A love hate relationship with bad TV

Bad TV shows speak to me.  I can’t help it; they draw me in and I can’t get out.

I like predictable plotlines, cheesy dramatic music and shows that feature pretty actors over substantial content. I’ve been lectured on my poor taste time and time again, because I prefer sitcoms with laugh tracks to “The Office,” because I hated “30 Rock” and can’t stand “Community” or “Parks and Rec.”

My love of bad TV even extends to the often-panned NBC sitcom “Whitney.”  Whitney Cummings, a standup comedienne with a voice like nails on a chalkboard, converted her comedy to a TV show in 2011.  The essentials are about the same. Cummings’ humor features the revolutionary concept that men and women are different; she seems to find endless humor in played-out stereotypes.  

Last week’s episode of “Whitney” finds Alex, Whitney’s live-in boyfriend/walking male stereotype, wanting to relive his youth and buy a motorcycle; Whitney’s concern for his safety makes her flatly refuse.  It also sees Mark, who recently accepted an investment in his bar from Lily, refusing to take her advice on input when running it.  The episode concludes predictably, as Whitney concedes Alex’s right to have a motorcycle but he returns it anyway to placate her, and Mark realizes that Lily’s input is valuable.  

Despite how flat-out bad the plotlines and how cheesy the lines are, I enjoy every single episode of “Whitney.” I don’t need to pay attention to love it; I can paint my nails, write flashcards or talk to friends while I watch, and it’s just as funny.  That’s why I enjoy it.  Some shows require a lot of thought; I never could follow “Lost,” “Mad Men” could not possibly hold less interest for me and I have no idea what “Game of Thrones” even is, and I’m perfectly okay with that. 

Another bad show I love is “2 Broke Girls.” Like “Whitney,” the show tells you exactly when to laugh; whenever Kat Dennings’ Max opens her mouth is a good start.  The show is rife with risqué jokes, terrible puns and stereotypes and they are all hilarious.  There is a reason those jokes have been around forever: a good blonde joke will get a laugh every time.  A joke about sex will get a laugh every time.  Every time blonde-haired, formerly rich Caroline uses her “ghetto” tone of voice, it makes me laugh, and if you like bad TV, I’m sure it will make you laugh too.

My name is Rachel, I like bad TV, and I am not ashamed.