confessions of a reality tv show junky

I think I may have hit an all time low in my reality show junkyism. I thought it was bad when I watched, I think it was called paradise island or hotel?? One of my sisters told me it was good and I stupidly I listened and watched and well I’m embarrassed for myself admitting to this!
But, I really liked this show! My new fave celebrity reality show which ended this past Sunday, started off for me as a mild curiosity and became a Sunday afternoon must. What is it you ask?

CONFESSIONS OF A TEEN IDOL.

I like to spend Sunday mornings, especially if I don’t have any commitments, by sleeping in til 9am. I wake up, leisurely read the Sunday paper whilst eating some breakfast, watch sponge bob at 10am and after that flip channels until I come across something good, or weirdly interesting. This show would fall into the latter. For the past few weeks, I’ve tried to catch the 7 episodes that were made. I seemed to catch the same repeats or the shows out of sequence. So desperate was I too figure out what had happened I even googled the show to read recaps of each episode! I know what you’re thinking, this girl needs a life and why, why is she watching this show?

I have asked myself the same question. Why do I even care about these so called, teen idols??? I never liked any of them back in their hey day and 2 of them I never even heard of until I watched the show. Seriously people, have you wondered what Billy Hufsey’s been up to over the past 30 years? He was on Fame. Or Chris Atkins, he of the loin cloth and bad acting from that classic, Blue Lagoon – by bad acting I’m not only referring to Brooke Shields, who I feel over the years has proven herself as a true iconic actress. (please note the sarcasm in that sentence) I know you’ve seen Blue Lagoon – anyone over the age of 35 has seen that cinematic masterpiece! Or how about, hmm, Adrian Zmed! Missing him are we? Or how about Jamie Walters? If you ever watched the original 90210 and not that crap show that’s on now, you would remember him as Donna’s abuser! The rest of the cast is made up of a guy name David who was on Baywatch, another guy named Jeremy Jackson, also of Baywatch and some dude name Eric who was on the real world. Not only do you get all this glorious teen idoldom, the show is hosted by none other than Scott Baio and Jason Hervey- 2 forgotten teen idols that should have remained forgotten and for some reason, aren’t one of the guys in the house. I think the term “teen idol” was used rather loosely to describe some of these dudes! The concept- throw seven has beens, I mean former teen idols into a mock up house which is actually a studio warehouse, put the cameras on them and see what happens.

But as I grew more invested (many wasted Sunday afternoons) in trying to figure out what had happened to these guys, I actually grew to liking them and actually hoping for their big break to appear, and for them to re-attain the celebrity status, perhaps not in the crazy teen idol status way, they once had. I really wanted Billy to get his music back on track and on the radio and for him to get that one acting job that would be a catalyst for his comeback. For Chris, who really isn’t that much older than say Brad Pitt, to regain his leading man status. And Adrian, whom I used to think, was soooo cheesy back in his TJ Hooker/Grease 2 days, but who now seemed like such a genuinely nice family guy on the show, that if he were ever to reappear on the small screen I would watch just to support and root him on! The other guys, well, honestly, I never cared then and still don’t now. Sorry! Really I am.

What I liked about the show is the producers didn’t make the guys look stupid or exploit the whole situation like say the Surreal World did to those desperate “celebrities”. Yes, I admit I did catch a season of that show (hours of my life I will never get back!). I think Confessions of a Teen Idol was a great forum for these former idols, as they each supported each other and came to believe in themselves again. They were given daily group therapy support sessions, different career building sessions and help to get them back on track if fame and celebrity was something they wanted again. You see, back in their hey day, some of them walked away from it all, while others had no choice, as in don’t- call -us, we’ll- call- you, adios, and buh bye. In the end, they all realized that yes, they did want that taste of fame again and for those select few, I hope they regain it! Everyone, well almost everyone, deserves a second chance – just don’t screw it up or take it for granted. As we know, fame is fleeting.

I would love to see another season of this show with some other forgotten teen idols. Imagine, throwing in a room, Leif Garrett! Or how about Rex Smith?? Haha. Who’s another one, Johnny Whittaker – remember him??? (please note- I never had crushes on any of these guys- I just couldn’t think of anyone who would apply to this category,ho hasn’t already been on some “Where are they now? “ type show)
Unfortunately a lot of these former teen idols have tried reigniting their careers by showing up on some really bad, bad reality shows. Do I need to say the surreal life again, or how about celebrity wrestling, or was it boxing or figure skating? Oh, the worst, “Help, I’m a celebrity-get me out of here!” The exception would have to be Dancing with the Stars – this I have to leave for its very own entry in BeeBitter! Haha.

Anyway, re-runs of Confession of a Teen Idol are still showing on Muchmoremusic in Canada. I’m sure if you catch one episode, you may find yourself wondering like I did, why isn’t Christopher Atkins in the limelight anymore? But if you’re really smart, turn the TV off and do something else! Anything else.