Unemploymentality’s Best of Daytime TV
Before being laid off, I thought daytime television was mostly bad soap operas, Maury Povich and ITT Tech. Those who know me well know just how much I love bad TV – but day after day of “Who’s My Baby Daddy?” can get tiresome, even for the least sophisticated of palates.
But of course, like many other things I used to take for granted, daytime television has come to enrich my unemploymentality. I now realize just how much this coveted time slot has to offer. And it’s not just entertaining – it’s educational! I would like to share a handful of my favorites with you, based on countless hours of in depth research:
You tell 'em Tyra!
Tyra: I first fell in love with Tyra Banks when I discovered America’s Next Top Model. The show taught me so much about the ever-so-dynamic modeling industry. After one season, I was able to identify a “no neck monster” and the perfect pose. I even imagined a spin off show, America’s Next Top Judge, in which I would be a high-ranking contestant. But, I digress. The point is, this ex-supermodel makes for great TV.
Watching Tyra is like watching the pages of Glamour magazine come to life. And the only thing I love more than trashy television is its cousin in print, the woman’s magazine.
Stacy and Clinton: Philanthropists of Style
What Not To Wear: Good old Clinton and Stacy. It’s almost charity, the way rescue so many poor, fashion-challenged Americans. Makeover shows, in general, are a delight. Nothing is more satisfying than watching someone transform completely, in an hour or less. Which reminds me of another TLC gem that hits the spot: 10 Years Younger. Although, I do live in constant fear that someone I love will nominate me for one of these shows, since I’ve aged at least ten years in the last three months, and live almost exclusively in my pajamas.
Dr. Phil: For some reason, everyone I know hates this man. I really can’t figure out why. He’s like an oracle. Sure he may, at times, be pointing out the obvious with an air of self-righteousness, but isn’t he allowed to? He’s dealing with morons. Character flaws aside, he’s got plenty of wisdom to bestow upon the unemployed. Just today, he introduced a frugal family who, despite having three children, live on $44,000 a year. The best part? Their last name is allegedly Economides. Dr. Phil – proof that anything Oprah touches turns to gold.
Groundbreaking
Oprah: Speak of the devil. Or rather, the angel. Between her weight battles, countless controversies and one unforgettable celebrity appearance after another, this woman and her empire never cease to fascinate and inspire. And I love the way, year upon year, she shares her favorite things with us. How else would I know how to waste my money, fashionably? Oprah Winfrey, you are one of my favorite things.
The Doctors: At first, I thought this show would disappoint. I foolishly questioned its value. I feared there were too many hosts, which would render it un-watchable (kind of like the cackling hens on The View). Boy was I wrong. After all, it’s a Dr. Phil spin-off (and therefore, technically an Oprah spin-off). And as it turns out, the abundance of hosts actually adds value to the show. Each member of this medical dream team offers a unique expertise, and each day they explore a different health-related phenomenon. From dissecting the science behind love to evaluating hidden health hazards, this show truly is every hypochondriacs dream come true.
You don't have to love it. You do have to respect it.
The Price is Right: This staple of daytime television first aired in 1956, and has since become the basis for dozens of international versions – proof that it can it can withstand the test of time (a rare feat in television) and transcend cultural boundaries. Of course, it can be a little depressing to watch people price so many things you can’t afford. But once you get past that, you’re in for hours of entertainment, week after week, year after year. This show won’t just outlive your unemployment. It will outlive you.
I work out of the house and had to set strict guidelines regarding the television during the day, hehe. I used to use it as background noise, but as bad as it was, it would still draaaaaaaw me in. All except Dr. Phil. Something wrong with that dude.
I’d have to add Wife Swap to this. the highlight of most of my days. Also, as it always happens around 1 or 2 (Eastern), my backup is “A Haunting” on Discovery because there’s nothing else on.
Wife Swap – good one Charlotte! I’d forgotten about that one… I may have to do a second installment, as so many great shows have come to mind since posting this.
Oh my gosh, HOW can you forget all those “judge” shows?! Judge Judy, Judge Hatchet, Divorce Court, People’s Court, Judge Lopez, Judge David YOung, Judge Mathis, Judge Joe Brown, and if you flip past the Spanish channels, there’s La Corte de Familia. Come on, they all serve as entertainment and have educational value.
For example, tell me it’s not entertaining when Judge Judy screams at some poor schmuck telling them they’re and IDIOT if they don’t think they’re responsible for the fender bender after admitting they’ve drank two six-packs before getting behind the wheel? As for educational value, you never know when you’ll have to go to court to fight your ex-boyfriend’s new girlfriend, who’s also your sister-in-law and former best friend, because she keyed your car after you got drunk and pee’d on her lawn! …always good to know how to handle yourself in court under these circumstances.
Sadly, no more TV for us, we had to cancel our Cablevision because we are both unemployed.
Holy crap. You just described my daily schedule. However, I also have to add TODAY with Kathy Lee and Hoda. I live to hear Kathy Lee say something horribly inappropriate – it’s the only thing that gets me out of bed by 10am.
No daytime TV for me anymore. Not because i’m like soooo productive or anything. I watch my TV on hulu.com. Now I watch films and TV shows like The Office and Friday Night Lights while eating canned soup everyday.
I’ve been living in my apt without cable since June 2008 and since then I’ve gotten into some new hobbies – painting, woodburning and it really is mind boggling how productive one’s life can be without the endless time wasting hobby of watching the telly ^_^ a slight change can do wonders for the mind!
I also have been living in my apt for 4 years now and unemployed since April 2008. I won’t give up cable because you can also search for jobs while watching tv; besides looking online and in the newspapers. Since I’ve been out of work I’ve started scrapbooking and making rugs(which while I was working I never had time to do them). I guess being unemployed made me realize that there is more to life than working at a job day in and dayout.
My tv/vcr died, so I watch dvds and tv on my dell laptop with DSL.
hulu.com has lots of my 70s & 80s tv favorites and Springer.
I rarely watched tv while employed anyway. Now I market multiple online businesses (full time), and read up on offshore finance, corporate fraud, and have a 3.5GPA in my senior year completing an online degree in Finance at Capella University.
Since online school doesn’t affect my availability for work, I collect full unemployment (up to $560+$25 in NJ) and half of my student loan.