Those of you who know me well know that I love reality TV. I watch Project Runway, Top Chef, all the Real Housewives, Flipping Out, Jersey Shore, Little People Big World, The Apprentice, and more. And yes, it is slightly embarrasing to admit that this is a short list of the shows that I watch. It makes me think of Howard Stern's movie Private Parts, when the station management (who hated Howard's broadcasts) was talking to the ratings guy who was telling them the results of the listener survey that said something like listeners who loved Howard listened for an unheard of 68 minutes. When asked why they listened so long, the listeners said that they "wanted to see what he would say next". The ratings guy then revealed that the listeners who hated Howard listened for 90 minutes and their most common reason for listening was "I want to see what he's going to say next".
I both love and hate reality TV. I enjoy the break from my real life to look into the produced and edited lives of others.
Russell, heretofore (and everafter) known as the Jerk, is one of the current "chef-testants" on Hell's Kitchen, hosted by Master Chef Gordon Ramsay on FOX. The other night the gang of misfit chefs looking to work for Ramsay was tasked with throwing a Prom Party for kids from Beverly Hills High. Of course, when the school was announced I had a twinge of "oh, I bet those kids will be bratty and demanding" and held my breath.
The teens weren't bratty. They were perfectly nice (at least what was shown on the screen) and other than having more advanced palates than many of their peers, were normal teens.
What has kept me thinking about this show was the treatment that the teens endured from the Jerk. He belittled them in words, actions, and eye rolls when he was asked to put up decorations. He treated the teens with such disdain that the restaurant manager finally had to step in to remind the Jerk that these kids were CLIENTS.
I was graduated from Highland Park High School, so I will admit that maybe I am somewhat biased, but let me tell you about the teens I know who go to schools like HPHS, ESD, St. Marks, Greenhill, etc. The teens who help us at Community Partners of Dallas from these schools may drive over here in a Lexus or Mercedes, but they are kind and generous and really care about helping others. These teens will spend hours and hours on the floor in our warehouse counting school supplies or sweeping the floor. One of our THANKs (CPD's teen board) members has volunteered more than 700 hours with us to help abused and neglected children in our community.
The teens I know are super kids and are very deserving of respect.
You better give it to them, because they'll run this world one day. I think it will be a better world.
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