reason since I rarely actually watch programs or movies on TV. I recently stated that with the rather large living room we have, it would make more sense to have a 65 or 70 inch TV (which I am nowhere near being able to afford), but I seriously doubt that a larger set would inspire more active viewing. That would be a pretty massive and expensive radio!

Even right now as I sit on the living room floor with my laptop on the coffee table (this is what I normally do despite the fact that I have a huge and very comfortable leather sectional sofa), the TV is on, dialed into the Cartoon Network, with American Dad airing and the sounds of cartoon voices at a low volume. Every ten minutes or so, I look at the screen briefly, to rest my eyes from staring at the computer. When my roommate isn’t home and I turn on the television, I usually do a bit of channel surfing to find something that isn’t too loud or annoying. I have been more drawn to tattoo shows lately for some weird reason, maybe because the bleeped out profanity captures my attention while I am writing. There is a certain comfort I get from sitting in the living room with the TV on as opposed to sitting in complete silence, which explains why I almost automatically turn on the TV before I begin working.

Does anyone else have this habit?

A Celeb Based On What?

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Reality shows have created a bizarre phenomenon in which individuals with no real talent have become celebrities. At the risk of offending those of you who are fans of Paris Hilton, Kim Kardashian, or Snookie, I see no real reason to idolize these women who are tragic messes. I know that many were dazzled by the exorbitant lifestyles which Paris and Kim have been born into, and that others were intrigued by the partying lifestyle which Snookie led while on Jersey Shore, but these women lack talent. Money can buy many things, but it cannot buy talent, nor can it buy common sense. I know fans of Snookie applaud her for cleaning up her act and having a baby, but honestly, she needed to grow up. If she had continued on the track she was on before, she would have careened into serious mishaps which would have completely destroyed her.

Then we have shows like The Real World, Big Brother, The Bachelor, and The Bachelorette. How is it fair that people who are only remarkable for their desire to be followed by cameras can become so incredibly popular? The melding of reality TV with the game show concept has created a hybrid that draws viewers in but which heightens the contrived atmosphere of living in a house together while filming takes place. All the people living in the house are pitted against each other and want to win the big prize, which heightens tensions and theoretically makes good television. At least shows like America’s Next Top Model, Survivor, Amazing Race, America’s Got Talent, American Idol, The Voice, The Biggest Loser, and Project Runway showcase true talent, athleticism or a dogged determination to transform. I regard the individuals who have met with great success through talent based shows as worthy of the accolades and fandom which they have achieved from being on a reality show.

I see no value in shows like Here Comes Honey Boo Boo or The Real Housewives and find it laughable that the so-called stars of these shows achieved such recognition largely as a result of displaying their ridiculous and messed up lives without cowering in shame. I think if a family is going to be followed that most of the family members need to exhibit true star quality. Two families which I found rather interesting were the Osbournes and the Simmons family (Gene Simmons’ Family Jewels). I watched both of these shows while they were airing, and they held my interest because these families were powerful, talented and quirky, and also because I had been a fan of Black Sabbath and Kiss. Though both of these families actually possessed talent, this has not been the case for other musician families. As predicted, the networks milked this concept with a multitude of similar shows which have come and gone.

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Here is a link to a site which has a list of all the reality shows, and it is staggering in its immensity:

http://www.realitytvworld.com/realitytvworld/allshows.shtml

Hopefully a new generation of TV programming will emerge which will hold the interest of an increasingly overstimulated population and which will also award celebrity status to people who actually have the talent and star presence to deserve such an honor.

It’s MY Image And MY Branding

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I have been struggling to assemble various elements of my personal branding on my own, but this task has proven to be extremely challenging. One of the first things I worked on was a logo, but after seven months, I still have nothing to show for it. Part of the problem is that I only have ideas of what I want to convey, and I have to rely on the creative vision of a logo designer to interpret my ideas in a way that is cohesive with my brand. This project has dragged on and on, and I am now beginning to doubt whether I will have a logo before the end of the year. There are countless other things on my to-do list, such as compiling an email list, revamping my three websites, designing a newsletter template, etc. I don’t have the expertise, nor do I have the time to do all of these things on my own. So I have been sitting on these projects as well.

