It’s that time of the term again – essay deadlines are beginning to pop up, exams are once again beginning to loom distantly on the horizon. All of a sudden the relaxed post exam period is over and there is a scary amount of work to do. And how do we, as students and mature adults, deal with it? The only way we know how, we watch daytime TV instead of doing our reading and hope that it will all go away. Simple. But dipping into the world of daytime TV can be dangerous. Among the game shows, antiques programmes and Countdown episodes there are some monsters that are both terrible and strangely addictive. Now we have all enjoyed an episode or two of Jeremy Kyle or Loose Women in our lifetimes – don’t deny it. However, approach some of these listed shows with caution – you may never leave your sofa again.
1. The Big Bang Theory/ How I Met Your Mother – e4
If you are aiming for any kind of productive day, E4 is a channel that is best steered clear of. With its never-ending stream of comforting American sitcoms, it is all too easy to fall into the warm embrace of the sofa after your morning lectures, only to suddenly find that hours have passed and the whole day is gone. The Big Bang Theory and How I Met Your Mother are particularly bad for this; with double episodes, light unchallenging comedy and the fact that you have probably seen all the episodes at least five times before, it is a sure fire way to waste a day. Beware.
2. Dinner Date – ITVBe
Many a time I have come home to find stupefied housemates with glazed eyes sitting in their pyjamas watching this show. Come Dine With Me meets Take Me Out, this cooking dating show is just the right combination of bland and well… bland. It may be tempting to just zone out to this show
3. Millionaire Matchmaker – ITVBe
Back down the dark rabbit hole that is ITVBe again- The Millionaire Matchmaker follows Patti Stanger and her dating company The Millionaires Club. Dedicated to matching inordinately wealthy and arrogant men and women to their perfect gold digger, each episode follows two dates, which despite Patti’s claims of a high success rate, usually end badly. Watching this show is much like watching a car crash in slow motion; as much as you would like to look away at the same time it is morbidly fascinating. This show should be avoided on every level
4. Judge Rinder – ITV2
Basically Britain’s answer to Judge Judy. Sorting money disputes in small claims court Judge Rinder is Jeremy Kyle with a law degree and a gavel, in short – not worth wasting even procrastination time on.
5. Storage Hunters – Dave
This programme follows a bunch of crazy Americans round the US buying a bunch of crap that people leave behind in storage lockers. Yes it sounds strange. Yes it sounds boring. Yes it is on Dave. But this bizarre show has a weird way of drawing you in. Treat with caution.
6. Real Housewives of *Insert Location Here* – ITVBe
Slowly spreading like an infectious disease across America and now, sadly, to Britain, Real Housewives is quite possibly the most mindless, pointless yet addictive reality TV show that exists today. Bitchy blonde bimbos arguing over… gods knows what, it’s almost unbearable. Its too late for me. Save yourselves – before it is too late.
Edited by Mackenzie Orrock
Image sources:
http://rebloggy.com/post/gif-funny-quote-text-tv-big-bang-theory-sheldon/23579696692
https://www.hattrick.co.uk/news/?news_id=35
http://www.badtvblog.com/2011/09/douchebag-patti-stanger-millionaire.html
http://ovsc.proboards.com/thread/8719/asc-14-final?page=8
http://www.quickmeme.com/anyone-else-see-think-this-when-watching-storage-hunters