TheLife.com

Movies at TheLife

Text Size

Love and Reality TV

By Dani on July 8th, 2008 at 11:28 am in Movies, TV

No Comments

Rose Love is real. And if anybody convinced me that love can be real on reality television, it’s Jason. He’s the forsaken bachelor who was left picking up his heart in an ABC network limo after last night’s Bachelorette finale.

The scene is set. She stands before him as he expresses his love for her. But as he gets down on one knee, she says, “I can’t.” As he looks up at her, all you see is his face trying to absorb his heart’s sudden mangled state. They hug. A single tear rolls down her cheek. Yes, it all makes for good TV.

Yet as the inevitable sad piano soundtrack starts as he drives away, Jason says:

“Why me? I was so ready to be in love again. I was SO ready to be there again…I’ve had a huge hole in my heart now for years.

It just got me hurt again. I’ve had body armor since my ex left me. I thought it was coming down. Now it’s up.”

With big tears welling in his eyes, he stares out the window looking completely heartbroken, even hopeless.

I wanted to yell into the TV that he would find the love of his life someday (and no I’m not pathetic!) It’s just something about watching him made my heart ache.

How do you feel about love on TV? Do you believe real love can exist on the sets of shows like the Bachelorette?

Related: Looking for love in all the wrong places - Read Leanne Caruk’s story of how she survived emotional abuse and divorce.

The Barbara Walters Special: Miley Cyrus

By sarah on February 25th, 2008 at 11:54 am in Movies, TV, Talk, multimedia

No Comments

As part of the 27th edition of The Barbara Walters Special, which aired following the Oscars on Sunday, Walters sat down with Disney star Miley Cyrus.

Cyrus is the daughter of country singer Billy Ray Cyrus and star of the hit Disney show, Hannah Montana. This year along she had a No.1 movie, a top-selling tour and a hit album (abc.com).

When Walters asked the young starlet what makes her think she won’t go down the same destructive road as so many former Disney stars that came before, Miley’s answer was simple: her family and her faith.

"I think a lot of these people, you know, do have Christian families and they’re just not seeing that they’re so much greater than the materialistic things that are there right now," said Cyrus, "the people that are the ones you wanna hold onto are the people that tell you the truth."

Miley Cyrus believes she has something different in her life that will keep her away from the lifestyle that has claimed so many young people in that fast-paced world of fame and fortune. Do you think she’ll end up like the others before her? Is the "Christian faith" she’s talking about different than what many famous people leave behind on their rise to fame?

Image from Flicker used under Creative Commons License.

Television withdrawal

By sounddezine on January 15th, 2008 at 9:00 am in Movies, TV

1 Comment

The Hollywood writers’ strike is into its 10th week. If you’re a regular tv watcher (like myself), you’ve probably already noticed the effects. Many of the shows have run out of new episodes, and even award shows have suffered. The usual glitz and glamour of the Golden Globes were reduced to a half hour of press conference style announcements.

While the writers deserve their fair share, what will become of those whose livelihood depends on the production of these shows? This strike affects far beyond those directly involved. What will happen to the millions of viewers who wait anxiously each week for new episodes of their shows? At least there are many reality tv shows ready and waiting in the wings. With a new season of American Idol starting, as well as other reality shows like American Gladiators, Celebrity Apprentice and Dance War to name a few, and the growing popularity of game shows like Deal or No Deal and Don’t Forget the Lyrics, there will be plenty of shows left to waste our time on.

How has this writers’ strike affected you? Have you found other ways to spend the time you previously spent watching television?

The Ultimate Social Experiment

By sounddezine on October 18th, 2007 at 12:46 pm in Movies, TV

1 Comment

Beauty and the Geek “I’ve got the brains, you’ve got the looks, let’s make lots of money"?

The theme song for the tv reality show The Beauty and the Geek sums it up nicely…put together some really smart guys with good looking women and let them fight it out for the prize money. Deemed "The Ultimate Social Experiment"?, this show pairs geeks (intelligent young men who are socially awkward) with beauties (women who have gotten by with their good looks, and not much else) and pits them against each other in various challenges.

I’ll admit the premise of this show is somewhat more interesting than some other show: the goal is not to find romance, nor just to get money, but for each group to learn from each other. Through challenges like Rocket Science and computer assembly for the beauties, speed dating and fashion for the geeks, each participant is forced to learn things in areas in which they are deficient.

The show is entertaining, and on the surface seems to be well meaning. However, with this show in its fourth season, I am increasingly uncomfortable with the social stereotypes that it portrays. Are these people for real? When asked the question “Who wrote Beethoven’s 5th?" during casting, one beauty responded, “Oh I don’t know. I don’t read books, only magazines. Another, when asked their IQ, responded “2.5?" Meanwhile, one geek rattles off the US presidents’ names in reverse order, while another admits he’s only ever kissed one girl.

Do you think social stereotypes are more accepted than other stereotypes? Are they a reflection of our society or do they perpetuate intolerance? How is this show any different from a show that portrays racial or other stereotypes?

Is Grey’s Anatomy really gray?

By L_cool_J on October 5th, 2007 at 1:36 pm in Movies, TV, about

4 Comments

Ok, I admit it I watch Grey’s and I have fallen in love with McDreamy but just lately I have been looking at the show in black and white and not shades of gray. How come each season has to be about a marriage in turmoil over infidelity?

The first season was about how the Chief had an affair with Meredith’s mother which lead to why Meredith was so messed up. The second season brings us to the Addison/Mcdreamy/Meredith escapade which was carried into the third season. This season’s love triangle is without a doubt about George, Callie and Izzy as we are reminded that “George loves Izzy too.”

When did fidelity go out of style and cheating become so popular? Are the lines between black and white being blurred just to get more ratings? I guess we should have known, it does say “Grey’s Anatomy” and not “Black and White Anatomy” in the title. What do you think, is martial breakdown being used as a ratings grab?

Heroes

By L_cool_J on January 24th, 2007 at 8:29 am in Movies, TV, about

2 Comments

Heroes is my favorite new show of the season. I don’t know what it is about the show…maybe it’s the thought of having some sort of super human power, the mystery of finding out who’s on the list, or just the variety of characters that keeps drawing me back. You wouldn’t think that people who can fly, stop time, or cheat death would have so many problems…but I guess some powers are more curses than blessings. Last night’s episode ended with one of the characters in trouble and deep despair. Nicki’s ‘power’ is her alter ego – her dead twin sister Jessica, who has a violent streak and super strength. Nicki is thrown in jail for various crimes committed by her sister, and as she lay on her cell floor, she cries out, “God, help me???. Jessica then replies, “You don’t need God, you have me???.

How many times have we in times of despair and desperation cried out for help from God, yet turned our backs on Him before He has a chance to help us? Why is it that people have a tendency to call on God for help even if they don’t believe in Him? And why do we rely so much on our own strength and ability despite being shown time and time again our shortcomings? Why is it so difficult to loosen the death grip we have on our lives and give up control?