Another thing I was hoping to get into place was a public relations person to help me with my image and to increase my exposure. Here’s where I ran into another wall. I had a meeting recently with a very competent and talented PR person but as we continued to discuss my goals and my vision, I realized that there was a disconnect. This person went through my images online and explained why certain images fell outside the realm of certain goals I was trying to achieve. While I understood that some images were less conservative than what a typical physician would take, I also felt attacked and restrained. Part of what I love about being who I am right now is the fact that I AM atypical, that I am defying the odds, and that I am challenging stereotypes.
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One thing this person told me was that I needed to consider what a certain television show producer would think of me if he saw how I portray myself on the internet. With all due respect, I don’t live my life for others, and I will NOT conform for the sake of being invited on someone else’s TV show. I have enjoyed my personal freedoms and feel that as long as I honor the boundaries of common decency, I am NOT going to start doing photo shoots in business suits. That is simply NOT me and I would be miserable if I was FORCED to do that. I will never be the kind of person who will fit in a neat little conservative box. Try doing that to me and I will rebel.

In an era where the more outlandish and crazy someone is on television, the more popular they are, why is it that I am expected to remain on the straight and narrow path, with the reins pulled tight against my expression and my personality? I honestly don’t want to EVER sell out and become what a TV network or what middle America expects me to be. Perhaps Dr. Oz’s popularity stems somewhat from his conservative vibe, but I can tell you that when it comes to image, I will never be a predictable female version of that guy. No way. Don’t expect me to wear scrubs on a national TV show or dress in conservative garb just to appease the viewers. I am an IFBB Bikini Pro and very proud of it. So what if I model swimwear and fitness apparel? So what if I like to look sexy? Since when is that a crime?

My plan is to keep doing what I am doing, remain true to myself, maintain my integrity and keep moving closer to my ultimate goals.

Food Network: Food I Can Never Eat

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Food Network LogoThe Food Network is my favorite television channel, and I watch it regularly. I appreciate the chemistry and creativity behind culinary efforts and enjoy the visual appeal of dishes that are prepared and served. Perhaps my favorite show on the Food Network is Guy Fieri’s “Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives”, in which Guy travels all over the United States in pursuit of the best reasonably priced eats around. What is so sad is the fact that I can virtually never indulge in the featured dishes at the restaurants Guy visits, because they are so laden with everything I am NOT supposed to eat!

You would think that not being able to eat the foods that are featured on the Food Network would be enough to deter me from watching it regularly, but I get great pleasure from watching it. I must get some vicarious pleasure out of watching others eat forbidden dishes or something. My interest in this channel is so extreme that whenever I travel for IFBB Pro competitions (incidentally, I used to do this when I was an amateur in the NPC as well), I will turn the television on, find the Food Network, then leave it on 24/7 while staying at a hotel. This strange habit of keeping the t.v. on in a hotel room is one I have had for many years, but it wasn’t until 2011 when I began tuning into the Food Network while traveling. I have had fellow competitors come up to my room and remark on how tortuous it is to see shows about food on t.v, and only then does it hit me that this quirk of mine is a bit strange.

To a certain extent I miss the days when I was a foodie, indulging in gustatory delights with some frequency. However, on the rare occasions when I HAVE indulged, I usually pay the price for the next several days as my body tries to figure out what attacked it! The only thing my body can handle is a moderate cheat meal which does not consist of eating at more than one restaurant in an evening. Though this has only happened a handful of times over the years, I have had post-contest cheat meals in which I have visited one restaurant for a specific food craving, then another for a fellow competitor’s food craving, then a third place for dessert. After such gluttony, my belly is distended, my digestive tract is angry, and I pool subcutaneous water into the backs of my legs.

Since decadent foods make my body angry, I would much prefer to watch a television show which features those foods so that I can enjoy a calorie-free fantasy. This way I can indulge in hot fudge sundaes, mile-high burgers, heaping piles of pasta, and rich sauces without guilt!