Whiny-Weepies


I guess I had too much time on my hands.  I guess I needed a break from all the writing, reading , and Thanksgiving cooking I was doing.  I was also  feeling a bit under the weather.  As a result of all of these excuses…er…reasons, I found myself watching dumb shows on the Style network, Bravo and VH1 (whose programming seems to be permanently stuck on stupid).

I was struck by how many celebrities surround themselves with whiny, weepy, genuflecting staff and hire consultants whose advise is spurious at best.  They need the salaries they command just to keep the legions of staff and hanger-oners they employ.

Even reality shows that I used to like, i.e., Project Runway, have become caricatures with crisis carefully scripted and scenes edited to manufacture tension and drama when there is, in fact, little to be had.  And what’s up with the plethora of ugly hair this season? It is clear these contestants have learned from past seasons that personality and ‘tude will guarantee they are not cut in the opening weeks thereby extending their few minutes of fame.

 I think there should be term-limits for most TV shows.  Once shows get popular they seem to sink into becoming formulaic and predictable.  I even read that Paige Davis, former host of Trading Spaces, is being brought back.  Don’t do it, Paige!  You were the glue that held the program together and then they unceremoniously dumped you for some dumb reason and the viewership has eroded ever since.  Don’t return to the scene of the crime!  Surely you have moved on – take my advice and stay gone.

In addition to the whiny-weepy assistants and opportunistic snake-oil salespeople…er…I mean consultants, there are the whiny-weepy stars (aka Paula Abdul) and a whole bunch of liars on reality shows.  The lies happen consistently and are denied ferociously despite being recorded and re-run for all to see.

Believe it or not, one of the better shows I caught was Run’s House on MTV. (MTV!)  He and his wife are a team who are active, loving, and present parents.  (Although Mrs. Run’s voice runs toward the whiny and there is a bit too much bling and too many sweet, unearned opportunities that the kids walk into.  But, I should be real – privilege and money always opens doors.)

I’m putting myself on a stupid-TV-free regimen.  I might even call the cable folks and cancel some channels ’cause I can’t justify paying to watch dumb and dumberer television.


About Candelaria Silva

Candelaria Silva-Collins is a marketing, community outreach and programming consultant; writer; and trainer/facilitator who lives in Boston, Massachusetts. She has designed and facilitated workshops on a wide variety of topics including communication, facilitation, job search skills, team building, and parenting issues. She currently coordinates the Community Membership Program of the Huntington Theatre Company. Her work as Director of ACT Roxbury was profiled in several publications, including The Creative Communities Builders Handbook. Candelaria’s children’s stories, short stories, essays and reviews have been published in local and national publications and she is an active blogger. Her publications include the booklets, Handling Rejection; Pushing through Shyness: Networking Tips when You’re Shy, Slow to Warm Up or Just don’t Feel you Belong; and Real Questions about Sex & Relationships for Teens: A Discussion Guide for Parents. She has served on the boards of Goddard College, Wheelock Family Theatre, Boston Foundation for Architecture, and Discover Roxbury. She is currently Chair, Designators of the Henderson Foundation.