Reality TV is Like Junk Food (And Why I Stopped "Keeping Up with Kardashians" )

I have a ridiculous addiction to trashy reality television. I thoroughly enjoy watching most installments of Bravo’s Real Housewives franchise (save for New Jersey and Orange County . . . they have out-trashed even me). I used to watch The Bad Girls Club, but I eventually stopped on account of the show's pure evil and Perez Hilton hosting the reunion shows.

I have enjoyed watching Keeping Up with Kardashians and the subsequent spin-offs. I do so sporadically, but I am still usually aware of what’s going on with the Kardashian family. I do, in fact, keep up with the Kardashians.

I’ve seen some of the episodes of the latest season that featured Kim Kardashian and Kris Humphries’ budding romance that has now since died. I downloaded the “Fairytale Wedding” episode and watched it with my (very) reluctant boyfriend in disbelief.

HOWEVER, even I, at this point, must call bullshit on the whole ordeal.

Whether or not Kris was scouted to become Kim Kardashian’s potential hubby by E! or whether they met more organically (translation: not for the TV show), he didn’t seem to like her and questioned her morals and motives SEVERAL times, making it completely obvious that something was not right. Even Kim seemed rather blasé about the whole ordeal. It was so FAKE. It seemed FORCED.

So, dear reader, I ask you: WHY DO I WASTE MY TIME ON SUCH NONSENSE?

I read celeb gossip blogs. I follow these celebs on Twitter. I occasionally read their blogs about the reality shows they don’t act in (very intertextual), I even take time to download and watch these crap-tastic shows.

A few weeks ago, while doing my daily (hourly) browse of my favorite blog, I saw a link to an interview that Kim K and Khloe K gave to an Australian morning show about the divorce and, conveniently, their new fashion line launch in Australia.

Yes, I have a million and and one other things to attend to, but I am watching these women talk about Kim K’s relationship mistake (hey, we all make them. I cut her some slack in that regard . . .) and how she absolutely DID NOT marry for money or the cameras.

Then, it dawns on me, I DO NOT CARE. I close my laptop. I then question why I spend precious hours of my life following these celebs and watching their shows.

I blame social media.

We Tweet and Facebook-status-update about these random celebs/reality tv shows, unknowingly aiding in the success of these random celebs/reality tv shows. I go to various blogs that post about Kim K's relationships and Beyonce’s unborn child and then I have to do a Google search to educate myself about the obscure references alluded to in the posts. It’s endless.

Now, look at me. I’m writing a 600+ word post about the Kardashians. I’m just as guilty, but now at least I am aware.

And awareness is my goal. We can cannot be blind consumers any longer. If we're going to waste our time consuming this junk brain food, we must do so CONSCIOUSLY.

If I’m going to indulge in Oreos or Doritos occasionally, I do so with an awareness of the fact that I am not eating "real" food and am consuming empty calories. As such, I’m going to savor and enjoy every single darn SECOND of it!

But, eventually, I stop.

I put the Oreo bag (or case . . .or box . . .or tray?) away when I feel satisfied, but definitely not full.

So I guess that’s how I felt that morning when I closed my laptop on the Kardashians interview. In essence, I thought: “Enough already. I don’t want to get sick.”