reality show

I’m just about the last person on the planet to see Little Miss Sunshine, and I’m probably one of only a handful of viewers (sorry, Docstymie) who wasn’t particularly impressed. However, as the fourth of (at least) seven children born to an itinerant preacher, I certainly identified with the family of traveling minstrels crammed in that Volkswagen bus! The parallels aren’t perfect, of course; real life never plays out as neatly as it does in Hollywood. Best part of the movie: the woefully untalented but moxie-driven dance Olive does, to the beat of Rick James’ Super Freak.

Speaking of which (flimsy segue the 1st), TV producer McG was in Pasadena last Friday, stirring up interest for his upcoming reality show, Pussycat Dolls Present: the Search for the Next Doll. In describing the series as “aspirational and fun for a woman to be involved in,” he sparked a heated debate. 

One TV critic snapped, “Why should young girls aspire to dress up like skanks?” Others quickly followed suit, barraging McG with similar jabs, including this pointed question: “When the Pussycat Dolls sing Don’t cha  – ‘Don’t you wish your girlfriend was hot like me? Don’t you wish your girlfriend was a freak like me?’ – what exactly are they saying?” 

Worst part of the interview? McG’s song-and-dance substitute for an honest answer: “‘Don’t you wish your girlfriend could be free and comfortable in her own skin and do her own thing like me?’ That’s what we’re saying.” 

If you’re rolling your eyes, you’re in good company: a skeptical media actually booed. “Freak is a dance,” the producer insisted. “It’s just a word…Even Rick James knew that.” Whatever! In the context of the Pussycat Dolls’ stage performances, the intended meaning of those song lyrics is fairly obvious anyway, don’t cha think? 

While the connection to the rest of this post isn’t obvious (this is the last feeble segue, I promise you), I thought I’d mention that my newest column, Rediscovering the Lost Art of Letter Writing, is now available on the SisterDivas Magazine website. If you find time to read it, I’d love to hear what you think! 

[In case you’re wondering, this was a writing exercise in which I tried to weave together three seemingly unrelated topics…mental gymnastics for a Monday morning. Didn’t quite stick that landing, did I?]